Cricket Thread

[Dennis Bendtner]

So South Africa have arrived. Getting a bit of a spanking from Somerset. Morkel 9-0-76-0. First Test on the 19th, ibuleve. It ought to be a very good series. Couple of selection posers for either side.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Boucher is to have surgery after sustaining an eye injury today. :sick:

[Syn]

Boucher is to have surgery after sustaining an eye injury today. :sick:

Boucher, he's slipped off the radar lately. They should let ABdeV the keeper. Their middle order is stronger than england's but their openers seem to be much weaker. Can't even recall who they are. G.Smith has been injured a lot. Quite a reversal from when Kirsten and Gibbs were there.

[Syn]

G Smith, Rudolph, H Amla, J Kallis, AB de Villiers, JP Duminy, MV Boucher†, M Morkel, RJ Peterson, DW Steyn, Imran Tahir, VD Philander, LL Tsotsobe

Fair play, that is a ridiculously good squad.

Morkel, steyn, philander vs Anderson, broad, Finn ----- draw

Tahir vs Swann -------- England

Smith, Rudolph, Kallis vs cook, Strauss, Trott ---------- England

Amla, de Villiers, duminy vs Pietersen, Bell, Prior --------- :haha: SA

...concludes my championship manager analysis.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Boucher, he's slipped off the radar lately. They should let ABdeV the keeper. Their middle order is stronger than england's but their openers seem to be much weaker. Can't even recall who they are. G.Smith has been injured a lot. Quite a reversal from when Kirsten and Gibbs were there.

Smith is a bit of a fatty now, I mean he was never exactly slim but now he is the white Santos. They need Kallis to perform I think, though weirdly he has always struggled in England. Amla is fairly reliable having said that.

[Dennis Bendtner]

You can usually rely on Smith to shit on England. They're good but they're prone to dodgy collapses. Certainly in England I'd back England's batting to be more consistent. But then again SA did win last time round. And they haven't lost an away series since 2006, I'm reading :lol:

I hope the Inglish bowling attack is what Syn has posted. Finn needs a go.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Boucher won't be able to play international cricket again due to the eye injury.

[Syn]

:(

He was going to retire soon anyway but still. Hope he hasn't lost the eye.

[Syn]

South Africans 187/4 (55.4 ov)

All SA's apart from the openers got starts - and I think that's what all they were after. Kallis stopped after reaching 40 odd.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

:(

He was going to retire soon anyway but still. Hope he hasn't lost the eye.

He must have lost sight in it at the very least. Damn stumps.

[Syn]

Umpires say play of the 5th and final ODI between England and Australia to start at 5:30pm.

Unsure of how many overs-a-side there will be. I would guess no more than 20.

[Ollie the Optimist]

Umpires say play of the 5th and final ODI between England and Australia to start at 5:30pm.

Unsure of how many overs-a-side there will be. I would guess no more than 20.

its 32 overs

[Syn]

Oh good. That makes it slightly less pointless. Hope they get some play in. Wouldn't mind watching a bit of cric this evening.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

England won the toss and chose to bowl.

[Syn]

Anderson's fantastic.

[Syn]

Wade is 3 off 20 balls. :blink:

[Syn]

Anderson drops Warner

Me :bow:

[Syn]

Another two catches dropped. Samit Fatel dropping a sitter. Tredwell dropping one too.

As my old coach used to say, someone needs to hand them some buckets.

[Syn]

Warner out lbw. 32 off 32. Tredwell the bowler.

Looked plum.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Wade is taking it to England, 9 off 33. :bow:

Fatel. :lol:

Awful fatty.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

49-2, superb work from Tredwell at the stumps. Fatel with the run out, technically.

Forrest. :wave:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Tredwell gets Wade stumped! :haha:

49-3. He has finally been put out of his misery.

Tredwell is 2-3. :bow:

[Syn]

Steve Smith :bow:

I do like this guy.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Terrible throw from Bopara.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Morgan runs out Clarke! :haha:

55-4.

Morgan. :bow:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

77-5, Smith chases after one going down leg side. :haha:

Bopara's magic arm. :bow:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

86-6, David Hussey goes. Bopara with another wicket. :wacko:

[Ollie the Optimist]

Ravi :bow:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

120-7, Pattinson goes for 13. Finn with his first wicket.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Aussies make 145-7, good innings from Bailey, 46 off 41.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

5-1, Bell goes for four. :lol: McKay with the wicket, Bell should've spent less time messing about with his helmet and gloves.

[Syn]

Alec Stewart's comments about Boucher.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cricket/18786464 (http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cricket/18786464)

Also feels he needs to comment on Andy Murray. Leave it to the experts, Alec.

[Syn]

Looks like South Africa were busy before they came to England:


Smith and his players have prepared for the demanding series with a training camp in Switzerland, which included biking and climbing on mountain peaks in the Alps.

"We scaled a few Alps and it was three or four of the toughest days physically that the guys have had in their careers," added Smith.

"It was a good three days in terms of breaking down mental barriers and getting the mental confidence to come away and to perform on tour in England."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cricket/18754147

England should do the same. Fatel :rose:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Rain stops play. What a shit summer.

[Cripps_orig]

Time to build a retractable roof tbh

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Over the entire country? Sounds good.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Players are coming back out, England need to bat 20 overs to consistute a game. Come on spinners.

29 over game now. :lol:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

34-2, Clarke gets Trott! Great ball.

[Syn]

England look safe now.


Chris in Aberdeen, via TMS inbox: "For me, Mark Boucher will leave a legacy similar to Freddie Flintoff's; not a great batting average and not many centuries. But a true match winner, who can change the momentum of a match in a second. He will be very difficult to replace."


:haha:

Yeah, England just haven't been able to replace a #decent-pace-bowler-and-shit-batsman. That's why they're not the best team in the world right now.

Flintoss was shit. Boucher wasn't great but he was usually good for a 30 not out in the days when SA had no middle order. Can't remember much of his wicket-keeping; a WK has to be exceptionally good to get my attention. All my focus is always on the bowling and batting.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

98-2, Cook gets another fifty. :bow:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

England look safe now.



:haha:

Yeah, England just haven't been able to replace a #decent-pace-bowler-and-shit-batsman. That's why they're not the best team in the world right now.

Flintoss was shit. Boucher wasn't great but he was usually good for a 30 not out in the days when SA had no middle order. Can't remember much of his wicket-keeping; a WK has to be exceptionally good to get my attention. All my focus is always on the bowling and batting.

Boucher caught a lot of erm balls for SA which is all you can really ask from a wicketkeeper. Oh and the constant geeing up of the bowlers. And yes, Flintoff as a batsman was fairly awful. Very good as a bowler tbf. Can't say he is particularly missed though, it's true.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Bopara gets his 50. :bow:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

126-3, Hilfy gets Cook for 58.

[Syn]

Oh and the constant geeing up of the bowlers.

Ah, yes, and a fine WUM as most wicky's are.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=14BQw66YEZ8

[McNamara That Ghost...]

England win by seven wickets (D/L). :bow:

4-0 in the series.

Aussies. :haha:

Stick to rugby.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Ah, yes, and a fine WUM as most wicky's are.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=14BQw66YEZ8

:lol:

Who needs to sledge a middle to lower order Zimbabwean batsman?

[Dennis Bendtner]

That's Tatenda Taibu, infamous midget who has just retired from cricket to become a preacher. Boucher definitely picks his targets. Still, sad for him.

[Cripps_orig]

Everyones favourite Australian and honourary Indian Brett Lee has retired from International cricket

He was only a wicket behind McGraths ODI record for Australia so surprised he doesnt go on for one more series.

What a player though :bow:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

That spell at Trent Bridge '05 (second innings). :bow:

[Syn]

Everyones favourite Australian and honourary Indian Brett Lee has retired from International cricket

He was only a wicket behind McGraths ODI record for Australia so surprised he doesnt go on for one more series.

What a player though :bow:

Wouldn't be surprised if India got him for a minor coaching role.

He'll also stay on for IPL cricket and earn some money.

Good bowler on his day. It was all about pace with him - didn't rely on accuracy like McGrath.

[Ollie the Optimist]

That spell at Trent Bridge '05 (second innings). :bow:

heart attacks galore :bow:

[Dennis Bendtner]

I think Shoaib was better but Lee more respected for not being a deranged idiot. Good bowler. Good attitude. Good Indian.

[Syn]

Bopara's is in the squad to play the first Test on Thursday. He is expected to play his first test.

Cook
Strauss
Trott
Pietersen
??
Bopara
Prior
Swann
Broad
Anderson
Finn

Who bats at no.5?

I wouldn't play Bell. Should be getting some youngsters in the mix now. Too many players over 30. Out of the first 7, 5 batsman are 30 or over. They're going to face the same problem India did if they don't pull out a couple of batting prodigies from somewhere/SA.

[Cripps_orig]

Bell

Hes been in form

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Bopara's is in the squad to play the first Test on Thursday. He is expected to play his first test.

Cook
Strauss
Trott
Pietersen
??
Bopara
Prior
Swann
Broad
Anderson
Finn

Who bats at no.5?

I wouldn't play Bell. Should be getting some youngsters in the mix now. Too many players over 30. Out of the first 7, 5 batsman are 30 or over. They're going to face the same problem India did if they don't pull out a couple of batting prodigies from somewhere/SA.

Bell and Bopara can still be really flakey and I don't really fully trust them but it's only going to be in ODIs that you see new guys emerging and then on to tests. Against the pub team sides firstly, hence why there is no Bairstow.

Bell still has a good seven years of getting out tamely to Australia in tests yet.

It's better to have a surfeit of batsmen than bowlers, given the physical toll bowling takes and England have lots of them waiting. Bowling is India's main problem; they have Arpee waiting to play, England have Finn.

Also, Bresnan will play I am sure.

[LDG]

I'll be there on Friday :dance:

Hopefully it'll be sunny :unsure:

Me :pal:

[Cripps_orig]

India looks set to resume bilateral cricketing ties with Pakistan after a gap of several years, with plans for Pakistani cricketers to tour India.

India's cricket board says three One Day Internationals and two Twenty20 matches have been planned for December.

Pakistan Cricket Board welcomed the proposal and said that millions of fans would be delighted.

The last bilateral series between India and Pakistan was in 2007-2008 when the Pakistani team visited India.

Cricketing ties were suspended after the 2008 Mumbai attacks, blamed on a Pakistan-based militant group.

Indian government approval is still needed for the series to go ahead but analysts say this is just a formality.

"It was decided to resume cricketing ties with Pakistan by inviting the Pakistan cricket team for a short series in December 2012-January 2013," the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) said in a press release on Monday.

"The modalities will be worked out shortly," it added.

BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla later told reporters that Chennai, Calcutta and Delhi will host the One Day Internationals.

The T20s will be played in Bangalore and Ahmedabad, he added.

Mr Shukla said the home minister and the external affairs minister both knew of the decision and were "totally fine with it".

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has welcomed the series with India in five years, reports AFP.

"The decision is great and we welcome it. It seems that millions of cricket fans have their wishes fulfilled," PCB chairman Zaka Ashraf said in Lahore.

"We are still waiting for a BCCI invitation for the series, but it seems it will surely be held later this year," he added.

Correspondents say the proposal to resume cricketing ties is a sign of improving relations between the two countries.

Earlier this month, the foreign secretaries of India and Pakistan met in Delhi and the two sides discussed their willingness to have more sporting contact between the two countries.

The South Asian rivals have played each other in the 2011 World Cup and Asia Cup in Bangladesh recently.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-18854974

Greatest rivalry in cricket is back on :bow:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Sky's programme starts in a minute.

:popcorn:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Philander's record is outstanding.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

It's raining. :bow:

[LDG]

It's raining. :bow:

My boss is there :pal:



*fingers crossed for tomorrow*

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Your boss. :lol:

Although, you :lol: if it rains too hard and he decides to go back to work.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

The covers are coming off.

:scarf:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

England win the toss and will bat. :bow:

England: Strauss, Cook, Trott, Pietersen, Bell, Bopara, Prior, Bresnan, Broad, Swann, Anderson.

South Africa: Smith, Petersen, Amla, Kallis, De Villiers, Rudolph, Duminy, Steyn, Morkel, Tahir, Philander.

[LDG]

Come on England!!! :bow:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

0-1, Strauss goes on review for a duck. Plumb lbw not originally given. :haha:

Morkel with the wicket.

Strauss back to being useless after the brief flurry of runs against the Windies.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Trott outscores Strauss with his first delivery, went for four actually.

[Cripps_orig]

South African getting a South African out :popcorn:

[Syn]

One more wicket and SA are into the tail.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Bit of excuse making by saying Strauss was rushed out there. He made the decision to bat and therefore, open the batting.

[Syn]

Don't understand who Kallis thinks he is bowling so soon.

[Syn]

I missed morkel and philander's spells but I'm not impressed at the speeds steyn is clocking.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Yeah it has been a sedate pace really. Also, a massive dark grey cloud is looming.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

ABdV chucks one for four. :bow:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Cook smacks Steyn for six. :wacko:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Live BBC text commentary has died again. :bow:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

England are 70-1 at lunch.

[IBK]

Live BBC text commentary has died again. :bow:

http://www.espncricinfo.com/england-v-south-africa-2012/engine/current/match/534225.html pisses on BBC.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

:lol:

You're right it does.

[Ollie the Optimist]

50 for cook

Cook :bow:
Essex :bow:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Cook gets his half century. :bow:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

And Trott gets his. :bow:

132-1.

[Ollie the Optimist]

bumble "i havent seen a tit for years"


:haha:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Horrible delivery by Kallis.

:haha:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

170-2, Morkel gets Trott for 71!

[Dennis Bendtner]

Trott :wave: might be worth watching now

plus KP in now :popcorn:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Morkel nearly wiped out the slips with that delivery. :haha:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Cook gets his century (another one)! :bow:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

251-3, Kallis gets KP for 42.

[Ollie the Optimist]

Cook :bow:
Essex :bow:
Tests :bow:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

England close on 267-3. Good stuff.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Not so good stuff today, 286-6. :lol:

Steyn got Cook for 115 and Bopara for 0.

Bopara. :haha:

So predictable.

Kallis bowled Bell for 13. :rolleyes:

[Cripps_orig]

Bopara :haha:
Essex :haha:
Tests :haha:

[Syn]

20 centuries for Cook. Only 32 to go. :popcorn:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Only he has had more centuries at a younger age.

Bopara needs to sort his life out. Or the selcetors need to realise he is the man for Windies and Bangladesh, just like Bell.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Rudolph just dropped the Ashes.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Sexy cover drive from Bresnan.

302-6.

[LDG]

Not at the Oval now.

Work :rolleyes:

Meh.

Half day.

Will watch in the pub :beer:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Pubs. :bow:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

313-7, Tahir gets Bresnan dragging one on!

Beefy at the beginning of the over: question is, why isn't Steyn bowling? :haha:

[Syn]

If SA can get England under 350, it should be a very even game. But obviously having the runs on the board is always better.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

South Africa have no reviews left.

Tahir. :lol:

What a muppet.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

326-7 at lunch.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Just saw Bopara's dismissal. For god sake, waving his bat up in the air six deliveries in.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Prior moves on to 53. :bow:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

358-8, Philander gets Broad for 16.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Swann heads one for four. :bow:

[Syn]

If I could send one through the grill at any batsmen, it'd be the two at the crease now. Fucking hate both of them. Smug ****s.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

383-9, Morkel gets Prior for 60.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

385 all out, Morkel quickly gets Anderson. :lol:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

1-1 Anderson gets Petersen lbw! :bow:

[Syn]

I was just about to post Anderson will take a wicket in his first 5 overs. Not that anyone will believe 'me now. Fantastic bowler.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Of course we would, you're Isaac after all.

[Dennis Bendtner]

Uncle Amla is good to watch.

[Syn]

Amla is the one England want. Probably the greatest Muslim around atm.

[Syn]

Strauss must be the uncoolest person to try the popped collar. Need some serious street cred to pull that off these days.

[Syn]

Never realised how bad Smith's tekkers is. As holding says throw them out wide.

[Dennis Bendtner]

Anderson is as good as it gets in English conditions. His improvement has been very impressive. They show his clips quite often and I don't think anyone else does that thing where it arrows in but then moves away at exactly the right moment. Not as consistently anyway. He is a different kind of bowler to Steyn. Out and out swing obviously.

England on the whole are a robotic unit. An opening Anderson spell is great, though.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Down comes the rain. Cock.

[Syn]

Praveen Kumar does it. It's just 43 mph slower, but otherwise identical.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Vicar getting pissed. :bow:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Amla is getting some treatment.

[Dennis Bendtner]

Praveen Kumar does it. It's just 43 mph slower, but otherwise identical.

:lol: he was the other I was thinking of. He kind of swings it too much though. Ends up rolling at the keeper's feet at 10mph. Anderson's delivery kind of arrows in and tends to make the batsman play.

[Syn]

anderson needs to pop his collar up. Deserving tbh.

Hashidbhai is doing a chanderpaul. Needs to shave his chinguard off and start playing some shots.

[Dennis Bendtner]

I must say, the way Nasser digs up all this video analysis shit from the last decade to make comparisons is quite impressive.

[Dennis Bendtner]

I reckon Pietersen's going to pack in international cric altogether and tour the T20 leagues soon enough.

Broad is very annoying.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Trott. :haha:

He does have a lonely life as a fielder.

[Dennis Bendtner]

Uncle Amla is away.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

25-1 at tea, two superb boundaries by Amla there.

[Syn]

I reckon Pietersen's going to pack in international cric altogether and tour the T20 leagues soon enough.

Broad is very annoying.

Tricky one with pietersen. He's too big for big brother, strictly come dancing and all that shit, but not big enough for beckham and Hollywood.

[Dennis Bendtner]

Someone'll offer him a shitload to go into Indian Big Brother like Symonds. Cripps will lap him up on Wossy. I don't think he can be arsed with England much longer.

[Cripps_orig]

Why would he tbh

Hes South African and hes gotten all the money out of England he can get

[Syn]

I think he could justify selection - he is obviously good enough but I can imagine a contrast of styles with the lads on tours. No other mavericks in the team - just a bunch of nice, middle-class chaps that probably work their arses off in the nets.

[Dennis Bendtner]

Imagine the banter with Straussy. His best mate is probably Bopara. Never likely to end well.

[Dennis Bendtner]

My word. It is dark out there.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

This partnership for Australia is so important. Wake up Holding.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Here comes the rain.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Play will restart in just under ten minutes.

[Syn]

Have to justify your selection here, Tim. Your trundler shit might work against the Indian and WI pussies but will it work against SA? I'd say no. Finn would have been my selection. But there is a case to suggest that given Prior averages 40+, England can drop Bopora/Bell and play a 5th bowler. Bresnan can bat a bit anyway so not a horrific no.7.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

He's much better than you give him credit for tbf.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

This pitch is weird, really low bounce there from Anderson's delivery.

[Syn]

Just typed out a relatively long reply that got wiped out :doh:

Short: I shall watch Bresnan closely in this series. (homo) His record so far is very impressive. But I think Finn has that star quality that might be needed against a side of SA's quality. Bresnan could be a good no.7 pick with Finn included - dilemma solvedzs

[Syn]

Also, Finn looks like Ramsey.

[Syn]

And Josh groban.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Those are definitive reasons. Finn will probably contribute more with the bat than Bopara, although Ravi does have the golden arm.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

And Bopara nearly did it! Strauss drops Amla.

[Syn]

:lol:

Tough chance but Amla doesn't give you much.

[Syn]

What a change a wicket would make here. It has definitely been SA's day but Kallis in from scratch is gettable.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Last over of the day, double hat-trick from Swann please.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

86-1 at the close of play.

[Syn]

Bangladesh move ahead of India in the baseball rankings.

India will play their first competitive match since the hammering they took in Australia. A shitty little one day series was preferred to a 3 match test series by a bunch of fucking suits.

Relevant team news: Virat Kohli will bat no.3

[Syn]

VK and a fat fuck at the crease.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Amla gets his fifty.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

And Smith finally moves on to his fifty, 51 to be exact.

[Cripps_orig]

SL v India on at the moment

India 161-1 atm

Gambhir gone cheaply

Sehwag on 88 off 90 balls :bow:

Syn :haha:

Some Pub Teamer also doing well

[Cripps_orig]

180-2

Sehwag gone for 96

Shame he didnt get his century but the damage has been done. Majority of the crowd have left apparently as they cant be arsed watching boring ass players like Kohli now that Sehwag is gone

[McNamara That Ghost...]

SA are 157-1, apart from a spell by Swann there hasn't been much threat at all.

[Cripps_orig]

India 191-3

Sharma gone

Collapse has started

[Syn]

How I laughed my arse off when the fat fuck got run out.

Kohli gets his ton, obviously. Still there with 12 overs to play. What a champion.

[Syn]

Kohli out for 106 off 113. Platform set by Mr. Tekkers for the pub-teamers to come in and move the score from 228 from 40 overs to 300+.

My interest in the game has now ended and I will be watching SA, hoping they lose a couple of wickets so my 2nd favourite batsman (ABdeV) comes in. :cloud9:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Beefy is watching the golf. :lol:

[Syn]

G.Smith 99* :popcorn:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Smith gets his customary century against England! :bow:

Hiis 25th in tests.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

187-1 at lunch. Interesting documentary about the foreign players playing for England coming up. I'll record it so I can watch other sports for the time being.

[Syn]

It was a nice summary. Nothing you probably wouldn’t have read about before but just goes to show the incredible history of Test Cric. Some of the ‘foreigners’ used by England proved to be instruments for positive political change. And then you’ve got WUMs like Tony Greig.

My view about it has always been the same - the fact that I have Indian blood shouldn’t mean I get to play for India. Whatever country has invested/contributed the most in your development from the age you can physically hold a cricket bat through to 17/18 is the country you should represent. IMO, of course. In the special cases like D'Oliveira, I don’t think many would object but it was a very different time.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

I can't see anything happening for England until the new ball comes around. A ball from Swann did explode just a minute ago but only from an area that isn't going to cause much damage in the first place.

[Cripps_orig]

314-6 off 50 overs

Raina got his 50

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Amla gets his century. :bow:

[Syn]

Bit of a stupid review. Not quite Andy Murray stupid but there were a couple of obvious reasons why that wouldn't be lbw.

[Syn]

If SA are serious about wanting to win in England they really have to start scoring more quickly. Although NASA reckons the batsmen will find it easier to score off the new ball.

[Syn]

Bollywood's on to bowl now.

Has taken 5 wickets with a bowling average of 150.

[Cripps_orig]

SL 16-1

Dilshan went earlier

Pathan with the wicket.

Not sure if Irfan or Yusuf

[McNamara That Ghost...]

One over left until the new ball is due, thank god.

[Syn]

"Khan to Dilshan, no run, edged and Sehwag drops a sitter, Dilshan had dropped Sehwag on nought and Sehwag here has returned the favour, some away swing for Zaheer and nips away further after pitching, Dilshan plays at it, gets a thick edge and among the easiest slip catches goes down at first slip"

:haha:

What is he doing here?

[Syn]

Anders on to bowl. Fancy him to pick up a wicket in his next 5 overs.

[Dennis Bendtner]

SL 16-1

Dilshan went earlier

Pathan with the wicket.

Not sure if Irfan or Yusuf

Not sure even Dhoni is maverick enough to give Yusuf the new ball.

Then again, he probably is

[Syn]

Amla go after them often but when he does...easy on the eye tbf. A few lovely drives in his innings.

I'll tell you something I haven't seen in this innings. Where are the 90mph bouncers? Where's the sledging? Some aggression? Some passion? Bravery?

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Three 4's in a row from Smith on Broad. :lol:

[Cripps_orig]

Just saw Malingas bowling stats

10 overs 0-83

:lol:

He got some treatment from Sehwag tbh and lost all confidence and as expected Kohli took advantage of all of Sehwags hard work. He may have got the century but Sehwag was the star of the show

Malinga should go back to Tests where he can bowl however he wants and not be as disciplined as he needs to be in limited overs matches

[Syn]

Amla hits an uppish shot to the boundary. Out in the sun all day. Frustration building. So Anders sends one high (and wide). At 80.2 miles per fucking hour. I swear I'm not imagining some of these bowlers hitting 90mph consistently in previous months.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

260-2, Bresnan gets Smith!! :haha:

What a way to go.

[Syn]

Thank god for that. Hopefully Kallis/De Villiers play some shots.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

It's Kallis.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

277-2 at tea.

[Cripps_orig]

SL 86-2

Tharanga goes

Ashwin with the wicket

Sehwag with a great catch

[Syn]

"True this pitch is slow, but that isn't the reason for the edge Broad produced not carrying to what would have been a second slip," says Herman. "The reason is his bowling is just flat, he's bowling at 75 mp/h... Should we start the Darren Sammy or Paul Collingwood comparisons?"

SA 295/2

SL-Ind is a close game as long as Sangakkara's in and settled (on 55*) and Mahela Jayawardne's at the crease too.

[Cripps_orig]

SL 128-3

Chandimal gone

Caught Dhoni, bowled Yadav

[Syn]

Actually it's not Mahela, it's his brother. Cricinfo cocked that up but corrected now.

132/4

[Cripps_orig]

132-4

Jayawardene goes

[Syn]

Not saying it's easy but this hasn't been good enough from SA run-rate-wise. If they plan on winning this match, they needed to knock England's lead off by the end of the day (and ideally gained some sort of lead). Now by the time they might work their way up to 380, they'll have about 30 overs to hit 150+ runs.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Amla moves on to 150!

[Cripps_orig]

India should be home and hosed now

Sangakarra is still there but whilst hes on 70 odd, its come from over 100 balls.

Hes going at a snails pace so not much of a threat. A major reason on why SL will lose this. Played a Test innings when a proper innings was needed

No one else to shout home about in their team

[Syn]

Yup, India are safe.

Sangakarra's innings is just about ok but SL were majorly let down by their opener who took about 50 balls to score fuck all. But the biggest blame has to go to their fielders - dropping Sehwag twice was stupid. But not bowling simple line and length to pick up his wicket was worse. You can't let crap like Sehwag score any more than 10 runs against you. You know you've got problems if you do.

[Cripps_orig]

172-5

Mathews gone

Zaheer with the wicket

[Syn]

Sangakkara gets his 100. So 4 international hundreds scored today. In my unbiased (as always) view - and even though I haven't seen a shot of Sangakkara's innings, I must tell you, it is the worst hundred of the day. 3rd place goes to G.Smith. Too tough to call between Hashim and Virat's knocks.

[Cripps_orig]

6 down

Thirimanne gone

Ashwin got it

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Bopara's golden arm. :bow:

Nearly struck again on Amla.

[Syn]

"Can someone please tell me whether Amla is fasting or not?" No, Nadir, he is not during the Test

That's interesting because Usain Bolt's fasting the 100m.



















:haha:

[Cripps_orig]

Beth at The Oval, via text on 81111: "This is the most boring day of Test cricket I have ever seen in my life. Slow batting, pitch offering nothing at all and I can see this game grinding to a draw. This pitch is awful. Does nothing to make the game interesting!"

Tests :haha:

[Syn]

Fuck, it's on for SL now. Still 12 an over needed but they've been maintaining that for a while with both batsmen now set.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Kallis gets his fifty.

Tuck in boys.

[Syn]

SA should be booed off the ground. Negative batting. Do they want to win this game? There are gaps everywhere - at least maintain 4 singles an over.

[Cripps_orig]

"This is proper Test cricket," says Paul Nixon, to my right. "England have had it easy for too long."Sure is proper Test Cricket :sleep:

Also England have had it easy for too long?

Did Nixon miss the winter cricket?

[Syn]

Exciting finish - you can watch it here: http://www.crictime.com/watch-live-cricket-streaming-1.htm

[Cripps_orig]

Sangakarra must have read GW

Hes picked it up and Perera is on 37 from 23 balls

[Cripps_orig]

Alie Harvey on Twitter: (https://twitter.com/#!/search/realtime/%23bbccricket) "Why don't groundsmen make exciting Test match pitches anymore? This is the dullest Test I've seen in ages."

Tests :haha:

It'll be a draw

[Syn]

Tony Greig needs his eyes checked. :lol:

46 needed off 18 balls.

[Syn]

Absolutely nothing wrong with the pitch. Swann got one to turn to first slip. It's just the bowlers have been 5 mph slower than their usual pace. That makes all the difference. Also Kallis and Amla have been too negative. But the pitch seems fine.

[Cripps_orig]

Sangakarra gone!!!!!!!!!!

Yadav bowls him

[Syn]

No way in hell you're excited enough to warrant 10 exclamation marks.

[Syn]

Amazing run-out - direct hit from Raina from the boundary. 271/8.

Game over.

[Cripps_orig]

Raina :bow:

Yoss :haha:

ODIs :bow:

Tests :haha:

The fact a Testicle like Syn is watching the ODI rather than his beloved Tests tells you all you need to know where Tests are heading

[Syn]

I'm watching both tbf.

[Cripps_orig]

SL 275-9

Pathan gets Perera

[Cripps_orig]

http://www.dadyal.pk/2012/07/hashim-amla-true-role-model-for-muslims.html

Amla :bow:

Quite possibly the greatest cricketer of all time imo

Sachin demoted to 2nd

[Syn]

Cricinfo say he isn't fasting during Tests.

[Cripps_orig]

Cricinfo is a bit shit tbh

The twitter of Cricket

Anyway India win by 21 runs

[Syn]

England's lead wiped out. SA 385-2. I must tell you, I didn't see that coming when they were 1-1.

[Syn]

Lovely shot Amla. But "for punching off the backfoot, is there a better player in world cricket?"

Yes, NASA, there is.

[Cripps_orig]

SA should just keep on batting and see how much they can get

It's already heading for a draw so might as well

Has anyone got 1000 in an innings?

[Syn]

Nope. The record is 950 odd by SL vs India in the 90s.

They probably wouldn't even make 1000 if they batted for another 2 days. They're just not going quick enough.

Only De Villiers can win this match for SA by scoring a quick-fire ton tomorrow.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Trott is on to bowl, things are not in a good way.

[Cripps_orig]

400-2

Can we put an end to how England are the best around?

They are widely regarded as the worst number 1 ranked team of all time

Their powderpuff bowling attack has been shown up as being what they are truly are, Pub Teamesque

[McNamara That Ghost...]

403-2 at the close of play. That was a bit one sided.

[Shaqiri Is Boss]

Test Cricket :bow:

Nodded off 3 times just in the afternoon session.

[Cripps_orig]

Just watched a bit of the highlights on 5

Swann is a bit shit isnt he?

Time for Monty

[Cripps_orig]

ABCDEF Villiers must be pretty pissed off if SA declare tomorrow and he hasnt had a chance to bat.

[Syn]

Tough day at the office on a sub continent type wicket. No pace in it at all but we kept plugging away. Bring back the old Oval wicket!
Fuck off Barbie you overrated pile of shit. You want wickets, fucking work for it. This is the mentality that will ensure England will never become a dominant force in cricket. Everyone's good at home. Try winning away you overrated wankers. You'd be nothing without south Africans.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Amla moves on to 201.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Kallis gets his century. :lol:

[Syn]

Can't remember the last time England's bowling attack got dominated like this at home. 492-2 FFS.

[Cripps_orig]

Tbf SA do have an unfair advantage

There are 14 South Africans playing in this match

[Cripps_orig]

Think Amla is odds on to break Laras record here.

Only thing that can stop him is a ****ish declaration from Smith

[Cripps_orig]

250 up for Amla

[Syn]

They should be going Twenty20 mode after lunch. 129 lead. Another 150 off 20 overs should do it.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Amla. :wacko:

514-2 at lunch.

[Cripps_orig]

BBC Test Match Special's Michael Vaughan
"Hashim Amla is one of those players that likes to bat and bat, a bit like Jonathan Trott. Once he gets in, he's hard to get out.

Amla is at least 47 times better than Trott ever has been

[Cripps_orig]

Hamza Bhatti on Twitter: "Amla was clean shaven when he started this innings.":lol:

[Syn]

:lol:

The thing about Amla is his average isn't really representative of his quality. He had a slow start to his career but since around 09 he has been phenomenal.

I would say Trott and Amla are about equal in quality. Cook and Strauss are much better than the SA openers too. But SA's middle order is awesome.

[Cripps_orig]

Id say Smith is better than both our openers tbh

Then again i only ever seen him play in England v England and hes got the best average other than Bradman against us.

No idea how he is against the rest

[Syn]

'us' :lol:

Have a day off.

[Syn]

I'd like to say I'm partisan Belgrade but watching the whiny **** get slapped around the park has been lovely. Have some pride you pathetic shit.

[Syn]

Amla gets the highest Test score by an SAn.

[Dennis Bendtner]

Fuck off Barbie you overrated pile of shit. You want wickets, fucking work for it. This is the mentality that will ensure England will never become a dominant force in cricket. Everyone's good at home. Try winning away you overrated wankers. You'd be nothing without south Africans.

Ha ha. He wasn't complaining on day 1. I must say, watching him and Swann getting royally creamed by the Saffers is quite fun. Tahir's first real test coming up to try and bowl England out. Not sure he's up to it. Not been particularly impressed by him.

[Dennis Bendtner]

150 up for Swann. Good innings.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Spongebob is getting kicked out!

[Dennis Bendtner]

Ravi Bopara would have a fair shout at opening the bowling for India

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Amla moves on to a Leonidas.

I think Strauss regrets that dropped catch from earlier in the game.

[Syn]

Ravi Bopara would have a fair shout at opening the bowling for India

:lol:

That's true enough.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

637-2 at tea. Just declare for god sake.