Cricket Thread

[Syn]

Amla is the new Pirlo, it seems.

[Syn]

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

The smart thing to do now is to declare just after a couple of overs after tea - make the openers go back and disrupt their preparation time.

[Dennis Bendtner]

South Africa have declared.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Syn, I don't think it's going to make a difference for Strauss, he'll feather at a wide one anyway.

Woy interview on TMS. :lol:


England football manager Roy Hodgson on TMS: "I feel really sorry for the bowlers and fielders, the batsmen are playing so nicely. It's such a great experience to watch cricket from here, it's so different to watching it on the TV, which is what I usually do.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Woy thinks Argentina are playing in the Olympic football. Bless.

[Syn]

Cook gone, b philander, c AbDV.

2-1

[Dennis Bendtner]

Cook out for a duck

[McNamara That Ghost...]

:rose:

[Cripps_orig]

Lara breathes a sigh of relief

Smith is a **** tbh

Should have let Amla go for the record.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

32-2, Steyn gets Trott.

[Cripps_orig]

:haha:

Best in the world tbh

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Didn't South Africa have a chase of six to make last time they were in England, or was that the series before?

It was a hard earned chase anyway tbf.

[Syn]

'we' are in a spot of bother, but I think this partnership is key. Too early to throw the towel in, cripps

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Kallis just dropped the Ashes.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

57-3, Morkel bowls KP!

[Syn]

Maccy curse ensures Strauss is in for a biggun.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

He'll probably carry his bat.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

67-4, Strauss goes for 27. Tahir with the wicket.

Me. :bow:

[Dennis Bendtner]

Ollie deserves modship if Bopara plays a match-saving innings.

Actually, if he's still there in half an hour.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

If Bopara stays in from now until the close of play tomorrow, I'll let Ollie be mod for a day. Probably the day we have maintenance work having said that.

[Dennis Bendtner]

Though Bresnan will no doubt be the main reference point for those wanting Finn in the team, Broad has been seriously poor. His attitude in these situations leaves a lot to be desired IMO. There is a much better chance of him bowling well in the next two matches on more responsive wickets, but even then he needs to recognise he will need to bowl well to get the Saffers out rather than quickly lose his rag. He seems to blow very hot and cold. Anyway...Finn to me always looks like he has star quality and I would like to see him bowl. Don't forsee a change though.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Moral victory if England are still there by tea.

Also, come back Colly. :(

And we need the Monty/Anderson partnership to complete the trio that saved the Cardiff '09 test match.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

How on earth didn't Bopara's wicket go flying? Awesome delivery from Steyn, great leave I suppose really.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

That delivery missed the stumps by .8 of a millimetre. :haha:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

117-5, Bopara chops one on this time. Steyn with the wicket.

:rose:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Bell dropped. :lol:

[Syn]

ABdeV's drop could cost his team the match. These two are set now.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Bell was extremely lucky not to be run out there.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

177-5 at lunch.

[Cripps_orig]

BBC Test Match Special's Geoff Boycott
"Once you get in you shouldn't give it away; you should play conservatively. It's much better than you're 70 not out than 150 and out quickly. Savour the hour and nothing else."Boycott :lol:

[Cripps_orig]

BBC Test Match Special's Vic Marks
"It's been an even morning. Bell has done a good job and been very patient. Bopara's dismissal was really frustrating but Prior has been good. It's an absorbing tussle - the crowd are buzzing. They are really into this game and all results are possible."

All results are possible? :haha:

TMS are having an all mighty shocker

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Bell moves on to 50.

[Syn]

Bresnan in now. SA's lead is disappearing quickly.

[Cripps_orig]

Bell gone

Steyn with the wicket

210-7

[LDG]

Bell goes for 55 :rose:

[Syn]

Steyn is amazing.

210-7 now. England trail by 42

[Syn]

Steyn bags it in short and barbie shits himself.

210-8

Steyn 45-4

[Syn]

See ya swanny you talentless stupid ****.

5 for steyn.

[Syn]

England 240 all out. Anderson lbw from tahir.

SA win by an innings and 12 runs.

Hope to see AB de Villiers bat next time.

[Cripps_orig]

Theres still 30+overs left

Should let Amla bat them out and see if he can get the record

[Cripps_orig]

For the loss of 2 wickets, SA scored more runs in one innings than England did with 20 wickets and 2 innings

Utter humiliation

Best team in the world :lol:

[Syn]

Seem like likeable chaps, the SA bunch - in sharp contrast to the smug average shits playing for Eng&SA. Nice interview from Amla and Smith.

I just don't understand what the pitch excuse is. SA managed to take 20 wickets, no problem. What's barbie crying about?

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Fuck.

[Syn]

India win the toss and will bat first. Yet another hundred from Kohli? Would you bet against it? I wouldn't.

[Syn]

Kohli gone for 1 :ninja:

India 33-2

[Syn]

India bowled out for 138. Gambhir top scores with 60 odd.

SL 65-0 after 9 overs.

Cripps :haha:

Come back, Sachin. All is forgiven.

[Cripps_orig]

SL won by 9 wickets

[McNamara That Ghost...]

First test: Windies are 142-0, in reply to NZ's 351. Guptill took 249 balls to make...97. :haha: Poor git.

Gayle is on 84, Powell on 58. Only an over and a bit to go of today's play. Balls.

[Cripps_orig]

An over is enough for Gayle to get up to 120

[Syn]

I was watching a bit earlier.

5 wickets for Narine - good stuff. That said, NZ are garbage.

Gayle :bow:

The only village player (read: no tekkers) I like after MSD.

WI win on the cards if Gayle stays in for another 50 balls.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Speaking of which, Styris made 38 off an over yesterday in the domestic (well domestic for us) T20s for Sussex. :bow: He went on to make a 37 ball century. :wacko:

Gayle has tekkers (in his hands, that bro just doesn't move his feet), it's just masked by the fact he can send it across the Atlantic.

[Syn]

I'm a stickler for footwork. And clearing the front leg doesn't count. Can't argue with his results though - by far the cleanest hitter of a cricket ball that I've seen. Possibly the cleanest hitter in history. Can't imagine Sir Viv could send them further.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Windies close on 145-0.

I'll watch day three until the Olympic Ceremony starts tomorrow, hopefully Gayle goes mental.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

I'm a stickler for footwork. And clearing the front leg doesn't count. Can't argue with his results though - by far the cleanest hitter of a cricket ball that I've seen. Possibly the cleanest hitter in history. Can't imagine Sir Viv could send them further.

I suppose it might prolong his career being rooted to the spot most of the time. Footwork is good though, Windies fans must be in constant fear Gayle is going to be out lbw each time a delivery comes.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Colin Croft says Gayle played a scratchy innings, sounds like Powell has been too.

[Cripps_orig]

Gayle has 85 off 124 balls

Snail pace tbh

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Windies were hitting at five an over at one point? :lol:

Gayle. :bow:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Gayle was bludgeoning it up until 50 it looks like. What happened?

Gayle was dropped on 36. :lol:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

189-0, Gayle got his century.

[Syn]

Still haven't lost a wicket.

If he survives another session, he's on for the world record is Christopher gayle.

In other news, NZ are garbage. India are playing them in a test series next in their route to regain the no.1 ranking.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

273-1, Gayle went for 150.

[Syn]

Nooooooooooooooooooo!

Can't wait for Daverage Sammy to slap it around and declare on 550.

Last time Windies won a test series is 2005. *








* may contain a full-on guess.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Certainly feels like a long time since they won one that wasn't a dead rubber, maybe.

[Cripps_orig]

Chanders was out first ball :lol:

Deonarine is past 50

442-6 at the close

[Syn]

Chanderpaul - best batsman in the world...out first ball to NZ :haha:

In other news, SL vs Ind 3rd ODI: SL, 47-3. Jayawardne and Sangakkara at the crease.

[Syn]

http://p.imgci.com/db/PICTURES/CMS/147800/147814.jpg

Amazing amount of detail for a 3 second skit.

[Cripps_orig]

How many South Africans in there?

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Well done to your local club on the appearance Syn.

[Syn]

lol to both.

[Syn]

SL 223-5 with 6 overs to go.

Pathan just took a 'wicket' off a no-ball :lol:

Hope SL get 270+ to make a game of it. India's record in chases at the sub continent has been ridiculous recently.

[Syn]

SL 223-5 with 6 overs to go.

Pathan just took a 'wicket' off a no-ball :lol:

Hope SL get 270+ to make a game of it. India's record in chases at the sub continent has been ridiculous recently.

[Syn]

A dog has just come on the pitch and shat on the field. Second time that has happened in this innings!

:haha:

A 5 min delay as they clear it up.

[Syn]

Another dog interruption. This one does exactly what the first dog did, so we have another hold-up in play.

:bow:

Anyway 258-5 with 15 balls to go.

[Syn]

SL hit 286-5 off their 50 overs, after being 20 odd for 3.

India's bowlers really are shit. Dog shit, in fact.

Luckily Kohli is the shit and should chase down that record total (for this ground) on his own.

[Syn]

Words cannot describe how much I hate Virender Sehwag. He is such a reckless, idiotic, selfish, talentless, lazy fat ****. If he sustained a career-ending injury tomorrow, world cricket would be better off.

[Syn]

28-1 after 5 overs.

Top scorer is extras.

[Syn]

Unbelievable stat just shown, Dhoni averages 105 in chases with over 2000 ODI runs. The next best on the list has an average of 60 odd.

He truly is a gangster. Gets the job done tbf. Massive nuts. The Djokovic of cricket.

Anyway, Dhoni and India well on their way to chasing down another big total.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

In village land, Sammy somehow managed to go C&B off Vettori by lofting one way in to the air. That was Vettori's only wicket. Sammy did make 50 though.

516-9.

[Syn]

Too much televised village going on. Olympics, Sri Lanka-India, WI-NZ.

The headingly test can't come soon enough.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

It can if England lose again.

[Syn]

India collapse :doh:

Dhoni and Sharma gone. 180-4.

[Dennis Bendtner]

92 off 12...can't be arsed with this series but might watch the finale. Is it on one of the Bollywood freebie channels? Reasonably safe to say Rohit Sharma won't be nearly as good as many thought.

[Dennis Bendtner]

Cricinfo says Gambhir is gone. oops.

[Syn]

92 off 12...can't be arsed with this series but might watch the finale. Is it on one of the Bollywood freebie channels? Reasonably safe to say Rohit Sharma won't be nearly as good as many thought.

It is. Channel 830 something. Zee cafe.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

846.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Raina dropped. :doh:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Tony Greig commentating. :lol:

Make them grovel Greig.

[Syn]

So close...

[Syn]

India win with 2 balls to spare.

Irfan Pathan 34*
Suresh Pidgeon 65* off 45 balls.

Sri Lanka :haha:

India :bow:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

James Taylor has replaced Bopara, they say for personal reasons Ravi won't be involved.

[Syn]

:popcorn:

He might not actually play if England go with Finn but I'm looking forward to seeing this guy bat. Supposed to be a mini KP from what I've read. Would be good to have a shotmaker at no.5

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Windies need 70 runs to win. 32-0 currently.

[Syn]

Gayle knocked off the runs 64* off 49 balls.

In other news, I'm going to be doing some work for the next couple of months with Hawkeye innovations (specifically with cricket). Should be able to sly a few tickets. Guess the only ones we're fighting are BCCI.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Windies won by nine wickets, Gayle hit 64 off 49. :lol:

BCCI should man up.

And so should the rest of cricket - bring back Snicko!

[Ollie the Optimist]

James Taylor has replaced Bopara, they say for personal reasons Ravi won't be involved.

cant see him playing imo, ravi offered a bowling option, so for that reason alone, i can see everyone moving up one in the order, finn playing, that would be best

[Syn]

After correctly tipping an unknown Kent youngster Kevin Pietersen to star status, Syn could be forgiven for resting on his laurels. He didn't stop there, however. Buoyed by that early success - though not without a short period out of the game, Syn jumped to big up an unknown 18 year old Dehli youngster who is now widely regarded as the hottest talent in the sport. Sunil Narine was next, and after a slow start he has taken 8 wickets in his last test match. Today Syn has called the next youngster with prodigious talent. After hitting 83* for Surrey today, Zafar Ansari has caught the eye of the talent-scout with an envious track record. Bookmakers have reacted strongly with Ladbrokes refusing to take bets on whether Ansari will represent England within 12 months.

:popcorn:

Should be interesting to see how this works out tbh.

[The Wengerbabies]

:haha:

[Syn]

4th odi, VK and BS at the crease looking to chase down 250odd.

[Syn]

Sehwag is now out. 52-2 off 9.3 overs.

[Syn]

Rohit Sharma gone for 4. :lol:

What an awful player.

60-3. Tony Greig couldn't sound happier.

[Syn]

The world will be a much better place when Tony Greig kicks the bucket.

[Syn]

Tony Greig and Manjrekar got into an argument live on air (quite passive-aggressive though, fortunately) and now Tony Greig has been changed.

India 128-4

Kohli 52*, Raina 9*

Kohli has scored 770 runs in the last 10 matches - more than any other player, over a 10 match span, in ODI history. Surpasses Hashim Amla last year. Prolific.

[Syn]

Kohli hits another hundred.

106* off 109 balls

27 more runs needed to win. 225/4.

[Syn]

India win with 46 balls to spare and win the series. Fantastic partnership at the end; 146 off 112 balls.

Kohli 128* off 119 balls
Raina 58* off 51 balls

[Cripps_orig]

Always rated Kohli tbh tbf

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Cricket today. :bow:

Come on England.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

England have won the toss and will bowl.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

James Taylor and Finn both play, no Bopara and no Swann. :lol:

[Cripps_orig]

Bopara :haha:

Ollie :haha:

Swann :haha:

[Syn]

Anderson's quality.

Peterson looks like he's going to get out any second.

Cook drops an easy chance.. :lol:

Stick to Tests, bruv.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Cook. :doh:

[Syn]

Finn gets smith out caught behind but hits the stumps on his run up so it's a dead ball.

Not the first time he's done it.

Muppet.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

England really don't want to be pissing about with Smith. :(

[Syn]

Strauss argued the 'dead ball' decision to the umpire by saying 'it's going to happen every over'...

Learn the rules, you dick. The umpire has said it can't happen so tell Finn to sort it out.

[Cripps_orig]

Hitting the stumps in a run up happens every over? :unsure:

[Ollie the Optimist]

Strauss argued the 'dead ball' decision to the umpire by saying 'it's going to happen every over'...

Learn the rules, you dick. The umpire has said it can't happen so tell Finn to sort it out.


but he didnt call it a dead ball the first time he did it. either its always a dead ball or not. cant be both

[Syn]

Hitting the stumps in a run up happens every over? :unsure:

It has happened with Finn 2 or 3 times already and, yeah, according to Botham he does it all the time. Interesting that it hasn't happened since the 'wicket' though...

[Syn]

but he didnt call it a dead ball the first time he did it. either its always a dead ball or not. cant be both

That is such a stupid argument. Its like two stone wall penalty shouts being turned down and then you arguing the third one should be turned down for consistency.

The umpire wasn't sure Smith was distracted by it until he told the umpire. The right call was made, Naseer, Botham - everyone agrees.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Finn needs to sort his life out, it's not like he's Patel blubbering his way to the crease.

[Cripps_orig]

SA 60-0

Petersen has his 50 already

Smith only on 10

[Syn]

That's a sehwag of a fifty. Had about 17 lives in that. Not been impressed by him at all.

[Cripps_orig]

So an entertaining 50 then and scored off 30 odd balls?

The way Cricket should be played

Rather have 50 off 30 balls than 100 off 250 balls

[McNamara That Ghost...]

This was more fun when we were playing the Windies.

[Syn]

:lol:

Don't really get why England wanted to bowl. Unless you're confident of bowling the opposition out on day 1, never bowl first in a test match.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Strauss must've considered it a fluke we only managed two wickets, rather than realising their batting is rock solid. Having said that, the Aussies annihilated us at Headingley in 2009 so I wasn't expecting too much from this one anyway.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

84-0. Smith said he would've batted had he won the toss.

Good work Strauss.

[Syn]

116/0 off 35 overs.

[Ollie the Optimist]

smith is out

[Syn]

Amla run out.

Shit just got real.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Bresnan. :bow:

[Ollie the Optimist]

kallis is out, caught cook bowled anderson

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Play is back on after a very long rain delay. 194-3 currently, Petersen is nearing his century.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Petersen gets it.

[Syn]

Love watching de villiers bat.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

254-4, Broad gets De Villiers for 47. :bow:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Steyn in as nightwatchman. :lol:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

259-5, Finn gets Steyn!

:haha:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

262-5 at the close of play. Fairly even I would say.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

318-6, KP gets Rudolph! :haha:

[Cripps_orig]

Forgot about this

All about the Olympics tbh

Nevertheless Rudolph :haha:

Stick to pulling Santa around on Xmas

[Syn]

Yeah, still don't rate Peterson....

[McNamara That Ghost...]

353-7, Broad gets Petersen!

[McNamara That Ghost...]

375-8, Finn gets Philander.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

414-9, Broad gets Morkel. :bow:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

South Africa all out for 419, Anderson with the final wicket.

Tahir. :wave:

[Syn]

Fuck England&SA. Absolute scum.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

:rolleyes:

Anyway, rain stopped play. In fact that will probably be it for the day.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Strauss has to try and restart an innings.

:rose:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

65-1, Philander get Cook for 24. :doh:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Rain stopped play, again.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

85-2, Strauss goes for 37. :rolleyes:

Steyn with the wicket.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

142-3, Steyn gets Trott. :(

[McNamara That Ghost...]

183-4 at tea, Bell went for 11. :doh:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

KP gets his fifty. :bow:

Please get a huge century. :pray:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Amla dropped KP. :lol:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Kallis bowls one to the boundary. :bow:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

KP nearing his century!

[McNamara That Ghost...]

KP gets his century! :bow:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

320-5, Morkel bowls Taylor.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Smith is injured. :lol:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

England close on 351-5, trailing by 68. KP not out on 149.

[Cripps_orig]

KP :bow:

SA will be proud

[McNamara That Ghost...]

351-6, Morkel gets KP second ball of the day. :lol:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Prior is going well. Run a ball for all batsmen is needed now.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Prior gets his 50. :bow:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

396-7, Philander gets Bresnan. Bresnan was bound to go, only 9 off 50 balls.

[dazthegooner]

Tbh cannot see any other result than a draw unless a dramatic batting collapse (which we all know England are capable of)

[McNamara That Ghost...]

It does seem likely, although there are monster evening sessions to come.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

407-8, Tahir gets Broad for 1. :lol:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

England lead by 1! :bow:

[dazthegooner]

Well we're not the worlds #1 team for nothing you know ;)

[McNamara That Ghost...]

420-9, Prior has his brainfart moment with the sweep yet again.

[dazthegooner]

Well he is running out of batting partners :(

[McNamara That Ghost...]

He was but the sweep is just one shot you shouldn't be doing at that stage. England are terrible at them.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Well ok maybe not Anderson - reverse sweep for four. :haha:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

England all out for 425, a lead of six.

First innings have basically been cancelled out.

Finn didn't even face a ball. :lol:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Rudolph is out there with Smith, Petersen is evidently still injured.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Lightning about, rain stops play. Lunch can be taken as normal though.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

I think it's time there was a reserved day six for Test Matches, at least for Test Series' consisting of two or three anyway.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Rain stops play again.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

120-1, KP's goldenarm works again. :haha:

He got Rudolph, again.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

156-2, KP got Smith earlier. :wacko:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Anderson drops another one!

[McNamara That Ghost...]

182-3, KP has Amla now! :haha:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

209-5, Broad got two wickets in two balls! Getting De Villiers and Duminy.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

223-6, Broad gets Philander! Petersen is in now but he can't be fit.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

230-7, Broad gets Kallis for 27!!!

[McNamara That Ghost...]

247-8, stunning C&B from Anderson to get rid of Steyn!

[McNamara That Ghost...]

258-9, South Africa declare! Broad with a five-for.

KP has to open surely?

[McNamara That Ghost...]

KP does open it up with Cook.

I like that.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

KP hits 12 off the first over. :haha:

Come on!

[McNamara That Ghost...]

21-1, KP goes. :doh:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Down to 198 runs to win. :popcorn:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

75-2, Strauss fucks it up. Full toss hit straight back to Duminy.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Trott is needed to play a T20 innnings now. :lol:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

91-3, Cook goes for 46.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

106-4, Prior run out. He is an absolute pillock.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

It's a draw.

[Cripps_orig]

Why was KP opening?

[Cripps_orig]

Speaking of KP,

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cricket/19138968

Tests :haha:

[PGFC]

KP? the RVP of Englands cricket, just take the money and run you mercenary fuck. :sulk:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Why was KP opening?

The idea was to get runs quickly - at that time it was conceivable England could've played it like a ODI. Didn't work out like that though and the chase eventually died a death with Prior's idiotic run out.

[Cripps_orig]

Ah, didnt realise yesterday was the last day.

Just seen Bell scored 3 runs in 30 odd balls when quick runs needed to be scored and Trott wasnt much better

[Cripps_orig]

India beat SL in a T20 game by 39 runs

Kohli impresses again

[Cripps_orig]

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/cricket/4476359/Kevin-Pietersens-relationship-with-England-team-mates-has-worsened-because-of-a-spoof-Twitter-account.html

England :doh:

KP is our best player by a mile. All this started cos England wont let KP play in the IPL which is the biggest thing in cricket

[Cripps_orig]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cricket/19229566

KPs back from retirement

That lasted long then

[Rors]

KP dropped :haha:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

KP. :lol:

If only he hadn't been such a berk. Bairstow takes his place.

[Cripps_orig]

Wtf?

South Africa have won

[Ollie the Optimist]

piers morgan defending kp by saying strauss and flower have egos :haha:



what a ****

[Cripps_orig]

KP has an ego for sure.

Also is England best player by a mile though and that should come first

[Ollie the Optimist]

KP has an ego for sure.

Also is England best player by a mile though and that should come first

except there are clearly problems. it is right he should be dropped for this test, no way can issues be sorted out, both parties are to blame, but its right that pietersen has been dropped, allows them time to sort out the issues properly instead of rushing them and having more problems later on

[Ollie the Optimist]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00xcm7k piers morgan getting airtime and making the whole thing worse for kp. waht a ****

[McNamara That Ghost...]

The U19 World Cup is on at the moment, in Australia.

India beat Zimbabwe yesterday, highlights were on Sky but not sure about live coverage. Nepal are in this competition. :lol:

Groups as they stand:

Australia
England
Ireland
Nepal

Pakistan
New Zealand
Scotland
Afghanistan

West Indies
India
Zimbabwe
Papua New Guinea

South Africa
Sri Lanka
Bangladesh
Nambia.

There are matches from all groups being played on the same days. All teams have played two out of three games.

[Syn]

W.I seem to be doing yet. Haven't manage to catch any of it. I do enjoy perving on the next prodigious talent. Hoping the freshies put on a show.

And KP - surprised with all this. He is little bit lacking in sense but England will find it hard to replace his quality, I feel. Has Ian Bell got the skills to pay the bills? C'est possible.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Bell needs extra balls to succeed, I think England's best chance is probably a hit and hoper a la Bairstow.

[Syn]

Straussy says it'll take for Kevvo to gain the trust back. Or something like that. Anyway, he's not near a return, as expected.

Hope the weather forecast is clear. Could be a fiery little test this.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Jelly beans to go flying again.

Please cheer me up England & Wales.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Yohan Blake will be ringing the bell at Lord's apparently. :bow:

Also he confirmed he wants to play in the Big Bash League later this year.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

South Africa have won the toss and will bat first.

[Shaqiri Is Boss]

Up 4-30am to see if any last min KP would get a late call... But its Real, No @kevinpp24! So I'm off to Bed!!!


:lol:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Gayle. :lol:

As if we're supposed to believe he wasn't lazing about already.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

22-1, Anderson gets Smith on review!

[McNamara That Ghost...]

What a waste of a review. :lol:

[Syn]

:lol:

:haha:

Gayle :bow:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

49-2, Petersen gloves one to Prior on the dive! Finn with the wicket. :bow:

It's on!

[McNamara That Ghost...]

50-3, Finn bowls Amla! What a ball!

[Syn]

Finn :bow:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

54-4, Finn gets Kallis on review. Seems a weird decision to me.

[Syn]

England cheating their way to a victory. What kind of shit decision is that?

[McNamara That Ghost...]

A shit one.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Where the hell did that delivery from Broad come from? :blink: Absolute belter.

65-4 at lunch.

[Cripps_orig]

65 runs in a session?

SA :lol:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Aggers is speaking to Dravid on TMS.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Alice Cooper is there. :lol:

Finn bowls one to the boundary.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

De Villiers survives an lbw review.

Blake. :bow:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

105-5, Anderson gets De Villiers this time!

[Cripps_orig]

Impressive from England

But SA bowlers are better than ours by a mile so lets see how we bat

[McNamara That Ghost...]

We need KP really.

To get Rudolph out.

[Syn]

Top effort from England. Kallis' (non-)dismissal still annoying me though as he could've made a difference. It's hard to know what a good score is on this wicket until England are batting but suffice to say 123/5 isn't what SA had in mind when choosing to bat. The wicket looks quite good in fairness - maybe the overcast conditions are helping the bowlers a bit more.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Swann is getting smacked back over his head after a long period of barely any runs on his bowling.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Trott is on for a bowl. :lol:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

151-5 at tea.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Blake is in the commentary box now. :haha:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

163-6, Rudolph plays one on to the stumps! Swann with the wicket, he learnt that from KP.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Finn's knee clatters in to the stumps yet again.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Duminy makes 50.

[Syn]

The improvement in the lower order/tail-enders to add runs in the last 5-10 years has been amazing. It wasn't long ago that you could expect to wrap a team up in the next 50 runs once you had them 6 down. These days you've got a dick like Swann with a 30 avg coming in at 10. Big transformation.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Coinciding with T20s perhaps? Times like this I wish England had a proper all-rounder.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

235-7, Anderson finally gets Duminy on 61.