Cricket Thread

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Pakistan make 222 off their 50 overs.

[Syn]

Decent effort to last the full 50.

I predict a tough chase.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

England are 74-0. :lol:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Cook with a fifty, 106-0 currently. :scarf:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

KP is in to the 60's too, about time he got a decent clutch of runs.

[GP]

KP's nuts!

[McNamara That Ghost...]

206-1, KP just got a century. :bow:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Scores are tied.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

England win by nine wickets!

:bow:

[Syn]

I called a tricky chase. :doh:

My cricket predictions are becoming pathetic. Seem to call everything wrong these days - apart from Kohli. :bow:

[Syn]

India got hammered again by the Aussies.

Tendulkar out for 2. :doh:

Is Tendulkar the new Arsene Wenger? Just retire ffs.

Top order collapsing again and the godfather hits another 50.

[Syn]

Ricky Ponting has been dropped from the Australian team. He said he is now "considering his future" and will hold a news conference in Sydney tonight at midnight our-time.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cricket/17094222

It's been great, you talented little prick.

[Cripps_orig]

South Africa beat NZ in a T20 match

Fastest Century in that format by some SA dude

45 balls

Impressive

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Pakistan are 1-1 in the fourth ODI, Dernbach getting Hafeez.

[Syn]

India lose to Sri Lanka by 51 runs.

Key stats:

Sehwag out for a second ball duck.

Kohli is the match's top run-scorer.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Pakistan are 83-1 now off 16.3 overs.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

112-2, Bresnan gets Shafiq for 65. :bow:

[Syn]

Ponting retires from ODI cricket. He leaves as the second highest run scorer in limited-overs history, 3 times world cup winner - having skippered the Aussies in 2 of them.

He will continue in Test Cricket; though he is struggling more than even Tendulkar these days. I'll be surprised if he's still in the team for the Ashes tour.

One good thing about the Aussies is that they don't piss about for sentimental values. No matter how much the player has given, if he's not performing, they chuck him out.

[Syn]

Pakistan 179/4 after 40 overs.

Misbah's not going rapid quick or shockingly slow - just a nice, steady pace. Weird innings from him.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Pakistan made 237, Cook has just gone. 4-1. :(

[McNamara That Ghost...]

KP gets another century. :bow:

193-5.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

KP goes, 236-6. Two needed to win.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Scores are tied.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Bresnan wins it for England. :bow: England win by four wickets. 4-0 in the series. :lol:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

England have the won the toss and will bowl first in the T20 against Pakistan. Three match series. :popcorn:

Pakistan: Mohammad Hafeez, Awais Zia, Asad Shafiq, Umar Akmal†, Misbah-ul-Haq*, Shahid Afridi, Shoaib Malik, Hammad Azam, Umar Gul, Saeed Ajmal, Junaid Khan

England: KP Pietersen, C Kieswetter†, RS Bopara, EJG Morgan, JM Bairstow, JC Buttler, SR Patel, SCJ Broad*, GP Swann, JW Dernbach, ST Finn

[LDG]

Not an Englishman in sight.

[Syn]

Strong team named by both. As always with this stupid format,'a bit of a lottery who'll win. But England seem stronger on paper.

If I was a captain, I would never choose to bowl first in any format or any pitch.

[Cripps_orig]

Finally after ridiculously one sided and dull Test Series and a ridiculously one sided ODI series, we get to the main event.

[Dennis Bendtner]

Buttler's first name is Joseph. I've never heard 'Jos' as an acceptable shortener. Ridiculous.

[Cripps_orig]

Some Pakistani pub teamer gone

Finn with the wicket

37-1 off 3.2 overs

[Dennis Bendtner]

73-5. :haha:

Four wickets in under three overs.

[Cripps_orig]

Boom Boom being one of the wickets

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Boom Boom. :bow: He went for 7.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Pakistan make 144-6.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

48-1, KP goes for 33.

[Syn]

I've just been quietly chuckling at the fact that akmal is a legitmate wicket keeper. Definitely the worst I've ever seen. He can't catch. What's the point?Good start by the south African openers. Here comes Ravi biryani.

[Cripps_orig]

53-2

Kieswetter gone

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Malik. :lol: What a lazy git.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

80-3, Morgan goes.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

110-3, England need 35 off 30.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

113-4, Bopara goes for 39!

[McNamara That Ghost...]

121-5, Buttler goes for 3. :doh:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

121-6, Patel comes in, Patel goes out. :lol: Gul on a hattrick.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Fended off.

23 off 13 needed.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Reverse sweeps. :haha:

I hate them.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

18 needed off the final over. :doh:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

15 off 4 needed.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

13 off two needed. :lol:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

11 off 1 needed. It's on!

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Pakistan win by eight runs!

England. :doh:

[Cripps_orig]

England :haha:

To only lose 6 wickets and not reach a low score like 140 odd is laughable

They are too scared to take risks and would rather play Test pace in the main format of the game :doh:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

England made 150-7 in the second t20, Pakistan are 36-4 currently.

Bopara went for 1. :haha:

Bairstow made 60. :bow:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

50-5. :dance:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

77-6, Misbah went for 13.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

98-7. Azam goes for 21 off 15.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

111-8, Pakistan need 40 off 20. :lol:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Nelson well and truly struck. 111-9, Saeed Ajmal run out on 0 from 0. :haha:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Pakistan bowled out for 112, England win by 38 runs. :bow:

1-1 in the series. :popcorn:

[Syn]

India lose again to Australia and are all but knocked out of the triangular tournament. They have to thrash Sri Lanka (win with a bonus point) and hope that Aussies beat Sri Lanka as well.

Sehwag gets out cheaply again. Sehwag's batting record since boxing day (start of Australian tour)

5, 0, 20, 10, 23, 4, 18, 62, 0, 10, 30, 4, 67, 7

Average: 18.57

This is an Test match opener. To put that in perspective, Graeme Swann has a Test average of 22.62.

He is such a fat, talentless, waste of space. An utter failure. I bet his mother wishes he was never born.

[Dennis Bendtner]

He's a genuine disgrace. India's top-middle order is awful. Tendulkar is a sorry sight. At least Irfan is back. Got more in one innings than Sehwag in the series.

[Syn]

Indian selectors are stupid.

This would be the team I'd select for Tests:

Mukund
Rahane
Pujara
Kohli
R.Sharma
Ashwin
Dhoni
I.Pathan
Aaron
I.Sharma
Yadav

[Dennis Bendtner]

Something like that. It's hard to say which batsmen have the game. But there's some out there and they need to play. Bowling is trickier. They really need to develop a half-decent pool of seamers or they'll get nowhere. India get happy about one (Yadav) whilst the Aussies shit them out like Barcelona. That attack is distinctly mediocre.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Third t20 on now, England made 129-6. KP carried his bat through the innings. Pakistan are 22-1 in reply.

[Syn]

Zia is a clown. Though that was a decision Swann got purely by screaming at the umpire loud enough.

48-2.

82 needed off 76.

And here comes Misbah ul Hero to fail at the godfather role.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

89-3 at the moment, Shafiq was run out.

[Syn]

Broad :haha:How did he miss? Ridiculous player.

[Syn]

Finn looks a lot like Ramsey doesn't he?

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Less of a wuss though tbf.

Also, 22 from 17 needed.

[Syn]

Very tight. :popcorn:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

113-4, it's Boom Boom time!

[Syn]

Broad :bow:

Always been a fan.

Bumble taking the piss out of afretard. :lol:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Bairstow. :doh:

Terrible fielding.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

13 needed from the final over.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

11 off 5 needed.

[Syn]

Misbah's fucked his country over again.

Afridi won't read a slower ball.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Afridi run out?

[McNamara That Ghost...]

He's gone!

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Horrendous wide from Dernbach, that was going out to third man.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

7 from 2 needed. :popcorn:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

They need a six off the last ball!

[McNamara That Ghost...]

England win by five runs and win the series 2-1! 124-6!

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Cook. :bow:

Broad. :bow:

Strauss. :pal:

[Syn]

Well done the south African. Superbly bowled.

[Cripps_orig]

England :bow:

Won the 2 series that mattered

[Syn]

Very interesting match on now. India need 320 off 40 overs to qualify. They are currently 160-2. Kohli and Gambhir at the crease after tendulkar and sehwag fail again.

[Syn]

Gambhir run out for 63. Btw, India 215-3 off 29 overs. 106 needed off 11 overs. Kohli 70*, raina 5*

[Syn]

Kohli has hit 24 off malinga's over. :haha:

[Syn]

India win by 7 wickets.

India 321-3 off 36.4 overs.

Virat Kohli 133* off 86 balls.

[Syn]

Most talented batsman in world cricket by a fucking mile. That was incredible. Not one slog in that innings.

[Cripps_orig]

England drop Morgan for the SL series :lol:

[Cripps_orig]

Just seen the India score

Great win :bow:

All round team performance as Sehwag and Sachin got them off to a flyer and got them miles above the run rate needed and then the slogging of Kohli and Raina bring it home with a well polished 60 odd for Gambhir in between

[Syn]

I'm still buzzing tbh. Incredible chase. Good post match coverage too. One of the best ODI innings of all time. Comparisons being made with tendulkar's desert storm innings in '98 - which richie benued maintains is the best of all time. I agree. But for class and shot-making, this is right up there. He already has a better record than Tendulkar at the same age. Slightly behind in Tests but he has picked up in the last few tests with brilliant knocks on difficult wickets against fantastic Aussie bowlers. This is the beginning of a career of one of the best players of all time.

[Dennis Bendtner]

I knew this thread would be covered in your spunk. I'll watch the highlights at half three. Statistically this is up there with the biggest whippings ever. I think Malinga's figures are the worst ever. Can't say I expected this. Sri Lanka must be demoralised, and now they have to avoid losing the last game.

[Syn]

Think he trimmed his beard for today's game. Looked so fucking sexy.

[Syn]

Sri Lanka narrowly beat Australia so it means Kohli is knocked out.

Malinga does the damage again. The chucker shouldn't be allowed to play. He's the Delap of cricket.

[Cripps_orig]

There was a hat trick in that game by some Aussie Pub Team bowler

Anyway whats up for India next?

[Syn]

There was a hat trick in that game by some Aussie Pub Team bowler

Anyway whats up for India next?

Yeah, Pattinson looks a top prospect. India couldn't play him at all.

No test cricket for ages now for India, at least another 6 months without. There's not much cric involved for them now while they go through a complete shift of management. The selectors, Srikkanth and co. will be stepping down and there will be a new selection committee as well as changes in the coaching staff. Duncan Fletcher should go IMO and they should have an Indian as coach, someone with an aggressive mentality. Someone like Ganguly would be ideal.

Asia Cup starting 13th March. India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Bangladesh in an ODI tournament. First match is India V SL. Usually quite entertaining.

26th Match, first test match between Sri Lanka and England.

[Cripps_orig]

The hat trick was from some Christian dude

[Syn]

Kohli's next challenge - by Harsha Bhogle

Virat Kohli's hundred in Hobart was spectacular, but it wasn't our first sighting of him. He isn't a star newly seen in the evening sky; it isn't his first patent, nor a first novel newly discovered by a publisher. He has nine one-day hundreds, though this one would by some distance be his best, and his record at this stage is comparable to that of anyone who has played cricket - even some of the mighty names that he will probably one day sit alongside.

Kohli has been on the radar for a while, as a player, character and captain. The middle quality, like a middle name, should have been the least conspicuous. Certainly that is the way we have always looked at young players in India. If they strut, put their collar up, wear cool shades, and sport spiked or gelled hair, the eyebrows rise; it influences opinion, defines them. So it was with this brash young kid who could play. Yes, he was brash but everyone who saw him said he could play. You just needed to look at him long enough without letting everything else colour your opinion to know that he could

But it was through those glasses that I first saw him. I had seen a very young Tendulkar, and fine shy young men in Kumble, Dravid and Laxman - people who stood quietly by and spoke when they were spoken to. This kid had a swagger, but I had heard far too much about him to not ask about him. I did. I got a roll of the eyes, that raised eyebrow, and a sideways movement of the head. He was clearly next generation.

But I knew, too, that he had lost his father early, and my mind took me back to an outstanding India Schools player of my vintage who let his astonishing skill slip away with the passing of his father. It is a crucial phase, when you are not quite man and no longer child, when you think you know what you need to do but don't really. In some very articulate interviews later, Kohli spoke of that phase, of being lost and loud at the same time. He did well to get over it because deep down, he could play.

It was the getting-over phase that was to define him, because he was one of those players you kept an eye on, whose name your eyes drifted towards first in a scoresheet. He could have imploded in rage and self-pity, and he admits he scanned that horizon, but he pulled himself back, and it was in winning his battle with himself that he became a cricketer.

Now he has a World Cup medal and a Test hundred; he has opened the batting and played finisher; he is still a young man and the vice-captain of the national side. He knows they are saying that when the time comes for Dhoni…

And people say he is cool, that he brings a sense of calm to an innings. Yes, he can play to the gallery a bit, communicate to the crowd with his fingers, colour his language in many shades ("Shit happens," he said on air as he misfielded once while miked up), but he times an innings well, understands his role, plays the aggressor or the quiet partner (as he so beautifully did when Chris Gayle was annihilating opponents in last year's IPL).

He still likes the leg side, like all young Indian batsmen do. He can flick it there and also muscle it through, and inevitably his wagon wheel will be skewed in that area. But he can play the cover drive, and in an era in which batsmen increasingly give themselves room to play powerful shots on the leg side, that will become the gold standard; that and the straight drive. In the course of that astonishing innings in Hobart, the two shots that stood out were an inside-out six off Angelo Mathews and a cover drive as crisp, as any you will see, off Lasith Malinga.

Now he must battle expectations, for in India we know zero and one, white and black. He will be told he is the next superstar, he will be rated by his endorsements, somewhere the voices around him will seek to overpower the voice within him. He will be wrapped in superlatives and at times condemned with them. Like some before him have, he must find a calm amid the storm that India's cricket can be. It won't be easy. Having overcome himself, it is in overcoming his environment that the next ten years will lie. Maybe 15.

http://www.espncricinfo.com/magazine/content/story/555869.html

:bow:

[Cripps_orig]

Aussies beat SL in the first Tri series final

Both sides scoring 300+

[Cripps_orig]

SL win the 2nd Final

Winner takes all in the 3rd and final one

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Allen Stanford has been found guilty.

:pal:

[Syn]

Australia win the 'deciding final' 2-1 (stupid system <_< ) by 16 runs against Sri Lanka. Ends a great couple of months for them - whitewashing India in the Test Series and winning the triangular ODI tournament. Especially in the Tests, they looked very, very good.

And: http://www.espncricinfo.com/india/content/current/story/556624.html

Rahul Dravid is set to announce his retirement from cricket altogether on Friday. 39 years old. A hero of mine, it must be said. Even in the era of helmets, the number of body hits he has shrugged off is incredible. People will focus on how he was 'the wall' and had sound technique but I think his bravery should have been inspirational for young cricketers. But now a bunch of fannies have filled the Indian team who are scared of the short ball. One of the best of all time, for sure. :bow:

[GP]

Raul David :bow:

Bloody alwsome

[Cripps_orig]

INDIAN batting great Rahul Dravid is set to call time on his glittering international career.

The 39-year-old, who was the one tourist to stand up to England in last summer's 4-0 whitewash, will announce his retirement at a press conference in Bangalore on Friday.

Dravid sits second in the all-time Test charts behind team-mate Sachin Tendulkar, having harvested 13,288 runs in a 164-Test career that spans 16 years.

And Tendulkar himself has led the plaudits, claiming the right-hander will be missed by the Indian team.

He said: "I have shared my best moments with Rahul Dravid. No tribute can be enough for him.

"For me there's only one Dravid. I will miss him in the dressing room and on the field."

Dubbed 'The Wall' for his defence and concentration, no man has faced more deliveries in Test cricket.

But Dravid has also been a world-class one-day international batsman, with more than 10,000 runs in the book to prove it.

Cricket fans will still be able to see the right-hander in the shortest form of the game however, with Dravid down to captain Rajasthan Royals in the upcoming Indian Premier League season.

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/cricket/4180372/Indian-batsman-Rahul-Dravid-poised-to-retire-from-international-cricket.html

2nd best Batsmen of all time

Will be missed

[Syn]

2nd best Batsmen of all time

Will be missed

Nah. But definitely the 3rd best Indian batsman in history.

Tendulkar
(big gap)
Gavaskar
(big gap)
Dravid
(massive, massive gap)
Azharuddin, Ganguly, Laxman etc.

[Cripps_orig]

Too young to have seen Gaviscon play tbh

And im not a big enough cricket fan to look up how he played

Mo Azza is a good shout. Mainly cos hes a muzza tbh

[Syn]

Too young to have seen Gaviscon play tbh

And im not a big enough cricket fan to look up how he played

Mo Azza is a good shout. Mainly cos hes a muzza tbh

Averaged 51 in a very competitive era (not when England and Australia were the only 2 good teams around like Don) without helmets. At a time when nobody could go to West Indies and score runs against their pace attack, Gavaskar hit 3 hundreds and 1 double hundred in a record-breaking 774 runs against them in the Test Series. The thing about Gavaskar was that he was carrying 10 cowards similar to Van Persie, I guess. In an era when you could be intimidated, racially abused on the field, 90mph balls flying past your head - to score the record number of Test hundreds (until Tendulkar broke it) and maintain that average is phenomenal. It's the bravery you have to admire as well as technique. It was much more difficult batting in the 70s than it was in any other era. Cricket got very ugly when Aussies and WI emerged as the best.

And I know you'll respect him for this scorecard and his wonderful attempt at chasing down a mammoth England total in an ODI game: http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/current/match/65035.html

Must be the best scorecard in history, really.

[Syn]

Press conference over. Dravid has indeed retired from all forms of cricket - aged 39.

A tearjerker of a speech tbh. A highlight:



My appoach to cricket has been reasonably simple: it was about giving everything to the team, it was about playing with dignity and it was about upholding the spirit of the game. I hope I have done some of that. I have failed at times, but I have never stopped trying. It is why I leave with sadness but also with pride."

http://www.espncricinfo.com/india/content/current/story/556782.html

One comment on cricinfo: "Not just an emotional moment for Rahul Dravid himself, but also for millions of his fans like me who have grown up watching him bat."

Dravid :rose: :bow:

[Dennis Bendtner]

:rose:

Team player is a good description, but it'd be underdoing his batting talent. Nevertheless, the England series last year was a good summation. Far and away India's best batsman, kept wickets, often went out to open after India's bowlers took a beating. All as the oldest Test cricketer.

Most of my earliest cric memories involve him somehow. Eden Gardens v Australia in 2001. His performances in England a bit later on - that series was the first I really followed.

Great batsman, great professional. He could be a decent pundit imo. But it was definitely time to go.

[Cripps_orig]

England will be ranked 1 for sure on April 1st after SA v NZ first test was washed out

This means they'll get some money

[Syn]

India hit 304/3 after their 50 overs against Sri Lanka in the Asia Cup.

Gambhir and Kohli scored 100s.

Tough chase.

[Cripps_orig]

India won by 50 runs

[Cripps_orig]

Monty got 5 wickets in a warm up match :bow:

In other news, SL were all out for 188 v Pakistan

Pakistan are on 130 odd for 3

Test wise, NZ 185 all out

SA 27-2

[Cripps_orig]

Pakistan win by 6 wickets

[Syn]

God gets his 100th 100.

ODI against Bangladesh; 226/2 off 43.4 overs currently.

Tendulkar 100* off 138 balls

:bow:

Retire. Now.

[Syn]

Tendulkar out for 114.

Is that his last ever innings?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cricket/15647684

[Cripps_orig]

Finally

Its what the whole sporting world has been waiting for

Little Master :bow:

[Syn]

BBC are clearly prepared. A bunch of articles have been posted up just now on the BBC Sport homepage.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cricket/14618853

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-16330855

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cricket/15641803

[Syn]

Tendulkar speaks: "It's been a tough phase for me. I started off the season batting reasonably well, i was luckless. I was not thinking about the milestone, the media started all this, where ever I went, the restaurant, room service, everyone was talking about the 100th hundred. Nobody talked about my 99 hundreds. It was slightly different, the ball was not coming onto the bat. It hasn't sunk in but I've definitely lost about 50 kilos. Doesn't matter how many hundreds you've scored, you still have to put your head down and score for the team. Dreams do come true. I had to wait for one for 22 years (the World Cup).

Tendulkar was talking to Ramiz Raja. He was a tired man when he spoke. Like he said, nothing has sunk in.

http://www.espncricinfo.com/asia-cup-2012/engine/current/match/535797.html

[Syn]

http://p.imgci.com/db/PICTURES/CMS/143500/143578.jpg

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Tendulkar. :bow:

What a man.

[Cripps_orig]

Hope this isnt the end for Sachin

Think he has one more WC in him.

Plus India have no one coming through the ranks so hes needed.

[Syn]

India ended up losing to Bangladesh. :haha:

[Cripps_orig]

India lost but dont really care

Result wasnt important

Sachin :bow:

Little Master :bow:

[Dennis Bendtner]

I checked it now and again on cricinfo. Yeah...looks a selfish knock. Gangstadesh blitzed it. Time to go.

[Syn]

BBC Sport's Ben Dirs:


Dear Sachin,

You don't know me, although I do know you. Actually, I don't really know you, but like hundreds of millions of others, I think I do. Which is why you can't leave the house. Sorry about that, but take it as a compliment: that's what happens when you are one of 'the few'.

What, you might ask, are 'the few'? Well, the way I see it, 'the few' are those sportspeople so great - the greatest of the great, if you will - that they can't even pop out for... well, anything actually, for fear of being trampled to death in Morrisons (or wherever it is celebrities pretend they do their shopping in India).
If it's any consolation, we've got a bloke in our country - well, he used to live here, before he outgrew Morrisons - called David Beckham, (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/15835237.stm) who might know how you feel. But, between me and you, with Becks, it's as much about his looks, which means he's not strictly one of 'the few' at all, more a very good footballer who they let in because he has a nice face.
Sorry, that didn't come out right, but please don't take it the wrong way. What I'm trying to say is, with you, it's all about the talent (and maybe a little bit about the face). But anyway, your skipper Mahendra Dhoni has got the 'Indian Becks' thing pretty much sewn up. (http://indiatoday.intoday.in/gallery/dhonis-hairdos-inspired-by-beckham/1/4483.html)

Apologies, I just realised I haven't actually told you why I got in touch... Congratulations on your 100th international hundred! And while I've your got attention, well done onwinning the World Cup. (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/8350950.stm) And all those World Cup records you hold. Oh, and those 15,000 Test runs. (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/15638424.stm) And the other 18,260 in one-day internationals (sorry, by the time you get this, you'll have probably passed 20,000). Actually, I meant to ask, is there a batting record you don't hold?


Remember Maggie Thatcher? You probably don't, you were only a kid at the time, but she was our Prime Minister when you first toured England with India in 1990. (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/14192094.stm) The reason I mention her is that there used to be this great piece of graffiti on a wall somewhere in London which read: THATCHER OUT. To which someone had added: LBW B ALDERMAN.

My point being, Terry Alderman, (http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/player/3943.html) who made Graham Gooch look silly in the 1989 Ashes, (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/8063342.stm) was still playing Test cricket when you started out - and he made his first-class debut in 1974. And now, 22 years after you made your Test debut (when I was 13, probably acting the goat in double history) you're still around. That, my friend, is what you call 'longevity'.

I saw you play at The Oval in 1990. Well, I saw you field. David Gower, a childhood hero, scored a ton that day. We loved Gower in England, thought he was great, but he wasn't one of 'the few', he just made us think he was with that gorgeous cover drive of his.
Of course, what I know now is that greatness is about more than looking willowy at the crease - it's far more about sheer weight of numbers. And while the unfurling of Gower's strokes resembled honey dripping off the back of a spoon, numbers-wise, he is but a delicate butterfly crushed under your steel-rimmed wheel. Then again, who isn't?
Brian Lara, (http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/player/52337.html) maybe? Sorry to bring him up in the middle of what is essentially a love letter, but that lad could bat a bit, too. And many said he scored his runs with more style than you: as languid as Gower, but as rapacious as Bradman when it came to making runs.

But Lara called it quits five years ago, while you're still here after 22 years of unrelenting pressure, shouldering the expectations of billions, and it never managed to diminish you. When you call it a day, it will be on your own terms, and even some of your fellow 'few' (Lara, Diego Maradona, (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/9117904.stm) Babe Ruth (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babe_Ruth)) weren't able to do that.

They say things have got easier for batsmen in recent years - flatter tracks, smaller boundaries, not as many wicked fast bowlers on the prowl. But you made your debut against Wasim and Waqar and played against pretty much all the recent greats - Ambrose and Walsh, Donald and Pollock, McGrath and Warne, Muralitharan. You even played Test cricket against Sir Richard Hadlee, (http://www.espncricinfo.com/newzealand/content/player/37224.html) for pity's sake, and old 'Paddles' is now in his sixties.
You had a bit of a blip a few years back, in 2006, when England's quicks got after you and you kept getting hit. It was a bit like watching Muhammad Ali being bashed round the ring by a thrusting Larry Holmes. But while Ali was shot to pieces by that point, the following year you racked up 776 Test runs at an average of 55.4. Not much of a blip.

You know what somebody said to me the other day? "Tendulkar - great player, little bit dull." Bit out of order, to be honest. Dull - why? Because you don't abuse opponents? Or get boozed up in nightclubs? In more than decades at the pinnacle of your sport, under the glare of more than a billion adoring countrymen and women, there has been barely a hint of controversy. That doesn't just make you a little wonder, that makes you pretty much a miracle.
This is getting a little bit embarrassing now - a little bit This Is Your Life, I didn't mean to come over all mawkish. But the thing is - and this is another thing that elevates you above the merely great - it is doubtful whether we will see your like again, because after you've gone, cricket, which is threatening to splinter into a thousand parts, may never be the same.

To play 188 Test matches... well, the mind boggles. And given the indifference towards Test cricket from many modern fans, surely no-one in the future will come close. Which means you could be one of Test cricket's last true superstars - like silent movie stars before 'talkies', a titan from a more innocent, more romantic, seemingly more lustrous age.

You know what someone once said about Chaplin? "It is doubtful any individual has ever given more entertainment, pleasure and relief to so many human beings when they needed it the most". (http://www.seroundtable.com/google-charlie-chaplin-logo-13280.html) Given how long you've been on the job, given how many people there are in your country and given the grinding poverty many of them still live in, I reckon you might just have trumped him. Which is why I wanted to say thanks.
Yours sincerely,
Benjamin (you don't know me)

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/bendirs/2012/03/a_letter_to_sachin.html

[Cripps_orig]

India v Pakistan tomorrow :popcorn:

[Cripps_orig]

Aussies 204-8

WI 140 all out

Aussies win by 64 runs in the first ODI

[Cripps_orig]

Pakistan got 329-6 off their 50 overs

2 openers both got centuries

No Sehwag in the India team so defeat is inevitable

[Syn]

Gambhir goes early as usual.

The two best batsmen in world cricket at the crease now.

300 partnership coming up.

[Cripps_orig]

195-2 off 31 overs atm

Tendulkar is gone for 52

Kohli flukes a century

Sharma going well on 30 odd

[Syn]

India win with 2.1 overs to spare

India 330/4 off 47.5 overs.

Kohli 183 off 148 balls
Sharma 68 off 83 balls
Tendulkar 52 off 48 balls

Another standard knock by Virat Kohli.

:coffee:

[Dennis Bendtner]

183? wtf? :lol:

He scores when he wants. Amazing run of form.

[Syn]

Amazing talent. 23 years old, 11 ODI hundreds, 1 Test hundred (though he has only played 8 Tests). It's a better record than Tendulkar had at the same age. The funny thing is, he's more of a Test player than a ODI slogger. Incredible tekkers on display today...though you did only have to tap it for it to reach the fence. You get good value for your shots on these ice-rink subcontinent outfields.

[Cripps_orig]

Fair play to Kohli.

Hes had a shocker of a career so far but he stepped up today

[Syn]

Fire in Babylon is on iPlayer.

If you haven't seen it, do watch it. You shan't regret it. I've talked about it before but it's an absolutely fantastic documentary on WI's domination on cricket in the 70s/80s.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b01cqp77/Storyville_20112012_Fire_in_Babylon/

[Dennis Bendtner]

Saw it in Hampstead a while ago. Very good. Would have liked to see more cricket clips, but enjoyed the interviews too. Richards is a bit of a don.

[Syn]

Bangladesh beat Sri Lanka to reach the final of the Asia Cup. So it's Pakistan vs Bangladesh in the final on Thursday.

But I'm watching an ODI between Australia and West Indies atm. Australia 212-9 and Dwayne Bravo has just made a fantastic run-out. I'm sure it'll be on youtube soon - he didn't try to pick it up because there was no time. So about 15 yards away, side-on (about 1, 1.5 stumps to hit) he sidefooted it into the wickets. I bet there are footballers that couldn't have done that.

"I wonder if Arsene Wenger's watching" says Ian Ward.

[Cripps_orig]

Pakistan beat CK by 2 runs in the final

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Looking like the West Indies will go 2-1 up against the Aussies in their ODI series (this is the fourth).

David Hussey has just gone for 57. 196-7 currently, Aussies need 99 more. 39 overs gone.

[Syn]

Looking like the West Indies will go 2-1 up against the Aussies in their ODI series (this is the fourth).

David Hussey has just gone for 57. 196-7 currently, Aussies need 99 more. 39 overs gone.

Did you see that beamer at Brett Lee?

Lee wasn't happy. Next up, he gets one up his ribcage. :bow:

Love to see the Australians squirming...though Lee is one of the more likeable Aussies.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

:lol:

Yeah I did. West Indies bringing back the 70's and 80's. :bow:

A likable Aussie is still an Aussie.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Brett Lee has gone mental...three fours and a six from the first four balls of this over. :haha:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

24 from the over. :wacko:

Maybe summoning the spirit of Joel Garner et al isn't the best idea after all.

[Syn]

Same fantastic hitting. Hope it lasts for a bit and we get a close finish. Still a long way to go for the Aussies, but they have got 3 wickets in hand.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Lee smashes another one for six. :haha:

[Cripps_orig]

Did you see that beamer at Brett Lee?

Lee wasn't happy. Next up, he gets one up his ribcage. :bow:

Love to see the Australians squirming...though Lee is one of the more likeable Aussies.

Mainly for this


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3EcWmkObJfQ

Lee :bow:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

McKay goes. 235-8. :lol:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Brett Lee gets his half century. Another six. :lol:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

And another!

Bloody hell.

[Syn]

Mainly for this

...

Lee :bow:

That's true enough.

Russell's being a twat bowling slower balls.

Slower balls are such a dick move. The cricketing equivalent of a nutmeg. No serious bowler would rely on it.

This would be epic of Lee pulls this off. Fantastic hitting.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

250-9! Come on WI.

[Syn]

Christ, this is pathetic support. All you need to do is nudge it to 3rd man and keep Lee on strike. How hard is it? No need to be a hero or play a Gower cover drive. Morons.

Ah well.

Aussies :pal:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

That's true enough.

Russell's being a twat bowling slower balls.

Slower balls are such a dick move. The cricketing equivalent of a nutmeg. No serious bowler would rely on it.

This would be epic of Lee pulls this off. Fantastic hitting.

That's Sajid Mahmood's stock ball you're insulting.

[Syn]

:lol:

In village cric, anyone who bowls a slower ball is treated like a footballer wearing white boots. Though, at our level, it's hard to tell what a slower ball is when everyone's military medium.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

One too many swipes by Lee. 252 all out, great innings though. West Indies win by 42 runs.

Aussies. :haha:

West Indies. :bow:

[Syn]

That's a comfortable win. Well played the Windies.

Narine the star of the series so far - the batsmen can't pick him and they might well struggle in the Tests if he's bowling like this.

[Cripps_orig]

That's a comfortable win. Well played the Windies.

Narine the star of the series so far - the batsmen can't pick him and they might well struggle in the Tests if he's bowling like this.The guy who picked up one wicket and that a tailender?

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Colin Croft is buzzing.

Ian Harvey. :lol:

[Syn]

The guy who picked up one wicket and that a tailender?

Yes but he also only conceded 20 runs off his 10 overs. He effectively turned a target of 294 from 50 overs into 274 off 40 overs.

In the series so far, he has figures of: 1/24, 4/27, 3/32....he has had a fantastic series so far. But, as I said, the batsmen can't pick him. They don't know which one's going to turn, which one's the wrong'un and which one goes straight on. Very impressive for such an inexperienced player.

Pollard's been great with the bat, too.

[Cripps_orig]

Yes but he also only conceded 20 runs off his 10 overs. He effectively turned a target of 294 from 50 overs into 274 off 40 overs.

In the series so far, he has figures of: 1/24, 4/27, 3/32....he has had a fantastic series so far. But, as I said, the batsmen can't pick him. They don't know which one's going to turn, which one's the wrong'un and which one goes straight on. Very impressive for such an inexperienced player.

Pollard's been great with the bat, too.Never heard of him before today but those stats do seem impressive and hes a spinner? WI might actually have a decent spinner? When if ever did they have one?

As for Pollard, when hes good, hes Sehwagesque. When hes shit, hes Kohli

[Syn]

Never heard of him before today but those stats do seem impressive and hes a spinner? WI might actually have a decent spinner? When if ever did they have one?

Yup. Similar bowling style to Ashwin.

Windies also have a decent leg-spinner Bishoo who normally does well when at home so the Aussies might well be in a tough battle in the Tests.



As for Pollard, when hes good, hes Sehwagesque. When hes shit, hes Kohli

He's an amazing fielder. Up there with Jonty Rhodes tbh. He's incredible in the field. No tekkers with the bat and that's ultimately why he'll never succeed in the truest form of the game. It's a shame Chris Gayle can't sort something out with the Windies Cricket Board. Imagine Pollard and Gayle in the same line-up...

[Syn]

Btw this was the Bravo run-out I was on about the other day:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aiDB73FmWjk

Our back up to Van Persie. :bow:

Sign him up, Arsene.

[Cripps_orig]

I'll make a thread closer to the time but til then, heres the group stages for the T20 World Cup in September


Group A
England
India
Afghanistan

Group B
Australia
West Indies
Ireland

Group C
Sri Lanka
South Africa
Zimbabwe

Group D
Pakistan
New Zealand
Bangladesh

[Syn]

England and India always seem to be in the same group for World Cups.

Can't wait to play Bin Laden CC.

Group D is the group of shit.

[Syn]

Windies - Aussies in the last ODI.

Australia 193-3 and Brett Lee comes in at no.5 :haha:

Gets one in the ribcage first ball from Roach.

[Dennis Bendtner]

I like this Windies team. Quite encouraging to see their players in spite of the cricketing structure there clearly being poor. Physically strong all-rounders, and basically all of them are excellent fielders. Their Test side is on the up, too, with two or three promising batsmen. The younger Bravo and Edwards standing out. I'm not sure where they shat Bishoo and Narine from, but they look as promising as most young spinners. More normal than watching 6ft 10 Suleman Benn bowling finger spin, anyway.

Wouldn't bet on them winning this game, though.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Wade just speared Hilfenhaus! :haha: Brilliant catch by Hilfenhaus in spite of it.

[Dennis Bendtner]

Darren Sammy. :haha:

Another mentalist. 48 off 19 balls at no.9.

[Syn]

:haha:

Windies have always been everyone's second favourite side. Village cricket, it is. They can only bat one way.

[Cripps_orig]

Its the 5th ODI?

Whats the series score so far?

[Syn]

5th and last, yes.

2-1 Windies is the current score. Looks like it'll finish 2-2 unless Sammy can pull off a miracle here.

Dhoni would do it. :coffee:

[Syn]

Fuck. Russell out for 41 off 33.

Bloody DRS. We don't need it. The Indians had it right all along :bow:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

What a shot from Sammy.

:haha:

[Dennis Bendtner]

Really really hope he pulls it off. He is a maverick.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

That's it. :(

2-2 though, better than the West Indies have usually done in ODIs against the Aussies.

[Dennis Bendtner]

nnnnnnnnnoooooooooo

[Syn]

The Windies had a real chance if that Russell decision wasn't referred. But obviously it was the right decision in the end.

Good stuff from the Windies. Really hope they can give the Aussies a good battle in the Tests.

More interestingly, 1st Test between Sri Lanka vs England on in a few hours.

England have warmed up quite well this time and Sri Lanka are struggling in form so England are favourites. No Malinga, Vaas, Murali or any threatening bowlers for SL this time. Mendis is a decent spinner and maybe #decent is all it takes to bowl England out on sub-continent wickets. But I'm backing England to at least draw the series. Hope it's close.

[Cripps_orig]

Monday, 26 March 2012
Test match series
First Test Match
Sri Lanka v England, Galle, 05:30

Tuesday, 27 March 2012
International Twenty20 Series
West Indies v Australia, Gros Islet, 19:00

Thursday, 29 March 2012
ICC World Cricket League
Afghanistan v Netherlands, Sharjah, 05:00

Friday, 30 March 2012
International Twenty20 Series
West Indies v Australia, Bridgetown, 19:00
International Twenty20 Match
South Africa v India, Johannesburg, 17:00

Weeks fixtures

[Dennis Bendtner]

Forgot that was tomorrow! I'd say England 1-0, but hard to know what Sri Lanka will be like. Don't think Mendis makes the squads these days. Found out as a circus freak. Main question will still be how England play Herath, given the epic fail against Rehman in the UAE. Doubt it'll be as bad. Tests in Sri Lanka can be dull as shit. Hope there are decent wickets prepared. Samit Patel might debut. You worry about him in the heat...

[Syn]

Hang on...so the Twenty20 WC starts when SL and England are in the middle of a Test series :blink:

How does that work?

[Syn]

Tests in Sri Lanka can be dull as shit.

Yup. And they're only playing a couple. SL get ranking points for draws so if they were as Gervinho as me, they'd drive a tank over the wicket and bat for 3 days.

[Cripps_orig]

Hang on...so the Twenty20 WC starts when SL and England are in the middle of a Test series :blink:

How does that work?:blink:

The T20 world cup starts in september

The T20 games this week are just matches before or after a Test series between whichever countries are playing

[Syn]

:blink:

The T20 world cup starts in september

The T20 games this week are just matches before or after a Test series between whichever countries are playing

Ah I see.

Not a real competition so didn't know what was going on.

:blink: :blink:

[Cripps_orig]

Its one of only 2 competitions Cricket have tbh, the other being the 50 over one

Well worth winning.

And India have won both in my life time.

And recently as well

India :bow:

[Dennis Bendtner]

Yup. And they're only playing a couple. SL get ranking points for draws so if they were as Gervinho as me, they'd drive a tank over the wicket and bat for 3 days.

I just checked. Neither ground is the one that hosted the epic 700 plays 700 Test when India toured last. So hopefully it'll be watchable. A draw would be pretty good going for the Lankans.

re. T20 WC, how do the groups work again? Is it top two go through? Looks like England and India struck lucky with OBL. Those tournaments are a decent watch. It's just these utterly pointless one off T20s like India are playing next week which take the piss.

[Cripps_orig]

Yup top 2 go through in to the quarter finals and so on from there

You'd expect the big 2 from every group to go through

[Dennis Bendtner]

Well it'll depend on one off short games. Gangstadesh are capable even though they're a bit shit. Dunno. Hope for some bowl outs or super overs or whatever.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Sri Lanka are 129-5 currently. Mahela on 62.

Anderson with two wickets, Broad and Patel with one each. One run out. Patel's wicket was his first in tests. :bow:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Anderson puts one down, great effort though, given it was a one-handed attempt.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Sri Lanka 168-5 at tea.

[Cripps_orig]

211-7

Jayawardene has his century and hes still there

Anderson got another wicket and there was a run out

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Mahela. :bow:

It looks quite warm there.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Mahela isn't afraid to give it a good whack tbf.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

253-8, Patel gets his second wicket!

[Cripps_orig]

Swanns a bit shit isnt he?

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Monty drops one, palmed it over for six in fact. :lol:

Mahela gets his 150. :bow:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Monty puts another one down. :haha:

Mahela stays in.

[Syn]

He's taken some cash, he's taken some caaaaaash, Monty Panesar, has taken some cash.

[Cripps_orig]

Monty has dropped the Ashes :popcorn:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Quick Monty, go for a toilet break.

[Syn]

Broad gets an official warning. I don't understand why he'd follow through on the wicket considering England have to bat last.

[Cripps_orig]

Were the chances difficult for Monty?

[Syn]

Were the chances difficult for Monty?

Nah. First one was just a piss poor attempt, and the second was an absolute sitter - went up in the air, had plenty of time to set himself and just shat himself.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Well they're made difficult when you can't decide how you're going to catch it.

Broad always follows through on the wicket, you'd think they sanction a ban on him bowling by now.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Tuck in Sri Lanka, tuck in.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Sri Lanka close the day on 289-8.

[Syn]

Anderson 17.0 5 56 3
Broad 17.0 0 66 1
Panesar 23.0 11 42 0
Swann 23.0 3 92 0
S Patel 9.0 1 27 2

Why hasn't fatty Samit bowled more? Prolly too tired.

England's day, just about, but both sides will be happy at this stage.

If England can get them out around 320, 330 then it's good.

If England could catch they'd have had them for around 250

[Dennis Bendtner]

Anyone following South Africa? More specifically, Philander? He's got 51 Test wickets at an avg. of 13 now. Gone mental (admittedly all in good bowling conditions). One for England to watch in the summer to go with Steyn and Morkel.

You're always suspicious about the utility of a 3rd spinner. Have to see how Samosa bats to judge that call.

[Syn]

Yeah, I've been watching bits of it because it's on at a good time. But didn't catch the last day, 6-81 for Philander. He doesn't seem to be as quick as the others but looks a powerful bowler nonetheless.

Seems like a lot of teams are carrying 3 90mph bowlers now.

SA: Philander, Steyn, Morkel
England: Anderson, Broad, Finn
Australia: Pattinson, Hilfenhaus, Siddle

Pakistan arguably might well have had the best had it not been for the bans: Gul, Amir, Asif

Talking of which - did anyone catch the Atherton interview of Amir on Sky Sports? An hour long. Was on anytime but it's gone now. It was interesting. Amir sounds quite innocent in the sense that it looked like he was tricked/intimidated into it. But obviously he has to accept some sort of punishment. The word he used to describe his actions was 'stupid' a lot (though his English vocab is limited). I genuinely feel quite sorry for him. A 5 year ban is too much IMO.

[Dennis Bendtner]

South Africa have another young quick playing this Test, can't remember the name. Australia have Cummins and Starc too. Ryan Harris is very good but constantly broken. England - Bresnan and Tremlett. Most bowl around 140. Good bunch.

That Amir thing was good PR. Very unconvincing reason for giving bank account details out and shit. Clearly not the main man but doubt he was fooled into it.

[Syn]

The no-ball itself was funny as fuck. He ran about halfway down the wicket.

It was good PR - I think Sky Sports/England are trying to support a movement to reduce the ban. Don't think it'll happen though.

[Cripps_orig]

Had SA won this series 3-0, they'd have gone to the top of the Test rankings

England :lol:

Fortunately for the English, rain washed out day 5 of the first Test with SA on course for victory meaning its a draw and a 3-0 was avoided.

England are a bit shit

[Dennis Bendtner]

The no-ball itself was funny as fuck. He ran about halfway down the wicket.

It was good PR - I think Sky Sports/England are trying to support a movement to reduce the ban. Don't think it'll happen though.

:lol: yeah. They wouldn't be bothered if he was crap. At least when he comes back now people know his 'story'. Other two needn't bother.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Sri Lanka were bowled out for 318. Mahela going for 180.

England's batsmen have responded in true fashion. 68-4. :doh:

Pietersen got an astounding 3. Cook out for a duck. Trott 12 and Strauss 26.

Bell and Prior are in currently.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

80-5 now. Prior went for 7.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

122-7. :doh:

[Syn]

Herath ffs. All he does is drop it middle/off every ball.

Imagine if Murali was chucking them here.

[Syn]

Get forward Bellend!

157-9

[McNamara That Ghost...]

It's down to Monty and Anderson now.

Monty just hit a boundary. :bow:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

England all out for 193.

Monty got to 13. :bow:

England's top order letting the team down, again.

[Cripps_orig]

England :haha:

They are truly alwful

[Syn]

Tony Greig reckons England will be happy to bowl SL out for 200, leaving them chasing 326 for victory.

How has he still got a job?

[Syn]

Broad bowls Dilshan :haha:

Dilshan is pub-team filth. Another Sehwag. No tekkers whatsoever.

The two Jayawardnes and Samanaweera or whatever his name is are the ones to watch.

Good start for England.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Tony Greig reckons England will be happy to bowl SL out for 200, leaving them chasing 326 for victory.

How has he still got a job?

Clearly it's not by doing research.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

8-2, Swann gets Thirimanne!

What a ball. :bow:

[Cripps_orig]

Swann gets Mahela

14-3

[Syn]

Wow! England's bowlers are quite good tbh.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

41-4, Swann gets Sangakkara!

[Cripps_orig]

Big 3 all gone

If England werent so shit at batting, they'd win this.

Dont think SL have any other decent batsmen bar the big 3 and they are gone

[LDG]

:dance:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Athers in the gym.

:doh:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

72-5, Swann gets Samaraweera! Stumped by Prior.

[Syn]

Massive wicket, that.

[Dennis Bendtner]

Trott's wicket was quite funny. Looks like Chandimal will just go for his shots.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

84-5 at stumps.

Swann. :bow:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Oh dear. Broad no balled when Sri Lanka had been considered all out.

[PGFC]

Oh dear. Broad no balled when Sri Lanka had been considered all out.

Yup, now it's all going to shit :sulk:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Sri Lanka all out for 215, England need 340 runs to win.

[LDG]

We have the time. Do we have the batsmen.

LoL

Come on boys!!

[Syn]

52-2 and Trott's just survived a very close lbw shout which could've gone either way (umpire's call according to DRS).

Strauss' shot was ridiculous. Came down the wicket and clipped it straight to mid wicket. :doh:

[Syn]

Sangakara drops Pietersen. Looked a pretty simple chance despite what Nick Knight says.

[Cripps_orig]

FFS KP

Boring the place up

Needs to play his natural way. Not this boring ass way

[Syn]

Stumps, 111-2.

Not a bad start. :popcorn:

[LDG]

Hmmm. Tough ask.

We need anther 100 off the next 2 or 3 wickets I reckon.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Strauss needs to sort his life out.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

England are 195-4, Trott on 85. Off 211 balls. :bow:

Pietersen went for 30 and Bell went for 13. :rolleyes:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Prior with a great shot for four and then nearly gave his wicket away next ball. :doh:

Trott on strike, he's on 97.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Trott gets his century! :bow: