Cricket Thread

[McNamara That Ghost...]

233-5, Prior goes for 41. I am sick of seeing English batsmen get out with a sweep.

[LDG]

Knife-edge stuff.

Trott needs to stay in for another 50 or so, and good support needed from Broad and Swann....if we get down to the two tail-enders still needing 50....squeaky bum time!!

[LDG]

Patel goes. England 253-6

Broad in pain, so this could all end sadly :(

[LDG]

Trotts wicket goes straight after. Knock of 112.

256-7

England :rose:

[Cripps_orig]

Thank fuck for that

Trott is terrible

[LDG]

Swann goes for 1.

Bollix.

259-8 at the interval.

[Syn]

Well done the South African, again.

[LDG]

Herath bowling his pants off....6 for 96 off 38.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Just too many failures with the bat.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Herath bowling his pants off....6 for 96 off 38.


BBC Test Match Special's Geoffrey Boycott

"I am delighted. It's about how many runs you get, not how you do it. I could be here for a record-breaking day! Herath wasn't troubling anybody. He's a nice, little spinner but not one who can get bounce."

Nice one Boycs.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

264-9, Anderson goes.

:rose:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

264 all out, Monty goes first ball.

Sri Lanka win, well done to them.

Strauss, you're a tit.

[LDG]

I think we need to drop KP.

He's not playing his game anymore. He's trying to play test cricket, and it's just not him. He's more dangerous when he's aggressive.

I don't think you can drop cook, for everythinghe's done. And Trott is a decent number three.

Strauss should be dropped, but won't be for obvious reasons. His form with the bat has been pretty woeful bar a few knocks for a couple of years now.

[Cripps_orig]

Last 6 wickets for 31 runs :lol:

Wonder if Botham still thinks there is no one to challenge England for many years at the top of the game :haha:

[LDG]

We just can't seem to play conditions which aren't native to us.

Until we learn to play away from home, we're always going to be an "ok" team.

We ain't number 1 in the world. That's for sure.

[Syn]

The thing is, Sri Lanka aren't even good. They were a much better team a couple of years ago.

Herath with 12 wickets :lol:

18 out of the 20 England wickets were taken by spinners.

[Syn]

We just can't seem to play conditions which aren't native to us.

Until we learn to play away from home, we're always going to be an "ok" team.

We ain't number 1 in the world. That's for sure.

The thing is, everyone's shit on the road and everyone wins at home.

I would still say England are the best but there's very little in it. Should be interesting in the summer - after England trounce the Windies and become the greatest ever team again - when SA play England and then England go to India.

[Cripps_orig]

From @NishTrivedi85: "Without wishing to sound smug, didn't India get a LOT of abuse for losing 4 in a row as world No. 1 away from home?"Well said

At least India were number 1 for a couple of years before they fell apart.

England have been number 1 for a matter of months.

Worst number 1 ranked team ever? in any sport?

[LDG]

Worst number 1 ranked team ever? in any sport?

I think that honour goes to Sp*rs around January......


:pal:

[Cripps_orig]

Broad a doubt for the 2nd Test

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Beefy. :lol:

Giving barely any credit to Sri Lanka.

[Syn]

Beefy. :lol:

Giving barely any credit to Sri Lanka.

Sky Sports in general. All the focus on the England drop catches etc. without considering the fact that SL dropped some too. But I guess it's the same in all countries. I know on the Indian channels, the talk is never about how the opposition were better, it's always about who to blame.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

I suppose that's true but I guess they forget how last year they gave Sri Lanka no hope in hell bowling without Murali.

[Cripps_orig]

Aussies beat WI in the T20 by 8 wickets

[Cripps_orig]

Broad is out of the 2nd Test

Also if England lose that, SA (the real ones, not England&SA) will take top spot

[LDG]

Broad is out of the 2nd Test

Also if England lose that, SA (the real ones, not England&SA) will take top spot

Charlied

And :lol:

[Syn]

India vs South Africa Twenty20 on in 10 mins. India win the toss and elect to field.

SA are playing their second string and India are playing their best line-up.

[Dennis Bendtner]

I'm not entirely sure why this game is even happening, but India's pile of shit bowlers got the treatment. :lol:

[Syn]

I'm not entirely sure why this game is even happening, but India's pile of shit bowlers got the treatment. :lol:

Must've been the shittest bowling line-up ever named in any form of the game.

I honestly reckon I'm quicker than the Kumar pie-chucker brothers. Vinay and Praveen...half-trackers at 78mph ffs.

The good news is that it actually gives the best and most in-form batsman in world cricket right now a challenge. V.Kohli ton coming up.

[Cripps_orig]

SA got 219-4 off 20 overs

Kohli going for more than 15 an over :lol:

Alwful player

Bit of a shocker from India

[Dennis Bendtner]

Must've been the shittest bowling line-up ever named in any form of the game.

I honestly reckon I'm quicker than the Kumar pie-chucker brothers. Vinay and Praveen...half-trackers at 78mph ffs.

The good news is that it actually gives the best and most in-form batsman in world cricket right now a challenge. V.Kohli ton coming up.

It was quite a painful watch. Raina bowled the last over, when the Kumars had 3 left. :lol:

At least Gary Kirsten can have a good larf at what he left behind.

[Cripps_orig]

SA win by 11 runs (D/L)

India were 75-0 off 7.1 overs

[McNamara That Ghost...]

West Indies have just beaten the Aussies in the second t20. :bow:

Series is shared, 1-1.

First test between the two sides next Saturday. :popcorn:

[Dennis Bendtner]

Quite a few people commenting on pressure on Strauss now. It's a fair call. Doesn't make many runs these days. But I don't know of many up and coming batsmen. Anyway, the fact there's an obvious captain-in-waiting (Cook) will surely increase that pressure. Will Graeme Smith end another England captain's career?

[Cripps_orig]

SL v England 2nd test tomorrow

Could be Englands last match as number one ranked team

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Sri Lanka are 108-3. Anderson with all three wickets. Sri Lanka were 30-3. :doh:

Mahela is on 50.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Strauss drops Mahela. What a berk. Mahela is on 83.

173-4.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Mahela got another century. :bow:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

And 216-5! Swann gets Mahela. :dance:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

227-6, Finn gets Prasanna!

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Sri Lanka close on 238-6.

[Cripps_orig]

238 runs in a day is a bit shit isnt it?

[Cripps_orig]

Panesar was dropped? :doh:

Flowers gone if they lose this

Alwful coach

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Sri Lanka were bowled out for 275.

England are 49-0.

[LDG]

Sri Lanka were bowled out for 275.

England are 49-0.

Interesting.

[Cripps_orig]

Thats probably their best opening partnership for 3 years seeing as Strauss is a bit shit these days

[McNamara That Ghost...]

83-0 at tea.

Strauss is in danger of getting a good score.

[LDG]

:faint:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Strauss and Cook both move on to 50's.

:bow:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

122-1, Strauss goes for 61. :rolleyes:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

England are 154-1 at stumps.

[LDG]

Pretty decent day for England. Nice and steady it seems :d

[Syn]

Great day for England. They have to aim to only bat once but even a lead of 100+ will put them in a comfortable position.

In other news, village filth of the IPL variety starts today. ITV4 has the coverage, starts at 2:45pm. Tendulkar's Bombay vs. Dhoni's Madras.

[Cripps_orig]

I finally have ITV4 in my room so can watch this in its entirety

Real cricket :bow:

Just read that the 2 millionth Test run was scored yesterday by Mahela Yossarian whatever. Feel sorry for whoever had to count that up

[GP]

Great day for England. They have to aim to only bat once but even a lead of 100+ will put them in a comfortable position.

In other news, village filth of the IPL variety starts today. ITV4 has the coverage, starts at 2:45pm. Tendulkar's Bombay vs. Dhoni's Madras.

Sounds delicious.

[LDG]

I finally have ITV4 in my room so can watch this in its entirety

Real cricket :bow:

Just read that the 2 millionth Test run was scored yesterday by Mahela Yossarian whatever. Feel sorry for whoever had to count that up

Funnily enough. It probably was Yoss.

[Cripps_orig]

Mumbai Indians won by 8 wickets

More importantly, Tendulkar had to retire hurt

Hope hes ok

[LDG]

England on 315-3

Cook went for 94, and Trott followed him after putting on 64.

KP is on 77, and Bell seems to be settling in too.

Looking alright tbf :d

[McNamara That Ghost...]

KP moves on to 90.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Ah ok, 96. :lol:

Buffet bowling from Dilshan. KP is annoying them with the switch hit.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

:haha:

KP keeps going for it, Dilshan keeps pulling up. Umpires have given KP a warning I think.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

KP gets a test century again. :bow:

[LDG]

I think we need to drop KP.

He's not playing his game anymore. He's trying to play test cricket, and it's just not him. He's more dangerous when he's aggressive.

I don't think you can drop cook, for everythinghe's done. And Trott is a decent number three.

Strauss should be dropped, but won't be for obvious reasons. His form with the bat has been pretty woeful bar a few knocks for a couple of years now.


:ninja:

Me :pal:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Mathews just dropped Bell. :lol:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

347-4, Bell goes for 18. :doh:

[LDG]

Hmmm. What lead is required do you think?

100 lead by the end of the day should be possible. And we should really have enough wickets in hand to bat until lunch at least....

Hmmmm

[LDG]

Bell goes. Fuck that shit I just wrote.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Hmmm. What lead is required do you think?

100 lead by the end of the day should be possible. And we should really have enough wickets in hand to bat until lunch at least....

Hmmmm

Ignoring what just happened, I'd say anything upwards of 200 should be enough, at least enough to give England a comfortable chase. By the end of today, I think it should be well over 120, if KP and Prior stay in.

[LDG]

KP is a few away from scoring 100 in one session :o

[McNamara That Ghost...]

352-4 at tea.

[LDG]

KP banned from using the switch hit :lol:

[Cripps_orig]

:blink:

Why is he banned from playing a certain kind of shot?

Umpires :doh:

[LDG]

:blink:

Why is he banned from playing a certain kind of shot?

Umpires :doh:

It's more to do with the changing of hands before the ball is released, as I read it.

Apparently it's time-wasting :lol:

[Cripps_orig]

Andrew Chillman on Twitter: "Jayawardene 105 from 313 balls. KP 105 from 112 balls. KP warned for timewasting. Eh?"Well said

[McNamara That Ghost...]

380-5, Prior went for glory. :rolleyes:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

The lead is 119 now. :lol:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

150 for KP. :bow:

[Cripps_orig]

MCC STATEMENT ON KP SWITCH-HITTING ROW
"Law 42.10 states that a batsman should be ready to take strike once the bowler is ready to start his run up (which Pietersen clearly was). If he is not then the umpire should warn him as the first and final warning. If he isn't ready again then the umpire should award five penalty runs to the fielding side."

Um so whats the problem? Hes cleraly ready if hes scoring runs

[McNamara That Ghost...]

411-6, KP goes.

[Cripps_orig]

And with him, all hope

[McNamara That Ghost...]

419-7, Bresnan goes for 5.

:rose:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Swann just belted one for six. :blink:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

He's out next ball. :lol: 454-8, Herath has five-for.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

458-9, Anderson goes.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

England all out for 460. Sri Lanka to come out for one over. :lol:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Sri Lanka have a nightwatchman in.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Four leg byes to start off. :lol:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Sri Lanka close on 4-0.

[Cripps_orig]

So England should get a nice confidence boosting wicket early tomorrow

SL :doh:

[Syn]

ITV4 - a twenty20 game has been delayed by rain and now they've just started a 12 over game... :haha:

Pathetic.

Disgusting to see greats like Kallis whoring themselves to this farce.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Sri Lanka are 111-3, Anderson, Finn and Swann with the wickets. Mahela and Sangakkara are in.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

125-4, Swann got Sangakkara. :bow:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

139-4 at tea.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Really tough chance for Bresnan put down, one handed jumping backwards.

[Cripps_orig]

Monty would have caught that

[McNamara That Ghost...]

After it hit the ground perhaps.

[Cripps_orig]

211-4

Mahela passes 50

[McNamara That Ghost...]

215-5, Swann gets Samaraweera! Well, Samarweera blocks it down on to the stumps. :lol:

First ball of his spell yet again.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

He has another one! 215-6, Randiv bowled with a beauty of a delivery.

What a nightwatchman. :bow:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

The end of Swann's over. What a man. :bow:

[Cripps_orig]

Credit to Monty for that tbh. His presence has put pressure on Swann to perform again after being a bit shit for a while

[McNamara That Ghost...]

218-6 at stumps, Sri Lanka only lead by 33.

Monty. :bow:

Best drinks man there is tbf.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

So let's just digest what it all means. England will start the final day with a 33-run lead

BBC. :haha:

[Syn]

From the neutral's POV (which I am not. Quite wanted South Africa to get battered), it would've been nice if Swann hadn't ruined everything by taking 2 wickets right at the end. The ball that got Samane..Yoss out wasn't played well but the turn he got was great. Realistically I think chasing down 200 would've been too much for England (if that sort of turn was consistent) but, as it looks, they won't have to chase triple digits.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Sri Lanka were bowled out for 278, leaving England 94 to win. Swann got six-for. :bow: Most importantly though, he got Mahela very early on in the day.

England are 53-2, Strauss went for a duck. :rolleyes: Trott went for 5.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

It's 42 degrees celsius there. :blink:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

10 off two balls for KP just there. :lol:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

England need five more to win.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

England win by eight wickets! :bow:

Shame the series is tied at 1-1 really. On to the West Indies for England in a month. England stay No.1. :bow:

West Indies vs Australia first test starts today. :popcorn:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

KP gets MotM.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Mahela gets MotS.

[Japan Shaking All Over]

Yay England. . .still #1 but could have been a bit different

Next WI should be safe. . .however would never have said that when I was at school. . .Richards, Greenidge, Haynes, Marshall, Holding to face. . .awesome team

[Cripps_orig]

So they'll be number one for a while longer then

They'll surely beat West Indies.

Who else is coming over?

Wonder if the pundits still think England are still this all mighty all defeating cricket machine that shouldnt have any problems for a few years

Botham :haha:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

ODI series with the Aussies and then the Test series with South Africa. That's only three tests, it's usually four. Don't get it tbf. Although test series should only ever be an odd amount.

[Cripps_orig]

England&SA v SA should be good :popcorn:

Might be working at the Oval if they have a Test/ODI/T20 match there this summer and if it doesnt clash with the Olympics

[McNamara That Ghost...]

West Indies are 158-2 at tea.

[Cripps_orig]

291-5

4 batsmen have reach 50s

3 have gone

Chanderpaul still there though on 58

[McNamara That Ghost...]

335-6 now. This one will probably be a draw.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

426-9, Chanderpaul is still grinding it out. 96 from 225. :haha:

[Syn]

He's great.

Another very underrated player along with Kallis. Two Test greats, they are.

W.I wickets tend to disintegrate by day 3 so the Aussies might have a battle on their hands to save this match.

[Dennis Bendtner]

Windies have an opener (Braithwaite) - 57 off 199 this innings. A career S/R of 33.75. In the IPL era it's quite :wacko: to have Boycott reincarnations at 19 years old. But yeah, Chanders is a good role model.

[Cripps_orig]

Come back Gayle

All is forgiven

[Syn]

Yeah, he took his time. Usually after 2 days of batting you score around 600 and it might've given them a good chance to get the Aussies in on a follow-on.

Think they're a bit shy on quality bowlers too. Bishoo might cause some problems on day 4/5 but for pace - Edwards and Roach are garbage. They just try to bounce the shit out of you which only works against the fannies from the sub-continent.

[Dennis Bendtner]

I suppose they'd be very happy with a drawn series. Rampaul improved a lot as a bowler but as he's not playing I assume he's injured.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Chanderpaul got his century. :bow:

What a trooper. England have problems getting rid of Chanderpaul IIRC, hope that isn't the case in a month or so.

The West Indian Big Man is calling for a declaration.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

449-9 they declare on.

[Syn]

Chanderpaul got his century. :bow:

What a trooper. England have problems getting rid of Chanderpaul IIRC, hope that isn't the case in a month or so.

Just get everyone else out.

Windies are shit travellers - England could play a full English team and win comfortably.

The biggest danger is the weather.

[Cripps_orig]

Aussies on 248-5

Ponting out cheaply

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Ponting. :lol:

Time to give it up old man.

[Cripps_orig]

366-9 at lunch on day 4

Looks like a draw

[Syn]

Australia might win. :faint:

Amazing turnaround.

[Dennis Bendtner]

Windies have had a shocker. I was watching a bit of the Aussie tail. It didn't just wag, it battered them. Think the last 3 wickets put on over 150. And now they're 34-4 heading into the final day. FFS. Why?

[McNamara That Ghost...]

West Indies are 134-9.

[LDG]

:lol:

[Syn]

Forgot about that. Very interesting indeed.

If the pitch has really deteriorated, do they risk going for it? I suppose they'll go for it early on and then block the shit out of it if necessary. Nobody has been able to score 3 runs an over on this pitch so I'll be very surprised if the Aussies manage to do it.

[Syn]

You have to admire the Aussies, really. It's not often that - away from home - a captain of the touring team decides to declare on a deficit. Amazing confidence. If it had backfired, he'd be fucked.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

West Indies were all out for 148. Should be quite an exciting finish tonight. :popcorn:

And Syn, they're the Aussies, they'll always go for it. Michael Clarke is very much like that as a person anyway.

[Syn]

Rain. :banghead:

[Syn]

And we're underway. :dance:

Warner is the key, I think. Lose him early and the Aussies might retreat a little. He's a quick run-getter and if he's there after 25 overs, Aussies will have little left to do.

[Cripps_orig]

How many do Aussies need?

[Syn]

10/0 atm, so another 182 to win.

(Target 192)

Around 60 overs left if all goes well. But no team has managed to keep up a RR of over 3 an over so far in the match. You'd be a brave man to predict it'll happen on Day 5.

This is where your 'they could score fast but choose not to' theory comes into question.

Bet you a gazillion quid they won't chase it down.

[Dennis Bendtner]

Ed Cowan is useless. Ed Coward, tbfh.

[Syn]

He's taking the piss.

[Cripps_orig]

In an innings where quick runs are needed, Cowan has 28 from 80 odd balls....

Need i say more?

[Cripps_orig]

Cowan gone

126-3

Cheers from Aussies and WI fans :lol:

Tests :haha:

[Syn]

Ponting gone. :haha:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Come on Windies. :bow:

[Dennis Bendtner]

Ponting is shite.

Infact the aus batting is generally quite shite.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

140-5!

[Dennis Bendtner]

This is like guiding an ODI chase for Hussey. Bloody reverse sweeps.

[Cripps_orig]

Deonarine has 4 wickets

[Syn]

This is like guiding an ODI chase for Hussey. Bloody reverse sweeps.

Warming up for the IPL.

At least he didn't put it first over his country like some of the other idiots (Pollard, Gayle).

[Cripps_orig]

More a case of putting excitement over being bored imo

[Syn]

Not long left in the game now. Bad light is starting to hit.

:popcorn:

They'll have to get it down in less than 10 overs, I think.

[Cripps_orig]

40 in 10 overs?

Piss easy tbh

[Syn]

They might not even get 10 overs.

They've got to get a move on.

[Syn]

Fuck. Sun's out and Hussey's smashed a six.

[Syn]

Time-wasting from the windies :lol:

Are you footballers in disguise?

[Syn]

Fair play, Hussey.

This will be a cracking win for the Aussies.

[Cripps_orig]

184-6

Wade gone

8 needed

[Cripps_orig]

7 gone

2 runs needed

[Syn]

You've got to say well played to the Aussies. Great mental streff and belieff.

[Cripps_orig]

Aussies win by 3 wickets

Good fight shown by WI though

[McNamara That Ghost...]

:(

[Syn]

IPL Twenty20 going on atm:

With 7 balls to go, RCB were on 198-3.

Then 5 wickets fell in 6 balls. :haha:

And the last one went for 6.

http://www.espncricinfo.com/indian-premier-league-2012/engine/current/match/548318.html

Stupid 'cricket'.

[Syn]

England 'jealous' of IPL - Pietersen
Kevin Pietersen (http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/player/19296.html) has blamed England's lack of enthusiam for the IPL on "jealousy," fuelling the debate over attitudes towards India's all-consuming Twenty20 tournament. Interest in the IPL remains limited in the UK, with media coverage virtually non-existent and more attention given to the start of the County Championship season.
Pietersen, who along with Eoin Morgan is the only current England international in this year's IPL, believes he knows why. "The IPL is very much struggling to find acceptance back home," he told reporters in India. "It saddens me because I have had an amazing time at the IPL.
"It's down to a lot of jealousy I think, which is sad. It saddens me, all the negative publicity the IPL gets in the [UK] media, I don't know why."

:popcorn:

I'm not a fan of the non-cricket farce but I think he's right - the England cricket team is against it purely because they're jealous. If they could get picked up and earn the sort of money Pieterson, Owais Shah and others are, then they'd go in an instant. Every country - SA, Australia, WI, NZ etc. have more cricketers there than England. Who on earth is going to pick Cook - as solid a batsman as he is.

[Cripps_orig]

Spot on from KP.

It had been hoped that England winning the T20 World Cup, it would spark more interest in real cricket but nope, England are too set in their ways and would rather be first in a format of a game that isnt that popular anymore than be as good as they can be in a format that has saved cricket.

England need to move with the times

[Dennis Bendtner]

I just watched it. Chennai needed 45 or something off the last two overs. Syn's hero thought he was an all-rounder and got destroyed by Morkel. 28 runs. :haha:

Then some lucky edges took them home. Quite liked that.

[Syn]

Fuck, they chased it down?! I stopped watching exactly at that point - they needed 40 odd off 13 balls or something.

Shit. 28 runs in an over is quite excessive.

Kohli hit a lovely 50 though tbf.

[Dennis Bendtner]

57 off 46. Whilst Gayle was going at 2 a ball. Stick to Tests mate. Leave real cricket to the others™

[Cripps_orig]

Kohli :haha:

JFC he is shit

Come back Sehwag, all is forgiven

[Syn]

His giant ego probably would've taken a battering after that bowling performance though. The benchod.

[Cripps_orig]

Also those 2 overs were heard around the world.

More excitement, drama, skill, quality etc in thos 2 overs than any Test ever

Think Tests have offcially died

[Dennis Bendtner]

Owais Shah is going mental in the IPL. Worth a go for England's ODI/T20 squads imho. At least for the games in Asia, anyway. I am more tolerant of his annoying batting face nowadays. Good lad.

[Cripps_orig]

Kohli flopped again i see

Stick to Tests

Leave the real cricket to the talented players

[Syn]

It's a bit annoying that there's not much proper cricket on right now. Windies-Aussies is a bit of a joke because Windies' 3 best players are playing joke cric in the IPL (Narine, Gayle and Pollard).

Others have commented that my man-crush on Kohli is getting disturbing tbh. But I'll be very smug when he establishes himself as the greatest batsman of his generation. The talent is so obvious I can't believe others haven't caught on. The other day, in Tendulkar's '100th 100 party', Sachin said Kohli was capable of breaking his 100 100s record. Just needs to keep his mind fixed on cricket and he'll get there. If he lets the money and fame get to him, then he won't. The talent is there, but only the mentality can be questioned. So far, he's passing with flying colours.

[Cripps_orig]

In bigger news, cricket is back in Pakistan.

CK and Family will go there this month for ODIs

[Syn]

Second Test match. Windies 53-3 after Australia scored 290 odd.

Chanderpaul is on 1 off 30 balls. :bow:

[Cripps_orig]

Aussies got 311

WI got 257

Aussies 40-2 in 2nd innings

This Cowan guy is alwful

[Cripps_orig]

KP gets his first ever T20 century and says its the greatest feeling of his life

Tests :haha:

Ashes :haha:

being number one in tests :haha:

[Cripps_orig]

Aussies declared on 160-8

WI need 215 to win

Currently 17-2

[Syn]

Aussies declared on 160-8

Amazing. To set a target of only 215.

You have to admire the Aussie confidence.

Bloody weather's ruined it.

[Syn]

There's a documentary starting now about the 1981 Ashes on ITV4.

[Cripps_orig]

Tbf it was the last day

Either do that or draw

[McNamara That Ghost...]

West Indies need 162 to win with one session remaining. Unlikely.

53-2 at tea.

[Cripps_orig]

Ended as a draw

[Japan Shaking All Over]

Rainy Days :fury:

[Cripps_orig]

Aussirs 136-3 at tea in the 3rd test opening day

[Cripps_orig]

212-7 at the close

Only one half century in there by Warner who got 50

Some Pub Teamer has 4 wickets

[Cripps_orig]

328 all out

Wade got a century

WI 3-1

[Syn]

Shitwag hit 87* off 40 odd balls in the IPL. Some good village shots in his innings.

[Dennis Bendtner]

Windies are annoying. Do the hard work and let pub team tailenders stay in. They would have a fair chance at drawing this series otherwise. Happened in both previous Tests. Oh well.

Delhi should win the IPL pretty easily. Kevinder Singh Pappuson wowing the crowds.

[Cripps_orig]

WI 165-8

They were 120-8 but Chanderpaul and Rampaul are fighting back

[Japan Shaking All Over]

Chanders got his half ton, close to 10,000 runs but down to last wicket

[Cripps_orig]

WI need 219 more to win

7 wickets remaining

151-3

[Cripps_orig]

Aussies win by 75 runs

[Syn]

Chanderpaul is the new no.1 ranked batsman in the world after averaging 80+ against Australia.

Australia move up to 3rd in the Test Rankings, SA still 2nd, England 1st.

England Vs West Indies on in a few weeks. It'll be a non-contest unless Chanderpaul is able to keep blocking and it rains a lot.

[Cripps_orig]

ENGLAND wannabes from overseas must now play SEVEN years of domestic cricket before they turn out for the national side.

3 comments


Under the previous rule, players such as Kevin Pietersen had to wait four years before becoming eligible for England.

South African-born Pietersen, whose mother is English, played five seasons for Nottinghamshire before making his international debut in 2004.

But now all male cricketers who arrive in this country after their 18th birthday must pay their dues over seven years of county cricket.

The England and Wales Cricket Board can still reduce the residency period to four years for players who either come from a non-Test playing country or who arrived in England before April 25.

England&SA :rose:

[Cripps_orig]

Mohammed Asif freed from jail after serving half of his sentence

[Syn]

I've just seen the best piece of fielding ever. By Steve Smith, in the IPL.

Stopped a 6, flying over the ropes, released the ball just in time. Incredible athleticism (is that a word? Should be anyway).

[Dennis Bendtner]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ivYV09JkFVA

My days. That's fantastic. I remember him pulling off a stupidly good save whilst mic'd up once.

In fact, here:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eGf7D6LAzzs

Quite enjoying having the IPL on in the background sometimes. Need to reduce the length though.

[Dennis Bendtner]

Danny Morrison genuinely shot his load earlier, over some pretty special AB De Villiers batting. Right here, this evening, in Bangalore.

[Syn]

I saw that. Amazing from De Villiers? Right here? In Bengaluru.

Special player? Is AB.

[Syn]

Only Danny Morrison commentary I could find: "They are rejoicing and loving it, on a Friday night "


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YCcNSmP-OXQ

Why aren't there more?

[Syn]

Watching BPL atm with Delhi bowling; Varun Aaron and Yadav at either end. Get them into the test side. Now. Trundlers at 135 kph can't do shit. Though troubling cowards like Gambhir isn't really a sign of a quality. They all start bricking it. Fucking hate Indians. No mental strength at all.

In other news, WI are struggling against Sussex but helped by the rain. In truth, a fairer contest would be for Sussex to play a Test Series against WI - I very much doubt the Windies could even draw.

[Syn]

Steve Smith again pulls off an amazing catch - for some reason it's not given. He caught it on the boundary, was stumbling over, lobbed it in the air, jumped on the boundary line to palm it forward, and then jumped forward to catch it. Don't understand the problem but wasn't given. Hopefully it's on youtube soon - it was fantastic.

Steve Smith is just ridiculous. Fucking Arshavin look-a-like.

[Syn]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ojuxp7586CE&feature=related

:blink:

It looks better at full speed.

It was the catch equivalent of lezbo's goal against Fulham.

[Dennis Bendtner]

:lol: He is great. Remember Mathews doing something similar, but it wasn't given as six:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=saKJdNhDB_4

Something they ought to clarify with umps, but six is prolly the right call.

[Syn]

Good BPL match on, right here, on ITV4, on a sunny Saturday afternoon.

Loving it, are the freshie residents of north London.

Win the toss? Dhoni's having a field.

[Syn]

Sehwag :haha:

Such a fat fucking fuckwit.

I'd love to bowl at him. Fucking bouncer through the grill. Least he deserves for being such scum.

[Syn]

Great match on now - Bangalore vs Bombay

It's a bit surreal - De Villiers (who is my new favourite cricketer) is talking to the commentators during play...i.e. while the bowler's bowling. :blink:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

England vs West Indies First Test starts on Thursday.

Get Chanderpaul out and we'll win. :scarf:

[Cripps_orig]

Where is it?

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Lord's.

[Syn]

Come on rain.

If it keeps pissing down, England lose massive ranking points.

Chanderpaul and rain. They're the Stoke City of the cricket world.

The stupid thing is - their best players are away in the IPL. If Pollard, Gayle, Bravo, Narine were in the Windies team, they could put up a little bit of a fight.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Sky's programme starts now. :dance:

The rain can sod off.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Brian Lara is one of the commentators/pundits. :bow:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

England win the toss and will bowl first.

[Syn]

110 all out.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

:lol:

200 I reckon. Come on official team list. I know Bairstow and Bresnan are in for England though.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Strauss (c), Cook, Trott, Pietersen, Bell, Bairstow, Prior, Broad, Bresnan, Swann, Anderson.

Morgan. :lol:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

West Indies team: "AB Barath, KOA Powell, KA Edwards, DM Bravo, S Chanderpaul, MN Samuels, D Ramdin†, DJG Sammy*, KAJ Roach, ST Gabriel, FH Edwards."

[Syn]

England Top 4 will fill their...erm, bats.

I know it's not real kirkut but Pietersen looked good in Indian pub cric. Played quite well, too.

Barath is a Sehwag - he'll score 30 off 12 balls or nick it behind for a 2nd ball duck. Don't know about Powell. Edwards is promising but won't hack it on a cold day in Lndon, Darren Bravo is worth a 30 odd, Chanderpaul...you're not going to get him out, but he won't do any damage either. 14 not out off 123 balls coming up, so just get his partners out, Samuels is village, Ramdin is village, Sammy will hit a quick-fire 50, the rest can't hold a bat.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

The scoreboard at Lord's says Pollard is opening. :lol:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Barath gets the first runs with a boundary. Nicely struck.

[Syn]

Ha, what ridiculous swing from Anderson.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Bodyline series. :bow:

Anderson swings one right in to Barath's guts.

[Syn]

This is quite gentle pace by Anderson and, particularly, Broad's standards. 82-83mph.

Send one in at 90mph+ and it'll be too much for them. Although Anderson is getting some epic swing by being a trundler.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

I guess Anderson doesn't want to try a 90mph belter at the moment as it'll probably go out to gully.

Nice shot by Barath again. No singles yet though.

[Syn]

Is this what passes for good commentary debate? Holding's right - nobody has played swing well against England recently. They've not been able to because it has been good. It's pretty much the only reason they're the no.1 ranked side - the pace bowlers (particularly Anderson) have been getting it to move about and take early wickets with a swinging ball.

WI won't play swing well just because they're not good batsmen, apart from Chanderpaul. It has nothing to do with swing bowling being a weakness. The red ball swings in WI too.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

And if what Nasser says is true, they've selected Bresnan specifically for swing then that is falling in to the trap England have had for years - without swing, they don't have much else. I don't think that's accurate but it's effectively what Nasser is saying.

I suppose he can't really spend half an hour in the 3rd man position and only come up with: they're a bit shit really. Even if it's true.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

13-1, Anderson gets Powell.

:bow:

[Syn]

The biggest difference for me, and I've said this lots of times, is technique. Young batsmen here are properly coached to play. For about 100 years, there has been a set way to bat and survive at the crease. Now with other countries swayed by the money of the shorter game, youngsters are all about picking a heavy bat and playing baseball.

The only way to give yourself a chance versus swing bowling is to get a good stride in. Bat and pad together, soft hands. These guys have horrible footwork. They've survived so far but I don't think they've played particularly well. It's just that the bowling hasn't been on the money. Just as I say that Anderson takes a wicket.

Look at Chanderpaul - the world's best batsman right now and his batting stance is so weird. It works for him though because he has a ridiculously good eye. But he's a one-off. Without proper technique you can't get anywhere.

________

Unplayable by Anderson. Edwards has a 50 average? WTF?

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Anderson is terrorising them at the moment.

:rose:

[Syn]

Alec Stewart, BBC Sport
"The first 45 mins have fully justified Andrew Strauss' decision to bowl. Whoever got left out from Graham Onions, Steve Finn and Tim Bresnan was going to be unlucky as they are all top class bowlers. England have gone for the lucky mascot in Bresnan."

Alec Stewart has been a regular in the studio for IPL coverage on ITV4. So he works for ITV and BBC? What a whore.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

I suppose but then you could say he's only working on village cricket for ITV4, so there would be a distinction. :ninja:

[Syn]

Barath seems good for a few drives. Pepper his ribcage and see how he responds. From what I remember of the India/Australia tours - quite well. Handy player but never seemed like one to stick around for too long. But we'll see.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Anderson gets Edwards. Plum. 32-2.

[Syn]

Awful stride, not a straight bat...rubbish batting. It wasn't a particularly good ball - maybe he expected it to swing more.

Fuck, I feel like Simon Cowell.

Just waiting for Chanderpaul to come. Need another wicket for that to happen. :popcorn:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Unless Chanderpaul does his usual grind they'd might aswell play to their strengths - just have a swing of the bat and see what happens.

[Syn]

Some of these Windies batsmen have great averages. Darren Bravo has an average of 51. Edwards (now out) had 50. Chanderpaul, as we know, has 50 odd. That's 150 runs right there. How do they end up getting battered and maintain these stats? They must've had one series against Bangladesh that went under the radar in which they had a few 500 partnerships.

Swann into the attack.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Perhaps they're from second innings when they're valiantly chasing for a victory they will never get.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Strauss is using the review system well for once. Usually he'll review anything.

[Syn]

Perhaps they're from second innings when they're valiantly chasing for a victory they will never get.

Yeah, good call.

They always end up chasing about 700 to win. :lol:

[Syn]

Why couldn't England bowl like this against India ffs. <_<

They're bowling so much slower than usual. Everyone's about low 80s. Against India they were sending them down at 94 mph and at the ribcage.

There's no substitute for genuine pace. Although swing in overcast conditions might give it a run for its money. Hasn't been doing enough for me.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

83-2 at lunch. Decent effort from the Windies.

[Syn]

#decent indeed.

Surprising. Barath's played very well.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

36 of his runs have been from boundaries I think, impressive. Or he's scared shitless of his running partners.

[Cripps_orig]

Is there an ODI/T20 series after this bore series is over?

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Yeah, 3 ODIs and a T20.