Cricket Thread

[Syn]

Younis Khan gets a century

[Rors]

Even with the ball Jimmy gets the night-watchman role

[McNamara That Ghost...]

England's batsmen.

I'm sure a bowling change for the next test series will make all the difference though.

[Rors]

If you end up relying on the same old faces - and that includes that humper Morgan - will come back to bite you in the end. Hubris can only get you so far.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

It's reminiscent of the post 2005 Ashes come down.

[Syn]

I am kinda glad that England are getting battered because I never thought they were as good as the media were making out and some perspective was needed. But will they be the best side in the world right now even if they get white-washed by Pakistan? Yes, I think so. They're still a very strong side with, by far, the best bowling line-up. The true test of a good team is always away from preferred conditions. India's stay as no.1 for 18 months was impressive because they winning and drawing almost everywhere - even in South Africa. Australia and South Africa are nearly on the same level right now. Australia have improved a lot since their Ashes defeat. But even they can't win away to New Zealand. Nobody can win away these days.

If people are hoping for England to dominate world cricket in the same way West Indies did in the 80s and Australia did in the 90s, it's not going to happen. There just isn't enough money devoted to bringing up talent on the grassroots level. I don't see any team dominating now. Maybe in a year time, someone else will be no.1 and it'll keep fluctuating between England, Australia, South Africa. Maybe India and Pakistan can pose a challenge - but in India's case, they've got the balance all wrong by piling money into the rubbish Twenty20 format that doesn't really favour Test technique.

The recent Australia-South Africa Tests were amazing. But I don't think there will be an interesting Test series for a while now. Maybe England in Sri Lanka will be close. Then West Indies are coming here which is a complete waste of time. The next Ashes should be great if Australia can keep improving at the rate they are.

[Dennis Bendtner]

Not to discount the series before that, but England-SA this summer could be a key indicator. If South Africa could win that, it would be a marker laid down. They won a few years ago, but obviously the England side was a lot poorer. I think South Africa are better equipped than most to try and nudge ahead of the pack. They have had tremendous success abroad before, and nearly won in India last time. England have some way to go in that regard. SA have been quite ordinary at home, though. That's really where England have been brutally efficient. Good test this summer. I've applied for the ballot thing for the Lord's Test.

[Syn]

Yuvraj Singh has been diagnosed with cancer.He's off in the states for cemotherapy. Some sort of tumour in his lung. Optimistic of full recovery and doctors have described it as 100% curable.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

I guess they must have found it quite early in its formation then. Get well soon though to him regardless.

Pakistan are 345-6, Monty has four-for!

[McNamara That Ghost...]

346-7.