Cricket Thread

[Cripps_orig]

England v Sri Lanka on thursday.

Morgan in for Bopara.

[Syn]

The great man returns :bow:

What did you make of Shitwag's shitness in the world cup?

In other news, England to win easily as long as the rain stays away.

[Cripps_orig]

Dont know if Morgan is that great tbh

Ah the World Cup, had so much shit to say during and after it. Damn me and my foolishness to be banned on GW.

Il get to Sehwag in a bit but first the world cup as a whole. Brilliant. Im not saying that just cos India are once again the greatest god damn team ever seen in the history of the game but cos it was entertaining. Compare it to the last World Cup which went on for 17 years, it was brilliant. England, as shit as they were, were entertainingly shit and thats the best shit to be. That Dutch unknown guy who scored a century against England, what an innings. Same with the Irish unknown guy. What an innings. SA choking as usual. NZ with a team of journeymen once again reaching the semis and losing it. Vettori is the best captain in the game for what he does with that team. Aussies :haha: Pakistanis were pretty good but not good enough in the semis. Kudos to SL as well

Now for India, have to start with the captain. MS Dhoni. Didnt have the best of tournaments but imo he played one of the great innings in the final after 2 early wickets fell. He put himself up the order and took the game by the scruff of its neck. Majestic. Zaheer, Harbhajan :bow: As for Sehwag, started off brilliantly and set the tone for the world cup and got us off to great starts in most of the other games even if he didnt get a high score himself. He played for the team as he got us above the rate and the rest just had to come in and not worry about that. Flopped in the final for sure but so did the man im going to talk about next and no one in world football, cricket, rugby, tennis and wwe would have a bad thing to say about this guy.

And this guy is of course the little master, the greatest player to walk on gods green earth and swim in gods blue water Sachin motherfucking Tendulkar. Ive never wanked over a guy but i was close to doing so. Just brilliant. What can i say about him that hasnt been said already. Shame he missed out on the final and didnt get the 100 100s but that will come possibly this summer v England. Cant wait.

I was in tears at the final whistle. When you consider Arsenal are winning f all for some time and have won f all for 6 years, this may be the only chance i get to see a team i support lift a trophy for some time. I was buzzing and the streets were filled with Indians. I had to go play football unfortunately otherwise id have been there singing and getting drunk off our lassis alongside them.

Its a shame England had a shocking winter. Sure they won the Ashes against a piss poor Aussie team but in the trophy that mattered, they came up short. Thats one downside of a great winters cricket.

[Syn]

:lol:

It was a good WC. India's fielding in the knock-outs is what won them the comp. The new guys (Ashwin, Kohli) and especially Raina alone was saving about 20 runs a game in field. Can't wait for the Windies tour that's right after the ipl.

Btw, there's a cricket movie that's in some cinemas right now; "Fire in Babylon", which tells the story of the West Indies dominance from the mid1970s and 80s. Trailer:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sg3_NIUv7Z0

Looks really good. It's out on DVD on June 8th - I've got my copy pre-ordered.

[Titi14]

Dont know if Morgan is that great tbh

Ah the World Cup, had so much shit to say during and after it. Damn me and my foolishness to be banned on GW.

Il get to Sehwag in a bit but first the world cup as a whole. Brilliant. Im not saying that just cos India are once again the greatest god damn team ever seen in the history of the game but cos it was entertaining. Compare it to the last World Cup which went on for 17 years, it was brilliant. England, as shit as they were, were entertainingly shit and thats the best shit to be. That Dutch unknown guy who scored a century against England, what an innings. Same with the Irish unknown guy. What an innings. SA choking as usual. NZ with a team of journeymen once again reaching the semis and losing it. Vettori is the best captain in the game for what he does with that team. Aussies :haha: Pakistanis were pretty good but not good enough in the semis. Kudos to SL as well

Now for India, have to start with the captain. MS Dhoni. Didnt have the best of tournaments but imo he played one of the great innings in the final after 2 early wickets fell. He put himself up the order and took the game by the scruff of its neck. Majestic. Zaheer, Harbhajan :bow: As for Sehwag, started off brilliantly and set the tone for the world cup and got us off to great starts in most of the other games even if he didnt get a high score himself. He played for the team as he got us above the rate and the rest just had to come in and not worry about that. Flopped in the final for sure but so did the man im going to talk about next and no one in world football, cricket, rugby, tennis and wwe would have a bad thing to say about this guy.

And this guy is of course the little master, the greatest player to walk on gods green earth and swim in gods blue water Sachin motherfucking Tendulkar. Ive never wanked over a guy but i was close to doing so. Just brilliant. What can i say about him that hasnt been said already. Shame he missed out on the final and didnt get the 100 100s but that will come possibly this summer v England. Cant wait.

I was in tears at the final whistle. When you consider Arsenal are winning f all for some time and have won f all for 6 years, this may be the only chance i get to see a team i support lift a trophy for some time. I was buzzing and the streets were filled with Indians. I had to go play football unfortunately otherwise id have been there singing and getting drunk off our lassis alongside them.

Its a shame England had a shocking winter. Sure they won the Ashes against a piss poor Aussie team but in the trophy that mattered, they came up short. Thats one downside of a great winters cricket.

Good summary that. Especially the Vettori captaincy, a few of the other teams may have achieved a bit more with him.

[Cripps_orig]

Fleming before him as well. Very good captain.

Anyway on to the cricket now. Pakistan just beat WI in the 2nd Test to draw the series 1-1.

Afridi was sacked as ODI captain after something he said about the board.

[Titi14]

Indeed, New Zealand just need to produce a few more players of that quality.

Was Afridi criticising management again?

[Cripps_orig]

Start delayed.

Inspection at 11.10

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Still no play yet. :lol:

[Syn]

Cardiff :bow:


:yawn:

[Cripps_orig]

Play started at half 3.

Tea will be at 4.40

Whats the point in that? :doh:

SL won the toss and bat

11-0

[Cripps_orig]

50-0

[Toronto Gooner]

Being this side of the pond, cricket is in short supply. However, we were treated to one sports channel televising a ton of IPL games, which was good. The annoying thing is that the play-off matches are on pay-for-view.

[Syn]

Being this side of the pond, cricket is in short supply. However, we were treated to one sports channel televising a ton of IPL games, which was good. The annoying thing is that the play-off matches are on pay-for-view.

Are you a big cricket fan, TG? Also have you always lived in Toronto or have you lived here - just curious to know how you would've got into cricket considering it's not at all popular there.

There needs to be a cricket clique. We have all the best kids.

Swann gets Dilshan caught behind - went for a well made 50. SL 93-1 with a couple of overs left till the close.

[Toronto Gooner]

I would not say that I am a huge fan but I do like cricket.

I have been in Canada since 1987. I had been in Hong Kong for 2 years before that. I am originally from London (Finsbury Park for the first 4 years and then Lower Edmonton). I played cricket from the age of 13 to about 22 at Edmonton Cricket Club, and even played one year for my university. I gave up cricket partly because I was playing a lot of squash and doing a lot of running, and partly because I got fed up with the "back-stabbing" at the club.

[Rors]

1 wicket down by the end of the night won't be enough, even with the loooooong tail.

[Cripps_orig]

2 down

Sangakarra gone

[Rors]

Light's starting to look a bit dodgy now..

[Cripps_orig]

Parawhatever 47 off 141 balls :doh:

You'd think they'd want to entertain the crowd a bit as they had to sit around in the cold and get wet

Looks like a draw

[Rors]

..And then the sun comes out :lol:

[Rors]

Parawhatever 47 off 141 balls :doh:

You'd think they'd want to entertain the crowd a bit as they had to sit around in the cold and get wet

Looks like a draw


Giving it a bit of a bash now - 50 up

[Rors]

133-2. Pretty even, but I think SL will be the happier, despite the low-ish run-rate

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Unless we have an insane day like Lord's 2005, this one is going for a draw.

[Titi14]

Unless we have an insane day like Lord's 2005, this one is going for a draw.

I think you may be right there although I can see Sri Lanka maybe collapsing 2nd innings (or England in either innings for that matter).

[Syn]

I think 4 full days (a day for each innings) is a fair enough time for a result on an English wicket (although some grounds are better batting tracks than others). Cardiff's a decent wicket though.

In any case, draw is the likely outcome also partly because it's supposed to piss down again tomorrow. Murali and Malinga having retired surely must have weakened the Sri Lankan bowling attack considerably. I don't fancy their chances of taking 20 wickets a test match against England.

[Cripps_orig]

WTF has happened to Mendis? Is he injured or is he just shit now?

[Titi14]

WTF has happened to Mendis? Is he injured or is he just shit now?

What I was thinking. Maybe he has lost that surprise factor that he had when he first appeared.

[Cripps_orig]

207-4 at lunch

Anderson and Tremlett got the 2 wickets this session

[Cripps_orig]

From Anonymous (please remember to stick your name on your texts): "Last summer we were coasting to a win needing eight more, a mate of mine needs two for his maiden century but the captain who had been in for 40 overs and scored 17 suddenly decided now was the time to accelerate and promptly hit two boundaries to stop my mate from getting the century."

:lol:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

243-5 at the moment, Anderson just got Samaraweera.

:scarf:

[Syn]

Anderson's got a back problem and can't bowl.

SL 316-6. Both batsman look very settled but it might take them a while to get in again after tea. Still a batting track but more bounce in it for Tremlett.

[Syn]

Rors was right about the long tail. SL go from 397-7 to 400 all out.

Although it's a good score if England can get to close without losing a wicket, I think the match will be even and we'd go increasingly likely towards a draw.

Fancy Strauss to get a ton.

[Cripps_orig]

47-1 at the close

Strauss gone for 20

Anderson in as night watchman :rolleyes:

So looks like a good confidence for the SL bowlers in the morning then

[Cripps_orig]

Start delayed

Draw it is

[Cripps_orig]

Play started at 2pm

As expected, Anderson is gone already

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Nightwatchman. :lol:

[Cripps_orig]

Nasser and Atherton critisising the night watchman BS :bow:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

It really is about time we stopped with it.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

I think I just saw Rey Mysterio there.

:unsure:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Cook gets his century. :bow:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

And Trott gets his century too. :bow:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

England are 287-2 at the close of play.

[Slacker]

What's the odds for a draw? Gotta be worth a punt. A couple of quid surely?

[Titi14]

Great day at the cricket today for £20! Trott really is a class act although Sri Lanka don't really have a bowling attack. And great to see Cook carrying on in Test cricket as he left it. Get to 600 by the end of day 4, bowl SL out for 140, England win. Simple.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

England are on 450-4 now so I don't think it's likely they'll get a lead of anything more than 90 by the end of today's play.

Pietersen managed a stunning knock of 3.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Trott gets his 200. :bow:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

465-5, Trott finally goes.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

England lead by 91 at the close of play. :lol:

[Cripps_orig]

Trott playing for himself again.

No wonder his average is brilliant.

Just have SSN on and they are still talking about a possible victory :lol:

[Cripps_orig]

1449 Commentary
So the denouement of five rain-splattered, plastic-covered first Test match of the summer comes to this...19 paying spectators. We are in serious danger of starting play with more people on the pitch than in the stands. No, it's not an average gate for Glamorgan - it's England. Against the fourth-best Test team in the world. There were more spectactors watching Bushey under-nines against their West Herts counterparts on Friday. And you didn't have to pay £40 for the privilege either.



:lol:

Tests :rose:

Its time the format for Tests were changed. For example you can still have 2 innings but limit the amount of overs in an innings. For all the rain this Test has suffered, there have been enough overs bowled to warrant a result had players been forced to play quicker instead of making sure their average looked good.

50 overs an innings and watch Tests rise again from the ashes and be popular once more.

The way it is now, its deader than an Arsenal title challenge in mind april

[Cripps_orig]

England 496-5 declared

Bell got his century

SL were 6-2 at one stage. Tremlett with both the wickets.

21-2 atm

[Cripps_orig]

34-3

Tremlett again

[Cripps_orig]

42-4

Swann with the wicket.

Sangawhatever is still there. Get him and you never know

[McNamara That Ghost...]

43-6 now.

:haha:

[Cripps_orig]

And there he goes

43-5

Swann with his 2nd.

Can England win it?

[Cripps_orig]

6 now

:haha:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

43-7 after review. :haha:

[Cripps_orig]

Tests :bow:

Its good the footballs done with. Can watch this now

[McNamara That Ghost...]

52-8!

Swann. :bow:

[Ollie the Optimist]

tests :bow:


ach you've had a shocker here son

[Cripps_orig]

tests :bow:


ach you've had a shocker here son
I sure have. All those thousands of people in the crowd watching this makes me looks foolish....

31 overs to get 2 wickets

Should win it and hopefully soon. Cba watching this for too long

[McNamara That Ghost...]

It's free entry currently.

[Ollie the Optimist]

I sure have. All those thousands of people in the crowd watching this makes me looks foolish....

31 overs to get 2 wickets

Should win it and hopefully soon. Cba watching this for too long

dont try and wum it here, its quite clear that tests are on the up again after this years ashes and days like this will go a long way to helping. ipl figures down this year, some players turing it down to play tests, bopara etc. people bored now of hit and run and want proper cricket

[Cripps_orig]

I agree.

The crowd today backs up your argument as did the crowds during the Ashes

Hasnt SL best bowler Malinga retired from Tests so he can play in limited over games?

What an idiot. Tests are clearly on the up. So much interest in it

[Cripps_orig]

England fielders :lol:

Collided with each other

[Ollie the Optimist]

I agree.

The crowd today backs up your argument as did the crowds during the Ashes

Hasnt SL best bowler Malinga retired from Tests so he can play in limited over games?

What an idiot. Tests are clearly on the up. So much interest in it


yeah cos 20,000 brits didnt spend thousands of pounds to fly out to australia to watch the tests!

oh and waht did 99% of english fans want this summer? an ODI world cup or test series victory in australia?

[Cripps_orig]

yeah cos 20,000 brits didnt spend thousands of pounds to fly out to australia to watch the tests!

oh and waht did 99% of english fans want this summer? an ODI world cup or test series victory in australia?

If you had asked that question before the Ashes. No doubt the answer would be the world cup.

Ask it now and its the Ashes.

Only cos they actually win the Ashes and flopped at the world cup.

The stadiums were practically empty for the last 2 maybe 3 Tests of the Ashes. Hardly an Aussie to be seen.

Fact of the matter is, England won a Test series. yay. Teams do that every series.

When it matters, they flopped. World Cups come along every 4 years and especially after their T20 win last year, they would have wanted the big one.

A shocking winter when all is said and done for England.

Put it anyway you want it. You just had to look at the faces of those players when they landed back in England. Those faces to me didnt seem like they had a good winter.

Anyway back to the matter at hand, 9 down

[McNamara That Ghost...]

82-9, great catch from Bell.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

England win!

:haha:

:bow:

[Cripps_orig]

Its over

England won :lol:

[Cripps_orig]

Anderson will miss the 2nd Test.

Whos likely to come in?

[Ollie the Optimist]

england :bow:

Cook :bow:

Trott :bow:

[Syn]

Fantastic pace bowling by Tremlett. Excellent consistency.

Great win by England.

[Ollie the Optimist]

If you had asked that question before the Ashes. No doubt the answer would be the world cup.

Ask it now and its the Ashes.

Only cos they actually win the Ashes and flopped at the world cup.

The stadiums were practically empty for the last 2 maybe 3 Tests of the Ashes. Hardly an Aussie to be seen.

Fact of the matter is, England won a Test series. yay. Teams do that every series.

When it matters, they flopped. World Cups come along every 4 years and especially after their T20 win last year, they would have wanted the big one.

A shocking winter when all is said and done for England.

Put it anyway you want it. You just had to look at the faces of those players when they landed back in England. Those faces to me didnt seem like they had a good winter.

Anyway back to the matter at hand, 9 down

am just going to laugh at that cos thats all i can do. biggest load of shit i have heard.

[Cripps_orig]

Indeed, so much BS

http://www.topnews.in/sports/cricket-australia-may-lose-upto-20-million-dollars-due-poor-ashes-spectator-attendance-214171

Ollie :rose:

New board, same old Ollie :bow:

Still being pwned by Ach

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Let's try not to have the same arguments we used to have. Or at least have a test vs ODI thread so this one can be left alone from it. We can ban people from threads now.

[Cripps_orig]

Let's try not to have the same arguments we used to have. Or at least have a test vs ODI thread so this one can be left alone from it. We can ban people from threads now.

:good:

Back to this Test series, Finn in for the 2nd Test?

[Cripps_orig]

Srinath is there :bow:

What a bowler he was

[McNamara That Ghost...]

:good:

Back to this Test series, Finn in for the 2nd Test?

I hope so, I quite like the guy. Thought it was harsh on him to be dropped during the Ashes but they did get it right I suppose.

[Cripps_orig]

He was the leading wicket taker for England in the series before he was dropped?

Extremely harsh.

[Titi14]

I think you may be right there although I can see Sri Lanka maybe collapsing 2nd innings

:gp:

[Cripps_orig]

1456 Commentary

In between reading Tom Fordyce's execellent piece on Kevin Pietersen and his left-arm kryptonite (http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/tomfordyce/2011/05/kp_meets_his_kryptonite_again.html), searching for drumkits for seven-year-olds and wondering whether it's possible to hear your arteries clog up while eating the bodyweight of the said seven-year-old in thick-cut, ridge-based crisps, we have 55 overs of cricket to play. Yes, 55 overs. Fifty-five overs of the most pointless Test cricket you will ever see. Keep me sane people...

At the start of play

:lol:

Hes been ripped on the BBC

[Titi14]

At the start of play

:lol:

Hes been ripped on the BBC

He's the reason England won. Would never have happened had he not said that.

[Ollie the Optimist]

He was the leading wicket taker for England in the series before he was dropped?

Extremely harsh.

no really, he was going for the most runs. was dropped for bresnan who came in and conceded fuck all runs and got wickets. inspired decision

[Cripps_orig]

Upul Tharanga has failed a drugs test taken during the World Cup.

Hes not in the SL squad touring England

[Cripps_orig]

More shenanigans concerning Pakistan.

Afridi has been suspended by the board for his comments on them.

Afridi has since retired from Internationals but has said he will play again if a new board comes in

[Cripps_orig]

England batted first

3 quick wickets went. Strauss, Trott and KP and they were 20 odd for 3

Cook and Bell have rebuilt somewhat

118-3

Cook has another 50, Bell on 47

[Cripps_orig]

Bell gone

132-4

[Cripps_orig]

England were 342-6 at the close

368-6 atm

Prior in the 80s

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Broad gets his 50. :bow:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

And Prior gets his century.

:scarf:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

410-7, Broad goes.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

414-8 , Swann goes. :lol:

[Rors]

Might as well just 'B' the way to the end of the innings now :bow:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

It'll have to be up to Tremlett. Prior is bowled on 126.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

England all out for 486.

[Cripps_orig]

SL 66-0

Parsajdhksjdhaksjdh was dropped by Cook. Very easy as well. Bring Colly back

[Syn]

The west Indians playing India in twenty20 on the red button cripps. 48-3 India, worlds best batsman kohli is gone and had thus ended my interest in the game.

[Syn]

India struggle to 159 off their 20 overs.

More interestingly SL 137-0. Dilshan races to a lucky 80* off 92 balls...and just as I type that, Prior drops Dilshan. Swann bowling well.

[Cripps_orig]

231-1 at the close.

[Cripps_orig]

India won by 16 runs

Strength in depth in their squad :bow:

[Rors]

This is where the four-bowlers-limit England seem to want to set themselves with could come back to haunt them. If your top-liners know that in both innings they're going to have to turn their arms for a good 30-overs a piece..that's gonna leave a mark. Not sure which one of the batsmen you'd drop (well, I know who I'd like to drop...), but the current setup just looks a bit uneven for a full test series.

[Rors]

Slip-catching masterclass with the commentary team on now. Glad that Nick Knight has been promoted to the test-team, an excellent commentator and analyst. If only it could have been at the expense of Bumble...

[Rors]

And now KP Is called upon for a trundler or two. QED.

284-1 currently

[Rors]

Sangakkara goes - good stuff from Tremlett again. He knows how to use the Lords' slope

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Dilshan is getting closer to his 200 though.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Sri Lanka are 344-2 at lunch.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Beefy isn't happy. :lol:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

A piece about Burnley now on Club Life. :d

[Syn]

Slip-catching masterclass with the commentary team on now. Glad that Nick Knight has been promoted to the test-team, an excellent commentator and analyst. If only it could have been at the expense of Bumble...

I agree. Always liked Nick Knight. He was a better player than his international stats suggested. A bit like Graeme Hick in that sense.

[Syn]

Dilshit gone. :partytime:

Doesn't get to 200. Bowled for 193.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

:dance:

[Cripps_orig]

Rain stops play

[Cripps_orig]

They came back out after an early tea and now bad light stops play and yes the floodlights are on :doh:


BBC Test Match Special's Geoff Boycott
"I do feel that sometimes we don't think enough of the public. They pay a lot of money to come here and they see the floodlights come on and then the players go off - so what's the point of having floodlights on? We've all batted in poor light, but that's the luck of the draw, that's why there's a toss at the start and we should just get on with it."

Boycott :bow:

[Cripps_orig]

372-3 at the close

Rain and bad light disrupted play after tea

[Cripps_orig]

Rain delays the start of play

Pitch inspection at half 11

Looks like a draw

[Cripps_orig]

Jayawardena gone for 49

394-4

More importantly, WI v India ODI on Sky Sports 2 at 2pm

[Cripps_orig]

394-5

Yoss gone

[Cripps_orig]

WI win the toss and bat.

New look India team for their first ODI match since the final.

No Sachin, Zaheer, Dhoni, Sehwag, Yuvraj and a couple more.

Raina captains the side

[Cripps_orig]

2 wides in the first 3 balls from Kumar and a boundary off the 4th.

Not a good start

[Cripps_orig]

Sharma drops one at slip.

Was simple as well

[Cripps_orig]

6th wicket down for SL

[Cripps_orig]

WI 23-1

Simmons gone

[Cripps_orig]

28-2

Munaf :bow:

Sharma held on this time

Darren Bravo gone

[Cripps_orig]

SL all out for 479

[Cripps_orig]

Strauss gone

0-1

[Cripps_orig]

18-1 at tea

Back to the ODI, 125-3 for WI

Going far too slow for my liking

[Cripps_orig]

136-2 for England

Trott got 58 but is gone

Cook and KP in the middle now

Cook on 56

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Maybe a chance for a win but it'll need Sri Lanka to collapse impressively again I guess.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

England are 319-6 at the moment. Cook got another century. :bow:

[Cripps_orig]

KP got 70 odd :bow:

Hes back

Anyway its a draw

[McNamara That Ghost...]

KP was out to another ball of the century apparently.

England declare on 355-7. Dilshan will only bat if absolutely necessary.

[Cripps_orig]

Yup.

It was an excellent delivery from Yoss to get KP.

Lots of spin.

Very much like Warne to Gatting

[Cripps_orig]

SL 13-1

Sangakarra gone

:popcorn:

[Syn]

I'm kinda hoping England get them 9 down and don't manage to finish it off. That was a far too delayed declaration. That's the difference between winners like India and England - Dhoni would declared at a 250 lead, tempting the opposition to get those runs and then got straight at the opposition.

[Cripps_orig]

There was a smashed dressing room window after Prior was run out.

[Syn]

Prior was the one who smashed it (Richard Keys :bow: ). A female spectator was cut by the glass.

Prior :lol:

Who the fuck is he tbh.


http://p.imgci.com/db/PICTURES/CMS/133800/133867.jpg

[IBK]

I'm kinda hoping England get them 9 down and don't manage to finish it off. That was a far too delayed declaration. That's the difference between winners like India and England - Dhoni would declared at a 250 lead, tempting the opposition to get those runs and then got straight at the opposition.


Disagree to a degree. It was a conservative declaration, but its a 3 match series and we didn't have to force the win. I'm hoping that both SL innings send out a message to the England bowlers that they might have strength in depth, but they need to focus more and not simply think they can just turn up to win a test match.

[Syn]

Disagree to a degree. It was a conservative declaration, but its a 3 match series and we didn't have to force the win. I'm hoping that both SL innings send out a message to the England bowlers that they might have strength in depth, but they need to focus more and not simply think they can just turn up to win a test match.

Top teams are aggressive and attacking. They don't just want to win the series 1-0, they want to whitewash teams. I know England have had some bad luck with the rain but nevertheless, given the situation, I don't think there was any need to bat on for the extra 100 runs. Sri Lanka were never getting there with some decent English bowling.

[Cripps_orig]

107-3

Trott just got a wicket

[Cripps_orig]

Ends as a draw

Pretty dull

[IBK]

Top teams are aggressive and attacking. They don't just want to win the series 1-0, they want to whitewash teams. I know England have had some bad luck with the rain but nevertheless, given the situation, I don't think there was any need to bat on for the extra 100 runs. Sri Lanka were never getting there with some decent English bowling.

Last three words are the key ones, though. England's bowlers were just not on form throughout this match. We do have some strength in depth, but we only have 2 real leaders, Anderson and Swann. We did not show sufficient consistency (says it all when our best bowler, Finn, was also our most erratic) for the captain to place trust in them to take wickets without conceding a lot of runs.

We can criticise this England team, but they haven't lost a test series since 2009, and they have shown on a number of occasions that they can be ruthless when necessary. Although 3rd in the test rankings, they are only a hair's breadth behind the Saffers. Of course the acid test will be India later in the Summer, but I think that too much can be read into a cautious decision by a naturally conservative captain who has been let down by his bowlers for 3 out of 4 days.

[Ollie the Optimist]

this ali cook bloke is quite good at this batting thing


Cook :bow:

Essex :bow:

[Cripps_orig]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/mobile/cricket/13680738.stm

Good move. Changes need to be made but hopefully this isn't the only change.

Boycott is spot on

[Syn]

India Reserves win again. Played 3, won 3 against the Windies. Kohli with a well made 81 got them home comfortably. Hope WI put up a better fight soon because this is a pointless exercise atm.

[Syn]

Last three words are the key ones, though. England's bowlers were just not on form throughout this match. We do have some strength in depth, but we only have 2 real leaders, Anderson and Swann. We did not show sufficient consistency (says it all when our best bowler, Finn, was also our most erratic) for the captain to place trust in them to take wickets without conceding a lot of runs.

We can criticise this England team, but they haven't lost a test series since 2009, and they have shown on a number of occasions that they can be ruthless when necessary. Although 3rd in the test rankings, they are only a hair's breadth behind the Saffers. Of course the acid test will be India later in the Summer, but I think that too much can be read into a cautious decision by a naturally conservative captain who has been let down by his bowlers for 3 out of 4 days.

:good:

[Cripps_orig]

Watched a bit of the WI innings and they were 170-2 with Samuels smacking it around when I had to go out. Pretty surprised they only got 240. Harbhajan had a shocker

[Cripps_orig]

Jayasuriya called up by SL for the ODIs

However, SSN has just said Jayasuriya has just confirmed he will play in the one T20 game and the first ODI and then retire from all forms of the game

[Cripps_orig]

MCC says the pink ball will probably come in to Tests soon and will help save the game

Their words, not mine

[Boss]

India :bow: :bow: :bow:

[Syn]

India block use of the decision review system for the England India test matches. Poor umpiring ftw :rolleyes:

[Cripps_orig]

India beat WI by 3 wickets and win the series

[Cripps_orig]

India block use of the decision review system for the England India test matches. Poor umpiring ftw :rolleyes:

Just seen highlights of the 3rd ODI which also doesnt have the review system and Kohli was out lbw first ball even though the ball was missing the stumps down legside by miles.

Bet they wish they had the review system then

[Syn]

Just blitz'd through the game at x30 speed. That Kohli lbw was a shocking decision. Wasn't even close and anyone should be able to see it was going down leg. Needless shots from Raina and Pathan but a mature innings from R.Sharma saved the day. Series wrapped up 3-0 with 2 to play - some of the benchwarmers to get a go in the last 2.

Was playing club cric all day. Came in no.6 and hit 41 off 39. My first innings with my new MRF. When you middle 'em, they stay middled. Fuck yeah.

[Cripps_orig]

Watching the 4th ODI atm

WI look set for a 250+ total at last.

240-6 off 48 overs right now. Pollard went a bit nuts but hes gone now so Russell is doing likewise

[Cripps_orig]

Then again maybe not

249-8 off the 50 overs

[Cripps_orig]

WI win by 103 runs

Far too many changes from India.

This wasnt even their B team. Their C team more like

[Cripps_orig]

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/cricket/3635446/Graeme-Swann-Alastair-Cook-and-Jonathan-Trott-send-me-to-sleep.html

Absolutely spot on

Swann :bow:

Testicles :pal:

[Cripps_orig]

Rain delays start of play

[Cripps_orig]

The forecast is awful for the next few days as well so id say a draw is likely

[Cripps_orig]

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/cricket/3637633/Alastair-Cook-No-repeat-of-Lords-slow-go.html

Exactly what ive said

Played for himself and not for the team and he realises it

[Cripps_orig]

Play to start at 12.15 despite it not raining right now and the covers are off so why they want to waste another 45 minutes waiting around, i have no idea.

Lunch at half 1

[Cripps_orig]

England won the toss and field

Finn dropped :doh:

Broad stays in :doh:

Aleem Dar had a bit of a shocker as he missed a clear edge that Yoss made. No idea why England didnt refer it though so Strauss had a shocker as well

14-0 off 7 overs

Very boring bar that one incident

Looks like they did refer it but the 3rd umpire isnt allowed to use Snicko which clearly showed an edge.

[Cripps_orig]

23-1

Yoss gone for 10, bowled Anderson, Caught Strauss

[Syn]

Anderson is a brilliant bowler. Must be up there with Steyn as the best pace bowler in the world right now. Very hard to pick up whether he's swinging it away or back in, and he fires them in at 85mph+. Incredibly hard to bat against.

The champions are in action in an hour. An awful performance in the last game but I reckon they'll finish the series off 4-1. Kohli (the most technically gifted batsman in history) to get a ton on a bouncy Jamaica wicket.

[Cripps_orig]

29-3

Yoss the opener out lbw bowled Tremlett

Yoss the captain caught Prior bowled Anderson

[Cripps_orig]

Rain stops play.

Tea taken

29-3

[Cripps_orig]

Kohli run out for 94

His own fault as he called for it

India 189-4

[Syn]

FFS. There was never a second run there.

Raina has been very disappointing. And the rest of the IPL idiots can fuck right off. Village filth.

[Cripps_orig]

SL 81-4 at the close

[Marc Overmars]

Are fans entitled to refunds if so much of the day is rained off?

[Cripps_orig]

Are fans entitled to refunds if so much of the day is rained off?

Im not sure.

I think if there are a certain amount of overs bowled then no they arent.

No idea what that amount is though.

Anyway on to more important stuff, India got 251

WI 68-2

[PGFC]

Tremlett gets a 5'fer, first on the board at the Rosebowl :bow:

[Cripps_orig]

124-7

Anderson has the other 2 wickets

Broad as usual is awful.

Surely the end of a miserable Test Career for him?

[Cripps_orig]

Someone explain the following to me.

Anderson bowls, appeals for an LBW which is given not out so its referred. It clearly shows the ball hitting the stumps, the top of leg stump admittedly but still the stumps and its been given not out by the 3rd umpire.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Did it pitch outside? Or it might go to the on-field call if it is a marginal decision.

[Cripps_orig]

It was pitched onside.

I think it was the latter.

[Cripps_orig]

8th wicket gone

Decent partnership going on, Swann comes on for the first time this test match and 2 balls later, he has the wicket.

Broad :haha:

[Cripps_orig]

166-9

Tremlett has 6

[McNamara That Ghost...]

No play since. Hmmm.

[Japan Shaking All Over]

11 more runs - end of play 177

lets get this last one quick and result is on

[Cripps_orig]

SL all out for 180 odd

Strauss and Trott already gone for England

[McNamara That Ghost...]

England are 54-2 at lunch.

[Cripps_orig]

120-3

Cook gone for 55

Thank fuck. Very boring player.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Pietersen is still in, on 78 at the moment. Hope he goes on to get his century, it has been a long time coming, he probably won't get it today though.

[Syn]

Looks in very good touch, Pietersen. Played some lovely on-drives today. I forgot how stylish a player he is when he's set.

I don't think Cook is boring to watch. He's technically very sound and his cover drives are flawless. But he is a very orthodox player whereas Pietersen can be quite inventive and has more flair.

Cook's definitely the best batsman in the England side. 18 Test centuries in his 5 years of Int. cricket is phenomenal. Trott and Cook are by far the stand out batsmen in the side. Strauss is good but nothing special. Unconvinced by Bell so far.

[Cripps_orig]

When Swann, Cooks team mate, says he bores the hell out of him as does Trott then I'd say he's dull. When Cook himself admits his slow batting cost England in the last Test then that just guarantees its tbh. Anyway Bell has been in excellent form as well over the last year and half and is a far more entertaining player than Cook or Trott so he's more vital tbh.

Back to the match, KP was out on 85. Anderson as expected comes in as night watchman

[Rors]

213-4 at time of typing. Jimbo having a whale of a time out there :bow:

[Rors]

They've got no answer to his extra-cover drive. 27 and counting!

[Rors]

And then he goes next ball :lol:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Cameo role.

:bow:

[Japan Shaking All Over]

just checked the scorecard

I know others have done so already but got to give the guy props

Anderson:bow:

how much do we declare on? thats if we dont suddenly get skittled!!

[Rors]

I think Eng need to try and hang around until just after tea - assuming it stays dry all day. Get Swann-y on early in the dying light with the pitch starting to do things, then get the quicks to polish it off early tomorrow. Easy.

:unsure:

[Cripps_orig]

Forecast is rain tomorrow.

If they are going to win it, they need to get as close to it as possible today.

It would help if Bell and Morgan actually scored quick runs and not left or blocked every other ball.

Batsmen, not the brightest are they?

[Cripps_orig]

333-5

Bell on 98, Morgan on 48

[Rors]

There's Bell-y's century. As we're known to say around here, never doubted him. ;)

[Cripps_orig]

Morgan gets his 50

Bell has his 100

The latters in great form. I think hes averaging 90 odd in his last 10 Tests

[Cripps_orig]

Cant remember the last time SL toured here or we went there but how did we do against them when they had a bowling attack of Vaas, Murali, Jayasuriya and Malinga?

Their attack now is piss poor

[Cripps_orig]

Morgan given out LBW, referred, ball was just pitching offline so decision reversed.

Very close though.

[Cripps_orig]

England have been smacking it around since the drinks break.

Clearly a message sent to the guys in the middle

[Cripps_orig]

Morgan gone for 71

[Cripps_orig]

Prior gone 2nd ball

[Cripps_orig]

Broad gone

377-8 declared

[Rors]

Looking gloomy out there. Hit the ground running!

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Well done Bell. Must've been inspired by McLeish's appointment. :good:

Also, hmmm a draw is still likely. This test series easily could've been 0-0. :lol:

[Rors]

Paranavitana gone. Jimbo :bow:

It's as dark as a pig's proverbials out there at the moment though.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Yeah I doubt Sri Lanka will battle along.

[Japan Shaking All Over]

Englnd to have one session tmw to win the match

[Rors]

86-2..

Here comes KP :wacko:

[Cripps_orig]

112-3 at the close

[Cripps_orig]

198-4

Sangakarra still there.

SL lead by 5

[Syn]

The champions are in action today. 1st Test. Dravid, Laxman and Dhoni in. A few villagers out. Mukund, M Vijay, Dravid, Virat Kohli, VVS Laxman, Suresh Raina, Dhoni, Harbhajan Singh, I Sharma, Praveen Kumar, Munaf Patel.

Epic middle order, shit everything else. Come on cricket.

[Cripps_orig]

Is Sachin out for the whole tour of the Windies?

Would be good to see him making his 100th 100 in this country

[Syn]

Is Sachin out for the whole tour of the Windies?

Would be good to see him making his 100th 100 in this country

Yup, it would've been nice. But tbf, if God says he wants a rest, then let him have a rest ffs. He'll get a few tons over here in England so no worries.

But the new Tendulkar plays his first Test today. Kohli will go on to become one of the greats, no doubt.

[Cripps_orig]

Tennis and/or Cricket all day

Mondays :bow:

[Syn]

What you are bowing to is in fact nice sunshine and no rain.

Remember how you did that.

[Cripps_orig]

What you are bowing to is in fact nice sunshine and no rain.

Remember how you did that.

The weathers alright today. No heat and thats all that matters

[Cripps_orig]

226-4 at lunch

SL lead by 33

Sanga on 89

[Syn]

Sangakkara finally gets to a ton. Very well played. Probably the best innings of the series given the context.

Sri Lanka 91 runs ahead and with quite a few wickets in hand. Maybe they were the ones who have been robbed by the rain in this test? If they could manage 150 more runs with the 6 wickets they have, I wouldn't back any team to chase down 250 on the final day of a Test match.

[Cripps_orig]

334-5 at tea

Sangakarra gone for 119, Anderson got the wicket

Samarawhatever still there in his 80s

[Cripps_orig]

Raining again so Sky have gone to the main series going on at the moment

Windies v India

India batting.

[Cripps_orig]

Who the hell are these openers?

Where the hell are Sehwag and Gambhir?

Hoping we see the big names back for the England tour

[Syn]

Sehwag, Gambhir, Tendulkar, Yuvraj, Zaheer Khan and Sreesanth all have slight injuries or are resting. All will be back for England.

Mukund is a very promising player - quite highly rated for a 21 years old. Murali Vijay has played for India before. Scored a test hundred against the Aussies last year.

[Cripps_orig]

Vijay i know of.

Never heard of Mukund though. Lets see how he does.

Think this is his Test debut. Could be the new Sehwag. Hope so

[Cripps_orig]

15-1

Vijay gone

[Syn]

Vijay gone.

Fucking IPL muppet.

Here comes the big man.

[Syn]

Bloody hell, both the newbies gone. 37-2. VVS has to come in already and joins Dravid. So a 38 year old and a 36 year old at the crease to try to steady the ship once again.

[Cripps_orig]

37-2

Mukund gone

Down to the old guard now

[Cripps_orig]

England and SL draw

England win the series 1-0

Tremlett man of the series

[McNamara That Ghost...]

India are 100-6 at the moment. :unsure:

[Cripps_orig]

To be expected tbh

It is the land of Bucknor we are playing and we were screwed more times by him than anyone

[Ollie the Optimist]

i think the decision by india to veto DRS in the series against england is a joke. should be used in all forms of the game. does more good then harm.

[Cripps_orig]

Harbhajan has 47 off 39 balls

He came in when India were 80 odd for 6.

But did he do what other boring ass Test players would do and block every single ball?

Fuck no.

That is why India are the best in the world and will beat England with their first choice team 4-0

[Cripps_orig]

236-8

Raina and Mishra in the middle

[Syn]

i think the decision by india to veto DRS in the series against england is a joke. should be used in all forms of the game. does more good then harm.

I agree. But it must be said that BCCI - who are the ones who veto'd it - do not represent the views of the players. Tendulkar, for example, wants DRS as long as it involves everything (hotspot and snickometer). I don't know why BCCI don't want it but they're the financial power of cricket right now and can pretty much make other countries do what ever they want. An India tour generates the most money for every country. It will bring England more money per Test than the Ashes. So BCCI can dictate the terms. Of course it's wrong though.

246 all out, India. Pathetic batting. Tailenders still pissing themselves with 90mph Fidel Edwards spraying it like a hosepipe. Fucking pussies. If Gavaskar was dead, he'd be turning in his grave.

[Cripps_orig]

England squads in full:

Twenty20: Stuart Broad (captain), Ian Bell, Ravi Bopara, Jade Dernbach, Steven Finn, Craig Kieswetter, Michael Lumb, Eoin Morgan, Samit Patel, Kevin Pietersen, Graeme Swann, Chris Woakes, Luke Wright.

One-Day Internationals: Alastair Cook (captain), James Anderson, Ian Bell, Ravi Bopara, Stuart Broad, Jade Dernbach, Steven Finn, Craig Kieswetter, Eoin Morgan, Samit Patel, Kevin Pietersen, Graeme Swann, Jonathan Trott, Chris Woakes.

No Prior or Collingwood which is the main talking point

[Cripps_orig]

WI 40-2

Sharma with both wickets

[Cripps_orig]

106-5

Kumar got the other 3 wickets.

Chanderpaul is still there though

[Syn]

Praveen Kumar taking these 3 wickets is a bit like Djemba-Djemba scoring a hat-trick.

Such a shit bowler, but keeping it simple on a difficult wicket.

[Cripps_orig]

154-8

Sharma got his 3rd wicket and Harbhajan got in on the act with 2 wickets including Chanderpaul

[Cripps_orig]

173 all out

Mishra got the final 2 wickets

[Cripps_orig]

India 91-3

Dravid on 45, Kohli on 14

Vijay and Laxman out on 0, Mukund got 25

[Syn]

Ach, if you saw the last 5 overs of that day, you'd know why Test cricket is so great. Fidel Edwards was rapid. Out of his last 12 balls, 9 were 93mph bouncers. And well directed. He was very difficult to play and Kohli was jumping around trying to keep it down. And some decent sledging on show. He was nearly out twice in the last over. Dravid still there. Phenomenal player. Has a bright future ahead of him - he's only 38 years old.

[Cripps_orig]

166-6 at lunch

Dhoni just got out before lunch

Kohli got 15, Raina got 27

Dravid still there on 69

[Cripps_orig]

India 252 all out

Dravid with 112 :bow:

WI need 326 to win

86-3

Top 3 all gone

Kumar and Sharma with 2 with the wickets

[Cripps_orig]

WI 179-6

Kumar with 3, Sharma with 2, Harbhajan with 1

Sammy has 25 off 10 balls

[Cripps_orig]

181-7

Sammy gone, caught Laxman, bowled Mishra

[Cripps_orig]

192-8

Mishra with another

[Cripps_orig]

226-9 at lunch

[Cripps_orig]

266 all out

Raina got the last wicket.

WI tail enders did pretty well there.

India win by 63 runs