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The Awfully New Cricket Thread

Started by aaaaaaaaaargh!, March 02, 2009, 06:23:53 PM

Previous topic - Next topic
Seeing as Neil has had to lock the old thread, I thought it best that a new one be started so this place isn't devoid of cricket discussion.  There's been a fair bit of decent cricket in South Africa, the first test with Australia was reasonably finely poised last night, although Mitchell Johnson put paid to SA's comeback.

As for the Windies v England test, well, I'm surprised that the bowlers haven't resorted to bowling underarm really, there's been about six billion runs in this test so far.  Bloody great for the batsmens' averages, less so for the bowlers.

Here's a nice picture of Brendan Nash missing a catch:



Enjoy the new thread folks!

Gunmen shoot Sri Lanka cricketers

Holy fucking shit.

QuoteAt least five members of the Sri Lankan cricket team were injured - two from bullets - and five Pakistani policemen escorting the team bus were killed.

Pakistani officials said about 12 gunmen were involved and grenades and rocket launchers have been recovered.

I can't see many teams touring Pakistan for some time (stating the obvious I know, but I think I remember that Sri Lanka were the only team prepared to tour Pakistan in the run up to this attack).

Shoulders?-Stomach!

Why can't cricket and real life just leave each other alone?

Whoever did this are the most pathetic wankers. Mind you, my first thought was 'I know Samaraweera's scored a lot of runs against you, but they were on a very flat wicket'.

The Plaque Goblin

I was of the understanding that cricket is quite popular in Pakistan.

Just what do Islamic extremists have to gain from attacking it?

Have they not shot themselves in the foot, so to speak?

rjd2

Oh dear bad news for England with the ashes on the horizon and more importantly South africa, Oz seem to have found a pretty special opener in this Hughes chap.

joeyzaza

Strauss is batting like a monster at the moment. Whatever happens tomorrow, he'll be averaging over 100 from his last 6 innings. 6 of the last 7 times he's reached 50, he's gone on to convert it into a century. His test record now reads 17 100s, 14 50s - of players with that many tons, only Bradman had a better conversion rate. Overseas, it's even better, with 10 out of 12 50s converted (he also averages just over 50, 10 runs more than he does in England). As England captain, his average is 68.

Pressure? Strauss shits it for breakfast.

George Oscar Bluth II

I genuinely think this has been the dullest series in my time watching cricket.

There's been maybe one decent session overall?

Shoulders?-Stomach!

Strauss has made an unexpected transformation into absolute superhero opener. I'm grimly hoping his form doesn't evaporate before the ashes.

Hughes has the advantage of not having to learn his trade before being flung into test cricket. We're yet to see how he'll fair in greener conditions than these. I mean, Katich got a century, which is virtually inexcusable.

Funny how pressure works on some people isn't it? Strauss gets centuries, Pietersen's form falls right off. Sarwan hits the form of his life, Chanderpaul's form deserts him. Katich and Hughes score centuries, Ponting and Clarke out in single figures.

rjd2

Quote from: Shoulders?-Stomach! on March 06, 2009, 09:10:44 PM
Strauss has made an unexpected transformation into absolute superhero opener. I'm grimly hoping his form doesn't evaporate before the ashes.

Hughes has the advantage of not having to learn his trade before being flung into test cricket. We're yet to see how he'll fair in greener conditions than these. I mean, Katich got a century, which is virtually inexcusable.


Simon Katich has being really good since he has being recalled, he has scored runs everywhere, the West Indies, India, South Africa and he has filled his boots in Australia. The bowling attack of the West Indies is pretty mediocre, and these pitches are very batsmen friendly, so I would be reluctant to get on the Strauss bandwagon like everyone else here.

Prescription Dinosaur

Quote from: George Oscar Bluth II on March 06, 2009, 09:10:22 PM
I genuinely think this has been the dullest series in my time watching cricket.

There's been maybe one decent session overall?

It's been horrendous hasn't it.

I guess thats what 15 years of having no fast bowlers and a Brian Lara does to a nation's groundskeeping staff.

Shoulders?-Stomach!

I would be reluctant to get on the Strauss bandwagon were it not for him edging closer to the English centuries record, and like joeyzaza said- his ability to absorb pressure like a particularly effective sponge.

In his bad stretch his technical weaknesses seemed incredibly pronounced. The West Indies have put the balls in his supposed bad areas this series but he's been positive enough in defence and attack, and got his feet moving.

I have enough to worry about in the England team than the definite Ashes captain in the form of his career, despite the mitigating circumstances (of which there are plenty).

I'd have played Bopara rather than Shah against this attack.

#11
I can't believe so many people are calling for Bopara to play instead of Shah. Shah has been next in line for a while and deserves his chance to play in this Test, and fitness permitting the Summer games as well against the West Indies. We needed to pick five bowlers, and with two spinners (an in form off spinner, and a left armer so plenty of variation), an in form Anderson, Broad who'll give you 100% all day (yes Mr Harmison this is what is required) and the raw talent of Amjad Khan; we've given ourselves a chance at getting 20 wickets.

Somebody had to miss out, that guy unfortunately got a hundred in the last test but I think Bopara's time will come.

Shoulders?-Stomach!

Quote"England have got people like Matt Prior, who has gone home because his wife has had a baby - as if people have never been having babies all their life."
Geoffrey Boycott shows off his old-world values

The generally sniffy reaction to this on TMS is a bit of a surprise. It's not like she's shat out any old baby, it does happen to be Matt Prior's child.

Agnew previously said he couldn't see why now the baby has been delivered, why he would need to be there.

I'd do almost anything to play for England, one of the few things I wouldn't do was miss seeing my son born. I just think it's ridiculous. The terror attacks should've got the point across that there are non-sporting things that put the game into context from time to time.

England guaranteeing Prior a spot no matter what happened was the only daft thing that happened here.

rjd2

England would kill to have a fast bowler like Mitchell Johnson. He is ripping Smiths lot up as we speak.

Shoulders?-Stomach!

Collingwood and Prior are cashing in. Both of them will be averaging over 45 at this rate. Collingwood's record is particularly impressive after such a long run of test matches. In comparison to his first class record it's a testament to the strength of character he posseses.

joeyzaza

Owais Shah is a curious beast. I've been a big advocate of giving him a run in the side, but after 9 innings, his batting average stands at 29.77, a long way short of the standard required to cement a place in the first XI, never mind at no. 3. After another run-out, I had a look at his test batting history:


RunsHow Out
88caught
38run out
6caught
4caught
57run out
14bowled
7caught
21lbw
33run out

He's got 5 poor scores (under 30), and each time he was either caught, bowled or leg before wicket. Of his 4 dismissals with at least 30 runs on the board, 3 were run-outs, and the other one has extenuating circumstances.

For his 88 in his debut innings, he came in with the score at 52/1, and proceeded to put on a century partnership with Strauss. At tea, with the scoreboard reading 158/1, he retired hurt with hand cramps (with 50 runs to his name).

When he returned to the crease just before lunch the next day, Strauss, Pietersen and Collingwood had lost their wickets, and the score was now 326/4. By lunch, Flintoff and GO! Jones had also gone, England were 333/6 and Shah was left to bat with the tail. Udal and Hoggard went with consecutive balls, and with only Monty to come in, Shah pushed on with Anderson. He was eventually out via an outside edge from a cracking Harbhajan delivery, leaving England at 385/9, but having added a welcome 52 runs with 3 tail-enders. His solid 38 in the 2nd innings (only Flintoff scored more) was also useful, and England eventually won by 212 runs.

My point is that the 4 times he's passed 30, he's been out for reasons other than "not a test-class batsman". In Mumbai he'd reached 54 batting with the top-order, and may well have scored a lot more than 88 if he wasn't stuck with the tail.

Unlucky, or just not good enough? It's a big cheat, but if you were to magically convert his 3 run-outs and his broken innings at Mumbai into "not outs", his average would be comfortably over 50, which would put him into the "undroppable" category.

Even if he's out first ball in the 2nd innings, I'll be disappointed if Shah's not in the side to face the Windies at Lords in May.


This tickled me earlier:
Quote from: cricinfo's ball-by-ball update
If [Windies bowler Lionel] Baker gets walloped for a six, would we all stand and Cia the Batta?

Shoulders?-Stomach!

Aye, that took a respectable level of crowbarring!

There's only one way to find out with Shah and that's to play the bugger.

Quote from: joeyzaza on March 06, 2009, 09:06:46 PM
Strauss is batting like a monster at the moment. Whatever happens tomorrow, he'll be averaging over 100 from his last 6 innings. 6 of the last 7 times he's reached 50, he's gone on to convert it into a century. His test record now reads 17 100s, 14 50s - of players with that many tons, only Bradman had a better conversion rate. Overseas, it's even better, with 10 out of 12 50s converted (he also averages just over 50, 10 runs more than he does in England). As England captain, his average is 68.

Pressure? Strauss shits it for breakfast.

Bah, just lost a long post replying to this through my incompetence.  Those stats are bloody amazing.  Second to Bradman?  You'd take that!  A fair few of those runs will have been scored away from the pancake flat pitches of the West Indies (where I'd imagine pretty much everyone who posts into this thread would get a century or two if they tried batting on them) which makes it even more impressive.

What happened in Pakistan last week prompted me to look at where the next cricket world cup (in 2011) is planned to be held.  It's due to be held jointly between Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.  I wonder if that's giving the ICC any headaches at the moment?

Shoulders?-Stomach!

I'm absolutely convinced there are bowlers I've faced in the Hull and Scunthorpe leagues that bowl deliveries with more venom than Powell and Baker.

They had a shot of the West Indies 1984 team photograph in the Sunday Times. Needless to say it's basically a roll call of some of the greatest figures in the sport.

The bowling attack against Gower's lot when they won 5-0 was Holding/Garner/Marshall/Walsh. That is fucking incredible.

rjd2

Philip Hughes look like he will be something very special. This Simmons lad does not.

Is he any relation to Merv?


England are missing chances at the mo, another drop, Panesar has been unlucky and at last is showing the variation we've been demanding. Amjad's 'wristy' action is also raising a few eyebrows, as is his tendency to bowl 8 ball overs.

rjd2

#21
Monty has being very annoying today which  most seem to have noticed most notably Boycott.
Quote
"I hope I'm still around to see Monty take up umpiring when he retires. Games could finish quite quickly"

Its a war of attrition here with Shiv and nash at the moment.

EDIT Phil Hughes is not related to Merv confetti

Shoulders?-Stomach!

I'd be amazed if we can bowl them out twice here. Some major deterioration will have to happen to the pitch.

actwithoutwords

Another riveting day's cricket in the Caribbean it seems. The main point of excitement is the fact that Extras has got up to 72 so far. He's surely not on to make his maiden Test century? Would he get an ovation?

(shambolic stuff from England though)

rjd2

Quote from: actwithoutwords on March 09, 2009, 06:00:38 PM
Another riveting day's cricket in the Caribbean it seems. The main point of excitement is the fact that Extras has got up to 72 so far. He's surely not on to make his maiden Test century? Would he get an ovation?

(shambolic stuff from England though)

Probably although England have to look at their wicket keeping position. Prior is good with the bat but a poor gloveman.



actwithoutwords

Third new ball due. Extras really thrives on the new ball.

Quote from: rjd2 on March 09, 2009, 06:26:42 PM
Probably although England have to look at their wicket keeping position. Prior is good with the bat but a poor gloveman.

Yep, conceeding all those extras erodes the worthof his century. In hindsight they should have stuck with Ambrose, he kept well in the last game, and seemed better and more composed with the bat.

Anderson by the sounds of it has bowled magnificently with little reward, shame none of the other bowlers could get it together today, even Monty's gone back to his old ways.

rjd2

Oh dear another batting failure from Shah, I would be very surprised he if he is playing in England's next test sadly.

rudi

Not really his fault for the final innings though, surely? They've all been told to just get out there and twat it, haven't they?

rjd2

Quote from: rudi on March 10, 2009, 12:41:09 AM
Not really his fault for the final innings though, surely? They've all been told to just get out there and twat it, haven't they?


True but those who have had the knives out for him since day 1 will have a field day with some of his low scores this series. I would like to see them persist with him because I do think he is quality but I am worried for him.