Official Cricket Thread

[Fire Away]

36-5 Ireland lol

[Untitled]

In Play
Australia won the toss and decided to field
Ireland Innings
59 for 7 (18.0 overs)

There getting owned.

If i was Austrialia, id Send Symonds and Hussy out to open, never mind just pushing them up the order haha.

[Aria.]

lmfao

[Britney Diva]

Pretty lousy performance from the Australians, I think.

[Rrrrrrr]

26th over: Ire 82-9
Maiden from Hogg. "Bowling, Hogg!" yelps the imaginative Gilchrist.
:lol: Some of the lines they come up with...

[antihippy]

ooooooh.... ireland is getting slaughtered here.

Pretty lousy performance from the Australians, I think.

(\_/)
o_ 0
(\ /) this bunny mocks you.

[Untitled]

:lol: Some of the lines they come up with...

I love reading the "as it happens" on the BBC site, can be pretty funny.

Gonna watch the Highlights of AusvIre in a sec, probebly gonna be really boring tbh, whitewashes always are.

[Grumma]

:lol: Some of the lines they come up with...

I'm pretty sure most teams would use fairly simple lines like that for the best part of it

[Rrrrrrr]

i was talking about the BBC writers not Gilchrist

[eug008]

:lol: Ireland got owned.

[Grumma]

i was talking about the BBC writers not Gilchrist

Ah ok lol.

My bad

[antihippy]

well, ireland put up a good fight.

i mean, they got a wicket at least.

[samthebassman]

Tonights game should be a cracker, NZ vs SAf.

My season started today with a good win, I opened the batting and smoked 41 from 25 balls then got out to a soft shot.

[TheBigMachine]

We bowed out in the semi's from our season a few weeks ago. Such a stupid, stupid loss. I was batting middle-order, it was 3-not many, me and one opener left. We stopped wickets but our run-rate plummeted. I was doing my job(rotating strike) by running singles, but the opener was lazy and didnt back up and ran himself out. i copped some **** for that, but ultimately it was the entire teams fault we lost so heavily.

[samthebassman]

That is cricket bro!

[TheBigMachine]

Damn right.

[samthebassman]

Shane Bond is bowling well, I hope he can knock over a couple of the beady eyed, big chinned south africans!

[antihippy]

whens the semi finals?

[Rrrrrrr]

not for another ten days

greedy sods

[samthebassman]

NZ must have played well, I love seeing the SAf tools go down.

[Grumma]

Gah . . .

After viewing the match scorecard I am going to again show my disgust at Jacques Kallis' batting

[samthebassman]

It was seaming around a bit early though, but he still shows no positive intent.

[Grumma]

I think you talked about Bevan playing for his average; well I think you can safely add Kallis to that list

[samthebassman]

You couldnt be more right.

[antihippy]

any bets on the bangla's winning today?

[Britney Diva]

I'd say the odds are climbing by the minute. We've put in what I believe is our biggest total of the tournament (over 240) and Bangladesh are currently 53/3 after 14 overs.

[RandyfromPennywise]

This tournament is three weeks too long. Two weeks at least. The round-robin Super 8s is a joke. If we must have 16 teams (Canada... I know two Canadians who hadn't actually ever heard of the sport of cricket until two weeks ago) then at least go into two groups of four for the second round, thus eliminating four extra games. Then from there go to the semis. That could cut out 10-14 days. It's just dragging on far too long. Like, all due respect, but Bagladesh v Ireland isn't enthraling crigged at the best of times, and really it should be being played what, four weeks in to a tournament.

Good to see THE HUSS get a 30, and another not out, boosting that average back up in to the Bradman league. Tait is great, great value. Any bloke who I see out at a pub 50 metres from my house with a pint in his hand at 1am on a Saturday night who represents Australia is a legend. At crigged no less.

[Rrrrrrr]

(Canada... I know two Canadians who hadn't actually ever heard of the sport of cricket until two weeks ago)

that's exactly why they should be allowed in imo. cricket could use the exposure, the number of people who've never seen the game represents a huge loss of potential fans. getting the little teams involved in the world cup is a good way to encourage them, and eventually their countrymen will start showing support.

[RandyfromPennywise]

Yes, but surely the WORLD CUP isn't the most appropriate place to be blooding new countries? This is supposed to be the pinnacle of one-day crigged. See my point? Surely the ICC Cup could get a couple of these new teams in every two years, or the ICC could make one of the top nations play a series against one of these countries every couple of years. I mean really, you don't see Solomon Islands getting a birth at the Football World Cup. Ok, yes the circumstances are different, but there are two sides to it. Positively the minnows are good for the growth of the game but negatively, they force the tournament to be soo effing long it's ridiculous and they lower the quality of what is supposed to be the showcase of limited-overs crigged.

[Untitled]

any bets on the bangla's winning today?

Ive been saying all week, They will beat Ireland.

I look to be wrong atm.

Good win for Ireland if they finish them off.

WORLD CUP SUPER 8, BARBADOS: Ireland 243-7 v Bangladesh 136-7 (32 overs)

[samthebassman]

Good win by Ireland.

I agree that the comp is far too long, this could be fixed by playing 2 games a day during the super 8's stages.

[antihippy]

bangladesh lost........ :(

and the holidays just ended...... :(

[Britney Diva]

It's just dragging on far too long. Like, all due respect, but Bagladesh v Ireland isn't enthraling crigged at the best of times, and really it should be being played what, four weeks in to a tournament.
Well, yeah, but it's hardly enthralling to watch Australia steamroll... everyone in the tournament. Today's match might be the only competitive one they play and, honestly, of all the exciting matches in the tournament thusfar none of them have involved Australia.

[RandyfromPennywise]

Correct. But it's not our fault that we are one of the best one-day sides in history. There isn't enough talent in world cricket to support 16 teams. But that's not really my point, I don't mind the minnows, my contention is with the tournament. Four weeks should be a maximum.

[Rrrrrrr]

Interesting move by Moody, resting Murali and Vaas. Kinda disappointing seeing as this was going to be the big match of the round, but I suppose it'll pay off later in the tournament.

[Alf™]

Symonds, and Australia for that matter, are disposing of Sri Lanka atm. Sri Lanka must really be feeling not having two of there key bowlers.

[Untitled]

Symonds, and Australia for that matter, are disposing of Sri Lanka atm. Sri Lanka must really be feeling not having two of there key bowlers.

Without Murali, Vaas or Malinga, from what ive been reading, they really havnt troubled the Australian batters.

Shame really, i was expecting a good closer match.

[Aria.]

anothher absolute hiding dished out by the boys

[Untitled]

My God, we are getting owned.

Are top order really needs to get sorted, if they dont proform the rest of the team isnt really. Bell should stay, Vaughan should resign, and be Replaced with Trescothick, any reason why Alister Cook isnt picked for the ODI team? hes a pretty decent opener, why play him in the ashes and not in the ODI team.

Trescothick
Strauss (Capt)
Bell
Collingwood
Pietersen
Flintoff
Bopara
Nixon (Im presuming hes gonna go after the world cup tbh, dunno who would replace him though)
Lewis/Plunkett
Panesar
Anderson/Hoggard?

[RandyfromPennywise]

Goodbye Ingerlund. Deserved really, you are really crap.

[Untitled]

Goodbye Ingerlund. Deserved really, you are really crap.

We've been crap this tournament.

But the team we have out they have proven they can play well and win matches against big teams, they just pull the performance out about once every millennium.

[metal-militia]

I wish Mal Loye was picked.

Did anyone see Mahmood's figures at the end? Got hit for 49 off 4.2 overs :lol:

[Untitled]

I wish Mal Loye was picked.

Did anyone see Mahmood's figures at the end? Got hit for 49 off 4.2 overs :lol:

He should be droped tbh, he's not good enough for international cricket yet.

Any reasons why Hoggard isnt playing in the ODI team??

[Grumma]

Cos he got spanked the last few games he played.

His economy is pretty high from memory

[RandyfromPennywise]

We've been crap this tournament.

But the team we have out they have proven they can play well and win matches against big teams, they just pull the performance out about once every millennium.
Honestly, the Ashes in 2009 are going to be interesting. Personally I think Australia will probably win at this stage, unless I see something from England. England have to win to make 2005 anything more than a flash in the pan in the eyes of history.

[Untitled]

Honestly, the Ashes in 2009 are going to be interesting. Personally I think Australia will probably win at this stage, unless I see something from England. England have to win to make 2005 anything more than a flash in the pan in the eyes of history.

Im pissed off about 2009, there not playing at Old Trafford, and i was going to go all 5 days, instead im going to have to trek over to Headingly.

Anyway, i think our test team is a hell of a lot better then what it was in 2006. Vaughan i would hope to be still playing and captaining, which he is good at in tests, so Flintoff wont have to bare the pressure because he cant handle it. Bopara will be in the team im thinking, we should have Trescothick back, if Harmison is playing hopefully he will play how he can and not that appalling display in Austrialia the first few tests. I think KP can only get better, As can Jimmy Anderson, i think he will be picked in the team.

But, i would still favour Aus to win, even with 3 key test players going, but i dont think it will be as easy for you.

[Britney Diva]

Bopara's looking like a great prospect.

[RandyfromPennywise]

And Ireland should just stop playing cricket and focus all their energy on the Gaelic games, Football and Rugby. Cricket seems like they're spreading their resources one sport too far. Sorry, might be a bit of a low blow but tonight was really bad, it was like Brazil playing Thailand in soccer.

I think by the time 2009 comes around Clarke will be one of the best batsmen in the world, and Hussey and Ponting will be at the same level. Symonds will have established himself at Test level, and hopefully Tait too. I think we'll be ok.

[Britney Diva]

It's all amateur, we don't dedicate any resources to it. We don't have an industrial sporting culture here like you do down there.

[RandyfromPennywise]

Yeah, we own at sport. Football's the only blemish on our record, but that's changing, trust me. But yeah not even that you put money or anything in to it, just the effort. Doesn't seem like you have any left. Actually this has just degenerated in to a cheap shot at Ireland, which is unwarranted and has no basis. Fair play to Ireland for having a go. After all that's what we Aussies love so much isn't it, having a go? Ah well in Ireland then, Fair Play. No malice meant towards Ireland, a country I like because of Damien Duff and their accents.

[antihippy]

england got destroyed.

either way, whats the next match? i could go into cricinfo...... but i'm just too damn lazy. :p

[Untitled]

england got destroyed.

either way, whats the next match? i could go into cricinfo...... but i'm just too damn lazy. :p

Yeah we did haha.

West Indies today V Bangladesh, tomorrow Aus Vs New Zealand, Saterday England v West Indies.

Winners, WI, Aus, England :cool:

[samthebassman]

My God, we are getting owned.

Are top order really needs to get sorted, if they dont proform the rest of the team isnt really. Bell should stay, Vaughan should resign, and be Replaced with Trescothick, any reason why Alister Cook isnt picked for the ODI team? hes a pretty decent opener, why play him in the ashes and not in the ODI team.

Trescothick
Strauss (Capt)
Bell
Collingwood
Pietersen
Flintoff
Bopara
Nixon (Im presuming hes gonna go after the world cup tbh, dunno who would replace him though)
Lewis/Plunkett
Panesar
Anderson/Hoggard?

Why not do a wholesale cleanout of all the older players? Strauss has contibuted little in ODI cricket, Trescothick cant seem to tour anywhere & Nixon is to old to be regarded as a long term selection.

Surely KP has to bat 3 seeing he is their best batsman & perhaps Flintoff should go up the order. Simon Jones should come back into the team sghortly so he will be a good partner for Anderson with the new ball. What about Solanki, Shah & Key for top order spots, they were all harshly treated by the selectors in the past.

I cant believe Sri Lanka left out Vaas & Murali for the Aussie game. They pretty much threw the game, it is disgraceful, then surprise, surprise Murali pops up against Ireland and takes a bagfull of wickets, that to me is a true representation of his character.

[samthebassman]

Honestly, the Ashes in 2009 are going to be interesting. Personally I think Australia will probably win at this stage, unless I see something from England. England have to win to make 2005 anything more than a flash in the pan in the eyes of history.

How can you say the Aussies will probably win? They have lost Warne, McGrath & Langer and they have not played a test without them yet. A little far sighted at best.

[samthebassman]

Interesting!

- Shave Watson has been passed fit to play aginst NZ.
-Jacob Oram has been ruled out of the Aussie game with a heel injury.
-Brian Lara has quit international cricket.
-Duncan Fletcher has quit as England coach.
-Shoaib Malik has been named the new captain of Pakistan.

sorry about the triple post, I havent been on all week and have a lot of catching up to do.

[Grumma]

I cant believe Sri Lanka left out Vaas & Murali for the Aussie game. They pretty much threw the game, it is disgraceful, then surprise, surprise Murali pops up against Ireland and takes a bagfull of wickets, that to me is a true representation of his character.

lol +1

[Rrrrrrr]

I cant believe Sri Lanka left out Vaas & Murali for the Aussie game. They pretty much threw the game, it is disgraceful, then surprise, surprise Murali pops up against Ireland and takes a bagfull of wickets, that to me is a true representation of his character.
That's a pretty stupid comment considering both Vaas and Murali wanted to play. Keeping them out of the game was largely Moody's decision because he didn't want to give the Aussies any practice against them, especially Murali.
lol +1
ditto

[RandyfromPennywise]

How can you say the Aussies will probably win? They have lost Warne, McGrath & Langer and they have not played a test without them yet. A little far sighted at best.

Hahaha, you are overestimating the English. We don't need to have played a Test without those guys for me to say that we will win.

[samthebassman]

Im not overestimating England, but I wont over rate an Aussie team without Warne & McGrath.

[antihippy]

but then you could look at the up and coming youngsters (not that i'm old :p ... just comparing them to the australian team's age). dan cullen, shaun tait, that left arm pacer whose name eludes me......

[TheBigMachine]

Starts with a H.

As ricky ponting said, it's too long between drinks in the world cup. So hard to keep your interest up.

[samthebassman]

You are probably thinking of Ben Hilfenhaus but he isnt a left armer, my opinion on the first test team for next summer is:

1.Hayden
2.Watson/Rogers
3.Ponting
4.Hussey
5.Clarke
6.Symonds
7.Gilchrist/Haddin (if Gilly retires)
8.Lee
9.Clark
10.MacGill
11.Tait/Hilfenhaus/Johnson

Out of that lot obviously Gilly, Hayden & MacGill wont be around for the 2009 ashes series.

[TheBigMachine]

Macgill might be.
He hasn't played alot of international cricket you know.

[samthebassman]

Yeah but he is already 36, he didnt bowl very well for NSW this year aswell, I think he will be a stop gap solution until Cullen/Bailey/Casson/Hauritz/Krejza/White/Heal take the next step.

[RandyfromPennywise]

You are probably thinking of Ben Hilfenhaus but he isnt a left armer, my opinion on the first test team for next summer is:

1.Hayden
2.Watson/Rogers
3.Ponting
4.Hussey
5.Clarke
6.Symonds
7.Gilchrist/Haddin (if Gilly retires)
8.Lee
9.Clark
10.MacGill
11.Tait/Hilfenhaus/Johnson

Out of that lot obviously Gilly, Hayden & MacGill wont be around for the 2009 ashes series.
Clarke will be #4, Hussey #5. Who is Rogers?

[samthebassman]

Hussey has taken Damien Martyn's spot at number 4 in the test team and Clarke has moved up the order from number 6 to number 5. Chris Rogers is the prolific opening batsman from WA, he was the leading run scorer in domestic cricket this season and he won the pura cup player of the year, he also scored 300 against Australia when he was playing county cricket in 2005.

[samthebassman]

Shane Bond is missing from the NZ team with injury.

[eug008]

gah, gilly's gone already :(

[RandyfromPennywise]

Hussey has taken Damien Martyn's spot at number 4 in the test team and Clarke has moved up the order from number 6 to number 5. Chris Rogers is the prolific opening batsman from WA, he was the leading run scorer in domestic cricket this season and he won the pura cup player of the year, he also scored 300 against Australia when he was playing county cricket in 2005.

I will put $50 on the fact that Clarke will bat #4 in the next Ashes series. And Hussey didn't take Marto's spot, he was already in the team at 5, Symonds came in for Marto. And right, never heard of him!

[Rrrrrrr]

Shane Bond is missing from the NZ team with injury.

stomach virus*

[samthebassman]

I will put $50 on the fact that Clarke will bat #4 in the next Ashes series. And Hussey didn't take Marto's spot, he was already in the team at 5, Symonds came in for Marto. And right, never heard of him!

You can bet all you like, Martyn retired so Hussey moved from 5 to 4, Clarke moved from 6 to 5 and Symonds came into the team at 6. Check the scorecards!

[Britney Diva]

Bond and Oram both out :/ Hopefully they'll be back for the semis.

[samthebassman]

There is some great batting going on here atm, Aussies on fire.

[RandyfromPennywise]

You can bet all you like, Martyn retired so Hussey moved from 5 to 4, Clarke moved from 6 to 5 and Symonds came into the team at 6. Check the scorecards!

Haha no I said for the next Ashes series, not what happened this summer. And Hayden, gun!

[RandyfromPennywise]

Bond and Oram both out :/ Hopefully they'll be back for the semis.

Why are you going for the sheep shaggers?

[Apocalyptic Raids]

Because he prefers them over the other teams in the semis?

Good going for Australia so far against NZ :)

You are probably thinking of Ben Hilfenhaus but he isnt a left armer, my opinion on the first test team for next summer is:

1.Hayden
2.Watson/Rogers
3.Ponting
4.Hussey
5.Clarke
6.Symonds
7.Gilchrist/Haddin (if Gilly retires)
8.Lee
9.Clark
10.MacGill
11.Tait/Hilfenhaus/Johnson

Out of that lot obviously Gilly, Hayden & MacGill wont be around for the 2009 ashes series.
You don't rate Jacques?

[Untitled]

Why not do a wholesale cleanout of all the older players? Strauss has contibuted little in ODI cricket, Trescothick cant seem to tour anywhere & Nixon is to old to be regarded as a long term selection.

Surely KP has to bat 3 seeing he is their best batsman & perhaps Flintoff should go up the order. Simon Jones should come back into the team sghortly so he will be a good partner for Anderson with the new ball. What about Solanki, Shah & Key for top order spots, they were all harshly treated by the selectors in the past.

I cant believe Sri Lanka left out Vaas & Murali for the Aussie game. They pretty much threw the game, it is disgraceful, then surprise, surprise Murali pops up against Ireland and takes a bagfull of wickets, that to me is a true representation of his character.
I can see your point on Struass and Nixon, i have a feeling Nixon might play out the rest of the years ODI matches then get droped, who knows. Trescothick is eager to play for England again according to reports, im just worried about his mentla issues when tour away from home, the home serises i think he should be ok.

KP at number 3, reports are he likes to play lower down the order after the top order have made a decent score so he can come in and smack the ball around the park for a few overs, same with flintoff, when flintoff can bat. I think that mentality is good for tests though, but ODI i think they should be pushed up the order, to maybe 4/5 though, and push collingwood to either 3, or 6.

Simon Jones will be such an asset for us when he is back he's a really good bowler, and we did struggel to take Aus wickets in the last day of the 2005 ashes when he first got injured, i remember we had to play for a draw that match. Gotta replace Mahmood though, Anderson is far far better and good with the new ball.

Im quiet excited to get a new coach, Fletcher has done a great job with us in the tests, last in the test rankings to 2nd in 5 years or whatever he did it in is a great feat, even if we have been mauled this winter in all aspects all the game. Im hoping the new coach will come in and keep the test form the same but inprove the one day mentality a whole lot.

EDIT Peter Moores, named as our new perminant coach already, no international playing or coaching experiance, but he is currently National Cricket Academy director.

[RCVA]

Peter Moores does have very good coaching qualifications though i heard so hopefully he'll do a good job for us.

I'd agree that we need to get rid of Mahmood because the best teams find him easy to face and he is hit for too many runs.


I'm not worried about the tests because we managed to beat Pakistan and draw with India with much the same team and everyone knows England are much better at tests than at ODI's.


Cook and Trescothick are looking good so far in the domestic season and it's good news that Harmison is taking wickets and Hoggard is bowling fairly well. Having Simon Jones back will be a massive boost and a bowling attack of harmison, hoggard, anderson, jones, panersar AND Flintoff, if we decide to carry on playing him as an all rounder, will be a pretty potent attack.

I'm not sure what the selectors are going to do for batting now Michael Vaughan is back.

Drop Bell (who's test form has been very good in the past year), Cook? (Who has also had an excellent start to his career) or Collingwood? Who's managed to almost cement himself in the team.


Personally i'd drop Colly but i don't know what they will do.

[RandyfromPennywise]

Aussies looking good. Watson's having an impact... For once.

[Untitled]

Colly gives them an extra dimension to play with on slower pitches with his medium pace, that can be quite handy, and hes an excellent feilder, and a handy batter, thats a tough one though. I think for the tests series this year will be.

Tresco - (im betting him to play for england this summer with them being at home)
Bell
Vaughan
Pieterson
Collingwood
Flintoff
Read? im not well informed on w/k
Panesar
Jones
Hoggard
Harmison

I think Cook is a great player and will do us good in years to come, it depends on Tresco though, if he thinks hes well to play and he gets picked, i think they will go with that line up, if not, i think Cook will open with Bell.

Also, i think they should keep Freddy in as an all rounder, we all know what he is capable off with the bat, just the last year hes not preformed with it, its not like hes going to loose ability over night, a few good over will get him going again.

[RCVA]

Yeah if he can get his batting form back he's definitely worth playing as a batsmen and i'd go as far to say he's our best bowler.


I can see where you're coming from with Cook i just think he is too good to be overlooked and England don't make enough use of Collingwood's bowling anyway in tests.

I think it will be better for the team having tresco playing because he can be aggressive and this world cup has shown how much we miss that from him.


I have no idea who we should choose as w/k. I don't think anyone will be brilliant but i'm saying either Jack Foster or Read. Read's batting isn't that bad and even though Jones' is better he hasn't produced the performances and really it's perfomances and not talent that count.

[Rrrrrrr]

that was quite brutal

[RCVA]

Australia are too good.

NZ were pretty weakened as a bowling attack though..still their batting was no where near close to matching the Aussies.

I can't see any other outcome than Australia winning. Unless SA have a good day or Sri Lanka produce something brilliant on the day.

[Britney Diva]

They really collapsed after Scotty Styris was dismissed. Shows how crucial a single bad hit can be to the outcome of a match.

[Nightvision]

Also, i think they should keep Freddy in as an all rounder, we all know what he is capable off with the bat, just the last year hes not preformed with it, its not like hes going to loose ability over night, a few good over will get him going again.

Why do England persist in playing Flintoff as an all-rounder when he clearly isn't performing with the bat? Surely if we get rid of Saj Mahmood and play Freddie as a bowler who *might* be handy with the bat, we'd be able to either bring in another all-rounder who can actually do both to a reasonable standard or just play another batsman who's actually going to get us some runs?

[Untitled]

Why do England persist in playing Flintoff as an all-rounder when he clearly isn't performing with the bat? Surely if we get rid of Saj Mahmood and play Freddie as a bowler who *might* be handy with the bat, we'd be able to either bring in another all-rounder who can actually do both to a reasonable standard or just play another batsman who's actually going to get us some runs?

Because Freddie has been preforming excellently with a bat since 1999 or whenever he started playing for England, he has had the last year out of form and he all of a sudden is only useful as a bowler, thats bollocks, as soon as he gets a good innings with the bat he will start playing how we know he can. Hes had 1 bad year, and he said in an interview i read, he considors himself a Batter who can bowl a bit, but his batting just hasnt been up to par of late.

Also Sajid is going to be dropped for Jones soon so Freddie will only have a place in the team as an all rounder, and i dont see the selectors dropping him.

[Aria.]

hell yes i love this pure domination

[samthebassman]

Because he prefers them over the other teams in the semis?

Good going for Australia so far against NZ :)


You don't rate Jacques?

Jacques does nothing for me.

[samthebassman]

Colly gives them an extra dimension to play with on slower pitches with his medium pace, that can be quite handy, and hes an excellent feilder, and a handy batter, thats a tough one though. I think for the tests series this year will be.

Tresco - (im betting him to play for england this summer with them being at home)
Bell
Vaughan
Pieterson
Collingwood
Flintoff
Read? im not well informed on w/k
Panesar
Jones
Hoggard
Harmison

I think Cook is a great player and will do us good in years to come, it depends on Tresco though, if he thinks hes well to play and he gets picked, i think they will go with that line up, if not, i think Cook will open with Bell.

Also, i think they should keep Freddy in as an all rounder, we all know what he is capable off with the bat, just the last year hes not preformed with it, its not like hes going to loose ability over night, a few good over will get him going again.

The batting looks thin, for me frddie should be batting at 7, he hasnt made a score for a long time plus Read hasnt done much with the bat in tests so far.

[Grumma]

I can't see everyone's infatuation with Flintoff as a batsman. He can hit the ball a long way but that's about it.

And as far as England's bowling goes Anderson and Plunkett, IMO, should be opening in the one-dayers with Panesar and Flintoff the other 2 "specialist" bowlers.

Collingwood's medium pacers are good enough to make up 8 overs or so, and Pieterson can roll his arm over for 2 or 3 if needed.

Oh, and Phil Jacques will open before Rogers

[samthebassman]

Rogers is far better player than Jacques, he is more consistant and tougher (in the Langer mould).

[samthebassman]

Aussies looking good. Watson's having an impact... For once.

Give Watto a break, he is a gun!

[RCVA]

The batting looks thin, for me frddie should be batting at 7, he hasnt made a score for a long time plus Read hasnt done much with the bat in tests so far.

My lineup for England for the series against the West Indies would be:

Trescothick (if he's in form if not cook as opener)
Strauss (He carried the team last summer against Pakistan)
Bell
Pietersen
Vaughan
Flintoff
Read
Jones
Harmison
Hoggard
Panesar

[samthebassman]

No Collingwood? he played well against the Aussies, Cook also did at times.

[RCVA]

I want cook in but i can't see who he could replace and he's still very young.
I'd prefer it if Vaughan wasn't in but he is a very good captain.

Collingwood is a difficult one. For me it's either Bell or Collingwood and personally i believe that Bell is a better batsmen and he's also younger.

[samthebassman]

For me:

1.Strauss
2.Trecothick/Cook
3.Vaughan
4.Pietersen
5.Collingwood
6.Bell
7.Flintoff
8.Read
9.Panesar
10.S.Jones
11.Hoggard

[RCVA]

Harmison is bowling well in county cricket at the moment though and he can be our most dangerous bowler.

If he keeps his form going i don't think they should drop him. Maybe for the first tests of the summer have him in and don't play a spinner?

Then again it's not really green here at the moment so spin could play a part next month when it should be drier and hotter.

[samthebassman]

The worst thing they could do is drop Panesar, he needs to play and gain confidence & experience. Harmison was disgraceful in Australia, he is dangerous but I think he needs a shake up.

[RandyfromPennywise]

Give Watto a break, he is a gun!

I wish he actually was! Hasn't done enough for mine. Only two 5-fors at 1st class level is not very good. Anyway, he played well and long may that continue.

[antihippy]

that's cos he's hurting himself most of the time.....

[nowhesingsnowhesobs]

heh vaughan bowled 10 overs

[RandyfromPennywise]

Can't watch it 'cause of the Prem, WIndies I saw were 200 for 4 or something?

[Rrrrrrr]

they made 300 all out

england are now 46/1 off nine overs

[Untitled]

heh vaughan bowled 10 overs

And he took a 3for, and got 79 runs batting.

He did something usefull for pete sake! :D

In Play
England won the toss and decided to field
West Indies Innings
300 all out (49.5 overs)
England Innings
159 for 3 (28.1 overs)

Looking quite decent for us.

[nowhesingsnowhesobs]

not looking good now

[Untitled]

Argh, close finish, i don't think we are going to do it though.

[Untitled]

YES, i love it when im wrong.

Golly i cant wait to watch this game. Our Batters actully seemed to put up some sort of proformance today, shock horror.

Too Little To Late at the end of the day though.

[Rrrrrrr]

that was bloody close, wish i could've been watching the match :upset:

[Britney Diva]

Oh man, Windies blew it.

[Untitled]

that was bloody close, wish i could've been watching the match :upset:

Same.

Refreshing the live text on BBC isnt the same is it, itll be on in 15 minutes or so though :) After MOTD.

EDIT - 11:55.

I guess they need time to piece the footage together :-/

[Rrrrrrr]

Oh man, Windies blew it.

What a horrible end to Lara's career, poor fella.

[Untitled]

At least we didnt demolish them on his last outing (not like we have the potential too). I mean, they could of won it still in the last overs, and when nicco was out i thought "all over" but yeah, always sad to go out on a loosing game, but he has be a great atribute to the game over the years.

Im betting MOTM might go to Vaughan, Usefull 70-odd with the bat and best bowling figures out of anyone of the England sqaud,

[Rrrrrrr]

strangely enough they gave it to pietersen

[Untitled]

Makes sence also.

Its just damn annoying that we can win on days that it dosnt matter, and when the pressure is on the England team just collapse disastrously.

I think Strauss shouldnt of played and Bell should of though tbh. Im thinking there mentality was to give strauss a knock when theres no pressure, as they say, one good innings and you can find your form back, so i think they wanted that. Bopara i see being a regular in the top order though, even if he did get out relitiverly cheaply.

[Britney Diva]

I'm sure Lara will be able to look back on an amazing career and not be too bitter about losing to England on the second-last ball :p

[samthebassman]

^^^
Agreed, Im surprised about Vaughan's game though.

[RCVA]

Hmm good game. I think England should be fairly happy coming 5th in this tournament if you look at their ODI record. I mean, imagine if India and Pakistan didn't **** up, it would be England and West Indies fighting over who comes last.


Can't believe Bell wasn't playing but i guess it was a meaningless match. Good to see Vaughan playing well. England's bowling wasn't convincing though to say the least.

[Untitled]

Hmm good game. I think England should be fairly happy coming 5th in this tournament if you look at their ODI record. I mean, imagine if India and Pakistan didn't **** up, it would be England and West Indies fighting over who comes last.


Can't believe Bell wasn't playing but i guess it was a meaningless match. Good to see Vaughan playing well. England's bowling wasn't convincing though to say the least.

Defiantly. England seemed to be worse in the field then with the bat, which is usually the opposite, they have put up some stella Fielding performances but no batting to back it up.

I hope the rest of the games now are as good as that one, i can see Aus v SA being crap if Aus dominate it, i mean yeah there good, but there too good to make for a good entertaining fight to the end. NZL SL should be good though.

[samthebassman]

The Aussies seem to be unstoppable in big matches (I hope I dont haven to eat my words!).

[Rrrrrrr]

they seem to be unstoppable in the world cup, period (i hope i do!)

[samthebassman]

Do we play on Tuesday or Wednesday?

[Untitled]

The Aussies seem to be unstoppable in big matches (I hope I dont haven to eat my words!).
There too boring to watch though, i want close competition when im being a natural supporter. Even though id rather Aussies beat South Africa, just because i cant stand Graham Smith, at least i respect the Ponting and the crew, but then NZL win in the final, wahey.
Do we play on Tuesday or Wednesday?

I believe its Sri Lanka and NZL are Tues, Aus is weds

[RCVA]

I have an overkill of cricket now.

Tuesday afternoon house cricket (class thing)
tuesday evening school cricket (advanced training at some cricket club)
Tuesday after school cricket a match for my club
wednesday morning double cricket in PE cos i'm doing PE GCSE
wednesday afternoon cricket club training after school
thursday afterschool school cricket match
sunday cricket training

[Untitled]

I have an overkill of cricket now.

Tuesday afternoon house cricket (class thing)
tuesday evening school cricket (advanced training at some cricket club)
Tuesday after school cricket a match for my club
wednesday morning double cricket in PE cos i'm doing PE GCSE
wednesday afternoon cricket club training after school
thursday afterschool school cricket match
sunday cricket training
Its alright for some, i cant play untill the indoor season for uni.

Even though a mate at uni today was saying "oh we could go to the park and play rounders or cricket" i was like "get in"

[RCVA]

Haha nice. What university do you go to?

I'd love to be able to play for my university but that's quite a way away for me so i hopefully will be able to because i've got a lot better in a couple of years.

Don't play rounders, cricket is way better!

Why do you have to wait for the indoor season?

[Untitled]

Haha nice. What university do you go to?

I'd love to be able to play for my university but that's quite a way away for me so i hopefully will be able to because i've got a lot better in a couple of years.

Don't play rounders, cricket is way better!

Why do you have to wait for the indoor season?

Well atm, im at manchester met uni, but im doing Art Foundation, so ive had to reapply for unis so i can do degree, for degree looks like ill be going leeds met, im not sure.

There team seems cool, they train at Headlingly indoor pitch thing, which is cool, they have 2 teams, id like to think i would get onto one.

I cant play now because im working all weekend and when the training sessions are on for the outdoor season at MMU, so i cant, i cant play for Heywood either for the same reasons, so one i move to uni and have no job i can start playing agian, which will be winter, and the indoor season.

Im worried i wont get on the team though, ive not played since high school, im hopeing a few sessions in the nets and ill be pretty good again, but i dont know. Ive been bowling in my back yard against a wall, not much tbh but its getting my action good agian.

And bout the rounders, tbh, i wouldn't care either way, if im messing about i jsut want to slog a ball as far as i can haha. And id be playing with mostly girls, so rounders will give them a bit of a chance.

[RCVA]

Oh okay. I guess it easier for me, i'm 15 so i have a lot of free time and my parents are okay with giving me lifts to cricket matches and stuff like that plus my school is pretty old and has quite a good cricketing tradition.

It doesn't take much to get in practice i don't think as long as you haven't grown loads since high school cos i've heard that ruins your action a bit. Are you a pace bowler?


Haha yeah i can't bat so cricket or rounders i just slog but i am trying to get better at it.

[Untitled]

Oh okay. I guess it easier for me, i'm 15 so i have a lot of free time and my parents are okay with giving me lifts to cricket matches and stuff like that plus my school is pretty old and has quite a good cricketing tradition.

It doesn't take much to get in practice i don't think as long as you haven't grown loads since high school cos i've heard that ruins your action a bit. Are you a pace bowler?


Haha yeah i can't bat so cricket or rounders i just slog but i am trying to get better at it.15? I thought you was like 17 at least haha

The cricket team at school wasn't the best off, for a start we had to go out and arrange all the team and sort out practice times ourself, there wasn't even going to be a team. When i played for my town though we won pretty much all our games from what i remember.

I used to bowl pace when i did, and i took wickets, but i also know the techniques of how to bowl off and leg spin, so i dunno if i should carry on bowling pace, or try and spin, where the chances are i wont take as many wickets or be as economical for a fair while. I think ive grown since i last played though, not much, i grew a fair bit when i was young, then just seemed to stop at like 16, and not grew since.

I can bat a little, something i need to work on more. I wanna be an all rounder, ill have to see how it all works out when im back in the nets though, i used to be able to do both, god knows if i still can, im excited though, ive already started buying new pads and crap haha.

[samthebassman]

It seems that Graeme Smith is in doubt for tomorrow's match against the Aussies.

[Grumma]

Haha he's probably just too scared to play and has the old "Windy Hill virus" :p

[samthebassman]

God I hope we flog the South Africans so I can see some tears flow from the beady little eyes of Smith!

[RCVA]

15? I thought you was like 17 at least haha

The cricket team at school wasn't the best off, for a start we had to go out and arrange all the team and sort out practice times ourself, there wasn't even going to be a team. When i played for my town though we won pretty much all our games from what i remember.

I used to bowl pace when i did, and i took wickets, but i also know the techniques of how to bowl off and leg spin, so i dunno if i should carry on bowling pace, or try and spin, where the chances are i wont take as many wickets or be as economical for a fair while. I think ive grown since i last played though, not much, i grew a fair bit when i was young, then just seemed to stop at like 16, and not grew since.

I can bat a little, something i need to work on more. I wanna be an all rounder, ill have to see how it all works out when im back in the nets though, i used to be able to do both, god knows if i still can, im excited though, ive already started buying new pads and crap haha.

Haha cool, i don't look much older than 15 but i do play in a team of 16/17 year olds for a club and i'm pretty quick compared to the other bowlers in the team. I come from a fairly affluent area and cricket seems like the thing to do round here so there are quite a few clubs and the school does about 12 games a year. Yeah being an all rounder would be good if you're fairly good at both and it's quite easy to improve them with practice. I've moved up to a number 10 batsmen and celebrated with a masterful 1 not out today hahahah.


Sri Lanka seem to be doing pretty well. I hope they win cos i can't see NZ beating Australia in the caribbean.

[Untitled]

Haha cool, i don't look much older than 15 but i do play in a team of 16/17 year olds for a club and i'm pretty quick compared to the other bowlers in the team. I come from a fairly affluent area and cricket seems like the thing to do round here so there are quite a few clubs and the school does about 12 games a year. Yeah being an all rounder would be good if you're fairly good at both and it's quite easy to improve them with practice. I've moved up to a number 10 batsmen and celebrated with a masterful 1 not out today hahahah.


Sri Lanka seem to be doing pretty well. I hope they win cos i can't see NZ beating Australia in the caribbean.

Yeah, ive always been able to do both pretty well when i was younger, which was nice. We played i used to come in at about 5/6 so i musnt of been too bad, obviously not the best, as the very best always got put right at the top of the order when we played.

Ive always thought Sri Lanka where the team to beat Aus, but ive wanted NZL to do well from the start, cept in the group stage, lol.

[Britney Diva]

I think the pressure's gotten to NZ :( Judging by how they crumbled against Australia, they really need to start well and keep wickets.

[RCVA]

I can't really see NZ winning from here but they might do it as long as styris and fulton keep going as they are for at least 20 more overs.

Getting a new bat this weekend. Hopefully it will make me better. I held it in the shop and tried a few swings and it definitely suits me. It's quite light but it has a fairly big middle.


edit: Styris out for 35 i say they've lost.

[Untitled]

Fall of wicket


2 S P Fleming
32 R L Taylor
105 S B Styris
114 J D P Oram
114 B B McCullum
115 P G Fulton
116 D L Vettori


Oh dear, thats a batting collapse to compete with Englands ones.

[samthebassman]

Let's hope the Aussies get up tonight, it seems South Africa may drop Ntini.

[Rrrrrrr]

That was a pretty painful collapse by NZ. Sri Lanka got pretty sloppy towards the end though, they should have cleaned out the Kiwis before 200.

I was hoping for a much closer match really, given that it was going to be the last interesting game in the tournament.

[TheBigMachine]

me to. I was kind of disappointed really. But i think, apart from the first round with all the minnow upsets, it's been a fairly dull and predictable world cup.

Untitled: Im not an all-rounder specifically, but I bat 6 and bowl occasionally at about 3rd/4th drop. It's not all it's pumped up to be I find. You'll either come in really really early, and have everyone relying on you to bat all day, or really late, and get no chance to make any runs. Occasionally, you'll come in midway through with your team on a good grounding, where you can make mad good runs, but this is rare I found.

[Liberi Fatali]

:(:(

Oh well, come on South Africa!

[TheBigMachine]

Heh not going to happen buddy :p

[JumpTheF**kUp]

Sup guys. Just thought I'd pop back in on Anzac Day. :)


Sri Lanka's win last night was probably one of their best tbh, and Jayawardene's innings was just pure class.

As for South Africa, they're a ****ing disgrace. Seriously, even Bangladesh would put up a better fight than this. It's infuriating to see Australia cruise so easily through, and it's also annoying to note that they show a match as boring as this, and yet chose not to show Sri Lanka play New Zealand, which would've been a great match to watch. Australian TV is so bias and ****ing gay. And how is Heals, who openly admits that he's bias toward the Australian team, still allowed to commentate? It's irritating to listen to the smug bastard talk with an air of superiority usually only limited to royalty, as if it were him who was playing. I just hope to God that, with the impending retirement of some Aussie cricketers, that they collapse into themselves.

If Australia win this World Cup, I will shoot someone.

The only positive that can come out of Australia winning so easily (against SA) is that their middle order will have very little match practice, and therefore be more vulnerable.

CARN SRI LANKA, FOR THE GOOD OF INTERNATIONAL CRICKET, WIN THE WORLD CUP

End communication.


P.S. Cool new name Liberi

[Britney Diva]

Jesus, South Africa. Way to throw away your entire world cup in the space of 10 minutes, idiots.

[Inkstar]

What the hell SA... this is... stupid. I really hope Gibbs somehow stands up and makes a partnership. I was expecting a fairly tight game... 5/55... shocking.

[JumpTheF**kUp]

They should've been 27/6.


That's simply awful.

[metal-militia]

:lol: They're getting dicked.

[Inkstar]

There he goes.

[Apocalyptic Raids]

I didn't expect SA to go this bad.

it's also annoying to note that they show a match as boring as this, and yet chose not to show Sri Lanka play New Zealand, which would've been a great match to watch. Australian TV is so bias and ****ing gay
You are an idiot. Why is it so hard to understand an Australian Television station focusing on games the Australian Cricket team is playing? Most people aren't as interested in NZ vs. SL, especially when the games start at like 11:30pm Australian time, and go into the early morning.

And how is Heals, who openly admits that he's bias toward the Australian team, still allowed to commentate? It's irritating to listen to the smug bastard talk with an air of superiority usually only limited to royalty, as if it were him who was playing.
:rolleyes:

Might as well sack the rest of the Channel Nine commentators too, since the majority of them are ex-Australian Cricketers. I've never noticed him to be particularly biased anyway.

[Rrrrrrr]

this is a ****ing bloodbath

[JumpTheF**kUp]

You are an idiot. Why is it so hard to understand an Australian Television station focusing on games the Australian Cricket team is playing? Most people aren't as interested in NZ vs. SL, especially when the games start at like 11:30pm Australian time, and go into the early morning.

I just don't understand why they show all the Australian games (which were boring as all hell), and yet don't show any others.

Might as well sack the rest of the Channel Nine commentators too, since the majority of them are ex-Australian Cricketers. I've never noticed him to be particularly biased anyway.

They're not nearly as bad as him.

"De Villiers needs to bring his front foot forward and put it down, so that Bracken can cannon a ball into his pads" - Ian Healy

Ummm...ok then. Way to commentate, douchebag.

[Untitled]

In the UK we have had all the matches being shown. All of the Highlights on terrestrial TV since the very start, and the live matches are on sky/cable.

Get in :D

[RandyfromPennywise]

Jump, they did show games not involving Australia earlier in the tournament but they scraped the idea after the ratings were abysmally poor. Obviously all of the games have been shown in full on FOX. And how unpatriotic of you to say those things about the Australian team on ANZAC day! Unbelievable!

Hussey still not getting any practice! Ah well, at least there is no dilemma with watching the Champions League now, I will hardly need to flick back, hopefully this'll be wrapped up in 90 minutes.

[Smokey D]

Jesus, South Africa. Way to throw away your entire world cup in the space of 10 minutes, idiots.

New Zealand pretty much did the same thing.

[eug008]

:lol: What a ****ing horrible performance by SA.

[samthebassman]

Come on Aussies! smash the Sri Lankans and give Jumpthe****up something to really cry about!

[Rrrrrrr]

there will be nothing to cry about

even if sri lanka win tomorrow there will be little doubt as to australia being the best ODI team in the world

cricket is in for a very depressing four years

[JumpTheF**kUp]

Jump, they did show games not involving Australia earlier in the tournament but they scraped the idea after the ratings were abysmally poor. Obviously all of the games have been shown in full on FOX. And how unpatriotic of you to say those things about the Australian team on ANZAC day! Unbelievable!

Sorry :(

I guess it's a bit of my own bias leaking through.

even if sri lanka win tomorrow there will be little doubt as to australia being the best ODI team in the world

cricket is in for a very depressing four years

Pretty much. Although Sri Lanka winning would still be good. :p

[samthebassman]

Player of the Tournament?

Hayden? McGrath? Jayasuriya?

[Rrrrrrr]

from what i read on the BBC 606 boards, McGrath is currently a shoo-in for player of the tournament. only a match-winning performance from Murali or one of the Jayas would change that, i think.

Pretty much. Although Sri Lanka winning would still be good. :p

oh, indubitably. :D
i just hope we don't crash and burn like the proteas did today or pakistan did in 1999. a good fight is all i can reasonably hope for.

[samthebassman]

Hayden surely cant be far away from P.O.T., he has smoked everyone.

[Alf™]

McGrath will get player of the tournament, and it will be a fitting end to his career, but Hayden sure will be unlucky.

[antihippy]

what can i say?


OWNED!

[TheBigMachine]

Dang.

This is ridiculous.

[Grumma]

I just don't understand why they show all the Australian games (which were boring as all hell), and yet don't show any others.


Because we're in AUSTRALIA

How hard is it to comprehend that a national television broadcasting station would focus on its own nation?

[samthebassman]

I bet in Sri Lanka they only show the Sri Lankan games and I bet the Sri Lankan commentators are just as biased towards their own team as the Aussie commentators are to theirs.

[Rrrrrrr]

I bet in Sri Lanka they only show the Sri Lankan games
almost certainly not, there's not much else that's interesting on Sri Lankan TV anyway

and I bet the Sri Lankan commentators are just as biased towards their own team as the Aussie commentators are to theirs.
seeing as the likes of ranjit fernando can barely string together a coherent sentence that point is moot

i mean, ****, what other idiot can mess up the BLEEDIN' OBVIOUS
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6HwuBTzfC2Q

[samthebassman]

The point I was trying to make is that Jumpthe****up seems to bag on Aussies but nobody else, every countries commentators are biased towards their own team, listen to the kiwi's, the poms or the south africans.

[Untitled]

I dont understand why a nation like Austrialia wouldnt show all the matches with it being such a huge cricketing nation.

We have had highlights on non cable tv for every single match this tournament, there slightly longer for the England matches, but the interest in cricket is no where near as vast as in Austrialia. And the full matches are pretty easy to watch too if you have cable.

[samthebassman]

Dunno, all games are live on cable here in Australia.

[Untitled]

Sucks for you lot.

A lot of people where walking around in Aussie shirts around uni today, i wanted to know if they are actully austrialian. I stuck with my morals and wore my engerland shirt wahey.

Time for sleep. woo.

[samthebassman]

Doesnt suck for me, I have cable!!! woohoo!

[JumpTheF**kUp]

How hard is it to comprehend that a national television broadcasting station would focus on its own nation?

I dont understand why a nation like Austrialia wouldnt show all the matches with it being such a huge cricketing nation.

Does that answer your question?

almost certainly not, there's not much else that's interesting on Sri Lankan TV anyway

seeing as the likes of ranjit fernando can barely string together a coherent sentence that point is moot

'zactly.

Fair enough not showing series' involving countries other than Australia, but not only is Australia involved in this, it's the bloody World Cup. The biggest event in the cricketing calender, and they've only shown about 8 out of 50 matches.

The Final is going to be sooooooooooo good.

The point I was trying to make is that Jumpthe****up seems to bag on Aussies but nobody else, every countries commentators are biased towards their own team, listen to the kiwi's, the poms or the south africans.

I don't find fault with any of the other Australian commentators. It's just heals who is a completely biased ****face. Benaud, Chappel, Lawry and the like are all good commentators, and describe the match without expressing their opinions like Heals does.

[Grumma]

No it doesn't answer my question.

Personally. I couldn't give a rats arse about the results of other nationals in general unless it's of interest to Australia.
Hence why no one has even whispered about games between the minnow nations.

I take interest in favourite players etc but really, Australia's the only nation I really about. And no it isn't arrogance, it's patriotism.
Look it up

[TheBigMachine]

'zactly.

Fair enough not showing series' involving countries other than Australia, but not only is Australia involved in this, it's the bloody World Cup. The biggest event in the cricketing calender, and they've only shown about 8 out of 50 matches.

The Final is going to be sooooooooooo good.

Because most Australians are like the ones in this thread.
They dont care about the other matches because they know in the end we're going to win the world cup anyway. The games are on during the most inconvenient times possible. Most of the time it's not worth waiting up for anyway because you get performances like South Africas.

I dont think the final will be that great, to be honest.

[Inkstar]

Bring on tomorrow night. All-nighter for me.

[TheBigMachine]

Whats tomorrow? Im out of touch atm

[Grumma]

My belated work Easter party :p

[Rrrrrrr]

i dunno, maybe something important, like the final?

[samthebassman]

I will be pulling an all nighter, if I can keep my eyes open after playing all day!

[Grumma]

Yeah I've got footy tomorrow lol.

Provided I can get my stitches out tomorrow morning

[TheBigMachine]

Grrrrrrr: Too long between drinks man.
I honestly don't care about the world cup anymore. Lost interest.

[Grumma]

lol I actually never really had much interest in it to begin with :p

AFL is back on so cricket goes out the window

[samthebassman]

It is all arse about up here, cricket season just started.

[Untitled]

Squad for this summer's international season:
M Vaughan, J Anderson, I Bell, R Bopara, S Broad, P Collingwood, A Cook, J Dalrymple, A Flintoff, S Harmison, M Hoggard, S Jones, E Joyce, J Lewis, S Mahmood, P Nixon, G Onions, M Panesar, K Pietersen, L Plunkett, M Prior, O Shah, A Strauss, M Trescothick, M Yardy.

Not looking to shabby for us, Trescothick, Jones back in the team, and no G Jones or Read as wicket keeper, hopefully we will keep Nixon this summer, dosnt look to bad a sqaud.

[samthebassman]

Nixon as a test keeper, what a dumb move! he is 37, his best days are behind him, typically defensive move by the english selesctors.

[Alf™]

But the problem for England is, that they have no other decent alternative keeper/batsman. Jones and Read have both been tried out, and have been horrible. At least Nixon shows some natural leadership and can put the runs on the board.

England better hope it's developing some younger keepers in it's county system.

[samthebassman]

Be serious, how much time does Nixon have left? they are hoping for a quick fix rather than finding a long term solution. Fair enough Jones was dropped, he was terrible in both disciplines for a while but Chris Read was never given a decent run in the job, sure he didnt make many runs in the ashes but he kept wicket very well and took alot of catches. Read was one of the biggest victim's of Fletcher's dumb selection polocies.

[Alf™]

Wouldn't have thought he'd have more than 1 more season in him. But with England's team, there is no room to give up one spot so that a keeper can take a couple of years to consolidate and learn. They just do not have the strength to cope with that, and that's why they continue to go with Nixon. Maybe that will come back to bite them on the arse in the future, but they are obviously taking that risk.

Read was useless with the bat, that's all it comes down to. Sure, there are a lot of cricketers that are very sound with the gloves; but in modern day cricket, teams need more than that.

[Rrrrrrr]

RAIN! :angry:

Not one hour before the toss, too. This had better pass quickly.

[samthebassman]

Read never got many runs but he was never given an extended opportunity in th team.

Nixon isn't great with the bat either.

[samthebassman]

It is pissing down!!!

[Alf™]

Read never got many runs but he was never given an extended opportunity in th team.

Nixon isn't great with the bat either.

As harsh as it seems, that's how it is in international cricket. You don't get "extended" periods of time, to show promise, in the top teams of the world.

Nixon is scoring some decent runs, and being consistent. That's all England is asking for, obviously.

[Inkstar]

What the hell, rain. Bloody typical.

Man Nixon is so old that... he's old. What is he, 37 now?

[eug008]

goddamnit, ghey rain :(

[samthebassman]

Obviously they dont see any potential in Read, I just cant see the point in Nixon, but anyway, who cares.

Toss in 25 minutes, apparently.

[Alf™]

I agree with you for once, Sam. I'm just trying to see it from the selectors point of view, I guess.

[samthebassman]

Holyshit! Alf & I agree, can we get a round of applauds please?

[Alf™]

Keep it on the down low pls, it's not something I am proud of ;).

[Inkstar]

Toss......

Australiaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa.

Hmm, chose to bat. Dangerous...

[Alf™]

Good start for Australia. A total of 250+ will be very tough to chase down in a final.

[samthebassman]

Australia won the toss and are batting, both teams unchanged.

[Rrrrrrr]

...and it begins.

Don't let me down, boys.

edit: i don't ****ing believe this

[samthebassman]

raining again! god damn this stinking world cup!

[Rrrrrrr]

this final is pretty much a fitting tribute to this debacle that some would have us believe is a tournament :/

Mad V emails to point out that Channel 9 and Fox delayed showing the toss while their experts predicted that Australia would bat if they won it. And, lo and behold, when they showed the delayed transmission, that's what happened.
:lol:

[Alf™]

:lol:

[Inkstar]

Rainy days indeed.

...ffs.

[samthebassman]

This giving me the shits, Im gonna finish my scotch then Im going to bed!

[eug008]

yeah, dosen't look like anything is gonna happen for a while at least :(

[Inkstar]

This is stupid now.

[Rrrrrrr]

thirty-eight overs ffs

worst world cup final ever, before it even begins

[eug008]

lame.

we are off to a decent start, suprisingly Gilchrist is playing well.

[Inkstar]

Yeah it's pretty crap.

But Gilly is gunning it. Making some good shots. There's his 50.. bloody quick.

[eug008]

wow, Australia, or should I say Gilly is destroying.

[Fire Away]

this is what I love most about Gilchrist. he can be in relatively average form and still some out and blast an incredible hundred.

[eug008]

What an amazing hundred!

[Inkstar]

Gilly is god.

Hopefully Symonds follows suit and starts belting em.

[Untitled]

Gilly hasnt really done much with the bat this world cup, cept now.

There innings must of been good to watch, i mean, 280 or whatever of 38 overs, jee.

There looking very good to win this, unfortunately :p

Oh, few records gone, quickest final century, and longest final parternship.

[Britney Diva]

Sri Lanka 58/3, well under 5 an over still.

[Untitled]

They have put there foot down now, hopefully they will keep it up without a wicket falling any time soon.

[Britney Diva]

Ah, nice. 106/1 from 17.0. You may have noticed that they've gained two wickets since my last post >_>

[Untitled]

Hahaha, so they have :eek:

17th over: SL 106-1
This is interesting - it's started to rain, but the umpires want them to stay on. Don't forget we need 20 overs in the Sri Lankan innings to make this a game. At the same time as the air is full of rain, the sun is also shining brightly, which might help explain the umpires' confusion.

16th over: SL 102-1Oh dear, rain.

[Untitled]

Argh, gone off for the rain, if the world cup final ends because of rain ill be pissed off, especially if it ends now, i mean Sri Lanka had a reall chance of winning still.

2227 BSTThe players are back out in the semi-darkness. Still no D-L news, but batting out there is now incredibly hard. Hold on - just heard that they've lost two overs, but have to get the same target. Work that one out.WTF is the deal with that.

[Alf™]

Australia are in the box seat at the moment. You can't see Sri Lanka winning with so much rain around and a big run requirement per over.

Total has been revised to 269 from 36 overs.

[Untitled]

Itll be hard is the pitch is as bad as i have been reading.

Apparently theres barly any pace and bounce on the ball, and the out feild is soaked.

they should just of postponed the game untill it was a clear day, i dont think a game like this should be played with rain about.

[Alf™]

Pitch doesn't seem to be in good shape. Certainly not much bounce on this pitch.

They can't postpone it 3 quarters of the way through the match. They would have had to do it at the very start, and then it looked good to have a 38 over game.

[Untitled]

Yeah true.

I just think this is going to be a pretty crap end to a pretty average world cup. There has been some good close matches, most of them including england, IE with Aus, (even tho in the end they did win comfertably) SL and WI, but yeah, crap way to end.

It needed to end on a bang, and from what im reading on the live updates, its just been chaos the last couple of overs with not knowing the D/L, Jayaw being given out when it was missing by a country mile. Argh.

[Alf™]

It sums up the World Cup, doesn't it? The cricket has been top notch, the administrative side of things, not so good.

The LBW was a close one, and I think it would have been out.

Edit: With that run-out, I think all hope for Sri Lanka is gone. Great pressure by Australia.

[Untitled]

I dunno, i havnt seen the replay. From the forums, radio commentary etc im listening to, they have all said it was missing leg stump according to hawk eye.

I think the only team who have played great cricket is the Aussies, there's no doubting they deserve to win, not in these circumstances though, Sri Lanka really havnt got a chance with the weather.

I think the competition would be a lot better if some of the top teams played how we all know they can, like the windies, England and south Africa more consistently.

20/20 world cup better be mint after the world cup.

2 wickets in the time i was writing this.

[Alf™]

When you see it, you will see why the umpire gave it out.

Australia look set now to win the hat-trick of world cups. It will be sad to see McGrath go.

20/20 world cup will be very interesting.

[Alf™]

There it is. Sri Lanka takes the bad light offer and hands the final to Australia. What a dominating team, what a world cup for them!

[Untitled]

Shame they had to win the final like this though.

Good game to them though, they did deserve it, it would of been hard for Sri Lanka without the weather the total they put on the board.

Im sure we will get pages of Austrialian gloating which i wont read. hahaha

[Alf™]

Now this is a joke. The umpires are holding up celebrations, saying that this game isn't over. They have ordered the podium to not be brought on, and are saying that this match might have to be continued tomorrow.

Edit: Now the game is going to be continued, and ended. The stumps and balls that have been taken, are given back and Australia has to win the 2007 world cup, again. What a absolute sham.

[Untitled]

Haha, they just said on TMS they are putting the stumps back in, as they have only gone in for bad light, not conceded, haha.

I wish it would hurry up and end tbh, i mean, the highlights are on in 10 minutes, how can there be highlights if the match isnt over.

Hahaha, omg, the match is back on.

[Alf™]

I think even the Sri Lankan captain wants this to be over and done with. They are continuing with the last 3 overs, in this horrible light. This is just hard to believe.

[Untitled]

Run Rate - 26 per over.

Not going to happen.

Why does the stadium not have flood lights for fuk sake? What sort of stupid idea is that.

[Alf™]

Commentary from cricinfo can tell it better than me:

The light's been offered and Sri Lanka have taken it - meaning Australia have won the World Cup again. They certainly deserve it and are huddling in celebration. A bit of a damp squib of an ending, which is of course fitting.

6.12pm And the farce continues! Now the stands for the ceremony have been brought on... and are off again, as the umpires shoo them away. My word. Here's a man who can tell you more, it's Martin.

Now what's this? Aleem Dar is having a word with Australia, telling them they can't yet celebrate. Officially this match isn't over. You couldn't make it up. You don't have to.

In fairness, this doesn't stop Australia celebrating. McGrath's all of a beam and there's a thumbs up and a smile for the tv cameras.

6.15pm This is a very unfunny joke, almost as if cricket was determined to show the world that it couldn't organise a whatsit in a brewery. The umpires are insisting the game is not over, everyone else thinks it is. Aleem Dar seems to be saying they can all come back tomorrow.

Steve Bucknor's looking quite embarrassed in the background, letting Dar lead the process. Jayawardene is now on the pitch to talk to Bucknor and Bowden.

6.17pm It's what is traditionally known as night. It is so dark but the umpires are now saying the match will continue. Heads should roll for this. The man is out putting the 30-yard circles back out. He needs a torch to do so. The batsmen are heading out to the middle accompanied by a guide dog.

I'd laugh if this wasn't the world cup, the one cricketing event the whole world watches together in unison. What a bad way to show off our great game.

[Rrrrrrr]

I can't believe this. Aleem Dar needs to be fined heavily for bringing the game into disrepute. Are they trying to see how much more of a farce they can turn this into?

Great game from Australia (or should I say from Gilchrist :p). The Sri Lankans batted well, but with the way their bowling let them down they never had a hope of reaching the target Australia set.

It doesn't change the fact that this is probably the bleakest day in the history of ODI cricket.

[Alf™]

Now Australia has won the 2007 world cup, officially. No umpire can take this away from them now. Well done Australia.

[Untitled]

This wouldn't affect test matches! the best form of the game, because its the purest form.

We was thinking today, how mint would it be to have a Test match world cup.

Im mean people think this world cup is long, imagine how long that would be!!!

[Alf™]

:lol: Now that would be a interesting!

Goodbye to Glenn McGrath and John Buchanan, two amazing servants of the game.

[samthebassman]

What a farce, Congrats to the Aussies!

Bucko & Pigeon, 2 greats of the game!

[Untitled]

GOOD RIDENCSE I SAY!!!

Glenn McGrath, great bowler, cant stand him though, to arrogant he comes across as. I remember, 2005, saying you will win the ashed 5-0! 2 years to early matey

At least Lancashire can have Brad Hodge and Murali now, wahey. plus the numorus Lancs players in the England sqaud.

[Alf™]

In the presentation, all the ICC officials have been booed as they are introduced. Then Sir Garfield Sobers gets introduced, and the crowd goes wild :D!

[samthebassman]

GOOD RIDENCSE I SAY!!!

Glenn McGrath, great bowler, cant stand him though, to arrogant he comes across as. I remember, 2005, saying you will win the ashed 5-0! 2 years to early matey

At least Lancashire can have Brad Hodge and Murali now, wahey. plus the numorus Lancs players in the England sqaud.

Typical pom idiot! still clinging to the 2005 ashes win! we took them from you 5-nil this year!

[Untitled]

In the presentation, all the ICC officials have been booed as they are introduced. Then Sir Garfield Sobers gets introduced, and the crowd goes wild :D!
Lmao, that made me lol hard.
Typical pom idiot! still clinging to the 2005
ashes win! we took them from you 5-nil this year!
Dont call me an idiot, cunt.

We had a lot of things riding against us last year, the main one being we was playing Austrialia, but we had a pretty week team.

Roll on 2009, going to go the Headlining tests i think.

[samthebassman]

Lmao, that made me lol hard.

Dont call me an idiot, cunt.

We had a lot of things riding against us last year, the main one being we was playing Austrialia, but we had a pretty week team.

Roll on 2009, going to go the Headlining tests i think.

Australia just win the world cup in 2007 & you are still sprooking on about the Ashes 2005, move on!

[Untitled]

Australia just win the world cup in 2007 & you are still sprooking on about the Ashes 2005, move on!

Fine, and ill move on.

Oh we won the CB series, beating Aus 2-0 in the finals, in there own back yard, after a 5-0 thrashing in the ashes.

I bet win means nothing though does it :rolleyes:


Oh for crying out loud. I thought aussies where supposed to have a sence of humour?


Stop being childish.

[Alf™]

Sam, it's obvious that he is just mucking around, stop trying to start something that isn't there.

[Untitled]

Sam, it's obvious that he is just mucking around, stop trying to start something that isn't there.

Exactlymentooooooo.

Gonna watch the highlights now :D

[samthebassman]

Sense of humour when something humourous has been said, yes.

This world cup presentation is full of propaganda.