Official Cricket Thread

[Ganondorf]

Tendulkar and Lara are still better, Ponting's probably on the same level as player suchs as Dravid. Inzy and Kallis, maybe Hayden aswell.

[Alf™]

I think he is better than Dravid, Inzy and Kallis. He is just behind Tendulkar and Lara, and on his recent form, is on par with them.

[Lempard]

I think he is better than Dravid, Inzy and Kallis. He is just behind Tendulkar and Lara, and on his recent form, is on par with them.

On recent form Ponting is better then both Tendulkar and Lara, highlighted by his position as the #1 batsmen in the ICC rankings.

[RandyfromPennywise]

Tendulkar and Lara are still better, Ponting's probably on the same level as player suchs as Dravid. Inzy and Kallis, maybe Hayden aswell.
Dude you are underrating him way too much. He is the form batsman in the world right now. Lara's 200 in Adelaide was glorious, but Ponting is in the form of his career, he's hitting his peak right now. In my opinion (and the opinion of many others) he's the best batter in the world right now. He just passed 8000 Test runs and is closing in on 30 Test 100s. He will go down as one of Australia's greats, and will surely be close to Tendulkar and Lara by the time he retires.

[Jasarn]

Twenty20 is excellent.

[Aes820]

A 209 total in 20 overs is brilliant!
I dead set love this game.

[Liberi Fatali]

Man those South Africans don't know how to play 20/20.

97 off 12 balls >.<

[RichHunt]

Poor Dipennar.. poor poor boy.

[Jasarn]

Thrashed. Martyn should of got his 100 though. :-\

[Simon__Thats_All]

Awesome match. I love this 20/20 thing.

[Ganondorf]

Greatest rivalry in cricket is about to kick of soon :cool:

[RCVA]

Yeah, it's gonna be goood.

[Untitled]

ENgland vs Aus?

Haha

I love 20/20 much. Its great.

[Ganondorf]

lol You're joking right, the Ashes dosen't even compare.....

[Untitled]

lol You're joking right, the Ashes dosen't even compare.....
Yes i am. Im presuming your on about the India tour.

Are tickets out for the Sri Lanker tour in summer? i might go.

[snoogans]

great game all round. proteas still having trouble catching though and a have done so all summer. well done to marto..good to seem him back. also would have liked to have seen hussey have a bat.

[Alf™]

A good little game of cricket, was the 20/20 match last night. Aussies batted extremely well, and not enough credit is being given to the bowlers performances. Bracken and co. bowled awesomely.

[Jasarn]

It's a pity Martyn dropped that catch. 3 Wicket maiden.

mmm

[Ganondorf]

Yes i am. Im presuming your on about the India tour.

Are tickets out for the Sri Lanker tour in summer? i might go.

Lol go watch Murali pwn the mindless oafs like Peitersen and Flintoff :smash:

[RandyfromPennywise]

There were 15,000 spectators at the Adelaide Oval last night (just down the road from my house) to watch South Australia play Western Australia in a Twenty20 match. That crowd is about 10,000 more than we get to standard one-day matches, and about 14,800 more than at First Class matches (4-day games). Quite amazing.

(For the record WA flogged us.)

[bahamut_ali]

The Sri Lankans are in horrible form. Have they been beaten by the bushy's yet? They were dismissed for little over 100 runs I believe.

[clown_phobia]

There were 15,000 spectators at the Adelaide Oval last night (just down the road from my house) to watch South Australia play Western Australia in a Twenty20 match. That crowd is about 10,000 more than we get to standard one-day matches, and about 14,800 more than at First Class matches (4-day games). Quite amazing.

(For the record WA flogged us.)

I would have liked to have gone to that game. Im probably going to the one on saturday against tasmania.

Where in SA do you live?

[RandyfromPennywise]

I would have liked to have gone to that game. Im probably going to the one on saturday against tasmania.

Where in SA do you live?
Near Adelaide Oval, off O'Connell St, North Adelaide. And yourself?

[supra_speed]

Lol go watch Murali pwn the mindless oafs like Peitersen and Flintoff :smash:
Hahahaahah, Yeah!

[Alf™]

What do you guys think about the incredibly cheap Hero Honda/MRF/BAS/SS/Britannia cricket bats on eBay? Is it a scam? It's gotta be, right?

[RandyfromPennywise]

Well I wouldn't buy anything like that over eBay, only clothes/video games/things of little value, don't risk it. I bought a Gray-Nicolls Raptor Titanium Handle bat two and a half years ago, it's served me very well. It was worth AU$375 but I got it for $320, so it was still expensive, but at least I knew what I was getting. And it has the best sweet spot on it, I hit the biggest six last year with it :thumb:

[Ganondorf]

India not doing so well atm

[RCVA]

Haha Pakistan are playing well. 147 not out for Younis Khan.

Sri Lanka got whupped again.

[RCVA]

Hahahahaha run out for 199.

They're gonna get a huge total i reckon.

[Ganondorf]

India are doing crap :(

[ragingrob]

I was a metre away from Scott Styris today, haha his wife has a red VW beetle, and he's fat.

[RandyfromPennywise]

Scott Styris ha!

Sri Lanka were so bad last night I actually watched Bridget Jones's Diary ahead of Vandort's batting for a few minutes. Maybe I should feel ashamed but watching someone score 9 from 60 balls in a one-dayer when they are chasing 300+ is like pulling teeth.

[RCVA]

Haha yeah what is up with them?

[Jasarn]

Australia are in trouble, 5/65. Both the openers went for ducks, with Martyn not far behind. Ponting and Symonds were looking okay, then they both went. :(

[RandyfromPennywise]

What a good recovery by Brett Lee and Mike Hussey. Lee was great, and Hussey was the real hero. Even getting 200+ from 6/70 was good, and what'd we get, 220 something? Great.

[RandyfromPennywise]

Haha yeah what is up with them?
They are ****. End of story.

[cedar]

damn Shahid Afridi is a freak.

RandyfromPennywise i live just off O'Connell aswell. Where are you?

[Jasarn]

This is sooooo tight, 17 to win, 17 balls left.

[Jasarn]

:lol: 5 to win, 10 balls left, and it starts to rain! They're coming off!

[Liberi Fatali]

Well, if its called off or if they come back on. South Africa are 99% likely to win.

[Alf™]

And win they did. I guess this is good for the series, but I am disapointed. Gilly is in a very rough patch. But he isnt playing all that badly, and has had alot of bad luck.

[snoogans]

What a good recovery by Brett Lee and Mike Hussey. Lee was great, and Hussey was the real hero. Even getting 200+ from 6/70 was good, and what'd we get, 220 something? Great.

yeah great game from hussey. i guess hes the new michael bevan. what a catch by hussey as well.
nice game for lee too. except for the over when he got belted for 17. not sure why he doesnt bowl more yorkers in his final overs. aint going to hit them for six.
in the end it was good to see the aussies lose in a close one. cant stand it when they win every game.

[Jasarn]

Lee is a champ. His batting is really improving.

[snoogans]

Lee is a champ. His batting is really improving.

yep. turning into a good all rounder.

[Drop The Baby]

God, look at f'ucking India, passed 400/0. 80 short of the follow on with 10 wickets left and nearly at the record partnership mark with Dravid upbeaten after passing 100 and Sehwag nearly at 250.

And all this off only 75 overs.


This wiocket must be insanely good for batting.

[RandyfromPennywise]

RandyfromPennywise i live just off O'Connell aswell. Where are you?
Really, that's crazy you live so close... I'm the next one over from Tynte St. You?

That India score is crazy. Haven't been keeping tabs on it at all, to hear that is amazing, 400 for nought!

I'm going overseas for four weeks, catchyall then.

[Ganondorf]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/4614860.stm

Sup people :cool: :p

[Untitled]

403, not bad.

Not quite the world record yet though :eek:

[Alf™]

403 in one day is a very good effort. Kudos to them.

[coontc]

he is rated as the worlds best now in the ICC rankings, and he will get over 12,000 test runs by the time he retires, ponting that is!

[Ganondorf]

Aw so close :(

[clown_phobia]

I have a question about knocking in cricket bats. Do you have to use one of those "conditioning mallets" or can I use a cricket ball?

[Aes820]

I have a question about knocking in cricket bats. Do you have to use one of those "conditioning mallets" or can I use a cricket ball?
Cricket playing mates of mine just use an old cricket ball with a piece of string screwed into it.

[Drop The Baby]

I have a question about knocking in cricket bats. Do you have to use one of those "conditioning mallets" or can I use a cricket ball?

Better to put the cricket ball in a sock and do it that way. But the mallets are a better idea

[sgrevs]

Australia 3/162 or so after 28. Nailing the damn South Africans! Phil Jacques is so good!!

[Ganondorf]

Indian Cricket Board > ICC :cool:

[snoogans]

aussies crumbled in the end. didnt even bat out the 50 overs. well done to jacques on his debut.

[Untitled]

I have a question about knocking in cricket bats. Do you have to use one of those "conditioning mallets" or can I use a cricket ball?
I use the top of the handle of the bat.

[Ganondorf]

Suuure you do :confused:

[Untitled]

Suuure you do :confused:
Fuk knows, i dont know what the question is asking.

[Alf™]

Top of the handle?!!?#frw3erf?$#

Aussies ended up winning after scoring 245 and restricting South Africa to 180 odd. Jaques played brilliantly on his one day debut. Unlucky to not notch up his hundred. Brett Lee bowled fantastic. Got about 5-22 off 10. He was quick and the stumps were flying everywhere. Hogg also bowled quite well.

[bahamut_ali]

It'd be a bit unfair if Hogg was pipped out of the team by the prodigal son Warney, but thems the breaks. He's a consistent performer, though.

[RCVA]

Haha Sri Lanka played well. Jayasuria back on form.

Pakistan vs India is gettting interesting. Afridi=wow.

[Alf™]

Yes, well done on a fine match Sri Lanka. Australia made a mistake leaving out McGrath with Gilchrist already being rested. It looked like we had a chance for a while there, with partnerships between Clarke and Haddin and Clarke and Symonds, but they all threw their wickets away.

[snoogans]

well done to the sri lankans and bad luck for the new boy dorey. subbed off after four overs.

[Alf™]

I'm not a big fan of Dorey, in my opinion he isnt anything special, apart from being tall.

[bahamut_ali]

Yeah, he doesn't blow my skirt up, particularly.

[Ganondorf]

Dhoni

[clown_phobia]

Really exciting game today in Adelaide!

[Alf™]

Yes, it looked as though Sri Lanka would comfortably win, having that awesome 107 run partnership. But then some great bowling from Hall and great keeping from Boucher made sure South Africa won.

[Jasarn]

That run-out from Boucher was awesome.

[Alf™]

Yeh, first apealing for LBW, then caught, then he gets the run-out.

[snoogans]

That run-out from Boucher was awesome.

yep never seen anything like that before.

[clown_phobia]

Another great game in Adelaide! The aussies take it in the last couple of overs. Clark and Hussey finish the job.

[bahamut_ali]

Ponting not playing on Australia Day is a friggin' travesty. Hodge was hardly a good replacement.

In any case, this series is becoming really interesting. Who'd o'thunk it?

[clown_phobia]

Yeah true. it can really go any way now. If australia beat sri lanka on sunday, then they have a guaranteed first place.

[snoogans]

gilly is back. well done to him and the aussies in a pretty easy victory. next game should be interesting....sri lanka v south africa.

[Alf™]

GIlly played with style and grace and most importantly, flare. He was brilliant. Kudos to Katich also.

[Ganondorf]

Pathan got a hattrick in the first over :cool:

[Kids_For_Christ]

May I ask why you think Australia's decline will begin in 2007?
because that's when all the old farts(mcgrath, warne, gilchrist, hayden, ponting maybe, martyn, langer, pretty much half the side) will retire...either then or earlier

[yoariathrustdemhipsbro]

na man imo australia wil dominate cricket forevr

[Ganondorf]

Ponting's the same age as Vaughan isn't he?

[Drop The Baby]

Ponting's older, about 4 years older.

That was amazing, a hat trick in the first over of a test match. Incredible

[Drop The Baby]

Pakistan have been playing superbly of late.

[Untitled]

India beat pakistan didnt they? First time in 14 years or something i read.

[Ganondorf]

Other way round you prick

[Alf™]

Aussies put in a great fight at the end, and managed to make 280-odd. Thats a fairly good total, but we have a weak bowling attack.

[Dishul156]

I am a big fan of Indian Cricket.

[Ganondorf]

Wooo yeah

[Jasarn]

You're such an Indian Cricket Team whore, Ganon. :p

[flyhalf]

aussies made 344, SA were never in the chase. Looks like it's down to the hobart SA vs SL game to decide who plays australia in the finals :thumb:


And McGrath is out for the rest of the summer apparently :eek: (at least for the rest of the ODI series and the South African tour), since his wife got a re-occurance of cancer :(

looks like the new pace attack (can you imagine our two frontline bowlers, dizzy and mcgrath after a year are already gone) seems to go like:

Lee
Clark/Tait
Bracken
Symonds
Warne
Macgill (for spinning pitches, if not him then Watson maybe?)

[Apocalyptic Raids]

Has Tait completely recovered from injury yet?

[clown_phobia]

Yeah he's fully fit at the moment

[Alf™]

Gilly looked as if he was going to get a double hundred. He is in some great touch.
And yeh, condolences to Jane, hope she pulls through.

[Ganondorf]

You're such an Indian Cricket Team whore, Ganon. :p

Hell yeah

D'L method is gay, just so you know everyone :thumb:

[snoogans]

big game of cricket today. sri lanka v south africa. winner to play the aussies in the finals.

[Alf™]

And Sri Lanka take the win, and will play Australia in the finals.

[G_Mac07]

I was hoping South Africa would get up. Oh well.

Anyone else expecting a 2 game final series?

[snoogans]

thank god sri lanka made the finals. it makes it a good finals series. you never know which sri lankan team is going to turn up.
dont think the south africans really cared that much about this series. in a way they'll be happy to get home early, lick their wounds and get ready for aussies.

[Liberi Fatali]

You Australians are awfully quiet tonight, wonder why. :p

I really am happy for the Sri Lankans. This really does blow the whole competition wide open for the World Cup next year.

If Sri Lanka can challenge South Africa and Australia, whilst New Zealand can easily beat Sri Lanka and be on even terms with Australia, yet get thrashed by South Africa. It makes it all pretty confusing to rank those 4 teams, and England too.

[G_Mac07]

It makes it all pretty confusing to rank those 4 teams, and England too.

Indeed.

We (Australia) are taking quite the beating tonight. I'm pretty pleased with it though, as it makes it just that little bit more likely that there will be a 3rd final played in my city. :D

[Alf™]

Dilshan's fielding tore us apart. 4 run-outs. AND a catch.

[Apocalyptic Raids]

The one where he ran out Hussey was a cracker.

[Ganondorf]

You Australians are awfully quiet tonight, wonder why. :p

I really am happy for the Sri Lankans. This really does blow the whole competition wide open for the World Cup next year.

If Sri Lanka can challenge South Africa and Australia, whilst New Zealand can easily beat Sri Lanka and be on even terms with Australia, yet get thrashed by South Africa. It makes it all pretty confusing to rank those 4 teams, and England too.

Not forgetting India drew with SA and beat Sri Lanka 6-1 :D

[Jasarn]

3-10... Sri Lanka are demolishing us.

[G_Mac07]

:upset::upset::upset:

We might as well just hand Sri Lanka the series.

EDIT:

Australia 3/84 after 15 overs. Things are starting to look a little better.

[Alf™]

And now 3-212, off 36.2, with Ponting just notching up his hundred and Symonds closing in as well.

Edit:
Symonds got his hundred. It is now 3-227 off 39.

[Liberi Fatali]

Its sad to see what started off as such a good game, turn into this. :(

Hopefully the Sri Lankans have someone that can match Ponting and Symonds brilliant performances.

[Jasarn]

Symonds is tearing it up. What's the record runs for an ODI? Wasn't it something just under 200 runs... :-\

[Alf™]

196 i think it was, by like a Pakistani or Sri Lankan.

Symonds just went out for 151, LBW.

[G_Mac07]

Holy ****, I couldn't have been more wrong about this game. I just got home to see 5/353 from 49 overs. :amaze:

Murali went 10 overs for 99.

EDIT: End of Australian innings. 5/368. :thumb:

[Jasarn]

That was ****ing amazing. Clarke and Hussey put on a awesome show in the last 5 odd overs.

[Liberi Fatali]

If you saw the score after 3 overs, then saw the score at the end of 50 overs. You'd swear you were looking at different games.

How did Sri Lanka let it slip so badly? :(

[camelfarmer]

Sri Lanka will never get that. They just dont have the ability. Even at 100% they'd get 320 max.

:(

[arialubsmark]

r u kidding me man

sri lanka r 1 of the sides i would back

the key well be atapatu an jayasuria partnership

[arialubsmark]

but yea dont get me wrong

they aint gona win this

[arialubsmark]

ok sangakara and jayasuria out


BORRRRRRRRING

its al over

[G_Mac07]

/starts trying to organise going to the 3rd final in Brisbane. :D

[arialubsmark]

dood jayawardene is such a hug talent

it a shame we only seeing it now

[Jasarn]

I wanna see some Lee pwnage.

[G_Mac07]

Can't seem to get tickets so I'll be watching it on TV anyway. Providing Australia win tonight, of course.

EDIT: Stuart Clarke takes the wicket of Atapatu.

[arialubsmark]

good atapatu is a boring player

jayawardene ftw

[G_Mac07]

Jayawardene's gone. :)

[flyhalf]

and we take the win by 168 runs :)

[snoogans]

final match on today. hopefully its a close game. marto and katich a bit under the pump as per the newspapers.

[G_Mac07]

And Sri Lanka are in to bat first. This should be a great game.

[Jasarn]

Keep me updated, I have no TV. :upset:

[G_Mac07]

Just got home to see Sri Lanka are 3/128 from 28 overs.


Sri Lanka ended up setting a target of 267.

[snoogans]

australia are 0/105 gilly 50no

[flyhalf]

AUS 1/196

gilly out :(

aussies need 3.94 an over or so to win from here on in. :thumb:

[badtaste]

We won. Nothing special. Time for some winter olympics action!

[Alf™]

By gee, didn't Gilchrist and Katich really play well. That cements Kato's place in the side.

[sgrevs]

What a series...Symonds is a freakin legend. And Ponting. Theyre just freaks.

[Drop The Baby]

I was so happy to see Murali get tonked for 99 of his 10 the other day. Guess what, he might not tour Aus again due to crowd insults? Fu'ck off you c'unt

[Ganondorf]

India beat Pakistan in the ODI series

[Drop The Baby]

India tonked Pakistan in the one day series.

That was amazing to see the Windies vs NZ 20/20 game go to a bowl out

[Alf™]

Yeah, that "hit the wicket" thing was very unique. I'm not sure I like it though.

[Drop The Baby]

The bowl out? That's the way lots of ties are decided these days.

Perhaps the best way is to say in a one day game that whenever the game is tied then the team losing fewest wickets is the winner? That's the way it used to be and it's probably fairer

[Nightvision]

Soo... with the county and local seasons approaching again, is anyone looking forward to getting back out in the middle? I've been dying to play, as I was really coming into form at the end of last summer, and just want to get stuck into it again.

[Ganondorf]

Lol England in India

[snoogans]

amazing stuff atm. aussies lose a couple of games and graeme smith can actually bat.

[Alf™]

Yeah, a nice hundred by Smith. Pitty the only time the Proteas can win, is when our captain and several other are injured.

[snoogans]

yeah true. aussies get hussey back. and i heard phil jacques is flying over as well.

[Drop The Baby]

England had a disappointing day, threw away a lot of good starts.

India held some decent chances. The seamers should'nt really have had that much of an impact on such a one paced pitch

[RandyfromPennywise]

Aussie selectors = crap. Johnson is so very average. He's the new Adam Dale.

[Lord Abortion]

I think Monty Penesar should keep his place for the next test, no matter who returns from injury. The lad is something special.

Drawn test...we had a real chance of winning, TBH.

[form]

I can't believe there is actually a Official Cricket thread, seems weird to me.

Anyway, I never played. Is it the game where you have like the posts on the ground, then hit the ball through it with the, thing?

[Lord Abortion]

Yeah, it would have been one hell of a finish had the game been allowed to go on somehow. I don't know who would have won since India could still have made the target, but we can be incredibly proud of that performance, since pretty much everyone, including me, thought that we were almost certain to lose before the game. We showed a lot of character, particularly the new people. Panesar has got to stay in the team, and Cook's debut showed us that we do have quite a bit of strength in our Test batting reserves, especially since hed come halfway across the world to play. Hopefully we'll be able to carry on that sort of form into the next match rather than do the classic England 4 steps backwards.
Yeah, Panesar is one of those guys you love to see do well, because he seems like a good bloke.

[Ganondorf]

Good to see India going for it a bit towards the end :D

[Drop The Baby]

Yeah, Panesar is one of those guys you love to see do well, because he seems like a good bloke.

sums it up perfectly.

[Alf™]

I can't believe there is actually a Official Cricket thread, seems weird to me.

Anyway, I never played. Is it the game where you have like the posts on the ground, then hit the ball through it with the, thing?
No. Now, go away.

[Apocalyptic Raids]

I can't believe there is actually a Official Cricket thread, seems weird to me.

Anyway, I never played. Is it the game where you have like the posts on the ground, then hit the ball through it with the, thing?
Just use google.

[Drop The Baby]

My f'ucking god, SA chased a world record 438 to beat the aussies by one wicket and claim the series 2-1.

Gibbs got 175 and Ponting 164. Amazing game

[Alf™]

I seriously just can't believe this. That is terrible. Expect the axe to drop on the Australian bowlers soon.

[PianoDan]

Wow... that'll go down as one of the greatest ODI matches of all time, if not the greatest.

Australia broke the previous world record of 398 - which was set against Kenya. Who'd have thought South Africa would chase that down?

Amazing innings from just about every batsman who batted, but especially Ponting, Hussey, Smith, and Herschelle Gibbs.

If Lewis ever plays for Australia again the selectors will need to be lynched.

I absolutely cannot believe that Lewis got 10 overs at all, let alone at the expense of 2 overs from Brett Lee. Ponting should be lynched himself for keeping Lewis on. He went for 113! That is a record in any form of one-day cricket.

Bracken bowled really well all things considered.

What I would've given to have had Satellite TV last night.... :(

[snoogans]

cant believe the aussies made that score. and i bloody cant believe the proteas beat it. usually when a team bats first and gets a massive score like this the chasing team cracks under the pressure of getting the runs and gets knocked off early. bloody amazing.

[Junooni]

They actually came back...damnn

[Alf™]

Yes, Mick Lewis is a disgrace. Bring back Gillespie or Kaspo.

[sgrevs]

Bracken bowled really well all things considered.



While that's true, he also did drop a sitter which could well have won the game for Australia.

Ponting and Gibbs...who can say enough.

The whole match in general was just awe-inspiring, I'm not even upset that we lost.

Who cares anyway, the series meant nothing. We'll cane them in the tests.

And the only reason SA won was because we got Dipenaar out early. Had he stayed in, he would have slowed the run rate down heaps, cause that's how he is. He should never play one-day cricket again.

[Liberi Fatali]

Jesus, this is pushing the limits of one day cricket. When you scored 300 a few years ago, you'd be pretty darn confident. With this, scores of 300 should start becoming even more common now.

[bahamut_ali]

Bah! More Victorians I say!

[Ganondorf]

India India India

[Apocalyptic Raids]

heh, I read the paper that morning, and due to the time differences the South African innings hadn't begun when the paper went to print. After reading the paper I though "yeah theres no way they're gonna get that"

Then I saw the midday news a bit later.

=O

It would have been a treat to watch.

also, to the Mick Lewis bashers: All the bowlers would have had got absolutely smashed, and finished with horrible figures, no need to say rediculous things like "if the selectors pick him again they should be lynched etc"

:rolleyes:

[snoogans]

well done to clarke on his debut. 5-55. aussies looking good early.

[Alf™]

Yes, the Aussies are looking good. It was a bold move not to include MacGill and play with 3 quick bowlers. Looks lke it payed off.

[Ganondorf]

lol Harmison

[snoogans]

aussies too strong in the end. thought the proteas might of played better at home.

[Lord Abortion]

As far as England go, if they can stop Dravid scoring highly by getting him early, they stand a great chance, Strauss' inning has given a great opportunity.

[Lord Abortion]

/celebrates also.

Really great performance. Flintoff was superb.

lol@Monty the magnificent and his dropped one...he redeemed himself though...also good takes from Bell.

[Ganondorf]

Good game guys

One thing I will say is that that often too much is made of England's injuries given the fact that

Panesar > Giles
Collingwood/Shah > Vaughan (on his current form)
Cook (more or less) = Trescohtick, the way he played

Harmison was only out for one test, where Jimmy Anderson pretty much played well and losing Harmison wasn't much of a loss because of this. The only player England really missed in terms of quality was Simon Jones.

I think, especially in terms of the fact that we only had to draw this match to win the series, we should have reverted to our traditonal 6 bastmen, wicketweekeper, and 4 bowlers lineup, strenghtning the batting and not trying to match England man for man.

The team I would have played would have read something along the liens of

Jaffer
Sehwag
Dravid
Tendulkar
Yuvraj
Kaif
Dhoni
Pathan
Kumble
Singh/Patel (depending on the pitch, Harbhajan has been in pretty crap form)
Sreesanth

This way we strengthen the batting lineup with another player who can sit there and not feel the need to score runs quickly, someone else to stand up when Dravid fails (he's awesome, but we can't keep relying on him).

Such is my belief, if Dravid had stuck around, we could've at least put up a half decent fight to get the draw.

[A_Stranger]

I couldnt get myself to watch the match.

I dont get how we play one match and really suck in the next.

[Drop The Baby]

you can't call people out like that based on individual games. There's no way that team that played brilliantly to draw that game with India would've won the Ashes, there's not enough experience. However i do feel there's a couple of changes to be made to the team at full strength.

Strauss
Cook
Trescothick
Vaughn
Pietersen
Flintoff
Jones
Hoggard
Harmison
Jones
Panesar

[Lord Abortion]

I really feel Jones earned a stay of execution on that last innings.

Surely he's got to go if he performs as badly as he did in the second test, though?

[Ganondorf]

India to win the ODI seires 7-0! :D

[matt_h]

well, matty priors in for the 1st warm up, so lets see if he can challenge jones. i also want to see read in the squad as his batting was good in the 'a' squad, which is what people criticise him for.

[Alf™]

Ponting scores yet another superb century. But the aussies are struggling slightly at this time.

[RandyfromPennywise]

Ponting's just pure Gold. I'm saying he's the best batsman in the world right now. I say this from an unbiased position as well, if I had to rely on one player it'd be Punter. Others may be more explosive etc. - not that Punter's a slouch by any means - but he is so consistent, has the full range of strokes, and always digs in when we need him. ****ING LOVE HIM!

Struggling now a bit though. Good to see Martyn getting a 50 though, hopefully he can get a ton before the end of the series.

[Ganondorf]

IMO, the best batsman in the world (atm) is anyone out of the following

Dravid
Inzy
Ponting
Kallis

[Alf™]

Kallis has been struggling though with injury and is a bit out of form. I wouldn't rate him up there with Ponting at the moment. But definetly when he is in form, he is superb.

[Apocalyptic Raids]

I would replace Kallis with Lara.

[Ganondorf]

Err no, until recently Kallis was #1 batsman in Tests, as opposed to Lara, who ahs been pretty out of form and unpredictable for a while now.

If I was going on past form aswell he wpuld be there, along with Tendulkar and Gilchrist.

[snoogans]

aussies looking good at the moment. the south africans were in a good position on the 2nd day, but didnt capitalise. well done to marto, ponting and middle order saviour hussey.

[Drop The Baby]

England through that game after a good bowling performance, and two guys taking us home easily.

Credit to Harbhajan though

[Lord Abortion]

Looked pretty good there today, England.

[Ganondorf]

India

[RandyfromPennywise]

Australia have won the series v SAfrica, good stuff. The South Africans got massively dudded by three really poor decisions in the final innings (two LBWs and a catch (Smith)) so they could possibly feel they were worth a draw. Anyway, Ponting became only the second man ever to score two 100s in a Test three times. Gavaskar is the other. What an absolute hero Punter is. And Warne's 6/86 was brilliant. The Australian side will never be able to replace Warne, quite possibly the greatest bowler of all time.

[Alf™]

Warne is bowling as good as he has ever bowled. He seems to have a real goal to strive for.

[PianoDan]

also, to the Mick Lewis bashers: All the bowlers would have had got absolutely smashed, and finished with horrible figures, no need to say rediculous things like "if the selectors pick him again they should be lynched etc"

:rolleyes:
Uh, no. Lewis is a dud. The fact that Australia's number 1 bowler (Lee - when Test-only Warne and not-present McGrath are taken out) only bowled 8 overs while Lewis went for a world record number of runs in a limited overs match is extremely puzzling.

Not all the bowlers finished with horrible figures. Comparitively, only Jacques Kallis (who was taken off after only 6 overs) was anywhere near as expensive. Indeed, Bracken, who bowled 10 overs, took 5/67. Lee was in his 8th over and went for 1/68 - it's true that that's expensive but he was much less expensive than Lewis and is a far more experienced (needless to say more talented) bowler than Lewis.

Anyway, well done to Australia on winning the Test series. They're saying Ponting will break every record in his path, which probably is true. Three Tests with centuries in each innings in the last six months is astounding. He drew level with Bradman with number of centuries (and then passed him), but notice that Ponting was playing his 102nd Test - Bradman played only 52. It puts it all in perspective.

Well done to Warne, another genius. 670 wickets and counting! :D

[snoogans]

well done to the aussies. i honestly thought this series in south africa would be great test for the aussies. hasnt happend thus far. still one test remaining and im guessing the proteas will probably win this one as the aussies seem to lost a lot of their dead rubbers.

oh, anybody know the schedule for the aussies next? or they coming home for a break or do they have another away series somewhere?

[aria8789464]

yeuh serios that lewis bloke beter not get another game i smashed my neighbours tv when ponting brought him bak

[PianoDan]

well done to the aussies. i honestly thought this series in south africa would be great test for the aussies. hasnt happend thus far. still one test remaining and im guessing the proteas will probably win this one as the aussies seem to lost a lot of their dead rubbers.

oh, anybody know the schedule for the aussies next? or they coming home for a break or do they have another away series somewhere?
I was predicting a 2-1 Australian victory at the start of the series. Our record in dead rubbers has been a lot better in recent years, though. But I wouldn't be surprised if the Proteas snatch a win here.

Australia heads to Bangladesh for 2 Tests and 3 ODIs starting in April, then it's ENGLAND IN AUSTRALIA!:D

[snoogans]

I was predicting a 2-1 Australian victory at the start of the series. Our record in dead rubbers has been a lot better in recent years, though. But I wouldn't be surprised if the Proteas snatch a win here.

Australia heads to Bangladesh for 2 Tests and 3 ODIs starting in April, then it's ENGLAND IN AUSTRALIA!:D

ahh ok thanks mate. woohoo bangladesh. should be very very boring.

[Alf™]

Aussies have the Proteas in a bit of trouble after the first day. Proteas will struggle to get 300.

[clown_phobia]

Well that turned into quite an exciting finish in the Aus vs SA test. You'd've expected them to win though, only needing 44 on the last day. It's kinda like revenge for Australia, whitewashing them as they beat us in the ODI's.

Good for Martyn to make a century - there was not much support for the choice to have him in the side instead of Hodge. This'll probably cement his spot. Tait injured his back in the nets - that's a bummer, as a south Australian I was hoping to see him bowl in a test this summer.

They're predicting that there'll be huge sellout crowd next summer at the Ashes - and there probably will be, as these Ashes are already so anticipated, 9 months before the first test. Hopefully Aussies will reclaim the ashes.

You'd expect that England couldn't win in Melbourne or Sydney, as they don't have a world class spinner. I've heard that's because of a couple of reasons. One is that the attitude of english batsmen is that spinners need to be smacked out of the park, and this means that young spinners are discouraged and don't become world class. Another is the pitches aren't good for spinning.

[snoogans]

good finish to the cricket. well done to the west aussies, hussey and marto. brett lee, is he classed as an allrounder yet??? his batting has improved a great deal.
well its off to bangladesh. should be another clean sweep.

[clown_phobia]

I think he is classed as an allrounder. Although he is picked in the side for his bowling (they have one allrounder's spot and that is held by Symonds), on channel 9, since the VB series they've displayed him as an allrounder. And rightfully so. His batting has been excellent. I think Lee once said that he wants to become an allrounder, and he's getting very close if he hasn't made it already.

Australia will take cleansweeping to new levels in Bangladesh :p

[snoogans]

I think he is classed as an allrounder. Although he is picked in the side for his bowling (they have one allrounder's spot and that is held by Symonds), on channel 9, since the VB series they've displayed him as an allrounder. And rightfully so. His batting has been excellent. I think Lee once said that he wants to become an allrounder, and he's getting very close if he hasn't made it already.

Australia will take cleansweeping to new levels in Bangladesh :p

yeah hopefully they might push lee up a bit higher in the batting order against bangladesh, see if he can get a century.

[clown_phobia]

Bangladesh off to a good start against Australia! Who would've though it! It's a spinny wicket, and McGill has picked up a couple of wickets so far. Let's hope the Aussies bat well in reply to a decent start from Bangladesh.

[white_riot]

Bangladesh are playing some good cricket. This may be thier best chance of beating Australia. Hope they take it.

[snoogans]

aussies in big trouble at the moment. need to be playing at their best in the 2nd innings.

[Alf™]

Great century for Gilly. Well played.

[Ganondorf]

Woo Bangladesh haha

[blizzard]

Its times like these I wish I had foxtel. I hate Channel 9 not showing cricket matches.

[Clunge]

Yay, first Somerset match is soonish :D.

[Apocalyptic Raids]

Hopefully Bangladesh can keep up the quality Cricket. That would be fanatstic.

[Ganondorf]

http://www.theadvertiser.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5936,18797413%5E23212,00.html

Gilchrist is teh genius :lol:

[Alf™]

And a great century by Punter to save the Aussies from losing.

[snoogans]

well done to the aussies. especially gilly and punter. bad luck for the bangers, it could of been there greatest test victory.

[Alf™]

Yes, it was a massive surprise, they actually seemed to challenge the Aussies and looked more comfortable at their own home grounds.

[Spange]

My cousin Jacob Oram, did awesome. New Zealand 22 overs, with 89 runs 6 wickets chasing South Africa, 276 ( I think). Him and Vetorri got 183 runs.

Wow.

[Alf™]

That's a fair effort.

Gillespie is killing them in the 2nd Test against Bangla lol.

[Spange]

Damn straight bout Gillespie.

[Alf™]

He should never have cut his mullet off though.

[snoogans]

well done to dizzy on his maiden test century.

[Apocalyptic Raids]

Double century now :lol:

[Ganondorf]

Boom Boom Gillespie :lol:

[snoogans]

double century! cant believe it. not to sure if his efforts against bangladesh will cement his spot for the ashes.

[med]

There was an article on reuter which said that he made a bet with Matthew Hayden that they'd both do a nude lap around the stadium if Gillespie converted his century to a double. But Gillespie pulled out because he thought that the Muslims would be offended.

[Untitled]

Apparently, the 2009 ashes, wont be having a match in Old Trafford....

But insted at Cardiff, this annoys me grandly.

-Last ashes old trafford was full, even on the extra day, completly full, so why move it?
- Why is english cricket being played in wales? last time i heard a welsh team didnt compete in the ashes.
- How the hell am i supposed to go? I'll be near the end of uni, and be short of cash, so traveling is a no no, that was my only hope.
- Finaly, the north won't hold a match, the most northern match will be nottingham, which is midlands, northerners like cricket too.

[Apocalyptic Raids]

Last ashes old trafford was full, even on the extra day, completly full, so why move it?
That match would have been full anywhere.

[Ganondorf]

Apparently, the 2009 ashes, wont be having a match in Old Trafford....

But insted at Cardiff, this annoys me grandly.

-Last ashes old trafford was full, even on the extra day, completly full, so why move it?
- Why is english cricket being played in wales? last time i heard a welsh team didnt compete in the ashes.- How the hell am i supposed to go? I'll be near the end of uni, and be short of cash, so traveling is a no no, that was my only hope.
- Finaly, the north won't hold a match, the most northern match will be nottingham, which is midlands, northerners like cricket too.

If this is the case, then Geriant Jones and Simon Jones should be axed

[Untitled]

If this is the case, then Geriant Jones and Simon Jones should be axed
Geriant, im not too arsed, he's not the greatest keeper, but Simon, i would be.

But still, it should be in Manchester, cause i wanna watch it.

[Ganondorf]

You're right, that award goes to DHONI

[med]

Geriant, im not too arsed, he's not the greatest keeper, but Simon, i would be.

But still, it should be in Manchester, cause i wanna watch it.

Well you live in Manchester and you want it in Old Trafford. Me and everyone else who lives in South Wales will want it in Cardiff, and we hardly ever get any international matches here so it's about time we had one here.

[Drop The Baby]

Surrey have absolutely annihilated Glous.

[snoogans]

boooowwwwled shane

warnie on fire on and off the field.

[Alf™ Strikes Back]

Looks like he will not make a return to one day cricket for the world cup, but he wants to be around for the 2009 Ashes.

[Lord Abortion]

England looking alright...I was hoping Trescothick could get a bigger hundred though.

Durham doing okay too...Middlesex collapsed and are on 215 for 7 :D

[Clunge]

Somerset are chugging nicely against Essex.

150 for Parsons and a 100 for Trego :cool:.

Can't wait for 20-20 this year :D.

[Drop The Baby]

It's a shame Cook couldn't crack and and get a century.

Pitersen and Collingwood should take this game on to win it now, but we do need plenty of runs to support a very inexperienced bowling line up

[Lord Abortion]

Yeah, but I think Plunkett and Mamoud should do well, Mamoud especially is an impressive county player.

Whacking them around the ground:cool:

[Drop The Baby]

every time i've see Mahmood play i've found him to be slightely disappointing, although i definately support his selection over Lewis.

Pietersen has a terrific eye, he's so powerful with his bottom hand

[Drop The Baby]

Two wickets for Mahmood!!

Jones has dropped another catch, but Sri Lanka are really struggling, 81/4

[Drop The Baby]

Dilshan run out!

This is blinding stuff. 85/5 in reply to 551/6!

----------------------------------------------------------

EDIT: First baller! another wicket for Mahmood, gets out the debutant!

85/6, over 250 away from the follow on!

[Lord Abortion]

every time i've see Mahmood play i've found him to be slightely disappointing,

Oh, the irony.

[Drop The Baby]

Oh, the irony.

If he had any talent he had to get it right sometime.

He's played enough one day cricket to show some ability before now

[Lord Abortion]

Ah well, at least he's going well now.

[matt_h]

well he has got a couple of wickets today, looks like we wont be batting again the way its going!!

[Untitled]

Dilshan run out!

This is blinding stuff. 85/5 in reply to 551/6!

----------------------------------------------------------

EDIT: First baller! another wicket for Mahmood, gets out the debutant!

85/6, over 250 away from the follow on!
Oh nice, i cant wait to see the highlighjts tonight.

Noone can understand how happy i am i get to watch cricket on Channel5, it may only be highlights, but it makes me happy.


EDITED AFTER WATCHING HIGHLIGHTS - Mahmood did good i think 3 for 9 in 4 overs or something, you cant argue with that. Also, as the analyst said, his style is very simaler to Jones', which is good for us while Jones is out.

I was impressed with england today.

[Mitch2oo6]

Did Kevin Peterson hit a six off a reverse sweep when ever it was? The time differences of the world throw me out with cricket...

[Lord Abortion]

Yep he did.

Finally some play!

[RandyfromPennywise]

That Petersen six was, ah, impressive.

[Clunge]

I still haven't see that shot :(.

[RandyfromPennywise]

It was a shot that a left-hander would have been proud of. Quite remarkable really.

[Drop The Baby]

I cannot beleive how Sri Lanka are throwing positions away in this test series, against what is no where near our strongest bowling attack.

105/6

[Untitled]

From what i saw, Sri Lanker looked pretty strong today, then they just seemed to collapse.

I think it was 180 for 8 when i last heard, the 1st i heard it was 80 for 1 or so.

[Drop The Baby]

Sri Lanka are definately back on top with Pietersen and Freddie gone now. Jones really has to get runs now, he's not good enough as a keeper or batsman at the moment.

123/5.

We really did let SL off the hook at the end of the day yesterday, they got far too many runs for their last 2 wickets.

[Drop The Baby]

tight tight game. SL have got to be favourites after a shocking batting performance and with Murali bolwing last

[nicksteckler10]

So is cricket pretty bardarss or what? Ive never seen it b4...

[RandyfromPennywise]

By "bardarss" I assume you mean "bad-arse" or "badass". Well I personally like it quite a bit, not as much as Football, but it is a very enjoyable sport. It appears though that only those people brought up with it (i.e. born/raised in a country where cricket is popular) actually like it: most people from non-Cricket countries a) don't understand it, b) don't want to take the time to get to understand it, and c) are immediately turned off by the amount of time it takes to play the game. But yes, I would say that cricket is badass.