Cricket Thread

[Darwin]

Watched a bit of this last night while I waited for the South Africa vs Argentina test. The test is very well poised - England with a 139 run lead in their second innings with 7 wickets remaining. You feel that Amla (who is currently 59*) is going to be the key for South Africa - if England can get him early tomorrow South Africa could be in trouble...

 

[TRF_heineken]

What a test match!!! In the end the new ball did what it had done throughout the test... And Philander deservedly got the last 2 wickets with 2 balls.

Hashim Amla got man of the series with his triple ton and his century in this test, and Philander got MOTM for his half-century and 5-wicket haul in the second innings.

We are now officially the number 1 test team in the world, and with our next test vs Australia, it just gets better and better!

Sent from my BlackBerry 9800 using Tapatalk

 

[SelimNiai]

Fully deserved series win (and series defeat) SA have been better in the bowling, batting, fielding, captaining and most other departments. Only thing we've been better at is self imploding by sending a measly text message and everyone overreacting. Useless gits

We batted oddly in this innings, it felt like we only believed we could possibly win once we'd passed 200 and we then accelerated but by then we were 5 or 6 down. If Bell and Trott went out and instead of pointlessly prodding around and played normally it may have been different. Pleased with how Bairstow batted considering the reason why he as playing, it didn't seem to bother him. Finn bowled well all test and I really hope we stick with him, a couple of seasons solid Test Cricket and we could have a world beater of a pace bowler, one to lead the attack for years to come. Other than that not a whole lot to write home about in terms of the rest. And this winter we have the small matter of India in India. That'll be fun....

 

[Darwin]

Fully deserved series win (and series defeat) SA have been better in the bowling, batting, fielding, captaining and most other departments. Only thing we've been better at is self imploding by sending a measly text message and everyone overreacting. Useless gits

We batted oddly in this innings, it felt like we only believed we could possibly win once we'd passed 200 and we then accelerated but by then we were 5 or 6 down. If Bell and Trott went out and instead of pointlessly prodding around and played normally it may have been different. Pleased with how Bairstow batted considering the reason why he as playing, it didn't seem to bother him. Finn bowled well all test and I really hope we stick with him, a couple of seasons solid Test Cricket and we could have a world beater of a pace bowler, one to lead the attack for years to come. Other than that not a whole lot to write home about in terms of the rest. And this winter we have the small matter of India in India. That'll be fun....

Don't worry, we will soften them up for you.
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:lol:

Anyways.... Well deserved series win for South Africa. Some good fight from Bairstow, Trott, Prior, Broad, and Swann, but not enough in the end, with Philander getting (another) 5 wicket hall. Amla again showed why he is (in my opinion at least) the best test batsmen in the world, and he got good support from Smith, Peterson, Kallis, and Duming (when required). It will be interesting to see what South Africa do with regards to their wicket-keeper for their next series - de Villiers was solid behind the stumps and with the bat (161 runs at 40), but I still feel they need a specialist keeper (with de Villiers reverting to a specialist batsman). The pace bowlers shared the wickets around, but I still feel that South Africa are a world class spinner away from being the undisputed number 1 in test cricket (though Tahir certainly out bowled Swann this series).

For England I felt they were let down by both their batting and bowling. Bairstow showed some good promise, Pieteresen had one good innings, while Trott and Prior had solid series. Strauss was very disappointing, Taylor struggled, and Bell - despite facing a lot of balls - struggled to get many runs. The bowling wasn't much better - apart from Finn I thought they were all a bit disappointing, especially Swann, who I usually rate very highly.

As a slight aside, is anyone following the Under 19 World Cup in Australia? I only mention it as the New Zealand team is doing well for a change! The semi-finals see Australia v South Africa today, and India vs New Zealand tomorrow. The quarter-finals yesterday were two of the closest games you will see. India just managed to overtake Pakistans paltry 136, doing it with 9 wickets down, with the last pair adding the final 10 runs over about 8 overs. While in the other quarter final New Zealand scored 18 off the final over (including 4 off the final ball) to sneak past West Indies.

 

[TRF_heineken]

Don't worry, we will soften them up for you.
.
..
...
....
.....
:lol:

Anyways.... Well deserved series win for South Africa. Some good fight from Bairstow, Trott, Prior, Broad, and Swann, but not enough in the end, with Philander getting (another) 5 wicket hall. Amla again showed why he is (in my opinion at least) the best test batsmen in the world, and he got good support from Smith, Peterson, Kallis, and Duming (when required). It will be interesting to see what South Africa do with regards to their wicket-keeper for their next series - de Villiers was solid behind the stumps and with the bat (161 runs at 40), but I still feel they need a specialist keeper (with de Villiers reverting to a specialist batsman). The pace bowlers shared the wickets around, but I still feel that South Africa are a world class spinner away from being the undisputed number 1 in test cricket (though Tahir certainly out bowled Swann this series).

For England I felt they were let down by both their batting and bowling. Bairstow showed some good promise, Pieteresen had one good innings, while Trott and Prior had solid series. Strauss was very disappointing, Taylor struggled, and Bell - despite facing a lot of balls - struggled to get many runs. The bowling wasn't much better - apart from Finn I thought they were all a bit disappointing, especially Swann, who I usually rate very highly.

As a slight aside, is anyone following the Under 19 World Cup in Australia? I only mention it as the New Zealand team is doing well for a change! The semi-finals see Australia v South Africa today, and India vs New Zealand tomorrow. The quarter-finals yesterday were two of the closest games you will see. India just managed to overtake Pakistans paltry 136, doing it with 9 wickets down, with the last pair adding the final 10 runs over about 8 overs. While in the other quarter final New Zealand scored 18 off the final over (including 4 off the final ball) to sneak past West Indies.

Yeah, the wicketkeeper issue is something we need to have a look at. But I think we have found a proper replacement, and he's playing for the U19 team. Quinton De Kock, is an opening batsmen and a great Wicketkeeper! I watched the SA vs England QF and he had some brilliant takes behind the stumps, he also had 2 stumpings. I think we should do the same to him as we did with Boucher... Get him in the squad immediately!! Boucher was 19 when he made his debut for SA.

 

[Darwin]

Yeah, the wicketkeeper issue is something we need to have a look at. But I think we have found a proper replacement, and he's playing for the U19 team. Quinton De Kock, is an opening batsmen and a great Wicketkeeper! I watched the SA vs England QF and he had some brilliant takes behind the stumps, he also had 2 stumpings. I think we should do the same to him as we did with Boucher... Get him in the squad immediately!! Boucher was 19 when he made his debut for SA.

Just had a look at Quinton De Kock's profile and I see he already has a very impressive first class record (especially for a 19 year old!), averaging 63 from 12 matches (with 4 centuries already). As you say he will certainly be one to keep an eye on in the (possibly near) future.

Big day for NZ cricket today, with the Under 19 side facing India in the semi's, and the 1st test of the India vs New Zealand test series kicking off too. I think we have a good chance in the U19 match, but not so much in the test match! It is unfortunate that New Zealand seem to be struggling so much at test level at the moment (more than usual), as India look the weakest they have been in ages, and this would have been New Zealand's best chance of really pushing India in India. With Dravid and Laxman retiring recently the Indian middle order has a very inexperienced look about it (apart from one SR Tendulker) - though Kohli, Pujara, Raina etc are ridiculously talented, they are unproven (yet) at this level. Despite this I expect NZ to struggle yet again - we are missing our only good spinner (Vettori), and he isn't that good at test level anyways! The best we can probably hope for are some flat pitches so we can sneak a couple of draws!

 

[psychic duck]

Strauss looks like he is going to resign from the captaincy. Would you believe it, Graeme Smith now has his third victim, he is like the Grim Reaper of English captaincy.

Hussain in 2003, Vaughan in 2008 and now Strauss in 2012.

 

[SelimNiai]

Strauss has retired from all cricket. Cook takes the captaincy reigns. Sad news that, always liked Strauss, good batsman and good cricketer in general. I guess after winning the Ashes and playing for Somerset there wasn't anything left to achieve I also can't help feeling that the hassle of the KP saga sped his decision up as I thought he might want to batter the Aussies for a 4th time.

 

[TRF_heineken]

Only you is really making the noise that Strauss will resign or get sacked, don't think that is even the case

Not anymore!

First Hat-trick for Graeme Smith at test level...

 

[SelimNiai]

Big thing now is who opens with Captain Cook? Do you promote someone like Bell or Trott up or do you head to India with a brand new opener. Either way, we'll be going there with (assuming the KP thing isn't resolved) 3 of our top 6 with having very little Test experience. I could be a long winter.

 

[TRF_heineken]

Big thing now is who opens with Captain Cook? Do you promote someone like Bell or Trott up or do you head to India with a brand new opener. Either way, we'll be going there with (assuming the KP thing isn't resolved) 3 of our top 6 with having very little Test experience. I could be a long winter.

Does the KP thing matter anymore? KP got his wish, this doesn't mean the ECB would select him again. Unless they're desperate...

Is there no real opener in the counties anymore that could partner Cook? or are all those spots being occupied by players from other countries?

 

[SelimNiai]

Is there no real opener in the counties anymore that could partner Cook? or are all those spots being occupied by players from other countries?

Nice dig

There aren't that many young openers that are ready for Test Matches at the moment, a few might be in a season or two so at the moment you either try one of them or you pick one of our hundreds of middle order players and take a current player and stick them up the order.

 

[TRF_heineken]

Nice dig

There aren't that many young openers that are ready for Test Matches at the moment, a few might be in a season or two so at the moment you either try one of them or you pick one of our hundreds of middle order players and take a current player and stick them up the order.

Well you could always get a South African to do it for you...

 

[Amobokoboko]

The 2nd ODI was awesome. Pity Strauss retired.
Who won the first ODI?

 

[SelimNiai]

The 2nd ODI was awesome. Pity Strauss retired.
Who won the first ODI?

I don't know how, given the weather we have enjoyed this summer but it rained all day and only a few overs were possible

 

[Darwin]

Nice dig

There aren't that many young openers that are ready for Test Matches at the moment, a few might be in a season or two so at the moment you either try one of them or you pick one of our hundreds of middle order players and take a current player and stick them up the order.

I've always believed that opening the batting is a very specialist position, so I'd certainly be inclined to pick a specialist opener, rather than create a makeshift opener. Just had a look through the England Lions side that played their Australian equivalents in a couple of 'tests', and I see the openers used were Joe Root, Nick Compton, and Varun Chopra. For me it would probably be a choice of Root or Compton - Root looks very promising, but Compton has had a very impressive English season so far (13 Matches, 1399 runs @ 89.3). For the tour of India England need to make sure they have a batting lineup capable of playing spin - if you send out a batting lineup like New Zealand's (who don't have the faintest clue how to handle spin) the tests don't tend to last too long!

 

[SelimNiai]

As a Somerset man I say Compton too but he picked up an injury playing for the Lions and hasn't played since so I think that, sadly 'cos he deserves to play, might rule him out of the winter tour. Joe Root is the best prospect but only a prospect at this time. Sadly if I know England selection they'll bring back Mr Overrated Ravi Bopara to bat middle order and move Trott to open.

 

[TRF_Cymro]

Compton good be the next off the ranks but also Alex Hales, Joe Root and Varun Chopra (both mentioned previously) will be in with a shout. Personally, Compton has been good and Hales has done well for England when called upon. I'd take them two and let them battle it out.

 

[Darwin]

As a Somerset man I say Compton too but he picked up an injury playing for the Lions and hasn't played since so I think that, sadly 'cos he deserves to play, might rule him out of the winter tour. Joe Root is the best prospect but only a prospect at this time. Sadly if I know England selection they'll bring back Mr Overrated Ravi Bopara to bat middle order and move Trott to open.

Thanks for that - I didn't know Compton was injured (as I don't follow country cricket that closely). Hopefully he makes a quick recovery, as he looks to be in the form of his life! Just looked up his profile, and I see he is the grandson of the great Denis Compton, so he certainly has the pedigree for test cricket!

 

[Darwin]

Do we have any fans of T20 cricket here? Can't say I'm a big fan myself, but I will probably be following the World Cup that started over night, with Sri Lanka (well a couple of Mendises anyway...) destroying Zimbabwe.

Given the nature of T20 cricket it is very hard to pick a tournament favourite. From a NZ perspective I think we are a genuine chance of making the semi's (or beyond) as we are far better in the shorter forms of the game, though there is a possibility that we won't even make it out of our group (as Bangladesh can pull off the odd upset or two in T20)!