Re: Cricket
 

And they are at it again, today Lancashire bowled out Div 2 leaders Northants for 62. In fact they have taken their last 23 first class wickets for just 87 runs.:shocked: Local Saddleworth lad Kyle Hogg took 7 wickets today.:cool:

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Ricky Ponting will retire from all forms of cricket in October.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cricket/22992059

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Fantastic player who faced a lot of adversity on and off the field at times in his life.

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Yes punter certainly was a great player and a most dogged character as well.

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India thrash Sri Lanka to reach final.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cricket/22968783

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England starting to make hard work of this. Can see us losing...

---------- Post added at 19:36 ---------- Previous post was at 19:21 ----------

Stupid, stupid, England...

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From the first ball we adopted that negative approach again.:(:td:

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:mad: Buttler! He should be a better servant for England... :erm:

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We threw it away....but that decision to give Bell out stumped was scandalous

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With 20 overs each the match was ruined as a proper match and was nothing more then a lottery.

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England will never win a 1 day tournament

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But they did win the T20 World Cup a couple of years ago.;)

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Australia 'sack coach Mickey Arthur ahead of series'

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cricket/23026163

Oh dear lets have a few tears for those Aussies.;)

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Can't see many of this T20 side making the full test team, they are bowling some dross.:rolleyes:

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Looks like the all blacks will get 200 plus.:(

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Deja Vu...

---------- Post added at 21:59 ---------- Previous post was at 21:37 ----------

Lost again, bit more intelligent this time though...

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Still should have finished it off at the end there. Getting a bit of a reputation for choking when its tight at the end of games.

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Sometimes youth needs that little bit more experience Shadow.

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And they will only get that if they play of course.;)

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Indeed but some supporters just have to be a bit more patient for some players to fulfil their talent.

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http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/cri...t-England.html


:rofl:

Nice one Shane!

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Oh dear they do delude themselves.:nono:

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Butt finally admits spot fixing

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cricket/23107637

Trying to get his ban reduced :rolleyes:

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Why don't they just take it like men and just accept their punishment.:td:

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It's a good job Shane Warne is no longer playing, England struggling against Essex leggy Craddock. :rolleyes:

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Well the fun starts on Wednesday.:)

A film on BBC 4 tonight ( shown in two parts ) is worth watching. I have already seen this, a friend in Scotland got a copy from relatives in Oz.

It's a bit simplistic and overacted in parts but the bloke who plays Packer is very good, not so the Tony Greg character, a good watch for cricket buffs anyway.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b036t8w6

Jim.

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Can't wait for Wednesday. Not seen much of the Aussies but media seem a bit over confident that England will murder them. Looking forward to seeing Root and Pieterson in the test side together.

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Never listen to the media as their predictions have a habit of falling flat on their faces.

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England win toss and bat first


come on England

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Yes 400+ would be nice in the first innings.:cleader::cleader:

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England lose Alastair Cook and Joe Root but reach lunch on 98-2 at Trent Bridge.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cricket/23234567

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Stuck at work so can't see any of it :( Sounds pretty even so far, maybe Aussies edging it a shade.

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Yes this afternoon is crucial.

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What a poor performance by England against a very average Australian side.:(:td:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cricket/23234567

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This is better.:cleader:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cricket/23234567

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Ashton Agar hits the highest Test score by a debutant number 11 to frustrate England's bowlers.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cricket/23261769

Where is Cook's leadership in the last 80 minutes.:(:td:

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England lose two wickets in two balls after Ashton Agar falls for a record 98 in Australia's 280.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cricket/23261769

Oh dear England return to the bad old days.:mad:

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England threw away a huge chance today, hope they don't end up regretting it.

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The captaincy and some of the bowling at times left a lot to be desired and on this form England have to improve considerably to retain the Ashes.

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The advantage is still with us imo, they have to bat last and they've had all the luck so far

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The Trott dismisal was incredible. Erasmus should be dropped for making such a ridiculous decision, it could end up being very costly for England. But i do think we are in a good position, i think batting last will be tough, especially against Swann.

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Being 15 ahead with 8 wickets left Shadow is not exactly a good position in my humble opinion.

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Not having to bat last puts us in a good position ;)

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Lam not sure l would attach much hope to that scenario.

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Ian Bell makes a half century to help extend England's lead over Australia to 165 at tea.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cricket/23277348

Come on England.:cleader::cleader:

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Stuart Broad refuses to walk and Ian Bell is 95 not out as England's lead moves to 261 at the close.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cricket/23277348

Well what a interesting day to say the least.

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Great comeback from England today, actually managed to see the last hour and a half :D Bloody work :mad:

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Australia set about chasing 311 to win the first Ashes Test against England.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cricket/23293799

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Think they'll do it :( Never thought 300 was enough with nearly 2 days to go.

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And some revered posters thought that batting last would be a minefield and lead to certain defeat.:waving::waving:

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England in control against Australia in first Test.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cricket/23302830

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4 wickets needed

Come On England

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Yes its going to be a very tense first session.

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Aussies untroubled so far.

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yes but we seen a few times all ready how quick it can change this test

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Its looking ominous for England.:(

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Yaaaaas!

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:cleader::hyper:

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Can probably relax now :)

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Not while Finn is bowling.:rolleyes:

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When will Cook learn.:td::(

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Get him off :mad:

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We have got to believe still.:cleader::cleader:

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Aussies are gonna do it :(

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And Cooks captaincy in this test will have a lot to do with it.:(:td:

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Phew :D

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Seconded.

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what a test match that was well done England

:cleader::cleader::cleader::cleader::cleader:

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That was a very important match to win. After a good start, much of the first innings batting was distinctly average and we very nearly let them off the hook. Still, we escaped with a win and let's hope that bodes well for the series.

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Chuffed England won. I did say I wanted it to be close, but that was too close for comfort. Both second innings seemed to be better for the teams. Roll on next test.

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Wonder what the result would have been if Broad had 'walked'?

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Feel the result today was pivotal for the whole series.

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Well we'd probably have lost. However, the result would probably have been different if Agar had been given out stumped, had Clarke walked instead of wasting their final review and had Trott been given not out. I'd prefer it if all batsmen walked but the Australians have long favoured the approach that it's up to the umpires to get it right so they can't really expect their opponents to apply higher standards.

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Well done to England, congratulations from a Scots cricket fan who supports the "Auld Enemy" . Super contest between two excellent teams. Could not believe how close the final result was and on this occasion the best team won.

Can't wait for the 2nd Test to start.

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Yup same here. Given all the focus on the shorter forms of the game, this sort of match does a lot of good for the profile of test cricket. Five days of gripping excitement with lots more to come... :)

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I think you sum it up very well, however I also would prefer it if the batsmen (and fielders) were honest, rather than putting the onus on the match officials.

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The players will argue that they're sometimes the victims of bad umpiring decisions so if they get away with a few it evens things up.

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I watch matches like this one and wonder how people don't like cricket let alone test cricket. Each day had drama, tension and brilliant play by both sides. If the rest of the series is anything like this it will be another classic.

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People who don't like test cricket probably don't like chess either. The wonderful thing about cricket is the number of variables which enter into the match equation. Yes a draw might seem like a bit of an anti-climax after 5 days but, even then, there's usually a lot to be admired along the way whether it be batting, fielding or bowling. Some of the most exciting matches I've ever seen have been drawn. Indeed, had this match ended in stalemate, nobody could have claimed it was boring and quite a few would've claimed it was a fair result.

Re: Cricket
 

Lots of stuff still going on about Broad. Heard Geoff Lawson banging on about how wrong Broad was and how he'd have walked had he edged a catch to 1st slip, but maybe not if it's been a very fine edge to the keeper. Well what's the difference? If we're going to get all moral then they both amount to cheating unless the batsman is genuinely unaware that he's made contact.

Anyway much is being made about this thick edge to 1st slip but what I see on the replay when it's slowed down is that Broad gets a very fine edge which, as the keeper is standing right up, then proceeds, in a split second, to hit the outside of the keeper's left glove and it's that which created the huge diversion we could all see of the ball going to first slip. I can see how, therefore, how the umpire might have thought the ball missed the bat and was deflected to the slips by the wicketkeeper, hence giving it not out. Anyway, it'd be interesting to know what the umpire had to say about this matter to his superiors after the close of play.

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I've heard lots sayng the umpires had a poor test and there is even talk from some that they should be dropped from test cricket. I agree there were a couple of dodgy decisions, but Aussie benefited from one dodgy decision, so getting one against them was a bit of payback to my mind.

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Indeed in my mind its all swings and roundabouts and all countries have to take the rough with the smooth.

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The fact is the umpires were very poor in the test, including the 3rd umpire. In my mind all 3 should be dropped, it's ok to make 1 or 2 mistakes but they seemed to make 1 or 2 each day of the test!

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And if you replace them with 3 more who says the decisions will be any better.

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At the moment you can't, there are only 12 umpires on the elite test panel and eight of them ( four each ) are English or Australian plus one from Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka and New Zealand. By next January four umpires will have to stand in ten Ashes tests between them.

Re: Cricket
 

I don't think, in general, that our umpires are really any better or worse than those in the past. Of course they're coming under much greater scrutiny and their mistakes are now highlighted with proof as opposed to conjecture. In the past stinkers used to be made and other than pretty dodgy TV footage there was no evidence upon which to base any criticism. How many tiny 'snicks', run outs and close LBW's were missed by umpires in the days before super slow motion, the snickometer, Hawkeye, hot spot etc.? What I do worry about is the availability (or not) of 'reviews' affecting their decision making process. The umpire should always make a decision based on what he sees/hears at the time and not whether one team or the other either has or hasn't got a review or two up their sleeve.

Re: Cricket
 

I think Lawson is saying that if he know's he's edged it he would walk. Thin edges are hard to notice. When I played cricket there were countless times when I genuinely was not sure if I had edged it or not, so waited for the umpire to decide. If I knew I'd hit it then I'd be off. So the difference is whether you know you played it or not.

---------- Post added at 14:49 ---------- Previous post was at 14:40 ----------

Test cricket has changed a lot over the years. We now usually get results within 5 days, a lot of the times down to poor shots. I was reading an article that short form cricket has contributed to this. I think for people new to cricket, the short form, and test matches of today are more exciting and appealing. But I have to admit I prefer the short game more than the test matches of old.

Re: Cricket
 

I know what you mean but that is not how it came across to me. Australians are renowned for not walking and Adam Gilchrist was very much the exception. As I said before, plenty of cricketers have refused to walk in the past.

Talking of the 'spirit of the game' I recall when Greg Chappell ordered one of his bowlers to roll the final ball in a match against New Zealand in order to prevent the required 6 being scored. I've not been too keen on lectures on morality and the 'spirit of the game' from them ever since. ;)

Interestingly in my searches relating to the Broad incident and walking, I notice that that Ricky Ponting has, in the past, had quite a lot to say about Sachin Tendulkar being one of those who never walk. Hard to swallow from an Aussie who admitted the same policy...

http://www.topnews.in/sports/never-k...ponting-217944

Re: Cricket
 

There's a very good write up in today's Times regarding Walking and Fair Play written by Matthew Syed (p.59) Really worth a read in light, especially in light of the recent posts.

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The only problem is The Times is behind a paywall so l can't see it.

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Yes I know :( I was actually thinking of scanning it and putting it on here! Let me see if I can access it and snip it here.

Re: Cricket
 

England 28-3..... And it's supposed to be a day for batting......

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Great start by England. :rolleyes:

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England's batting line up is looking increasingly vulnerable in this last year and this summer it seems to have got worse.:(

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Anderson as nightwatch man for Broad :confused:

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Very strange in my humble opinion.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cricket/23309559

Re: Cricket
 

This is going to be way tougher than 99% of us thought. Dreadful start dreadful finish great in between. Hats off to Bell, always had my reservations about him but thank goodness he's there. Root been disappointing so far.

Re: Cricket
 

Yes the Aussies might have only one true world class player but he is leading them well.

Re: Cricket
 

Australia - replying to England's 361 - lose four wickets for 27 runs on the second day at Lord's.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cricket/23365388

:cleader::cleader: