Re: Cricket
 

So, if Scotland win against Bangladesh, then England will need to win at least one of their remaining 2 games. As they are against lower opposition, England should win those. But the way they are playing, I'm expecting England out before the KO stages.

Re: Cricket
 

Don't expect great things against lower opposition as Holland and Ireland spring to mind in my memory bank.:Yikes::eeek:

Re: Cricket
 

Yes, Ireland are having a great tournament. Seeing their form here, surely it is only a matter of time before they become a full Test team as well?

Re: Cricket
 

l am not sure the big test playing countries will that to happen for a while yet Mark.

Re: Cricket
 

ECB chief leaves door open for England return for KP.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cricket/31681746

Re: Cricket
 

Or perhaps not.;) :D

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They might not even feature at the next World Cup, aren't they trying to cut out the minnows so the tournament doesn't just seem like it's lasting forever, at the expense of growing the game though I guess.

Re: Cricket
 

Be a shame if they did that, Ireland have had some big upsets over the past few tournaments. To be honest, Ireland more deserving than England to be in the World Cup this year so far.

Latest results (from oldest to most recent):

South Africa beat West Indies by 257 runs
India beat United Arab Emirates by 9 wickets
Sri Lanka beat England by 9 wickets
New Zealand beat Australia by 1 wicket
Pakistan beat Zimbabwe by 20 runs
South Africa beat Ireland by 201 runs
Australia beat Afghanistan by 275 runs
Pakistan beat United Arab Emirates by 129 runs
Bangladesh beat Scotland by 6 wickets
India beat West Indies by 4 wickets

Quarter finals as it stands:

New Zealand v West Indies
Sri Lanka v Pakistan
Australia v South Africa
Bangladesh v India

It goes A1 v B4, so Pool A teams are first in each match.

Re: Cricket
 

Well South Africa are in trouble this morning against Pakistan so that might throw a spanner in your works Mark.

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Aye, like I said it was going on the standings as of when I posted. Think Ireland if they win might have a shout at a KO spot.

Re: Cricket
 

Well the Ireland and Zimbabwe match was certainly entertaining this morning as it went to the wire.

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Oh what a shambles England are.

Re: Cricket
 

what a shambles England are as crash out of world cup

---------- Post added at 11:48 ---------- Previous post was at 11:43 ----------

Kevin Pietersen ‏@KP24 · 5m5 minutes ago
I CANNOT BELIVE THIS! I JUST CANNOT! But, well done Bangladesh! You deserved it! #ENGvBAN

Re: Cricket
 

England never deserved anything from this tournament and fully deserve to go out.

Re: Cricket
 

Nasser has it spot on, England play One Day cricket like it is Test cricket. Apparently, they took a few players out who have been playing in the Indian One Day leagues and didn't play them at all. What appalling strategy, why carry on with Test style tactics when you know in advance that you have a limited number of deliveries?

Time for everyone involved with the KP storm to be sacked and rebuild completely. As it stands, honestly cannot see England winning the Ashes series this Summer.

Re: Cricket
 

... only worse!

This is not exactly a surprise, the whole setup has been a shambles for ages and to that extent a major failure like this might be a good thing. This ought to result in wholesale changes to management and strategy but I can't help thinking it'll be yet more arranging of the deckchairs on a sinking ship. Seriously, how appallingly inept does it have to get before serious heads roll at the ECB?

Re: Cricket
 

The Proteas waltz to the semi finals of the World Cup.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cricket/31937482

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England recall Trott.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cricket/31942514

Re: Cricket
 

Latest results:

Ireland beat Zimbabwe by 5 runs
Pakistan beat South Africa by 29 runs (D/L)
New Zealand beat Scotland by 6 wickets
Australia beat Sri Lanka by 64 runs
Bangladesh beat England by 15 runs
India beat Ireland by 8 wickets
Sri Lanka beat Scotland by 148 runs
South Africa beat United Arab Emirates by 146 runs
England beat Afghanistan by 9 wickets (D/L)
New Zealand beat Bangladesh by 3 wickets
Australia beat Scotland by 7 wickets
India beat Zimbabwe by 6 wickets
West Indies beat United Arab Emirates by 6 wickets
Pakistan beat Ireland by 7 wickets

QUARTERS:

South Africa beat Sri Lanka by 9 wickets

FIXTURES:

India v Bangladesh
Australia v Pakistan
New Zealand v West Indies

SEMIS:

NZL or WIN v RSA
IND or BAN v AUS or PAK

Re: Cricket
 

India beat Bangladesh to reach Cricket World Cup semi-finals.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cricket/31948172

Re: Cricket
 

Australia win fifth World Cup.:(

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/live/cricket/31429012

Re: Cricket
 

Well something had to give after the shambles of the World Cup..

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cricket/32225643

Re: Cricket
 

Someone there needs to swallow their pride, admit they screwed up with KP and bring him back into the side.

Also, they need to change their thinking in ODI matches, playing them like a Test match is only going to end in misery for England. They need to build 2 different squads, maybe even 3 squads, 1 for Test and 1 for ODI and possibly 1 for the 20/20 matches.

Look at Ireland in the World Cup, nobody ever gives them a chance and yet they had a chance of a Quarter final place. England need to learn from Ireland and soon. At this present showing, I am sorry to say that I believe Australia will become the dominant country in Ashes series for the next decade or more unless things change and improve.

---------- Post added at 20:47 ---------- Previous post was at 20:43 ----------

England are 6th in ODI rankings after World Cup, Ireland 11th. 20/20 rankings, England are 8th and Ireland 9th. England rank 3rd in Test rankings.

Re: Cricket
 

Richie Benaud has died :(

Great player even better commentator

http://m.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/32182999

Re: Cricket
 

A true legend who will be sorely missed.

RIP Richie

Re: Cricket
 

He refused to join Sky when they nabbed the cricket from C4 as he believed Test Matches should be free to air, as they are in Australia. He was right of course, with English game now paying the price for their money grabbing.

Re: Cricket
 

Richie Benaud was a true legend - a brilliant and fair minded commentator who, despite being a proud Australian, never managed to let that colour his views.

I'm too young to recall him playing but as a sports commentator he was up there amongst the very best. Over the years I often wanted to write to him but I guess time flew by and I'm sad to say I never did. He was so much a feature of long summer days of my youth watching cricket that it seems impossible to believe he's no longer around.

Anyway another legend has left the field for the very last time...

:clap: :clap: :clap: :clap:

RIP Richie Benaud.

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RIP from a cricket widow.:(

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RIP Richie always remembed voice of cricket

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RIP Richie

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Oh dear.:(

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/live/cricket/32041926

Re: Cricket
 

Let us hope den that England are getting their bad cricket out of the way before the Ashes begin this Summer.

Re: Cricket
 

Personally l think England have as much chance of winning the Ashes this summer as UKIP have of ever getting their hands on the levers of power.

Re: Cricket
 

Well, I was trying to be optimistic but yes I agree den with that assessment.

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They need someone with some serious staying power at the crease - bring back Boycott I say... :D

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They also need someone who can change the axis of the game like KP.

Re: Cricket
 

Well perhaps they were listening after all.;)

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cricket/32295727

Re: Cricket
 

Why on earth isn't Moeen Ali in the Test side ? He's not even there, and playing for poxy Worcestershire. Probably England's best player. See they've picked Tredwell, that killer spin bowler; Rashid would have been far better, can bat too.

Windies (players and public) just aren't interested in test cricket so its no real test. The crowd yesterday consisted of 2000 fat sunburned English'men', 100 English media and 12 Antiguans (the groundstaff).

I predict none of the Ashes Test Matches will last more than 3 days. NZ will give England a good thrashing too, English conditions will suit their bowlers perfectly. Start afresh with some youngsters, there are some good ones about, but England won't pick anybody under 21. Forget KP and pension off Anderson, Broad, Cook and the South African cast offs.

Re: Cricket
 

Game well poised in 1st test.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cricket/32310782

Re: Cricket
 

England fight back after losing openers cheaply in 2nd innings.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cricket/32328968

Re: Cricket
 

Trott appears to have been the recipient of two deliveries which would have shifted more than a few world class openers but Cook seems to be floundering and forgetting the basics. I really do think he needs a break because if he can't cope with the WI attack, NZ and Australia might just finish his test career.

Re: Cricket
 

l was looking at Cooks stats and he has not scored a century for a absolute age now and l think his problem is opponents found out his technical weaknesses in his batting and ever since then he has failed to get rid of those technical flaws in his batting thus the same problems continue unabated.

Personally l think its too late in his career for him to change now but who do you replace him with?.

Re: Cricket
 

Whoever he's replaced with can hardly do worse.

Re: Cricket
 

England in a strong position with final day to come in 1st test.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cricket/32344791

Re: Cricket
 

Dare we start to dream den?

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Yes l think the odds are definitely in our favour for once.

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Sadly I think that says more about the WI than it does about England.

Re: Cricket
 

Yes it does as the ECB and England will continues to stick their head in the sands and think that the garden is rosy in English cricket when it is in a mess at many levels of the game sadly.

Re: Cricket
 

At least it gives us a bit of optimism leading up to the Ashes. Long may it last. Wish we could back 10 years and have Michael Vaughan et al back.

Re: Cricket
 

Sky Sports News HQ @SkySportsNewsHQ
· 26m 26 minutes ago
BREAKING: James Anderson breaks England Test wicket record #SSNHQ

Re: Cricket
 

Shocking result though, given England had every chance of winning the Test. Also a bit sad that Beefy's record has been broken. Should have been Freddie Flintoff to win the record imo.

Re: Cricket
 

A great achievement.:tu:

---------- Post added at 05:16 ---------- Previous post was at 05:15 ----------

Australia will be trembling in their boots.:omg:

Re: Cricket
 

West Indies fightback curtails England.:(

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cricket/32403264

Re: Cricket
 

Broad and Cook give England the upper hand.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cricket/32423373

Re: Cricket
 

Cook owes England 70+ runs before he is in credit, he dropped Samuels when he was on 32.:rolleyes:

Re: Cricket
 

Given his run of poor form Cook owes England a whole lot more than that. If he can't do it today you have to wonder when he'll be able to.

Re: Cricket
 

The Aussies must be quaking in their boots come the Ashes..

Re: Cricket
 

Well Root certainly owes England nothing.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cricket/32438516

Re: Cricket
 

Sadly a draw looks likely with the final day to come.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cricket/32457743

Re: Cricket
 

Hope you didn't put money on that.;)

Re: Cricket
 

If they can get those last 2 wickets done within 5 overs then England will have an excellent chance of winning. Provided they go for it and don't play boring cricket.

Re: Cricket
 

They are not very good at nailing nine, ten, jack though.:rolleyes:

Re: Cricket
 

No l stick usually to 4 legs.:)

---------- Post added at 18:27 ---------- Previous post was at 18:27 ----------

Fixed that for you.:)

Re: Cricket
 

Think I might have done it myself, didn't see a single wicket live today, they all went down as I flicked over to the footy so kept on doing it until half time at Maine Rd. :cool:

Of course it works in reverse when England are batting, didn't manage to switch back to the footy in time to save Trott, surprising number of wide balls played on in this match. :(

Re: Cricket
 

Well a miracle has come forth and England have actually won.:cleader:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cricket/32470136

Re: Cricket
 

They've really brought Trott back at the wrong time, I feel sorry for the guy, he's clearly a quality cricketer but his head is not in the right place at all.

Re: Cricket
 

l quite agree Shadow.

Re: Cricket
 

At long last the paint has dried.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cricket/32560313

Re: Cricket
 

Oh dear , oh dear , oh dear.:(

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cricket/32566153

Re: Cricket
 

Depressing is the word that springs to mind here.:(:td:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/live/cricket/32442261

Re: Cricket
 

Another gross collapse - sadly it's nothing we haven't see all too much of in recent years, the difference being that there was a time we'd be banking on our bowlers to get us out of trouble. Somehow I can't see that happening right now.

Re: Cricket
 

Well there is one hope against Australia in the coming Ashes series and that is no hope.

Re: Cricket
 

123 all out. Appalling really. Back to the pack of cards school of cricket...

Re: Cricket
 

And the Indies win by 5 wickets to win the Test and level series at 1-1.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/live/cricket/32442261

Live feed atm, will update thread with a proper link to an article.

Re: Cricket
 

Re: Cricket
 

Sooner they realise that making KP the scapegoat hasn't solved their crisis and they go crawling back to him the better.

Re: Cricket
 

Geoffrey has certainly had his say.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cricket/32579078

Re: Cricket
 

Sad but he has definitely made the right decision in my book.

http://news.sky.com/story/1477727/tr...tional-cricket

Re: Cricket
 

Yup and it further exposes the short termism which went into his appointment for this series. Why on Earth wasn't someone with a future given a chance? England's selectors are like a bunch of rabbits caught in car headlights and until they're cleared out very little will change. I don't expect that will happen soon...

Re: Cricket
 

Oh dear Geoffrey is unhappy.

http://www.theguardian.com/sport/201...t-colin-graves

Re: Cricket
 

I think he's got a point. It seems some people get only a fleeting chance before being dropped forever but Cook has been out of form for ages, his technique has been exposed along with his leadership qualities. He could be a fine player and captain but right he hasn't been either for quite some time and we can't keep extending his tenure indefinitely and not expect more failures.

Re: Cricket
 

Find it astonishing that anyone is willing to listen to the views of a wife beating old has been.

Re: Cricket
 

While any type of abuse is totally unacceptable Mark his views and opinions on cricket are generally spot on.

Re: Cricket
 

Yes they are - he knows more about the game than many a pundit and player. He also says it how it is which is refreshing and has never been one of the establishment 'hangers on' who vote for each other and select the right faces. Right now we could do with a Boycott style opener...

Selecting Trott for this series was about as good an idea as picking Brian Close to face the West Indies and Michael Holding back in the mid 1970's. A sad joke.

Re: Cricket
 

Personally he should have never been appointed in the first place.

Re: Cricket
 

KP hits triple hundred.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cycling/32696838

Re: Cricket
 

Apparently he is meeting Strauss this evening...to be told he won't play for England again. Hes made that a bit more awkward now!

Re: Cricket
 

It seems England will never learn how to man manage its most talented players like Alex Ferguson did at Man Utd.:(

Re: Cricket
 

No England recall for KP.:(

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cricket/32699465

Re: Cricket
 

Cannot believe how stupid they are at England. The best player they have and they are letting a few comments made in his book get in the way of winning matches. Sorry to say, but after this shocking display of arrogance from Selectors I am almost (ALMOST) switching my allegiance for the Ashes to Aussie.

Re: Cricket
 

Well l will always support thy country but in terms of winning the Ashes well we have as much chance of winning that as of my home city reaching the Premiership.:nono::nono:

Re: Cricket
 

The ECB is full of people whose faces fit irrespective of ability. Like Geoff Boycott, KP's face doesn't fit and that's his main problem. Once again the messages sent out to him have been confused and some would say duplicitous but I don't suppose those at the top of English cricket will be in the least bit embarrassed by their behaviour. The fact that they'll happily pick someone like Trott who's clearly not up to it anymore and disregard Pietersen says a lot about them.

I used to think that enough poor performances and defeats would force change but the only change which seems to happen is one set of 'acceptable faces' being replaced by another. I reckon we could lose all the games against NZ and Australia and there'd be very little change at the top.

Re: Cricket
 

Andrew Strauss cites 'trust issue' for KP England exile.

http://www.theguardian.com/sport/liv...d-as-over-live

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cricket/32703824

Re: Cricket
 

It's about time the bods and the ECB started putting what the fans want. I hope England lose every match this summer and then we'll see just how much 'trust' did for the team.

Strauss needs to grow up and move on.

Re: Cricket
 

Perhaps the same could be said of KP - his book didn't do him any favours....

Re: Cricket
 

Why can't they behave like proper grown up adults and let the past be the past as surely that is the best way forward for English cricket.

Re: Cricket
 

England will go back to being like they were back in the 90's. Crap.

Re: Cricket
 

He is a good player but one player doesn't make a team. There are plenty of talented English cricketers, they just need to start showing it and move on from KP.

Re: Cricket
 

But the trouble is we are still waiting for these so called talented players to make a impact for England.

Re: Cricket
 

I do feel sorry for Pietersen though. If you read his version of events here http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/cri...nd-deceit.html

It all just seems ridiculous