Re: Cricket
 

It could be but he isn't responsible for running the game and if those at the top can't take criticism it says a lot about them and their priorities. Fact is they'd rather see England struggle than put their differences to one side as he seems to have done.

The ECB have been as inept in their handling of Pietersen as they have in their selections.

Re: Cricket
 

Dizzy to hold England job talks.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cricket/32817359

Re: Cricket
 

Didn't see this posted, Australia announce squad for tour of England.

Test 1:

Cardiff, July 8-12

Test 2:

Lord's, July 16-20

Test 3:

Edgbaston, July 29-August 2

Test 4:

Trent Bridge, August 6-10

Test 5:

The Oval, August 20-24

SQUAD:

Michael Clarke (Captain)
Steve Smith (Vice Captain)
Brad Haddin (Wicket)
Fawad Ahmed
Josh Hazlewood
Ryan Harris
Mitchell Johnson
Nathan Lyon
Mitchell Marsh
Shaun Marsh
Peter Nevill (Wicket)
Chris Rogers
Peter Siddle
Mitchell Starc
Adam Voges
David Warner
Shane Watson

Re: Cricket
 

They might look invincible but l can certainly see some weaknesses there.

Re: Cricket
 

Don't know a lot about them to be honest, only heard of maybe 5 of the players. However, I think England have a far weaker squad to be honest. I'll be happy in September if we can avoid a 5-0 whitewash tbh.

Re: Cricket
 

Until the ECB is reformed (unlikely anytime soon) to remove the old farts and their successors at the top, the England job is as much a poisoned chalice as Labour leader.

Re: Cricket
 

l don't think it will be a whitewash as half the Australian squad is aged 33 and over so if l was England my tactics would be to get them on the run and try to tire them out physically and mentally like last time they came over here but alas a lot of water has passed under the bridge since then.

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Oh what a shambles yet again.:rolleyes:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/live/cricket/32524247

Re: Cricket
 

nothing new here expect a 5-0 Aussie win in ashes this summer

Re: Cricket
 

More positivity would be a start instead of this deeply entrenched safeness in English cricket.

Re: Cricket
 

Well I'm just glad we haven't got Pietersen in the side. It's not like we need a decent batsman is it... :rolleyes:

The deeply entrenched 'safeness' comes from within the ECB who tend to appoint people just like them.

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What a disaster. Even the most optimistic person must be struggling right now with this score.

Re: Cricket
 

Perhaps they have starting to listen to those doom laden critics on Cable Forum.;)

Re: Cricket
 

A bit pre-emptive, surely - it's 176 for 4 at the moment, which isn't too bad....

Re: Cricket
 

Yes the critics were certainly quick on the gun that's for sure.;):dig::notme::tiptoe:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cricket/32835584

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Yes, well at 30/4 it certainly looked a disaster for England. Now currently 369/9 as I type this.

Re: Cricket
 

It would be nice if the Burnley Lara can take us to 400 though.

Re: Cricket
 

Where there was hope sadly today brought despair.:(

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/live/cricket/32524253

Re: Cricket
 

Yes, optimism replaced by despair yet again as today progressed. Hopefully England will buck their ideas up a bit, and soon.

Re: Cricket
 

New Zealand in strong position at the end of day three.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cricket/32860712

Re: Cricket
 

IF England can dig in for all of today, then this Test will be a draw. I am hoping for one anyway, it's either a draw or New Zealand win. This is only a 2 Test series anyway, the next one is 29 May to 2 June, from Headingley in Leeds.

There then follows 5 ODI's, and 1 20/20 match:

09 June, ODI @ Edgbaston
12 June, ODI @ The Oval
14 June, ODI @ The Rose Bowl, Southampton
17 June, ODI @ Trent Bridge
20 June, ODI @ Chester-le-Street
23 June, 20/20 @ Old Trafford

Re: Cricket
 

123/3, Bell out third ball of the day.

Re: Cricket
 

Well at least New Zealand will have to bat again.

143-3 latest

Re: Cricket
 

213/3 right now, both Cook and Root on 70+ runs.

---------- Post added at 14:25 ---------- Previous post was at 14:22 ----------

As of 14:23 according to BBC Sport site, England 215/3, Cook on 90 and Root on 75.

Re: Cricket
 

Stokes and Cook lead magnificent fight back at Lords on day four.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cricket/32869388

Re: Cricket
 

Re: Cricket
 

What - the guy who invented the wind-up radio?

I'm all for new blood and a different approach, but this appears to be stretching the envelope a bit.... ;)

Re: Cricket
 

What a start from Anderson.:cool:

Re: Cricket
 

It would be nice if we can get another couple of wickets out before lunch though

Re: Cricket
 

:D + :D

Re: Cricket
 

It'd be nice if we could see the nonsense of having a third man when we have our opponents at 1, 2 and 3 wickets down with the new ball and only a handful on the scoreboard.

Re: Cricket
 

If you shout loud enough they might hear you Osem.;)

Re: Cricket
 

Doubt it... ;)

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198 for 9 the latest score so perhaps they have been listening to their critics.:)

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Let's hope they've removed that third man! lol

Re: Cricket
 

Where was that final wicket caught Osem? ;) :P

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:D:D

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He ran miles... ;)

---------- Post added at 18:27 ---------- Previous post was at 18:21 ----------

I've not seen much of the match but from what I have seen I like the sporting behaviour evident between the two sides. It'd be a great thing if stuff like sledging and other shenanigans could be removed from the game but I reckon there'll be plenty of that coming up.

Going to watch the highlights later so I might be back to review the above...

Re: Cricket
 

It was a fantastic test match and England were brilliant, especially over the last 2 days. For a team to score over 500 in their first innings and lose the match doesn't happen often, England deserve a lot of credit for that. Stokes, Cook and Root in particular were fantastic. Hopefully they can keep it up for the rest of the summer.

Re: Cricket
 

Well, like I said even the most optimistic person would have failed to predict an England win on Thursday with us 30/4, but delighted we managed to win. For a while today, thought we were heading for a draw but then after family left turned cricket on to see we only needed 1 more wicket.

Let's hope this form can continue into the next Test and against the Aussies.

Re: Cricket
 

Young Ben Stokes brought back even more memories of a famous Lancastrian and his heroics from 2005.

Re: Cricket
 

Or even 1981, ;)

Re: Cricket
 

Yes l was at my first job then and myself and the boss used to sneakily go into the stock part of the store to listen to the cricket while we were putting the stock away.

Re: Cricket
 

Let's hope so - it's the fighting spirit which has been missing with too many players almost capitulating.

As for the 'highlights' well I suppose it's a big ask condensing a days play into 40 minutes and who knows what C5 get from Sky but I don't think they're up to much. What I did see was a few catches being lost through gaps in the slip cordon due to defensive field placings. There was no way NZ were ever going to win this so I'm at a loss to understand why those gaps were there. It's that sort of 'play unnecessarily safe' mentality which has cost England dear many times in the past and a number or former players commented on it.

Re: Cricket
 

ECB ‏@ECB_cricket · 3m3 minutes ago
ECB names Trevor Bayliss as @englandcricket's new Head Coach

Re: Cricket
 

Lets hope he can do a better job then the previous incumbent.

Re: Cricket
 

England bowling like amateurs this morning yet again.:(

Re: Cricket
 

Cook becomes Englands all time leading run scorer. Congratulations to him, England legend.

Re: Cricket
 

Yes he is indeed a great run getter but sadly he ain't a captain.

Re: Cricket
 

I tend to agree. He seems a really likeable guy and he's clearly got a lot of talent but having been in the position for quite some time now, his captaincy doesn't really seem to have developed. He's still far too cautious IMHO.

Re: Cricket
 

England doing their best to throw away a very good start. :rolleyes:

Bowling is quite tasty though.

Re: Cricket
 

The gloomy conditions are favouring NZ though in the last hour.

Re: Cricket
 

A dozy run out set the collapse in motion.

Re: Cricket
 

Oh dear.:(

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/live/cricket/32673262

Re: Cricket
 

Well that was quite neat.:)

Re: Cricket
 

Well things don't bode too well for England currently.:(

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/live/cricket/32673262

Re: Cricket
 

Well its the same old England this morning with the bowlers obviously not listening to anybody and a captain who sadly does diddly squat and just lets things just go idly by.:(

Re: Cricket
 

Yes, time and time again he does seem to be slow to act. It's quite a negative approach which betrays a lack of confidence and seems to value not being beaten more highly than winning even when that involves playing ultra-safe and in so doing sacrificing games we should have won and all the confidence that would have created in the team. There can be little more demoralising to a team than giving away a winning position because the captain doesn't have faith in them to deliver.

Re: Cricket
 

As usual England's approach this morning is the same old . same old , same old.:(:td:

Re: Cricket
 

Yes it is. I've lost count of the number of times we've had teams on the rack only to let them off through very poor bowling and poor indecisive captaincy. Then there's the almost inevitable collapse like a pack of cards just when things are going well or we need our batsmen to grit their teeth and occupy the crease. One thing I don't understand is how bowlers as experienced as Anderson and Broad can bowl so poorly and be unable to correct matters. :confused:

Re: Cricket
 

Well its looking like a rout by teatime.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/live/cricket/32673255

Re: Cricket
 

And it looked so good for England after Test 1. Oh well. As long as we can keep some form and fight for the Ashes then I will not judge too harshly on this Test.

Re: Cricket
 

can only see the Aussies thrashing us in Ashes sadly :(

Re: Cricket
 

There are so many weaknesses with this England side currently but the biggest weakness in my book is Cook being the captain as a good captain in my book is worth its weight in gold but sadly Alastair has been found totally wanting in that department.

Re: Cricket
 

Not been a decent captain since Michael Vaughan had to retire.

Re: Cricket
 

New Zealand win 2nd test.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/live/cricket/32673255

Re: Cricket
 

They will have to go some to win the first one dayer. :shocked:

Re: Cricket
 

Wow that was tremendous to watch.:)

Re: Cricket
 

Sadly I didn't, I'm in the Lake District for a few days. No Sky in the hotel and veeeeery slow wifi, also there is no mobile signal of any kind, love it. :cool:

Listened to 5live extra. :)

Re: Cricket
 

Rashid has bowled very well, has put himself in contention for Moeen's spot in the ashes team.

Re: Cricket
 

Great entertainment.

Re: Cricket
 

Cricket on the radio is great - I often have the radio commentary with the TV pictures.

Re: Cricket
 

I used to do that years ago when Johnners et al did TMS and the pictures where on the BBC. Stopped when SKY took over, watching on VM digital has such a noticeable delay I found it irritating.

Re: Cricket
 

The thing is why was he and one or two others not picked earlier.:(

Re: Cricket
 

Its great to see Eoin Morgan back in form :)

Re: Cricket
 

Set up nicely for the last match now.

Re: Cricket
 

The old England and the new England are from two totally different planets.:)

Re: Cricket
 

The D/L system needs a serious rethink when one team averages 5.66 over 50 overs and the other team then has to score at 7.38 for just 26 overs. :rolleyes:

Re: Cricket
 

:D:D

Re: Cricket
 

Well, well, at 45 for 5 I didn't see that coming, even as a staunch Lancastrian I am so pleased for Jonny Bairstow, a real pity his dad isn't around to see him play.

Just wish we could play New Zealand all the time, cracking matches played in a fantastic, hard but fair manner with zero sledging.

Re: Cricket
 

Yes lets hope when New Zealand come back next time we can have a longer series.

Yes it was a great knock by Jonny Bairstow and being a Devonian l ain't worried where they come from.

Re: Cricket
 

Good start by England. :rolleyes:

Re: Cricket
 

Well we knew it was coming.

Re: Cricket
 

Oh ffs. Cook proving yet again he is a useless captain.

Oh and now Bell has gone, 43/3.

---------- Post added at 12:24 ---------- Previous post was at 12:22 ----------

Lyth, 6 runs from 10 balls. 1 x 4
Cook, 20 from 40. 3 x 4
Bell, 1 from 7.

What a joke. COME ON ENGLAND, WAKE UP!

---------- Post added at 12:25 ---------- Previous post was at 12:24 ----------

And Root lucky to not be out first ball. This is going to be a disaster unless England buck their ideas up.

Re: Cricket
 

Its like 10 green bottles sitting on the wall and one by one they are quickly falling.

Re: Cricket
 

Would like to see Boycott go out there and show us how it is done. Saying that Root's 4 balls were tripe. Well go and show him how it is done then you wife beating old get.

---------- Post added at 12:50 ---------- Previous post was at 12:47 ----------

England might have a bit of a reprieve, rain likely to stop play soon.

---------- Post added at 13:54 ---------- Previous post was at 12:50 ----------

95/3 now after lunch. Hmm, not feeling too optimistic at the moment for England.

---------- Post added at 15:02 ---------- Previous post was at 13:54 ----------

154/3 at the moment. Hopefully we can recover even more.

Re: Cricket
 

Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.:tiptoe::tiptoe:

Re: Cricket
 

Tea on Day 1.

England 190/3, 52 overs played.

Lyth, 6 from 10. 1 x 4
Cook, 20 from 40. 3 x 4
Ballance, 59 from 146 (n/o). 8 x 4
Bell, 1 from 7.
Root, 93 from 110 (n/o). 12 x 4

Extras: 1 no ball, 0 wide, 9 byes, 1 leg bye

Bowling stats:

Starc, 11 overs, 3 maidens, 47 runs, 1 wicket
Hazlewood, 15, 5, 42, 1
Johnson, 12, 0, 55, 0
Lyon, 10, 2, 24, 1
Watson, 4, 0, 12, 0

Re: Cricket
 

Oh dear England have just lost a 4th wicket.

Re: Cricket
 

End of Day 1:

England on 343/7, 88 overs played

Lyth, 6 from 10. 1 x 4
Cook, 20 from 40. 3 x 4
Ballance, 61 from 149. 8 x 4
Bell, 1 from 7.
Root, 134 from 166. 17 x 4
Stokes, 52 from 78. 6 x 4, 2 x 6
Buttler, 27 from 34. 3 x 4
Moeen, 26 from 38 (n/o). 2 x 4, 1 x 6
Broad, 0 from 7 (n/o).

Extras: 1 no ball, 13 byes, 2 leg byes

Bowling:

Starc, 19 overs, 4 maidens, 84 runs, 3 wickets
Hazlewood, 22, 8, 70, 3
Johnson, 20, 2, 87, 0
Lyon, 17, 4, 54, 1
Watson, 8, 0, 24, 0
Warner, 2, 0, 9, 0

All in all, a lot better than it was at 7/1 or even 43/3

Re: Cricket
 

A stodgy wicket for a first day though. :(

Re: Cricket
 

430 all out.

ENGLAND 1st Innings, 102.1 overs:

Lyth, 6 from 10. 1 x 4
Cook, 20 from 40. 3 x 4
Ballance, 61 from 149. 8 x 4
Bell, 1 from 7.
Root, 134 from 166. 17 x 4
Stokes, 52 from 78. 6 x 4, 2 x 6
Buttler, 27 from 34. 3 x 4
Moeen, 77 from 88. 11 x 4, 1 x 6
Broad, 18 from 26. 2 x 4, 1 x 6
Wood, 7 from 10 (n/0). 1 x 4
Anderson, 1 from 6.

Extras: 1 no ball, 5 wide, 17 byes, 3 leg byes

BOWLING:

Starc, 24.1 overs, 4 maidens, 114 runs, 5 wickets
Hazlewood, 23, 8, 83, 3
Johnson, 25, 3, 111, 0
Lyon, 20, 4, 69, 2
Watson, 8, 0, 24, 0
Warner, 2, 0, 9, 0

Re: Cricket
 

Well after the second day l would say its just about level pegging.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cricket/33463749

Re: Cricket
 

Well Australia lets see what you are made of.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/live/cricket/32809236

Re: Cricket
 

Dare we be optimistic den?

Re: Cricket
 

Well if we can't get over the line in this one then we never will...

Re: Cricket
 

As long as Anderson starts today like he finished yesterday and the rain stays away England should win it.

Re: Cricket
 

I think England are slight favourites now. :D

Re: Cricket
 

OWZAT. :D

Re: Cricket
 

Get in there.:cleader::cleader::cleader: