Cricket : The General Cricket Thread

Originally Posted by yesman

Hopefully England can restore a little piece of self respect by avoiding a 5 - 0 whitewash.

The Final game of this Ashes series begins tonight.............Play starts 23:30 GMT

BBC Sport

I don't think this series has been a good advert for cricket, 'self respect' may be redefined by a draw, or even a win, but the average result says it has been too one sided........

Whoops, The game begins tonight

Anyway.....

I get this feeling if we are batting first, then, when I get up tomorrow we will be bowling

And if we are bowling first, Australia will be something like 320 for 1

This has been an awful series for England, who imo were unprepared, poorly coached, and are of the mindset that "Isn't it great to miss an English winter". Well, that's how it seems to me anyway

Time for major changes methinks, perhaps we should employ an Aussie coach

---------- Post added at 22:39 ---------- Previous post was at 22:38 ----------

Originally Posted by homealone

I don't think this series has been a good advert for cricket, 'self respect' may be redefined by a draw, or even a win, but the average result says it has been too one sided........

Spot on Gaz.........see above ^

[TheDaddy]

Originally Posted by yesman

Time for major changes methinks, perhaps we should employ an Aussie coach

What like Troy Cooley

Originally Posted by TheDaddy

What like Troy Cooley

Why not !!!!!!

Following the lack of an offer from the ECB, he left his post at the end of his contract in December 2005, and in May 2006 became the bowling coach for the Australian national team. The England Cricket Board (ECB) was criticised for letting him move as he was seen as a key figure in England's 2005 Ashes success who had little recent form. Following England's loss of the first test in The Ashes in Australia in 2006, former England captain Tony Greig commented that England missed Cooley. After England had lost the fourth test, Colley commented that the English side has lost it's "intensity", and was surprised at the team bringing back injured players like Ashley Giles.

He left in Dec 2005, I seem to remember we won the ashes that year.

Source

[TheDaddy]

Originally Posted by yesman

Why not !!!!!!

He left in Dec 2005, I seem to remember we won the ashes that year.

Source

He left because the ECB 'hesitated' in offering him a new deal, I read a Guardian sports writers blog quite a while ago that was quite scathing in criticism, that he was allowed to leave, I had a look for it for you, without luck

[Orior]

Whitewash not far away now.

Hey, why is the cricket team called England? Surely it would better known as the "Pre-1922 British Empire", seeing as how they have players from India, Ireland and Rhodesia?

[TheDaddy]

Originally Posted by Orior

Whitewash not far away now.

Hey, why is the cricket team called England? Surely it would better known as the "Pre-1922 British Empire", seeing as how they have players from India, Ireland and Rhodesia?

Because it's based in England and represents the people of England and Wales, it makes no difference to me where the players come from as long as the eligibility requirements have been met

ps 234-4 isn't a bad start imo

[Orior]

Wouldn't it be more competitive if they just dissolved the England team, and had a World XI play Australia?

And while they're at it, only a World XV should be allowed to play the All-Blacks.

It all seems a bit of a forlorn gesture now as England try and restore a little piece of pride, but what the heck.....
After the first day of the final test in this Ashes series in Sydney.......

Let's hope they can restore some pride with a respectable first innings total, lets say 500? haha.....then bowl the aussies out for about 180 , well I can only dream I suppose.

They ended day one on 234-4, with Flintoff 42 not out and Collingwood 25.
"To see off that last hour of play and the way they did it was really important for us.
"But tomorrow is a huge battle for us to get through the first session and the second new ball," team-mate Ian Bell told BBC Sport.
England cannot afford to waste the opportunity as they trail 4-0 in the series and Australia are eager to achieve what would be only the second whitewash in Ashes history as they prepare to say goodbye to Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath and Justin Langer.

I am of the assumption that England were ill prepared for this series to retain The Ashes. Cooley's exit didn't help matters, no doubt that would be the fault of the "Old School Tie Brigade" sitting in the "Long Room" with a sherry or two.

[Shadow Demon UK]

Originally Posted by Orior

Wouldn't it be more competitive if they just dissolved the England team, and had a World XI play Australia?

England did actually beat them in 2005 2-1 and when McGrath and Warne retire after this test is should get a little bit more competitive.... hopefully

They did actually do that a couple of years ago i think and the World XI still lost, probably because they didn't have much time to practice together.

Link They lost 3-0

[davidweller]

Originally Posted by Shadow Demon UK

They did actually do that a couple of years ago i think and the World XI still lost, probably because they didn't have much time to practice together.

Link They lost 3-0

There was also a one off test that Australia won.

The only World XI players to do any good were Flintoff, Pietersen and Harmison as they came into this series straight after the 2005 Ashes win.

The other World XI players were coming in after their close seasons.

I was going to stay up and listen to TMS for a couple of hours, alas, it would seem I might be in bed prior to midnight .... FIFTH TEST, SYDNEY, DAY FOUR - England 291 and 122-8 v Australia 393

Australia are a fantastic cricketing side without a doubt.

[bayonet]

Well just on my way to work and the not unexpected whitewash has happened. Australia are one of the best sides I've had the pleasure of watching for a few years and compare well to the Windies sides of the 80's with Sir Viv in his prime.

England? what can you say? nothing really and are there any better players out there to take their places. I don't think so Vaughan,Jones and co will come back but the big mistake I think was making Flintoff captain.

Strauss made a good job of it during the summer and must have felt a bit miffed to see it given to Flintoff. I think Strauss would have stood up to Fletcher a bit more in team selection as regards Monty over Giles and Read over Jones. Read can't be blamed too much having no practice before hand and then be expected to save the day in the Fourth test

I think they rested on their laurels a bit after 2005 which tends to be a British trait for some reason e.g. Wales after the 1987 rugby world cup,England after winning it in 2003. I think losing Troy Cooley was a bigger blow than Fletcher would admit to and just down to the fact he wanted a 2 year deal rather than a one year he was being offered

Originally Posted by bayonet

Well just on my way to work and the not unexpected whitewash has happened. Australia are one of the best sides I've had the pleasure of watching for a few years and compare well to the Windies sides of the 80's with Sir Viv in his prime.

I think that late 70's early 80's Windies side would trounce todays Aussie side with plenty left over in the tank.
To see an opening pair of Desmond Haynes & Gordon Greenidge was enough to make any opposing side gulp with fear, then if you get lucky and get one of them out, Viv Richards makes his way to the wicket, only to be followed by Clive Lloyd.....dear oh dear, how I would love to see the likes of those players again.

England? what can you say? nothing really and are there any better players out there to take their places. I don't think so Vaughan,Jones and co will come back but the big mistake I think was making Flintoff captain.

For me the Flintoff captaincy resembles the Botham captaincy, both good cricketers, but are just not up for the job...get Vaughn back !!!

Strauss made a good job of it during the summer and must have felt a bit miffed to see it given to Flintoff. I think Strauss would have stood up to Fletcher a bit more in team selection as regards Monty over Giles and Read over Jones. Read can't be blamed too much having no practice before hand and then be expected to save the day in the Fourth test

I think they rested on their laurels a bit after 2005 which tends to be a British trait for some reason e.g. Wales after the 1987 rugby world cup,England after winning it in 2003. I think losing Troy Cooley was a bigger blow than Fletcher would admit to and just down to the fact he wanted a 2 year deal rather than a one year he was being offered

Agreed

[bayonet]

See they all make out Warne is the greatest player ever but Gary Sobers was and always will be the greatest for me as he could bat and bowl and not just offspin he could bowl leggies and medium pace


Warne is the greatest bowler ever and has been a pleasure to watch the infamous "Gatting" ball as one example but greatest cricketer it's Sobers every time for me