A general cricket thread.

[hornetrider]

Sachin out for 80 to Michael Clarke

Oh well, at least I can go to bed now.

[Audi 525i]

If Tendulkar doesn't manage to get the 100th hundred, it will not diminish in any way his achievements in the game.

Sir Don's last test innings was somewhat inconspicous, but his legend remains.

[hornetrider]

Oh absolutely. The fact remains I wanna see it live, and all these failures ain't doin' anything for my bleeding insomnia!

[DJRC]

Im afraid to say Sachin gaining that last ton holds no interest to me even as a general cricket fan. The two great run makes of modern times: Kallis and Sachin seem to be batsmen who score runs for the sake of scoring runs and that somewhat diminishes their appeal to me. I never felt Lara was in that mould, there was more of a batting for batting sake and the enjoyment of it, legendary scores being built to showcase the game in general. I suspect that was a West Indies vibe.

The Don batted for the sake of winning the game, not for the sake of just scoring runs. Likewise I find a similar sentiment in The Wall, he bats for the game not the sake of scoring runs. Im not sure yet whether Trott is in the manner of The Wall and batting for the game, providing that middle order anchor or like Sachin, just there to score runs regardless of the game going on round him. For what its worth, the other great run machine in the English team atm Mr Cook, I suspect could go on to become the greatest operner of all time. I said could, not will.

[Gargamel]

Did you chaps catch this, as it were. Awesome fielding in a t20 game

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/sportvideo/cricke...

[chimster]

Come India put up a bit of a fight for chrissake.

[DukeDickson]

chimster said:

Come India put up a bit of a fight for chrissake.

Didn't really see much at all last night but they are somewhat spineless when up against it.

Mind you, take away the efforts of the Crims opening pair and there isn't that much for the dregs either. It was swinging a bit on Friday, so maybe it was again .

[suthol]

chimster said:

Come India put up a bit of a fight for chrissake.

Hmm, an innings and 37 runs in less than 2 1/2 days good signs for times ahead.

[chimster]

Can't argue with that its a demolition. Unfortunately.....

[johnfm]

Are India really the #2 ranked test team in the ICC rankings?

[hornetrider]

johnfm said:

Are India really the #2 ranked test team in the ICC rankings?

I have no idea how their home form can be so good, yet away they are probably worse than the bloody bangles.

[Dav_s]

Same old story with India - they just can't be bothered sometimes, i.e. if it's an overseas tour, or unless they've got a chance of increasing their fame and getting some glory (ODI world cup). More like bloody Bollywood film stars than cricketers some of this lot.

Infuriating for us fans.

[suthol]

hornetrider said:

johnfm said:

Are India really the #2 ranked test team in the ICC rankings?

I have no idea how their home form can be so good, yet away they are probably worse than the bloody bangles.

TBH I think the problem really lies with the BCCI, T20 & 50/50 are far more important to them than test cricket unless at home where they are always hard to beat and have a ravening home crowd to spur them on.

They came here and had a couple of giggle games against invitation sides which simply is not suitable preparation for the big arena of a test match, given decent time for better preparation they could have been more competitive.

It's nice to be heading back in the right direction but this series is not going to provide a proper measure of how far we have come since the plunge into despair

Edited by suthol on Monday 16th January 10:11

[johnfm]

So Austalia thrash India and draw with SA in SA. Will their ICC ranking change?

[suthol]

johnfm said:

So Austalia thrash India and draw with SA in SA. Will their ICC ranking change?

5th to equal 3rd with India if we whitewash them.

I do believe I suggested at the end of the last ashes thread that we would be more competitive but still lose our next UK tour but be a fair chance of getting the urn back by the time the to and froms come over here.

Watch this space, heading in the right direction but still a lot of work to do.

[Bing o]

suthol said:

TBH I think the problem really lies with the BCCI, T20 & 50/50 are far more important to them than test cricket unless at home where they are always hard to beat and have a ravening home crowd to spur them on.

They came here and had a couple of giggle games against invitation sides which simply is not suitable preparation for the big arena of a test match, given decent time for better preparation they could have been more competitive.

It's nice to be heading back in the right direction but this series is not going to provide a proper measure of how far we have come since the plunge into despair

Edited by suthol on Monday 16th January 10:11

I reckon the recent test series against the kiwis was a better guage of your level than a tired touring side who clearly can't be arsed any more.

[AndySA]

What a knock from Richard Levi!
117 not out, 13 sixes and 100 of 45 balls! He now tops all of those lists for International T20

[Carfolio]

AndySA said:

What a knock from Richard Levi!
117 not out, 13 sixes and 100 of 45 balls! He now tops all of those lists for International T20

Decent knock, but small ground and lottery cricket. I'd like to see Hudson removed from the selectors - he's a -faced idiot, as he was when he played for SA and as he's proved by his inability to understand anything about cricket. That Prince's contract was renewed beggars belief. I'm against the death sentence usually, but his run out of Amla in the 2nd test against Sri Lanka was worthy of a beheading.

Let's hope Levi gets a run in the 50 over format. I'd even rather see him in the test side than Rudolph. Hell, I'd rather see myself in the test side than Rudolph.

[hornetrider]

Could we be seeing the end of one of the greats? The Punter has been dropped and is holding a press conference regarding his future...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cricket/17094222

[Victor McDade]

hornetrider said:

Could we be seeing the end of one of the greats? The Punter has been dropped and is holding a press conference regarding his future...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cricket/17094222

Will be a shame to see him go but he's nothing more prove really (well maybe an Ashes win in England). True legend of the game.

Its actually quite refreshing to see how brutal the Aussie selectors are. In other countries legends retire on their own terms and that sometimes means they go on too long, but in Australia there is no place sentiment.