A general cricket thread.

[Victor McDade]

We don't have one and with the Aussies 22/9 against SA, there is no better time to start one.

http://www.espncricinfo.com/south-africa-v-austral...

[Victor McDade]

Virender Sehwag just smashes the odi record for highest individual score. 210 and counting.

[Victor McDade]

Australia's 16th Test defeat since 2008. Only WI and Bangladesh have lost more during this period.

Their batting let them down yet again. Hughes, Kwaja, and Haddin need to be dropped now and even Ponting, with his average in the low 40s for the past 2 or 3 years should look at his future.

What has happened to the Aussie first class system which used to provide class batsmen season upon season?

[Victor McDade]

Carfolio said:

SA have unearthed something special in Vernon Philander. 3 tests played _including_ the current one against Sri Lanka, and he has 22 wickets with 3 5fers (and has 3 wickets in the SL 2nd innings with 5 left to get...). Quite a start!

Looks a class act and with another 2 tests left against this SL side, he's set to break a few records in terms of the quickness of his wickets.

On another note, what do you chaps make of Dale Steyn when compared to the all time fast bowling greats?

He's just become the second-fastest bowler in the history of Test cricket to get to 250 wickets (behind Lillee). Has an average of 22 and has an incredible strike-better than the likes of Waqar and Marshall, and head and shoulders above the likes of McGrath, Thomson, Ambrose, Akram etc.

And he's achieved all of the above in an era where pitches are getting flatter and flatter and the balance between bat and ball is weighted towards the bat.

Another hundred wickets at the same rate and I think he'd easily be up there with the great WI greats of years gone by.

[Victor McDade]

DJRC said:

I think he is good, however...

I guess we shall see how good he is when he faces Strauss, Cook, Trott, KP and Bell in the next year...summer series isnt it? It should be a good contest.

Yes, should be a cracker of a series but as always those who make the decisions have made an arse of organising the schedule.

Only 3 tests yet they've got time for 5 odis and 3 T20s. Eng-SA should always be 4 or 5 tests imo.

[Victor McDade]

The Australia-India test series kicks off on Boxing day. Both sides are in decline but it still should be a competitive contest. Most probably the last time the likes of Sachin, Dravid, Laxman and maybe even Ponting and Hussey play in a Aus-Ind test series.

Edited by Victor McDade on Wednesday 21st December 14:29

[Victor McDade]

Good batting from Dravid and Tendulkar today. India on top in this test.

[Victor McDade]

Lankans bowl the Saffers out for 168 to take an innings lead of 170. Did not see that coming. South Africa threw away a one nil lead in the test series against India earlier this year, and then against Australia last month. Looks like they could do it again against SL.

[Victor McDade]

Out of nowhere the Indian pace attack look a unit which can match most other test sides. Will be interesting to see if they can stay fit throughout the tour though. I'd back the Indians to chase anything up to 260 down, the pitch doesn't seem all that bad.

[Victor McDade]

Terrible batting display by the Indians. Didn't even get close. Well played Australia.

[Victor McDade]

The Indians have put in another pathetic performance away from home and the Aussies should go 2 nil up now. And Ponting gets his first for god knows how long.

SA-SL looks like its heading for a high scoring draw. 6 wickets have fallen in 2 days.

[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.

[Victor McDade]

Anyone catch the Sri Lanka-India odi from Hobart? India chased down 321 in 36(ish) overs. 8.5+ an over for the entire chase.

Brutal batting.

[Victor McDade]

Claiming or appealing for a bump catch is no better or worse than what every bowler has done for the last god knows how many years - and that's appeal for a lbw or catch when they know its not out.

Take the recent Pak-Eng series which was dominated by the spinners. You'd have a ball which pitches a foot outside leg stump yet the bowler still appeals like a monkey. Warney, Murali, Kumble etc all did the same. Were these chaps all cheats?

[Victor McDade]

Rahul 'The Wall' Dravid expected to announce his retirement from all International cricket aged 39.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cricket/17298741

13,288 runs in 164 Test matches at a 50+ average. His debut test against England in 1996 (at Lords?) when he made 95 was probably the first test match I watched as a kid (was only into the PJ stuff before then).

I'd go as far and say he was a more effective test batsman than Tendulkar. Dravid made runs when it really mattered. Second only to Lara when it comes to test batsmen of this era imo.

[Victor McDade]

Poor Aussies - India have just chased down 360 with 39 balls to spare to win by nine wickets. Second highest chase in one day history. Great batting by the Indians but some pure filth was bowled by Australia.