The Cricket Thread

[Ankit 3,176]

What an embarrassing defeat that was. Galle used to be the one place where you could bank on a Sri Lankan win

Also lol Binny.

Mohandas Menon @mohanstatsman · 4h

Sri Lanka at home since Muralidharan's retirement (22-7-2010)

Tests 18

Won 4

Lost 5

Drawn 9

Win% 22.22

[Strike 7,218]

fluke innings from jadeja. bhuvneshwar though.... has been 7 or 8/10 in every innings.

[LDN Blue 7,903]

doesn't bowl more than 80mph though

Swing bowlers don't generally need to be as quick these days though, 80mph isn't too slow that batsman can't be deceived remember. Plus even if he was a 90mph bowler, the selectors would slow him down.. I.e. Aaron, RP singh, etc

[Strike 7,218]

how does binny get into the test team? play a fuckin specialist in his place

Swing bowlers don't generally need to be as quick these days though, 80mph isn't too slow that batsman can't be deceived remember. Plus even if he was a 90mph bowler, the selectors would slow him down.. I.e. Aaron, RP singh, etc

i don't mind bhuvneshwar but out of the 3 indian bowlers, none of them touch 140. would like to see 1 bowler, who genuinely terrifies the opposition

[Strike 7,218]

what happened to cook?

[NishC300 1,865]

India missed a massive trick by not picking Praveen Kumar, who, a few years ago certainly, was better than his namesake. He can't have declined much at all, he's not even 28 yet. Must have done something to irritate the directors of *insert Indian cement company here*. Sub 80 he may be, but PK has a combative character (a rare quality for an Asian, non-Pakistani seamer) and gets the ball to move very nicely. He should be used by India as an away tours specialist and a deterrent to home teams rolling out greentops.

Wonderful player. God knows why he doesn't play anymore. Would rather have Varun Aaron and Umesh Yadav over Shami and Ishant. They have far more pace.

To say England have been lucky throughout the course of this test match would be an understatement. Won a crucial toss, have been on the correct end of several decisions (Thank you BCCI for not allowing DRS.....). God knows how they got through the day with just 4 wickets.

Who would have thought seeing a green pitch on Day 1 that the spinners would end up dictating the game lol

[LDN Blue 7,903]

how does binny get into the test team? play a fuckin specialist in his place

i don't mind bhuvneshwar but out of the 3 indian bowlers, none of them touch 140. would like to see 1 bowler, who genuinely terrifies the opposition

The way the selectors and coaching goes in India, we'll rarely see any bowler do that. not because they can't, but for whatever reason the BCCI seems to slow down our quick bowlers. Ishant, Umesh, even Praveen were all made to bowl slower.

Varun Aaron is the hope for India to have a bowler consistently bowl 90mph, but I bet India will slow him down. Aaron isn't ready yet tbh, he needs more variation and learn to how to control his pace for greater line and length.

India don't NEED a fast premium bowler per se, we've done well without one for years. But Ishant is a rocking boat and Binny doesn't provide much more to the attack. Umesh for Binny is a shout..

[LDN Blue 7,903]

India missed a massive trick by not picking Praveen Kumar, who, a few years ago certainly, was better than his namesake. He can't have declined much at all, he's not even 28 yet. Must have done something to irritate the directors of *insert Indian cement company here*. Sub 80 he may be, but PK has a combative character (a rare quality for an Asian, non-Pakistani seamer) and gets the ball to move very nicely. He should be used by India as an away tours specialist and a deterrent to home teams rolling out greentops.

In the case of Praveen, iirc he's been nursing a longterm injury most of last year which is why he was used sparingly in the IPL and that affected his preparations for this tour. Maybe he'll feature towards the end of the year.

The real question is, where is RP Singh. He was leading wicket taker in all IPL as of two seasons ago when Narine took that mantel.

[Ankit 3,176]

India missed a massive trick by not picking Praveen Kumar, who, a few years ago certainly, was better than his namesake. He can't have declined much at all, he's not even 28 yet. Must have done something to irritate the directors of *insert Indian cement company here*. Sub 80 he may be, but PK has a combative character (a rare quality for an Asian, non-Pakistani seamer) and gets the ball to move very nicely. He should be used by India as an away tours specialist and a deterrent to home teams rolling out greentops.

Praveen Kumar was suspended by BCCI because he abused the batsman during the inter state corporate match, match referee wrote in his report that he was mentally unfit to play the game, he also had some problem with the crowd during that tournament.

Although the ban was later lifted but that did not go well for PK's career graph, i don't see him returning to the team now.

[Ankit 3,176]

In the case of Praveen, iirc he's been nursing a longterm injury most of last year which is why he was used sparingly in the IPL and that affected his preparations for this tour. Maybe he'll feature towards the end of the year.

The real question is, where is RP Singh. He was leading wicket taker in all IPL as of two seasons ago when Narine took that mantel.

R P Singh is actually a mystery. He was one of the players named by S Sreesanth during the interrogation of the IPL fiasco, so that sort of dented his name but its like he has completely gone off the radar.

Another bowler that completely vanished off the blocks in Munaf Patel. He was brilliant during the 2011 WC but after that gone, never to be seen again.

[LDN Blue 7,903]

R P Singh is actually a mystery. He was one of the players named by S Sreesanth during the interrogation of the IPL fiasco, so that sort of dented his name but its like he has completely gone off the radar.

Another bowler that completely vanished off the blocks in Munaf Patel. He was brilliant during the 2011 WC but after that gone, never to be seen again.

he disappeared long before the sreesanth case though, he was in one of the IPL teams, but failed to make an appearance.

I think Munaf got too old for the Indian selectors. he faced heavy criticisms too in the last few years so he probably didn't get a contract

[Strike 7,218]

The way the selectors and coaching goes in India, we'll rarely see any bowler do that. not because they can't, but for whatever reason the BCCI seems to slow down our quick bowlers. Ishant, Umesh, even Praveen were all made to bowl slower.

Varun Aaron is the hope for India to have a bowler consistently bowl 90mph, but I bet India will slow him down. Aaron isn't ready yet tbh, he needs more variation and learn to how to control his pace for greater line and length.

true. India have a lot of bowlers in that range

[KevinAshburner 1,270]

My South African National Cricket Team has been caught again by TV Cameras and ICC Match Officials for ball tampering. now RSA CRICKET has been caught now 3 times in the Past 9 Months in Test Match Cricket.

Vernon Philander fined for ICC Code of Conduct breach

http://www.icc-cricket.com/news/2014/media-releases/81058/vernon-philander-fined-for-icc-code-of-conduct-breach

source: icc-cricket.com

http://www.espncricinfo.com/sri-lanka-v-south-africa-2014/content/story/761961.html

source: espncricinfo.com

Sri Lanka v South Africa, 1st Test, Galle, 4th day SA's tampering offences expose lenient laws

South Africa have been associated with three ball-tampering offences in nine months. That all incidents have passed with little fuss shows that the ICC needs to enforce stricter laws to prevent it from recurring

Firdose Moonda in Galle

July 19, 2014

South Africa's two previous transgressions

• Case 1: Dubai, 2nd Test v Pakistan, October 2013
• Down 0-1 in the two-Test series, South Africa were pushing for an innings win. The incident occurred two overs after tea on the third day, with South Africa in a position of control. Dale Steyn had begun to find reverse swing, evident in the 29th over. Before the start of the 31st over, television visuals of Faf du Plessis rubbing the ball near the zipper of his trouser pocket were broadcast.
• The television umpire Paul Reiffel brought it to the attention of the on-field umpires who examined the match ball. Then South Africa captain Graeme Smith was summoned for a chat, the ball was changed and a five-run penalty awarded against South Africa.
• AB de Villiers insisted South Africa were "not a team that scratches the ball," and although du Plessis' responsibility was to shine the ball, he was "the last man on the field who will try anything like that."
• The next day, du Plessis pleaded guilty to the charge of ball-tampering and was fined 50% of his match fee. Further television footage had also shown Vernon Philander scratching the ball but no action was taken against him.
• South Africa's team manager Mohammad Moosajee explained that du Plessis had not contested the charge because "a full hearing could lead to a more severe punitive measure which could include a heftier fine or even a match ban," but insisted South Africa considered du Plessis innocent. When Smith was asked if he thought South Africa's win was tainted he had a one-word answer: "No."

• Case 2: Port Elizabeth, 2nd Test v Australia, March 2014
• Down 0-1 after the first Test, South Africa had set Australia 448 to chase and the visitors had slumped from 152 for 1 to 156 for 4. Rain threatened to wash out the final day but Steyn bowled a match-winning spell of three for 10 in four overs to ensure the match ended in four days itself. Reverse swing was noticeable from around 30 overs.
• David Warner all but accused South Africa of tampering in order to achieve the movement Australia could not manage. Warner hinted Australia would take it up with match officials. It was Warner, however, who was reported to the officials for breaching article 2.1.1 of the ICC's code of conduct which relates to public criticism and inappropriate comment. ICC match referee Roshan Mahanama laid the charge and Warner was fined 15% of his match fee.
• South Africa dismissed Warner's comments as nothing more than "sour grapes." Coach Russell Domingo said South Africa prided themselves on "playing cricket honestly," while Moosajee said Warner's remarks were "disappointing and discouraging."

[Strike 7,218]

i feel bad for Root., shocking batting around him

[Strike 7,218]

sheesh.. even Root.

[LDN Blue 7,903]

Ishant Sharma, wtf

I take back every negative thing I've ever said about him (and it's been a lot)

[Strike 7,218]

jeez. and i thought india had problems.

[Ankit 3,176]

England, hahahaha! Bloody hell! That was brainfart of the highest order.

Ishant, what an enigma!

A green pitch, bowling first and still losing, Cook really needs to do something real quick not to tarnish his image and career!