The Cricket Thread

[EBH 283]

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.

I think the problem with RP was that he showed up for the 2011 tour of England about 20kg overweight. That's the sort of thing that would get a fast bowler thrown out from the national setup anywhere in the world, though the Indian selectors (rightfully) tolerate batsmen with guts that protrude halfway down the wicket. Mark Cosgrove should have 50 test caps for Australia by now, considering he's been kept out by dross such as Sir Phillip Bradman and friends. But Australia (like South Africa and England) have been overrun by 'sports scientists' (which is just code for 'doping') who insist that a trim figure is the most important thing for a cricketer. What a load of trash. It's barely been five years since the sport was dominated by the likes of Warne (pre-Hurley, he was more than a little fat) and Inzamam. Then there were guys that were just massive mountains, awesome, Fatman Scoop style combinations of fat and muscle, the SUV's of batting, such as Hayden and Graeme Smith.

[EBH 283]

Here is everybody who is still active as an international that made their first international appearance in 2001 or earlier:

Kallis is done too

[Madmax 9,219]

I think the problem with RP was that he showed up for the 2011 tour of England about 20kg overweight. That's the sort of thing that would get a fast bowler thrown out from the national setup anywhere in the world, though the Indian selectors (rightfully) tolerate batsmen with guts that protrude halfway down the wicket. Mark Cosgrove should have 50 test caps for Australia by now, considering he's been kept out by dross such as Sir Phillip Bradman and friends. But Australia (like South Africa and England) have been overrun by 'sports scientists' (which is just code for 'doping') who insist that a trim figure is the most important thing for a cricketer. What a load of trash. It's barely been five years since the sport was dominated by the likes of Warne (pre-Hurley, he was more than a little fat) and Inzamam. Then there were guys that were just massive mountains, awesome, Fatman Scoop style combinations of fat and muscle, the SUV's of batting, such as Hayden and Graeme Smith.

Don't forget Ramesh Powar ... the most 'mumbaiyya' player I have ever seen. Legend.

[BlueLion. 21,491]

Fucking have that, Anderson. Not a lot of lip from the English now, eh? Maybe they shouldn't have been crying about 'home advantage'.

Eyes on the prize, boys. Series win, please.

Jimmy and this boy ^ are both pretty chirpy at the minute.

[Madmax 9,219]

Jimmy and this boy ^ are both pretty chirpy at the minute.

If 1 win in 10 makes you chirpy, you're pretty easily impressed.

Credit to England though, we were second best throughout.

[Strike 7,219]

outplayed

[BlueLion. 21,491]

If 1 win in 10 makes you chirpy, you're pretty easily impressed.

Credit to England though, we were second best throughout.

After our abysmal winter any positive result will impress me.

[EBH 283]

England have been crap ever since Ajmalgeddon in the UAE at the start of 2012, the win in India being a KP and Monty driven abberation - those two were the only unorthodox players England had, that didn't come through the programme. They were poor in New Zealand after that, crushed by South Africa and fortunate to win the Ashes 3-0 rather than 1-0 or 2-2. Australia were very competitive and actually held the first innings lead four times out of five - lack of experience and thus inability to put the game out of reach despite being ahead on all but one occasion at half time. England won there because of the set-up, as a contrast to India where they won convincingly.

[zolayes 14,489]

Cricket is becoming a fucking joke .. Today had some rain and hours later play abandoned for the day ,,

USA golf had a torrential downpour ,, play stopped for less than an hour .

Football has learned how to produce pitches to survive the English winter ,

years ago The Bridge was bad and the Baseball ground at Derby was always awful ..

Other sports are able to produce pitches to be useable in adverse conditions Cricket is run by IDIOTS in Blazers ,,

are The MCC and the FA twins

[BlueLion. 21,491]

This is fucking ridiculous from India. All they had to do was bat out the day. 60 overs. Just don't lost 10 wickets. Even if you're 8 down overnight, frustrate England. The weather tomorrow means Day 4 is effectively a write-off. Frustrate England on the final morning, where more rain is forecast, and you've somehow rescued a draw. Instead they've been too cavalier again against a bowling attack whose best seamer is down on pace from last summer, whose second best seamer is at hospital, and consists of a part-time spinner and two young, immature all-rounders who have 7 Test wickets between them.

[BlueLion. 21,491]

Cricket is becoming a fucking joke .. Today had some rain and hours later play abandoned for the day ,,

USA golf had a torrential downpour ,, play stopped for less than an hour .

Football has learned how to produce pitches to survive the English winter ,

years ago The Bridge was bad and the Baseball ground at Derby was always awful ..

Other sports are able to produce pitches to be useable in adverse conditions Cricket is run by IDIOTS in Blazers ,,

are The MCC and the FA twins

Have you ever tried bowling a cricket ball with a saturated seam? When the seam is wet, you're more likely to bowl someone out with a banana. It was a heavy downpour on an outfield whose drainage system is screwed because of rebuilding work.

Comparing it to sloped golf courses isn't the best of comparisons, either. Cricket wickets are delicate and heavy rain would affect the surface on the topsoil, and can cause the ball to sink into the surface and render a wicket unplayable. Plus there's the issue of a rain-soaked wicket sucking up the ball and causing uneven bounce. The outfield being wet is a fielding nightmare. Also consider visibility. Red balls are hard enough to catch on a sunny day. Imagine trying to catch a steepler on the boundary, or try and take one at leg gully when the visibility is low and rain is lashing in your face. It's just not cricket.

They'd call a rugby game off on a pitch like that, let alone cricket. Even a fast-drying pitch with world-class drainage and ground staff like Trent Bridge couldn't cope with that deluge.

[Madmax 9,219]

Wait, what ... I left home when it was 15 without loss, attend a mate's party for a bit, come back and we're 105 for 7.

Probably for the best I didn't watch this; I think I would've put my fist through the TV screen. Fucking shambles. JFC.

[BlueLion. 21,491]

Wait, what ... I left home when it was 15 without loss, attend a mate's party for a bit, come back and we're 105 for 7.

Probably for the best I didn't watch this; I think I would've put my fist through the TV screen. Fucking shambles. JFC.

Without mini-contributions from Dhoni (again) and Ashwin, it could be even worse. Your upper order is utterly terrible, and this is coming from someone whose nation's opening pair are Cook and Robson, both of whom horrifically out of form.

[Madmax 9,219]

Without mini-contributions from Dhoni (again) and Ashwin, it could be even worse. Your upper order is utterly terrible, and this is coming from someone whose nation's opening pair are Cook and Robson, both of whom horrifically out of form.

Far from 'utterly terrible' - they are blessed with natural talent but the 3rd and 4th test struggles are difficult to explain for me. Maybe they're not built for the demands of a long test series (considering the amount of LOI cricket we play), maybe they let the win get to their heads. They're certainly treating Ali with disdain, which is ill-advised and immature. I'm leaning towards a young side lacking in character and temperament - ironic because the best batting performance of the series so far was after all given by these very players on the most challenging wicket of the series - first day at Lord's.

[Ankit 3,176]

This is embarassing, just plain embarassing.

How many times will we go 1 up in the series and then go on to lose the series. Its absolutely cringeworthy this, i hope someone is sacked. I wont mind dropping Kohli from the team.

[LDN Blue 7,903]

I'm angry, disappointed and upset with this India team. We have an endless pool of talent at our disposal, some of the best young players in the world with the right mix of experience and we continue to find a way to be below under expectations.

Many of these players are now under the spotlight because their name is beginning to tarnish. Shikhar, Kohli, Pujara etc must really have a look at themselves and the selectors must ask whether these guys have the mental capability to withstand pressure and rise through bad spells. Kohli is particularly alarming, he's proved himself internationally already and everyone knows he's got the talent, heir to Tendulkar we all said, but this series has exposed him badly.

Dhoni, for a man with his experience and his big game character, made one of the most obvious mistakes from the beginning. On an already delayed, overcast day, with predicted rain through the weak he chose to bat. With the swing capability of Kumar and the pace of Aaron, everyone knew Monday morning was going to be a bowler's paradise.

There must be urgent reviews of this team by selectors. Players must understand they are droppable and the selectors must send a message. Drop Virat, drop Jadeja. Why Ashwin had disappeared from this side until this match is a mystery. The bowlers have been outstanding, even Ishant. The batsman just let this side down tenfold, Ghambir should've stepped up to the plate this match. Maybe Raina is ready for test match?..

[BlueLion. 21,491]

You have to say we bowled beautifully and batted with competence, but India contributed to their own downfall. How many of your wickets were avoidable? As Madmax says, it is immaturity on the part of out-of-form batsmen who are desperate to score runs.

[zolayes 14,489]

has any game looked more like a FIX than this .. not even Germany v Brazil