The Cricket Thread

[LDN Blue 7,903]

We beat Pakistan in a record-run chase, that was a good enough final for us

[capriccioso 2,545]

Gutted for the Sri Lankans. They've become my favourite ODI team off the back of their incredible tournament here.

[Madmax 9,219]

Fucking Bangladesh

[capriccioso 2,545]

Oh dear

This could go in the matchday superstition thread; whenever Kohli makes a century in the group stage India won't qualify for the finals.

[capriccioso 2,545]

Warner looks a great find

He's not that great. Great fielder, decent test opener and a class act in T20 but he's rubbish at ODI's.

The top 3 of Warner, Watson and Wade regularly got found out in the recent tri series and continues to be so in the West Indies. Forrest is over his purple patch, now we'll see what he's made of; I think there's a real case for Ponting to be reselected. Our ODI bowlers are also poor, we are probably the worst team in the world at bowling in pressure situation and killing off teams (Sri Lanka's almost incredible comeback is testament to this).

All's looking good in the test arena though. We probably have the best pace battery in the world, our batsmen are on form. The only thing we're lacking is a quality spinner, Doherty is rubbish and can stick to ODIs, and Lyon hasn't proved to me he'll be any better than average. If only Stuart MacGill and Shane Warne weren't born around the same time.

[zolayes 14,489]

I have got bored by too much ODIs A reasonable number say 3 added on to a test series was fine . now I can only get interested it test cricket.

the rest seems like junk food now

[Madmax 9,219]

I have got bored by too much ODIs A reasonable number say 3 added on to a test series was fine . now I can only get interested it test cricket.

the rest seems like junk food now

You would commit suicide if you lived in India .. IPL coming up in 2 weeks. 2 months of back-to-back t20 nonsense. Oh God I hate t20.

[capriccioso 2,545]

Too many of them is a bad thing, a country shouldn't play more than 15 ODIs a year. They make excellent viewing when they're tight games though. What is killing the 50 over game is the meaningless 50 or so games the Asian countries play with each other every year.

You would commit suicide if you lived in India .. IPL coming up in 2 weeks. 2 months of back-to-back t20 nonsense. Oh God I hate t20.

T20 in general is rubbish. There's no innings building, its just yorker after yorker and smash after smash. And if you make a bad start in T20 with ball or bat you're fucked, its impossible to make a comeback.

[zolayes 14,489]

watched 24 over cricket just after the war ...was played on summer evenings by works teams ,,,pub teams etc ,,,only 2 league players

allowed per club ,,,,,Great entertainment ,,,but it was just pub cricket and that made the fun.

[LDN Blue 7,903]

You would commit suicide if you lived in India .. IPL coming up in 2 weeks. 2 months of back-to-back t20 nonsense. Oh God I hate t20.

I know right! It's stupid, I think Indian cricketers play more cricket in a calendar year than any other nationality. I do have some admiration for the IPL though because we found some good talent there and it gives India a chance to have a good look at the youngsters. But the timing is atrocious and it's all money-incentive for the organisers and participants.

[Aussiedan 154]

I think there's a real case for Ponting to be reselected. Our ODI bowlers are also poor, we are probably the worst team in the world at bowling in pressure situation and killing off teams (Sri Lanka's almost incredible comeback is testament to this).

All's looking good in the test arena though. We probably have the best pace battery in the world, our batsmen are on form. The only thing we're lacking is a quality spinner, Doherty is rubbish and can stick to ODIs, and Lyon hasn't proved to me he'll be any better than average. If only Stuart MacGill and Shane Warne weren't born around the same time.

Ponting was dealt with pretty poorly I reckon. Look he deserved to be dropped in the One-days, but with everything that he has done for Australia in one-day cricket, I think they should of told him with your recent form in ODI's and with the direction we heading in ODI with think it's best you retire, focus on test cricket and we;ll give you a send off game, his last game was at Brisbane, then he got dropped, basically resulting in his last ODI game which no one knew (no even him probably) the next Australian game was at his home town Hobart, why wouldn't they just say with your recent form and direction we are heading announce your retirement from ODI with your last game being the game at Hobart, it will be like a farewell game, give the public a chance to farewell him and give him one last innings to hopefully remember and go out in a bang.

Also, your dead right about our spinners, I don't rate Nathan Lyon whatsoever, he doesn't turn it much, doesn't have much variation. The only wickets his been taking is tail enders,

Since Warne has retire, so many spinners have got a baggy green, they play 4 or 5 tests and there just not good enough, then we move to another spinner, but we are bringing in unproven spinner in first class. Like Beer, who has hardly played first class cricket and his stats weren't great, Lyon who was a pitch curator a year ago, like seriously they've got to be doing well at first class level then get they're chance.

Seriously I think Michael Clarke is a better spinner than all the recent spinners that have got a cap.

I have got bored by too much ODIs A reasonable number say 3 added on to a test series was fine . now I can only get interested it test cricket.

the rest seems like junk food now

T20 cricket has killed One-Day cricket, no doubt about that. I like watching T20 cricket and of course it's far more entertaining than ODI's, but I'm a traditionalist and I would rather see more ODI games and hope the popularity for it can grew again, but it's just not going to happen.

I'm loving that more nations are playing cricket, at the moment the T20 World Cup qualifiers are being played, with nations such as Denmark, Oman, Afghanistan, Canada, Netherlands, Kenya, Hong Kong, Uganda, Ireland, Scotland, Namibia, P.N.G, USA, Nepal and Bermuda playing for a spot in the T20 World Cup later this year. I love watching these nations play and hopefully they can continue to develop cricket in these countries and others to make it a bigger game world wide.

But nothing will ever beat Test cricket, will always be my favorite form of the game.

P.S Bangladesh are looking good in the Asian Cup final, restricting Pakistan to 236, Bangladesh are 0/42 from 11 overs.

[Madmax 9,219]

Seriously I think Michael Clarke is a better spinner than all the recent spinners that have got a cap.

This has always flummoxed me. Why does Clarke not bowl much? Is it a case of confidence? I've seen him take a 6-for against us at my hometown back in 2004.. I admit the pitch was a bit of a minefield but 6 wickets against the best players of spin in the world in their own backyard is no joke.

Bangladesh better win this final. I'll smash something if they took us out to end up losing to Pak.

[Aussiedan 154]

Wow, Bangladesh lost by 2 runs in the final of the Asian Cup, gutted for them.

They were in control of the run chase, I think it was far too much pressure that got to them in the end, host nation, going for their first ever trophy, they had 7 wickets in hand, needing just about a run a ball in the last 20 overs, but the pressure got to some of their batsman, they played rash shots, instead of working the ball around, picking up singles, they were swinging, dancing around the crease, inventing shots.

They will learn for this, but one thing for sure, they're now a respected cricket nation and will be feared by all teams.

[TacticalBlues 2,817]

Pakistan win !!!!!!!!!! Hats of too Bangladesh though, what a performance. Although I wanted to face India in the final it was a terrific run by the them, such a tight final it was too. Sarfaz's innings was crucial. Cheema had an absolutely brilliant last over, and Gul? He needs to sort himself out.

[Madmax 9,219]

Bangladesh bottled it.

[capriccioso 2,545]

Mahela is holding the Sri Lankan innings together. If he goes England will have to produce an out-of-this world 'performance' to lose the test.

[capriccioso 2,545]

Hilarious fielding from England

[Madmax 9,219]

Dwayne Smith has absolutely destroyed Pattinson .. 3 sixes in one over. 53* off 31 balls currently.

EDIT : Doherty's first two balls going for a 4 and a 6. WI going at over 11 now, amazing. Smith just holed out trying another six down the ground. WI 110/3 after 9.4