The Cricket Thread

[capriccioso 2,545]

I really want to get into cricket, where should I start?

It depends on how patient you are. If you aren't interested in sitting around for long periods of time where nothing exciting happens, test cricket isn't for you. The best starting point is usually watching one day cricket or 20 over cricket, which is far more fast paced than test cricket, though in my opinion, far more inferior. I'd suggest watching the upcoming Twenty20 (20 overs per batting innings) World Cup in Sri Lanka.

Quick explanation of T20 cricket:

• An over is 6 balls (like pitches in baseball).
  
• Therefore 20 overs = 120 balls
  
• Batsmen are usually very aggressive in this format of the game and a good score is about 160-170 depending on the pitch, weather conditions and standard of the opposition.
  
• In all formats, including T20, 10 wickets are allotted to the batting team. You can get out by either being bowled (the bowler knocks down the stumps), having your shot caught on the full by a fielder, run out (if a fielder hits the stumps with the ball and you're not inside those white markings near the stumps, you're run out), LBW (stands for leg before wicket- a complex method of getting out where if the batsman misses the ball with the bat, and the ball hits any part of his body while being in line with the stumps, he can be given out LBW). There are other, less frequent methods of getting out which aren't that important and only occur very rarely.
  
• Bowlers have 4 overs (24 balls) each, maximum.
  

Shit, Scousers have overtaken Australia! #LivingInThePast #WhyAmIHashTagging?

31-4! 31-4! 31-4! 31 Ashes and 4 World Cups, that's what we call history! YWNA!!!

[Duppy Conqueror 1,494]

after an early wicket. England losing Strauss LBW for a duck with the 4th ball of the first over. under overcast conditions..Trott and Cook have steadied the ship as usual and taken England from 0-1 to 106-1 Cook just gone past the 50 mark.

sun has come out now. batting conditions getting better. looking like they working towards a big 1st innings score. Cookie even got a rare 6. is very early into the test match as folks who watch test match cricket will know but so far,looking good to keep the record of South Africa never beaten England at the oval intact.

[capriccioso 2,545]

In Alistair Cook it appears England have finally found an answer to the likes of Hayden and Ponting. A world class, consistent batsman who can be relied upon.

Come on South Africa!

[capriccioso 2,545]

Oh yes. Come on you glorious bastions of the southern hemisphere. Stick it to your traitors! (Strauss, Trott, KP)

[Duppy Conqueror 1,494]

Cook is class .if you watch him when he`s playing it`s freakish but no matter how hot it is he barely sweats a bead. i`ve seen Trott take off his helmet and it`s like emptying a bucket.

after starting the second day 3 wickets down for 267 of the Queens runs. South Africa have struck back this morning..6 down for 297 now..Bresnan and Prior out in the middle.

Bopara had a duck in his test comeback. i`m not a fan of his..he has talent but i`m not sure he`s mentally strong enough for test cricket.would prefer one of the youngsters get a go at 6 or move Prior up and bring in another bowler.

[capriccioso 2,545]

Cook is class .if you watch him when he`s playing it`s freakish but no matter how hot it is he barely sweats a bead. i`ve seen Trott take off his helmet and it`s like emptying a bucket.

after starting the second day 3 wickets down for 267 of the Queens runs. South Africa have struck back this morning..6 down for 297 now..Bresnan and Prior out in the middle.

Bopara had a duck in his test comeback. i`m not a fan of his..he has talent but i`m not sure he`s mentally strong enough for test cricket.would prefer one of the youngsters get a go at 6 or move Prior up and bring in another bowler.

I don't think sweat and ability are linked . Michael Clarke is a sweaty guy and he's better these days than the sweat-free Ponting. Bopara is fairly important for England, he's a useful bowler and he's often shafted when he comes into bat. Too often England are 3/300 or 3/30 and they have to say 'Ravi get us some quick runs' or 'Ravi save the innings for us'.

Anyway Dale Steyn is showing why he is the best paceman in the world.

[Duppy Conqueror 1,494]

Oh yes. Come on you glorious bastions of the southern hemisphere. Stick it to your traitors! (Strauss, Trott, KP)

KP was living in English territory before he was born....an English womb.

are you suggesting immigrants should not have the same rights as natives? if so Australia wouldn`t be able to field a team.

[Duppy Conqueror 1,494]

I don't think sweat and ability are linked . Michael Clarke is a sweaty guy and he's better these days than the sweat-free Ponting. Bopara is fairly important for England, he's a useful bowler and he's often shafted when he comes into bat. Too often England are 3/300 or 3/30 and they have to say 'Ravi get us some quick runs' or 'Ravi save the innings for us'.

Anyway Dale Steyn is showing why he is the best paceman in the world.

indeed it doesn`t have much. it was more as a side note. although it indicates that he`s a cool guy.

Bopara good as a one-dayer. just not so much as a test batsman. he`s not gonna come in any earlier than 6 for atleast the next 3 or 4 years so i`d rather us have someone who can be more useful at 6. a Bell or Collingwood type of player. Bopara may very well be better at 4 but he`s never gonna get ahead of KP and Bell.

[capriccioso 2,545]

KP was living in English territory before he was born....an English womb.

are you suggesting immigrants should not have the same rights as natives? if so Australia wouldn`t be able to field a team.

It was a joke. The South Africans don't like him.

Also the only immigrant to have ever played for Australia was Symonds. Everyone else was born here, even Kasprowicz and Khawaja, the only two immigrants to have played in recent years.

[Duppy Conqueror 1,494]

It was a joke. The South Africans don't like him.

Also the only immigrant to have ever played for Australia was Symonds. Everyone else was born here, even Kasprowicz and Khawaja, the only two immigrants to have played in recent years.

i know mate that was how it was taken and responded with a joke too. it`s great that we have fans from around the world but even if we all can speak and type clear english it`s very easy to mis interpret a joke or opinion especially in regard to tone..because i`m brain damaged i probably shouldnt even be on the internet really as sometimes people can be too quick to jump on a remark made and my true personality which is very chilled out , easy going and embracing of all walks of life doesn`t always come through from words typed on a screen.

[Duppy Conqueror 1,494]

England 385 all out anyway. lol

now we`ll get to see how the South Africans cope with our bowling attack. conditions for batting much like yesterday have become better after an overcast morning tho. but England bowling attack have proven they can get wickets in the sunshine plenty of times in recent years.

[capriccioso 2,545]

'Graam Smuth' and Amla doing pretty well.

Nearly 50 million people in South Africa and they still can't find a better spinner than Imran Tahir. All he does is throw up half track pies!

[capriccioso 2,545]

Good article on the decline of Kiwi cricket:

http://www.espncricinfo.com/magazine/content/story/573101.html

Despite my 'support' for South Africa, I really can't stand 'Graam Smuth' or Kallis and their fat red Boer faces. No offence to any Boer posters.

[BlueLion. 21,491]

Anderson will prove today why he is better than Steyn.

[capriccioso 2,545]

Come on you Lions!

I don't like how we've reverted back to Tharanga-Dilshan as the openers. Tharanga performed pretty solidly down the order and Jayawardene-Dilshan was magnificent, better even than the glory days of Kaluwitharana-Jayasuriya.

DILSHAN NO

You can't afford to drop Sehwag! It was a sitter as well!

[capriccioso 2,545]

Anderson will prove today why he is better than Steyn.

But Malinga's better than both in the coloured clothes .

From what little I've seen of Steyn in ODI's, he's well below his test level.

[capriccioso 2,545]

YES, YES YES! KULAAAAAA!!!!

[capriccioso 2,545]

Sehwag is killing us.

Dilshan better make a century to atone for his mistake.