The Cricket Thread

[ItalAussie]

Renshaw at first drop could work. Let Khawaja and Finch put on whatever they can, then Renshaw bunks down for the long haul. I'm pretty much down with that.

[niko_cee]

Nathan Lyon running riot.

Has he been threatening to end any careers of late?

[niko_cee]

Jimmy's call on this Abbas fella looking solid. He's top notch.

Meanwhile, why are we touring Sri Lanka in what I assume to be their wet season? I guess this, like all non-Ashes/India series, is just the collateral damage of the modern calendar.

[Danny]

Forget that PAK runout.

https://www.facebook.com/aucklandcricket/videos/2177128265631048/

[Queenslander]

Hypocrite Warner left the field when he was on 35 due to a sledge. The bloke is cooked.

[Ian]

Do we know what the sledge was?

I love that the other team let him come back (probably with a wry smile) to bat but the thing I read there suggests that because there was no injury the umpires should have told him he was gone. Is that right?

[Jimmy Floyd]

You can carry on with the fielding captain's permission. If no permission then he would be retired out.

Pretty sure that law is designed for things like your car setting on fire or a family medical emergency, though, rather than flouncing off because someone called you names.

[Ian]

Had he not let him back on would the fielding captain have been moaned at about some spirit-of-the-game stuff?

Actually probably not because it's Warner and nobody likes him but what about generally?

[Jimmy Floyd]

Depends on the context, I guess. The law says from memory something about 'illness, injury or other unavoidable reason' being the cases where you can retire not out, in which case you have received the umpire's permission. I can't think of it ever happening in any cricket I've watched or been part of where there's been a dispute. I once played in a game when an opposition player was 60* and walked off the park to go to a wedding, I think I was captain on that occasion, had the bride not shown up and he had hot-footed it back to the ground to resume his innings would I have let him back on? Probably would.

I've always thought there should be more (by which I of course mean 'any') retiring out in T20 when batsmen get bogged down towards the end and big hitters are waiting in the wings.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Sri Lanka have picked for this T20 a guy who bowls with both arms, and we are smoking them nonetheless.

[Ian]

Tactical retirements in those sorts of situations sounds like the sort of thing the ECB would be both all over and dreadful at.

[Ian]

Sri Lanka have picked for this T20 a guy who bowls with both arms, and we are smoking them nonetheless.

I assume you mean he's ambidextrous and not that he's doing some sort of throw-in style overhead delivery?

[Danny]

:D

You would be correct.

This is him https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OuiQ4Tr2NMM

[Queenslander]

Fuck me dead Warner has hid behind his wife for a second time with her appearance on 9 this morning.

Her claim that there is a difference between abuse and sledging is not helping him at all. So when Warner hands it out it is sledging and when he cops it is abuse. Weak as piss!

[Ian]

Fairfax Media understands Hughes said to Warner "you're a disgrace, you shouldn't be playing cricket"

....is that it? Did it not occur to him that when you're done for cheating there's a chance people might slag you off about it?

Get a backbone, dickhead.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Phil Hughes's brother that said it as well, it's like narrative numberwang.

[Queenslander]

He is hated amongst the common man down here.

[ItalAussie]

I've always thought there should be more (by which I of course mean 'any') retiring out in T20 when batsmen get bogged down towards the end and big hitters are waiting in the wings.I can't remember which match now, but there have definitely been ODIs where I've been thinking that the player at one end is so out of touch that getting out and not using up any balls makes the most sense. I guess you can just go for a six off every ball though - you'll either pick up the rate or get out.


Tactical retirements in those sorts of situations sounds like the sort of thing the ECB would be both all over and dreadful at.This is truth.

[Jimmy Floyd]

The game you're thinking of is each of MS Dhoni's last 40 games. Can you imagine the balls it would take to pull him out at a packed Chepauk. Kohli is up to the challenge.

[Jimmy Floyd]

This 'Elite Honesty' banner in the Australian dressing room is something else. We're witnessing a profound spasm in the national psyche.

[Danny]

https://i.redd.it/3odfi5s0pvv11.png

:happycry:

[Queenslander]

:drool:

[ItalAussie]

I don't even know where to begin with this.

That said, do kids here still play cricket? It seems like it might be about ten years behind where rugby is now.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Like here, cricket in Aus is still absolutely massive within its own sphere but now has absolutely no idea how to reach outside that (largely due to continually appointing conventional marketeers who are trained in pushing toothpaste or trainers, when sport is absolutely not a 'product' or even an 'experience' in the conventional sense. It's a passion that people live rather than purchase).

Cricket does best when the people running it shut the fuck up, stop tinkering and let the game speak for itself. This cultural review stuff in Australia is embarrassing. Everyone at CA should be rounded up and shot, along with most ex-players, and then Ed Cowan should be given the keys.

[Queenslander]

Suburban Cricket is played on every available ground during its season, exactly the same as Union and League. At grassroots level it is as strong as it has ever been.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Despite the headlines, club cricket is still absolutely huge here as well. Incredible things happen at grassroots level on a massive scale. Being very involved in that, it feels to me like the pro game is becoming more and more distant from it every year, and it's actually the pro game, not us, that suffers.

Aussie grade cricket is an enormous subculture and incredibly healthy, but CA just are not interested in it whatsoever.

[igor_balis]

Up at 430 to watch this morning. Main takeaway is that foakes is as sweaty as I am after a brisk walk.

[Ian]

I forgot it was starting today and only when checking the news before I left for work saw the very England score of 199-6. Not bad given what it turns out we were at though.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Up at 430 to watch this morning. Main takeaway is that foakes is as sweaty as I am after a brisk walk.

I've eschewed the early starts this time, though it is very evocative of my life to turn the TV on for a pitch-black 4am November morning, the blue Sri Lankan sky the only source of light in the whole house, the staccato hits of Russell Arnold's voice knocking my brain in like it were a newly pressed bat.

We are shit and Root is a shit captain.

[niko_cee]

Is there any radio coverage of this?

[Jimmy Floyd]

Talkshite. I had the 'Cricket Social' on earlier and it was pretty entertaining.

[thommo]

Mark Nicholas has mixed up Foakes with Stokes about 50 times during his commentary stints. He also can't bear to have a second of silence, it's a bombardment on the ears.

[Max Power]

No matter what happens we are destined to lose with it being Big Rangy Herath’s last ever game. Even with this decent first innings he will clearly take 6-20 in the second innings to end on a high before starting back up at the Galle National Bank on Monday morning. I won’t begrudge him it either.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Foakes and Curran dragging us back in has certainly made me feel warm and fuzzy. As well as my feud with Rory Burns's dad, I also have on my CV a late night drinking sesh with Ben Foakes's brother. The other Foakes is just as good looking, if not more so.

Sadly no rubbish Curran anecdotes, even though they all played club cricket a mile from me. I'll try and acquire one.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Applications for the England managing director job close on November 16, with Ashley Giles and Wasim Khan expected to be among the frontrunners. Mike Atherton, the former England captain and current cricket correspondent at the Times, is also understood to be considering applying having been encouraged to do so by top officials at the ECB.

Please, God, deliver this to me.

[Danny]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/46078324

Go!

[Jimmy Floyd]

45/58. It says a lot about me that the first name I chucked in there was Amjad Khan.

[Danny]

I got 42, spelled Shazad wrong and forgot all of the 2017 debutants :face:

[Jimmy Floyd]

I was OK on the modern stuff but had happily blanked out the Blackwell-Mahmood era. I also spent about two minutes trying to remember Gary Ballance's name. Is this what old age will be like?

[ItalAussie]

Suburban Cricket is played on every available ground during its season, exactly the same as Union and League. At grassroots level it is as strong as it has ever been.

I'm glad to hear that, at least. It seemed like the sort of thing that parents wouldn't bother with now.

[Jimmy Floyd]

There was a Sydney club game yesterday which somehow managed to feature all of Davey Warner, Steve Smith, Shane Watson, Daniel Bell-Drummond and Austen Waugh.

Deadly Dave obviously chopped the latter to point for 10 or something.

[Queenslander]

I'm glad to hear that, at least. It seemed like the sort of thing that parents wouldn't bother with now.

I forgot to say a big problem is that kids want to play 20/20 instead of long form.

Grassroots is strong across all of our traditional sports.

[Ian]

Stokes and Buttler in the top 5 is a bit of a glass cannon approach.

Though I suppose it's better than having Vince in there who's less a glass cannon than a.... er... crepe paper slingshot. Or something.

[niko_cee]

He might not be able to bat anymore, but Joe Root really is an expert toss winner.

Is this an absolute bunsen? Bit of a kick in the teeth for Herath to not send him out on one if it is.

[niko_cee]

Quality hi-jinx from Curran and Anderson here.

[Jimmy Floyd]

This batting order/team in general is mad and I love it.

[Max Power]

As with the summer, we will end up with a highly impressive series win and still being none the wiser about so many aspects of the team. Although maybe it's pointless worrying when it's this entertaining.

[niko_cee]

This is probably the worst bowling at the tail I've seen since Mathews donned the shit out of us whenever that was.

[niko_cee]

Curran being talked about as a potential test 3 on comms.

:face:

[Jimmy Floyd]

Potential chief negotiator in Brussels imho.

[Max Power]

We are simply operating a total cricket approach. Curran at 3, Ruud Krol at 4, Neeskens keeping wicket. Who cares? Enjoy the wild ride.

[niko_cee]

We just need to get Joe Denly in up the order to open with, erm, Borthwick (?) and then every single player could be an all-rounder of some sort (Anderson misses out in favour of Woakes, Root's darts get him in).

[niko_cee]

Joe Root chucking down leggies had me quite confused in the early morning haze today.

We really needn't have bothered with Anderson here.

[Max Power]

I don’t think England would bat this positively and proactively in an ODI 7-8 years ago in Sri Lanka. Cracking Test match this is, who knows what Sri Lanka fancy chasing.

[Max Power]

All five men out to the sweep. Moeen gets off the mark second ball with a six. What scenes.

[hfswjyr]

There is hardly a spectator in the entire stadium for NZ vs Pakistan in Abu Dhabi. Why do we bother having matches there? Who's funding this?

[Jimmy Floyd]

Pakistan have to play somewhere. They would get better crowds in pretty much any other UN sovereign state though.

[hfswjyr]

Could they not just be a permanently touring side?

Such a waste playing without a crowd.

[Jimmy Floyd]

We should agree to have them really. Pakistan v whoever Test match at Taunton or Chelmsford, plug me into that and turn on the mains.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Just had another one for the annals of mad Pakistan snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. Epic stuff.

[hfswjyr]

Incredible. Maybe too incredible...? Never know with Pakistan.

[ItalAussie]

We called up Marcus Harris to the squad. It's staggering to see Cricket Australia actually make the right call for once. You wouldn't think that calling up the higher-order batsman who has scored the most runs and hundreds in four-day state cricket would be an achievement, but here we are.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Still haven't managed to pick Renshaw, but baby steps I guess.

Reckon Australia will win despite Kohli averaging 6543544.45 in the series.

[niko_cee]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/46301329

Wouldn't it just be best if Root batted there? It's not like he's any more protected at 4 the way our top order usually goes and he is an opener by training.

[Jimmy Floyd]

If you want to know the current thoughts of the England Setup at any given time, look at what they do with the Lions.

The Lions currently have Jason Roy batting at three.

Strap in (or possibly on).

[Max Power]

Great effort from Stokes and Rashid but Jesus what a collapso from Sri Lanka. Whitewash incoming.

[Max Power]

And the comedy run out to complete the collapse bingo. Amazing.

[niko_cee]

Pakistan-esque.

You never run on a misfield etc.

[igor_balis]

YJB needs to stop fucking whinging about not being the keeper.

[Jimmy Floyd]

He's a very strange bloke, Jonny Bairstow. He's not even the second best keeper in this XI. If I were him I would stick to batting.

He is TERRIBLE at reviews as well, I bet someone has told him that and he's got the right hump.

[niko_cee]

Surprising grand stand finish in the offing here.

This last pair must have put on more than the last 7 or 8 wickets in the first innings.

[niko_cee]

Or not.

The Sri Lanka language sounds absolutely amazing.

[hfswjyr]

Well now, let's follow up one of the tightest test win with...

http://www.espncricinfo.com/series/18879/scorecard/1157382/new-zealand-vs-pakistan-2nd-test-nz-in-uae-2018-19

[niko_cee]

Yikes.

60/1 to 90 all out is some going.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Or not.

The Sri Lanka language sounds absolutely amazing.

When you play Tamil teams in club cricket it's amazing. They all turn up with identical clothing/equipment as if they've just launched a major robbery of Sports Direct, and then during the game they unleash 14 off spinners who all throw it and sledge you at 5 million syllables per minute. Very hard to contend with.

[niko_cee]

NZ about to hit the dreaded 60/1 again. Seriously what happened in their first innings?

[Max Power]

http://www.espncricinfo.com/story/_/id/25384878/rare-overseas-victory-marks-true-arrival-joe-root-test-team

“It feels as if the old England - cagey and careful, focused on the percentages and the quinoa - has been replaced by one that feels that, even if it concedes four an over, they will hit five in reply“

:D/:thbup:

[Jimmy Floyd]

I have never been more wrong than about Buttler's recall. Hat tip to Ed Smith and his minor royal hairdo. What a marvel Buttler is.

[Ian]

Do I need to care what a Jofra Archer is?

And if so what is a Jofra Archer?

[niko_cee]

West Indian, I mean English, fast bowler who's a bit of a darling of the shortest format.

[Jimmy Floyd]

He is a very good bowler who has needed a bit of ECB shithousery to make him eligible for England. Quick and moves it at will. Will get in the white ball sides and threaten the Test team.

[ItalAussie]

Was really good in the Big Bash. Can he go all day though?

[ItalAussie]

Still haven't managed to pick Renshaw, but baby steps I guess.
To be fair, Renshaw has barely scored a run, while Harris has been making them for fun. I think they'd have selected Renshaw if not for weight of runs.

[Max Power]

As good as Archer is, I feel parachuting him into this extremely good ODI side for the World Cup would be wrong. Been smashing everyone with the current crop, give them the chance to win the World Cup they’ll be big favourites for.

[igor_balis]

As good as Archer is, I feel parachuting him into this extremely good ODI side for the World Cup would be wrong. Been smashing everyone with the current crop, give them the chance to win the World Cup they’ll be big favourites for.

Aye but in fairness we've been smashing teams on the basis of scoring 350 runs, the bowling has been pretty shit. On purely "cricketing terms" I'd deffo pick him. I'd rather not pick him, well no, I'd rather cricket was a more egalitarian sport run by less corrupt people and as such it wasn't even an option in the first place but ho hum.

[Jimmy Floyd]

We've been smashing everyone with the bat. Our attack remains patchy (apart from the spin legends) and you know, David Willey.

We all know Pakistan are going to win the World Cup (I also quite like West Indies for it. What has got into me?)

[ItalAussie]

So I understand why you'd normally bat first, but against us right now, it seems like a missed opportunity.

Our batting lineup is wobbly, but our bowling lineup still has Hazelwood, Starc, and Cummins. That's pretty decent. If you put us in on day one and knock us over for 150, we lose all momentum. But now they're giving us first punch, and we've made a decent start of it.

Still a long way to go, but if India had us three down now - or worse - you'd be writing off the series.

[Danny]

Take a bow Khawaja!

https://streamable.com/sxxcc
https://streamable.com/2lr3g

[ItalAussie]

Indian batsmen seem to be trying to put their foot down for no real reason. Pujara is the only one showing any kind of patience.

I think every wicket so far has been a shot that didn't need to be played.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Never bowl first in Australia, unless it's Hobart under steely skies.

There is a reason no Asian team has ever won in Australia by the way (nor will they this time).

[ItalAussie]

When Pujara is seeing it, he's honestly Dravid-esque.

And you could see by the way he picked up speed with the tail that he's perfectly capable of acceleration. He just elects to be as safe as possible when he's anchoring the innings, as well he should. I really rate him as a batsman.

[Jimmy Floyd]

He's great isn't he. Think he sometimes struggles a bit with fitness (in terms of just not being fit, rather than injury) but when he's on it he is a supreme batsman.

On another note, in the light of the run out yesterday, just seen the Bavuma one again from a couple of years ago and it still gets better with each viewing.

[ItalAussie]

Getting the tenth wicket on the first ball of a day is one of those rare treasures that it's impossible not to enjoy.

All the time with everyone coming out, setting up the field, the batsmen getting their kit together, and then it's all over immediately. :D

[ItalAussie]

Or they could just knock us over for 150 on day two, I suppose.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Has Ashwin actually bowled well then? The big problem they had in our summer was that their seamers would bowl their hearts out and then Sam Curran or whoever would come in and take Trashwin to the cleaners from number eight. His figures here suggest that may have changed, though.

[hfswjyr]

We could beat Pakistan here, which is quite remarkable considering how poor we were in the first innings.

[ItalAussie]

Has Ashwin actually bowled well then? The big problem they had in our summer was that their seamers would bowl their hearts out and then Sam Curran or whoever would come in and take Trashwin to the cleaners from number eight. His figures here suggest that may have changed, though.

Yeah, he's been good. You know I rate him much more highly than you do though.

[Jimmy Floyd]

He had a dreamy first Test against us this time and then fell off a cliff, largely due to fitness. He's a lovely man though.

[ItalAussie]

He was pretty unplayable yesterday, although Finch didn't actually glove it when he was given out caught.

I imagine his impact will be a little less emphatic on some of our other pitches.

[Jimmy Floyd]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/46511774

If there was ever anything that summed up why cricket boards don't have a clue what they're doing, that right there is it.

[niko_cee]

It should be which captain can throw the bat the furthest, with that bat then having to be used, I dunno, by the entire team.

A perceptive way to combat modern big-bat theory.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Doesn't sound relevant to families. Needs to be a cereal-eating contest.

[niko_cee]

The bats could be made of "weet-bix".

[igor_balis]

just do rock paper scissors

[Ian]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/46511774

If there was ever anything that summed up why cricket boards don't have a clue what they're doing, that right there is it.

Every quote in that article is entirely baffling to me.

[Queenslander]

I am just across from the Gabba at the moment and apart from 1 BBL billboard there isnt any cricket advertising anywhere.

http://i67.tinypic.com/fyegkw.jpg

[Jimmy Floyd]

From the outside, it appears that that ball tampering business has completely broken Aus cricket and the culture that surrounds it. It's like they don't know what to do anymore.

[Queenslander]

That media bit with that dieing kid was rough as guts.

https://www.cricket.com.au/news/archie-australian-cricket-team-test-squad-member-make-a-wish-adelaide-justin-langer/2018-12-03

[ItalAussie]

From the outside, it appears that that ball tampering business has completely broken Aus cricket and the culture that surrounds it. It's like they don't know what to do anymore.

Let's be honest - we were completely dependent on Smith with the bat, and to a lesser extent Warner.

The real crisis is that none of our top order know which end of the bat to hold. Everything else is just beatup and scapegoating. The board have been idiots for ages - we've mostly just worked around that.

The sour truth is that Finch and Marsh are basically walking wickets, Harris and Head are inexperienced (which buys them time, but doesn't put runs on the board), Hanscomb got dropped and hasn't particularly shone since, and Khawaja fires maybe one time in four or five. And that's basically it, because Paine has never been much of a batsman.

[Queenslander]

Tubby and Hussy coming out and criticising Kohli for his onfield behaviour is just another example of how broken our psyche is atm. Can they stop preaching about this imaginary line for sportsmanship it is so bloody sad.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I love Kohli's on field behaviour. He's not a whiny bitch with a crap mythology to uphold, he just gives it to you straight, and he backs it up by being the best player in the world.

This was class: https://youtu.be/9joX_KOtv0M?t=52

[Queenslander]

It is day and night between that and Davey Warner spewing vile personal abuse to a batsman.

[Danny]

https://streamable.com/cafxf

:lol:

[Ian]

:face:

[Queenslander]

Mitch Marsh getting booed by the MCG is harsh but funny.

[Danny]

Its shocking they are picking him though to be fair.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Mitchell Marsh is the worst pick in international cricket currently, and you should see some of the shit that Pakistan get up to in that department. I think two thirds of their top three for the current Test match in SA are there because their fathers/uncles have important jobs. Which is basically why the Marsh bros are there too, it must be said.

[Queenslander]

Yeah he has no business playing Test cricket. Gets me excited thinking about what Davey Warner might recieve.

[Queenslander]

Bancroft getting booed in every capital city is going to be hilarious.

[Ian]

While he was obviously leaned on by senior players fucking lol at him saying he just wanted to belong and "didn't know any better." Get the fuck out.

[Jimmy Floyd]

The whole thing is utterly absurd. Warner might be a twat but them all chucking him under the bus is an absolute liberty. Saying the bowlers didn't know about it is a total and obvious lie, as is the pretence that Lehmann didn't know what was going on (I'm almost certain he orchestrated it, but the 92-07 Australian players are all exempt from national criticism, much like United's 'Class of 92'). Australian cricket is completely culturally broken and it's a glorious watch.

We will win the Ashes 4-1 or similar next summer and they will go out of the World Cup in about 9th place.

[Queenslander]

Warner's national tour of abuse will be the best thing to happen to our cricket culture for quite sometime.

Edit: Boof is obviously the biggest coward in all of this I have no doubt in my mind he pulled all the strings then ducked out the side door for Smith to carry the weight.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Davey will have the IPL as his first thing back won't he? Much as I'd love him to have things thrown at him by 90,000 raging Bengalis at Eden Gardens, I think their approach to moral rectitude over there is probably rather more sanguine.

[Queenslander]

Yeah true.

It is so strange to me that sucker punching Joe Root isnt Warners career low point.

[Queenslander]

Also I cant help but be cynical about Cricket Australia dragging around that sick kid all summer in a desperate rebranding attempt.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Everything they are doing at the moment stinks of desperate rebranding, from the channel change (although nothing could be worse than Nine's cricket after Benaud and Greig died) to the nonsense with the stump mics, to the sick kid in whites, to the cringeworthy interviews.

They actually have some real players in the 18-21 age bracket so they will come again, but it'll be long and painful.

[Queenslander]

I dont understand how they think their 1950's rebranding could possibly work in 2019? The interviews have made the blokes.in the pub even more angry. They want their cunts to be mean cunts not throwing each other under the bus while telling half truths.

So they are turning off the bogans and they are turning off normal well balanced human beings as well.


I dont follow cricket deep enough to know about our up and comers. My sports autism is 100% dialled in on Rugby.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Probably because like every sports board across the world they are trying to market themselves to mums (I have literally sat in an ECB presentation listening to how mums are the most important people to market the sport to... come on guys) and not the blokes in the pub, or the kids, or anyone else who will actually be keeping the sport going in the next 20 years.

Ball tampering was their worst nightmare because it gets bad PR on the front pages where the mums are looking. Everything since then has been a series of desperate attempts to claw back.

[Queenslander]

Probably because like every sports board across the world they are trying to market themselves to mums (I have literally sat in an ECB presentation listening to how mums are the most important people to market the sport to... come on guys) and not the blokes in the pub, or the kids, or anyone else who will actually be keeping the sport going in the next 20 years.

Ball tampering was their worst nightmare because it gets bad PR on the front pages where the mums are looking. Everything since then has been a series of desperate attempts to claw back.

The ruthless unapologetic aggression has definitely been exposed. Ironically I think the rapid rise of female cricket in this country will help us in the long term. Especially if we get some sensible women in the CA questioning some of these stupid decisions being made.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Ellyse Perry and Alyssa Healy should be household names in Australia, world dominant players, I bet they aren't though.

[Queenslander]

Ellyse Perry is gettting there and Healy isnt too far behind . Perry is the most talented sportsmen in Australia as she is a capped Footballer as well the freak.

But their popularity is due to 20/20.

[Queenslander]

Has female cricket become more mainstrean in England? @jimmyfloyd?

[Queenslander]

Has female cricket become more mainstrean in England? Jimmy Floyd?

[Jimmy Floyd]

A little bit more, certainly relative to men's cricket, but all women's team sports are nowhere in the grand scheme of things. Also in Aus the playing field for sport is much more level, whereas here Premier League football absolutely devours everything else and you can't ever hope to compete with its raw marketing power, so every other sport is pitching in the niches and margins.

Oddly the only thing other than football that still hits national conversation level is Wimbledon tennis, for its 2 weeks in June, which is ironic because British tennis is the most disgustingly run load of shite in the world - but it's the only event that hasn't yet sold itself to pay TV.

I've been trying to put some girls and women's programmes in at local level, and we've seen a bit of growth but it's really bloody hard to do. The main barrier I've found is that unlike men, the mass of women in general aren't interested in sporting competition, it just doesn't get them going on a basic level. Fitness and physical activity they will do, but competitive sport tends to turn them off. It's only the 10-15% of super competitive women that are interested and you have to compete for them with all the other sports.

[Queenslander]

I think getting them used to it in primary school has really helped down here. Female cricket is non existent at grade level they have definitely used the momentum of 20/20 to increase numbers.

It has all sort of happened within 10 years in Australia with the NRL to be the last lot to run a womens competition.

Popularity wise I think sevens and Cricket will continue to grow and grow and definitely worry the Netball lot.

[ItalAussie]

Ellyse Perry and Alyssa Healy should be household names in Australia, world dominant players, I bet they aren't though.

They kind of are, to be honest. Ellyse Perry for sure, and Alyssa Healy more so in the last year. Perry may arguably be one of Australia's most popular sportspeople in general.

Sam Kerr (the footballer) is also quite deservedly a household name in Australia too. The women's cricket and football teams are getting quite a bit of traction.

[niko_cee]

Seeing as the mainstream Australian media (almost) exclusively cover Australian sporting success (if they lose at something it simply doesn't register as having happened) then I'm sure the female sports folk will be getting ample coverage whilst the are doing well.

[ItalAussie]

Actually, I think there's been a push to bring womens' sport to more prominence, although I'm not sure who kicked it off.

The WAFL and the netball have both gotten substantially more coverage in the last few years than I can ever remember before. It'll be interesting to see if the WNRL follows suit.

[ItalAussie]

Pujara was a rock. Basically chanceless.

It looks like we bowled poorly, and we weren't great, but I've seen us bowl worse. The pitch wasn't giving us much, and we did manage a few threatening spells where the batsmen had to battle and shut up shop for a bit. Starc had a rough day. Still, at least we can rely on our world class batting to save...

Yup, we're cooked.

[thommo]

204 runs for the 7th wicket in 37 overs, how soul-destroying if you're a bowler.

Australia will be lucky to avert an innings defeat from here.

[niko_cee]

OK, at a glance, what's the deal with Labuschagne batting at 3 for Australia? Isn't he some sort of (shite) all-rounder?

Or is he the new Steve Smith? He did, after all, once fit that description.

[Queenslander]

No idea.

[Jimmy Floyd]

They don't have a clue what they're doing. In fairness, the cupboard is almost bare. The highest Australian FC run scorer currently active is I think Cosgrove.

They need to go Renshaw or Maxwell. Opposite ends of the spectrum but each with a fierce talent.

[Queenslander]

How could he think this is a good idea?


https://youtu.be/GkC46v_0nb0

[Queenslander]

They don't have a clue what they're doing. In fairness, the cupboard is almost bare. The highest Australian FC run scorer currently active is I think Cosgrove.

They need to go Renshaw or Maxwell. Opposite ends of the spectrum but each with a fierce talent.

Renshaw needs the Hayden treatment. Give him 2 summers and everything inbetween to gain confidence.

[hfswjyr]

How could he think this is a good idea?


https://youtu.be/GkC46v_0nb0

Bizarre.

Can't wait for us to face India later this month. Both teams at the top of their games at the moment.

Also, $NZD52 to attend a 20/20 with Sri Lanka is going to be the biggest waste of money I'll spend in 2019, but it's the only Eden Park game. What a farce.

[Queenslander]

Bizarre.

Can't wait for us to face India later this month. Both teams at the top of their games at the moment.

Also, $NZD52 to attend a 20/20 with Sri Lanka is going to be the biggest waste of money I'll spend in 2019, but it's the only Eden Park game. What a farce.

New Zealand is a team that will be better value against India that is for sure. I want us to play the Black Caps in a home and away Test series.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Sri Lanka are really, like, REALLY struggling for star power at the moment. Probably because they can't get anyone in the T20 leagues for love nor money. Afghans with dodgy birth certificates have flown past them.

(Rashid Khan is not even within 8 years of what he says he is).

[Jimmy Floyd]

Jesus, we're 2nd in the Test rankings. Have NZ ever been as high as 3rd?

[Queenslander]

Brisbane Heat have an Afghan bloke that we should steal

[hfswjyr]

Jesus, we're 2nd in the Test rankings. Have NZ ever been as high as 3rd?

Not since I've been alive (30 years).

Too shit with Cricinfo to check.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Well if the recent teams weren't then I very much doubt that the assortment of bank clerks and medium pacers named John and Jeremy that represented them prior to 1990 would have been.

They actually have everything as a team. They could (and have) even do well in Asia with Ish Sodhi and this Somerville on the scene.

[hfswjyr]

I'm not sure if Sir Richard Hadlee had managed to single handily lift the team into the top 3 or not.

Sodhi, Patel, Santner, Somerville. It's not the most fearsome lineup, but it just about matches Vettori.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I regret to inform you that Monty Panesar has been on Celebrity Mastermind.

https://twitter.com/AndyHa_/status/1083832017979142144

[hfswjyr]

That is incredible.




How?

[John Arne]

In which season........

Oliver Twist.

Fucking hell.

[Ian]

That's even worse than his Celebrity Masterchef. Incredible.

Was he always such an oddball?

[Queenslander]

What a childhood.

[Jimmy Floyd]

That's even worse than his Celebrity Masterchef. Incredible.

Was he always such an oddball?

I think he has a few mental health problems unfortunately and rather than tackling them head on is being encouraged to go on every reality show on TV. It's a bit unfortunate. You shouldn't exploit someone like that by making them do Mastermind.

He played Essex league last year and bowled everyone out, so he's still got it, at least for that cricket, he should just carry on and live the quiet life. I'm sure there are more than enough people in Luton willing to sort him out with a job if he needs one.

[Danny]

That was painful

[Jimmy Floyd]

For those so inclined there is a very good new Cricket Sadist Hour out, in which they conclusively debunk the myth that T20 is ruining Test cricket.

[Ian]

I've never listened to that yet, I may give it a bash with that one.

Lol at the story I read that some mugs are spending £12k on tickets for England vs. Australia at the World Cup.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Every time I look down the World Cup schedule I sigh because of every game starting at 10.30am for the Indian TV market.

Logically though one of the only day-nighters is Afghanistan v New Zealand at Taunton, get me involved in that.

[ItalAussie]

Watching us play is brutal. Fortunately the ODIs aren't on free-to-air television, so nobody is.

I'm interested to see how Pucovski pans out. Everyone seems to reckon he's something really special, so there's that.

[igor_balis]

I've never listened to that yet, I may give it a bash with that one.

Yeah, it's really good. I've seen people online slate Kimber, and generally I think Zaltzman is the worst kind of comfortable middle-class liberal whose desire to smash the system with cutting satire extends about as far as finding rude words to rhyme with the surnames of Tory front-benchers, but it's a really fucking good podcast. They both love and know shit loads about cricket, and have a great dynamic. Kimber is the Bryan Alvarez to Zaltzman's Meltzer ya know?

[Ian]

I've never listened to Alvarez and Meltzer but I know who they are, obvs.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Watching us play is brutal. Fortunately the ODIs aren't on free-to-air television, so nobody is.

I'm interested to see how Pucovski pans out. Everyone seems to reckon he's something really special, so there's that.

While watching his highlights the other day (looks really good on the back foot) I was struck that the crowd at Shield games appears to be literally zero. County championship games here are said to be badly attended but the average attendance is actually 3,562 per game, whereas for the Shield it genuinely sounds like the only people there are the two teams (on century applause etc).

[Queenslander]

Apart from finals they have always been close to zero.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Yeah, it's really good. I've seen people online slate Kimber, and generally I think Zaltzman is the worst kind of comfortable middle-class liberal whose desire to smash the system with cutting satire extends about as far as finding rude words to rhyme with the surnames of Tory front-benchers, but it's a really fucking good podcast. They both love and know shit loads about cricket, and have a great dynamic. Kimber is the Bryan Alvarez to Zaltzman's Meltzer ya know?

I really like Jarrod Kimber because he's one of those people where the love of the sport is just all-consuming and blows everything else away. I read his book about Test cricket and to be honest it was a bit of a mess, riddled with errors and not brilliantly structured - but that's exactly what he is, a hyperactive stream of consciousness.

Zaltzman weirdly I find completely unfunny except when it comes to cricket. That's what cricket is to me though, everything is great when you filter it through cricket.

[Max Power]

Seems we really are seeing the phasing out of Stuart Broad. Probably got one more classic Ashes spell in him this summer but seems we are moving on.

Could be another fun series. England so entertaining but still can see a few fuck ups against this West Indies pace attack.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Although West Indies have had a decent start, I really love this England team selection. Has all kinds of batsmen and all kinds of bowlers for all situations, AND the best gloveman with the gloves. We'd better win or else they'll change it.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Hetmyer batting like Clive Lloyd in a floppy, I have time for this.

[Max Power]

Shimron Hetmyer also a far better West Indian cricket name than the other lad I haven’t seen play before... John Campbell.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Jimmy Anderson since he turned 33 has 156 wickets at 20.15. In history only five bowlers (three of them spinners, all of them from pre 1960) have taken theirs at a better average after that birthday.

Overrated etc. We should keep him going well into his 40s if possible.

[niko_cee]

This seems to be going well.

[Jimmy Floyd]

The problem with this is that the clueless cricket blob will draw all the wrong conclusions. PACE AND BOUNCE, NO RUNS FROM THE OPENERS, etc etc. This is the best team we can pick, believe me, although I feel Woakes could get in somewhere, perhaps for Rashid. We're just not at it and getting outplayed by an inspired lineup.

As if fucking Stuart Broad 2019 would have improved this shambolic match situation. We need all those batsmen because, well, check the scorecard.

[Ian]

77 all out. :D Fucking hell.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I caught the last few wickets, it was as close to the good old days as I have witnessed since the actual good old days. Shame the crowd is all rich Brits, needed a proper jumping old Caribbean ground like Sabina Park. And Tony Cozier on commentary.

[niko_cee]

My dad said the same thing. If this had been happening 20 or 30 years ago it would have been rocking to the sounds of steel drums, but it was more like spot the local in the crowd. The ball to get Butler and then the one for Foakes (I think) were seriously good balls.

[Jimmy Floyd]

They're 25/1 for the World Cup you know. TWENTY FIVE TO ONE. Outrageous value.

[Jimmy Floyd]

West Indies lead by 615 runs. What times we live in.

[Max Power]

The target is under 600 now. Just chip away at it in blocks of 200 lads.

[ItalAussie]

Jason Holder getting a 200 is amazing. Love the guy.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Looking through a few of the results, I know Afghanistan are the kings of dubious age claims among their players but Nepal seem to be keen on giving them a run for their money.

http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/player/1072488.html

[Ian]

He must have had a bloody hard paper round.

[Disco]

The Sunday supplements in the Daily Yeti are a killer.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I've seen more of Burns probably than every major commentator and pundit combined, especially Simon Hughes. The reason they haven't picked him until now is a) Cook has been there, and they've only ever wanted one natural stodger (even with Hameed they tried Duckett first) and b) Burns has a funny trigger movement, a monster backlift and tends to plant the front dog in front of all three, so the theory probably goes that in TEST MATCH CRICKET, at THE HIGHEST LEVEL someone like Mitchell Starc could exocet them in at 94mph and get him lbw.

I posted this in September about Burns, before his dayboo. Listening to the Sky commentators out on a sun-kissed jolly discover it all for themselves has been quality.

[Jimmy Floyd]

This innings getting run through by Roston Chase has been way, way worse than the first innings.

[niko_cee]

How many record defeats have we suffered in the past twelve months or so? It feels like a few.

[Jimmy Floyd]

We'd won six in a row before this game as well. We are absolutely mental and I for one am all for it.

I think the thing about these players is when they get down they just get thrashed. There is so much talent but not a lot of fight. Paul Collingwood has been disintegrating with each studio appearance and with good reason. He nearly melted earlier when Rob Key was saying Ben Stokes needs to play his natural game.

Best West Indies team for well over 20 years though.

[hfswjyr]

What does a team have to do to beat this Indian side? They're looking unstoppable at the moment. Basically every batsman in the team averages over 50.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Early wickets, especially that of Rohit Sharma. They have lost five ODIs in the last year and Rohit's scores in those five have been 5, 15, 2, 8, and admittedly 133 (but they were 4/3 in that game with others departing). If you let them be 60/0 with Rohit having his eye in and Kohli still to come it's game over.

I actually think they won't win the World Cup for that reason, all the games are 10.30 starts over here and it will do bits in the morning dew. Kohli is smart enough to know that though so will probably chase every time he has the option. They best pray for a June heatwave.

[ItalAussie]

I will say, they're much more dangerous now than they've ever been in the past, and it's nothing to do with the batsmen.

India have assembled a legitimately fearsome fast bowling attack. They were the real stars of the Australia series. Even when they've been near the top, India have never quite had reliable fast bowlers. But now, with the ones they've got, I honestly don't think they have a weakness.

[Jimmy Floyd]

In more prosaic news, Tim Bresnan has selected his best XI of players he has played with.

Cook
Lyth
Root
Lehmann
Ballance (capt + wk)
Bresnan
Rashid
Broad
M.Johnson
Anderson
Harmison

He has managed to leave out from that lineup: Pietersen, Trott, Strauss, Kane Williamson, Pujara, Younis Khan, Bairstow and Prior among others. But Gary Ballance keeper-captain definitely the obvious choice.

[niko_cee]

A lot of confidence in the top order there.

I love that he bats himself 6. Probably saw that as quite self-deprecating.

[niko_cee]

Joe Denly in for Jennings.

If that's the direction of travel they really ought to just stick Roy in, or go back to Hales.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Joe Denly is there because Ed Smith knows him, there is literally no other explanation.

[Ian]

So we've called up an "opener" who doesn't open for his county team. Am I reading this article right?

Does he open at all?

[Max Power]

It’s a stop gap until some randomer scores a couple hundreds in the Championship early next summer and is parachuted in for the Ashes.

[Jimmy Floyd]

There are still people on twitter wanting Hameed in. It's almost as if England are the only cricket team in existence and the players are kept in some sort of cryogenic freezer awaiting selection.

I can guarantee you right now that the runaway county runs leader in April/May will be AN Cook.

[igor_balis]

Reckon hameed will ever get back to his previous form?

[Jimmy Floyd]

There's obviously a player there, but Lancashire are run by absolute morons so probably not. He did at least average 56 for Formby in club cricket so it's obviously not a mental capituation, just an extended run of shit form.

The biggest danger would be tumbling out of a contract anywhere as he obviously doesn't have a lot of white ball value (which is probably why he bombed in the first place with people in his ear about it). The best wicketkeeper in the country, Michael Bates, plays club cricket only as no county will take him with a batting average of 20.

[Ian]

Getting into good nick for the Ashes here.

At least there's Mo.

[Danny]

Look what you did

[Ian]

That was ages after my post, wasn't it? I imagine my jinx will have worn off.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I have literally no idea what sort of score that is.

[niko_cee]

I love the look of the pitch, proper Brian Lara Cricket feel, as if the colour saturation on the tv has been dialed way up.

Could do with a wicket really.

[Danny]

That was ages after my post, wasn't it? I imagine my jinx will have worn off.

It was but as if we can blame Mo.

[igor_balis]

West Indies have been class so far this series. Their prodding and poking to 30-0 tonight was one of my favourite sessions of the series so far.

[Jimmy Floyd]

John Campbell attempting to lap sweep Broad, getting hit in the face, and then staring him down without a flinch was class.

[Ian]

It was but as if we can blame Mo.

Good point. Sorry lads.

[Ian]

That was amazing from Broad.

Jimmy's face. :D

[Davgooner]

England getting battered is only bearable if TMS is on the air. The 'Cricket Social' with Cook and friends? Stick it up your fucking arse.

[niko_cee]

lol

What's going on here then?

[Ian]

We are pathetic.

[Max Power]

Think they might get these

[Ian]

Pessimist. :nono:

[niko_cee]

Did seem when we bowled we beat the bat about a million times, whereas they were a lot more efficient at making and taking chances (see both of Root's dismissals). Bowling at the stumps was quite a good idea too, which is something we should have done a lot more of.

[Ian]

What, trying to take wickets? You'll never make the ECB at this rate, Niko, you moron.

[Jimmy Floyd]

We just fundamentally can't bat and we aren't trying to bat either.

Root is a poor captain who doesn't understand the game and seems to have far too much power (why do we continually build the team around Bairstow, who is bang average?). The personnel isn't far wrong, the attitude is appalling. Some of his comments after this game are worth the sack.

[igor_balis]

Bravo's was genuinely my favourite test match innings of all time. What an absolute hero. Makes a fucking mockery of the English "play your natural game" orthodoxy. Twats.

I thought CHEF was an annoyingly passive and conservative captain, but he was light-years ahead of Root. I don't think you can even say Root is a bad captain; he just ISN'T a captain. If that makes sense.

The only reason he is captain is because he's literally the only player we can't drop from the test side aside from Jimmy. People keep banging on about our mad long batting order, and we're happy enough to let Rashid be a passenger bowling like 10 overs a match, so fuck it. My mad proposal would be to just figure out the absolute standout captain in county cricket, and just have him be Mike Brearley. Even if it's some joker who bats at 7 in division 2 and averages 30 odd without bowling, fuck it. I can't see what we'd actually lose.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I was thinking earlier we could do with some absolute underqualified madman going in to be coach, much like Bumble did in the late 90s. Just insert some passion and dynamism in there, it all seems so flat with the Human Sunhat in charge. The same applies to captain really. I love my unhinged evil captains, like Jardine or Ranatunga. Someone who will do anything for the team to win. Kohli has some of that in him. Root is just a wet blanket.

His twitter feed is a genuine embarrassment as well.

[igor_balis]

His twitter feed is a genuine embarrassment as well.

You know occasionally when footballers get shamed for accidentally copying and pasting the whole message from the marketing guy as their tweet like "alright mate can you post 'great performance from the lads today, buzzing for next week' or something like that on twitter please?"

I've never been on his twitter but I assume it's just wall to wall tweets like this, except without the offending stage directions?

[Danny]

Bravo's was genuinely my favourite test match innings of all time. What an absolute hero. Makes a fucking mockery of the English "play your natural game" orthodoxy. Twats.

I thought CHEF was an annoyingly passive and conservative captain, but he was light-years ahead of Root. I don't think you can even say Root is a bad captain; he just ISN'T a captain. If that makes sense.

The only reason he is captain is because he's literally the only player we can't drop from the test side aside from Jimmy. People keep banging on about our mad long batting order, and we're happy enough to let Rashid be a passenger bowling like 10 overs a match, so fuck it. My mad proposal would be to just figure out the absolute standout captain in county cricket, and just have him be Mike Brearley. Even if it's some joker who bats at 7 in division 2 and averages 30 odd without bowling, fuck it. I can't see what we'd actually lose.

Agree 100% on Root. Do we give it to Jimmy? On the proviso someone else manages his bowling spells.

[Jimmy Floyd]

It's much worse than that. He just posts shameless and cringeworthy ads for his sponsors, mostly 'Village Hotels' but also others. He's also starting guitar-strumming in the dressing room so he's right in the middle of the continuum between Brent and Partridge I think.

Here is a random example I picked from April:

987312153039462400

[igor_balis]

Agree 100% on Root. Do we give it to Jimmy? On the proviso someone else manages his bowling spells.

I mean fuck it, I'd happily give him a go over Root but I think part of what makes Jimmy so good is how single-minded he is. Like I reckon my mum could set a field for Moeen's bowling throwing pins on a photo of a cricket pitch based on her I Ching and horoscope bullshit as well as Jimmy could.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I'd give it to Buttler, from the current team. I'd also drop Bairstow just because he needs taking down a peg or two.

[igor_balis]

I'd give it to Buttler, from the current team. I'd also drop Bairstow just because he needs taking down a peg or two.

If we had to pick a captain from the current team I'd do the same.

And on the latter point...I sort of know what you mean, but worry I might be reading too much into tabloid hyperbole. Certainly it's been made to sound like he's being proper stroppy and entitled about keeping the gloves, in which case I feel justified disliking him, but I don't like making assumptions. It might be he's annoyed in a like...frustrated but professional way, like "I really worked hard to improve my keeping, and I want to prove I'm the best" or he's a twat and saying "Foakes and Buttler can fuck off, how dare they take the gloves from me". They're very different, but could be presented the same way in the gutter press.

[hfswjyr]

After being dominated in the first three games, we're hammering India in the last two games. The obvious difference is that there is no Kohli for these last two games. I wonder how much of a difference he makes to the entire team performance?

[Jimmy Floyd]

We've dropped Foakes for the next game and recalled Jennings. Genuinely nonsensical.

[niko_cee]

Are you saying we don't have a plan here?

The way things are going it'll be Roy and probably Foakes opening in the first ashes test.

[Max Power]

As least Bairstow has the gloves back and everyone (him) is happy.

[Danny]

We've dropped Foakes for the next game and recalled Jennings. Genuinely nonsensical.

Embarrassing. One of those end of nightmare tour selections where heads are gone.

[Dave.]

We've dropped Foakes for the next game and recalled Jennings. Genuinely nonsensical.

Agreed.

We should just have Jennings as a specialist subcontinent player. He is of no use in any other conditions.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Jennings has had three lives so far to reach 7*.

[Max Power]

That over was hilarious, he is so far out of his depth. I reckon Sir Chef is gonna come back this summer.

[Danny]

14.5 0
Roach to Jennings, no run, pitched up, juicy and swinging, Jennings flails like a drowning man with barely any footwork... Fails to connect! Roach shakes his head with a smile and walks back to his mark

Glad we brought him back

[Jimmy Floyd]

I've finally worked out what's happened in the selection.

They've decided to leave Curran out, fair enough so in comes Wood. That leaves Foakes at 8, Moeen 7 and so on as you were. That's when the brains trust get together and decide that they're going too hard against the new ball, and so Bairstow at 3 isn't right. They decide to move Bairstow down to 7 to bat against the older ball, OK, so now Moeen's got to go up to 6, Stokes to 5, Buttler to 4... no no no, because you want those players later. You want people to bat watchfully against the new ball, so you bring in KEATON JENNINGS, and Foakes has to miss out as he isn't DYNAMIC like Stokes, Buttler and Bairstow and doesn't offer the off-spin of Moeen.

Absolute nonsense, partly caused by their awful selection of batsmen in the first place, and partly caused by the people out there now not having a clue and having a remarkable need to build the team around Bairstow.

[Jimmy Floyd]

If we get to 200 here I will be astonished. Root looks so bad.

[igor_balis]

Get Bairstow out of the fucking team.

[Jimmy Floyd]

He is such a disgrace. Spent most of that innings having a massive cry, including to the umpires at one point for reasons that elude me.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Mark Wood has changed his shitty short run-up into a long one, and is now bowling like peak Shoaib Akhtar. Let's hope his knees don't collapse again (narrator: they will).

[niko_cee]

Has there ever been a worse top 3 than our present iteration?

It's harsh to throw Burns under the bus with them, but Jennings and Denly would probably drag Matt Hayden into the argument if he was unfortunate enough to be lined up with them.

[Jimmy Floyd]

For England? Probably not. Top 3 has historically been our strength.

Burns is good, just needs to learn Test cricket fully.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I've spent most of this series slating Root for various things, but his hundred notwithstanding, there are probably very few people who will fully appreciate just what it will mean to some other people to hear the England captain say 'there's nothing wrong with being gay' in the way he did, in the heat of battle. A very small minority of sportsmen would have done that.

Not that I would hold it against Gabriel saying things, we all say stupid things, but just to hear that retort from the England captain is really something. He's gone a long way up in my estimation.

[Ian]

Yeah it's not something you can imagine happening, or being noticed, elsewhere.

Given how much the BBC love the stump mic stuff sometimes with the little clips and videos they put on I find it odd that they haven't put that on there at all.

EDIT: Ah, they got there in the end.

[Ian]

Mo. :cool:

[Ian]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/47230497

Is this based purely on Root's response or have the umpires heard what he said?

[Jimmy Floyd]

He's admitted the charge, whatever it may have been, so I'm not sure why half of Indian twitter is screaming that there's no proof, or why Indian twitter cares in the first place.

[Max Power]

The Maharaja of bad takes Sanjay Manjrekar said that this and the Sarfraz thing the other day meant that we really need to look into the volume of stump mics, clearly the real issue here. Not racism and homophobia.