The Cricket Thread

[Jimmy Floyd]

I watched yesterday's game in a bar half-pissed and started wondering just how many I'd had. Roy was fucking brilliant at the top and Root >>>> KP.


Had dinner with Henry Olonga today. Top, top bloke.

+1. I was once at a dinner where he was 'speaker' (although he also gave us a song) and he was so fucking good. Have a dinner menu with his autograph on it which sits alongside my old trophies and stuff as one of my most treasured possessions.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I'm not sure what's worse, Sri Lanka dropping catches to ensure that Gayle stays in the hutch, or the spectators booing because they don't get to see 'The Universe Boss'

Everything about Indian fans is stupid and wrong.

[igor_balis]

Bangladesh sans Tamim have amassed a very decent 156.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Halfway through the group stage and I have not the slightest clue who is going to win this. If anything West Indies have looked the best team, which is all kinds of ridiculous.

India have net run rate issues, you know. They might need to issue a spanking to get through. Even if they win their last two, they could go out on net run rate if the Kiwis trip up against Pakistan.

We should qualify from here, but I can see us getting done by the Afghans if I'm honest. Even in the act of chasing 230 we were clueless against the yippy half-track spin of JP Duminy, the Afghans have two proper leggies and Mohammad Nabi's canny off breaks. And their whirling dervish batsmen will fancy a bit of our slot tripe.

[ItalAussie]

+1. I was once at a dinner where he was 'speaker' (although he also gave us a song) and he was so fucking good. Have a dinner menu with his autograph on it which sits alongside my old trophies and stuff as one of my most treasured possessions.
Did not get an autograph, which I am now regretting. He's such a good communicator though - get him on Channel 9 or something.

[ItalAussie]

Halfway through the group stage and I have not the slightest clue who is going to win this. If anything West Indies have looked the best team, which is all kinds of ridiculous.It'll be one of those things where anyone who gets to the final four could feasibly win if they have two good days.

India's problem is that they don't have explosive batsmen who can take a score out of reach. Could still very easily win, of course.

[Max Power]

Good game on here. Guptill and New Zealand were flying but got pegged back a bit. Pakistan with the chunky and stylish Sharjeel off to a cracking start chasing 180

[Max Power]

No one can live with the Kiwi spin attack (!) They'll win this tournament.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Probably lose to India in the final.

Need the Australians to beat them now. Ugh. Like willing Rolf Harris to abuse a child you hate.

[hfswjyr]

In theory, T20 could/should be our best format. I've always thought we have been one if not the top side in the field. When it comes to stopping those crucial ones/twos from becoming 4's, they count a lot more towards the total in the T20 format.

[Jimmy Floyd]

1.5 Shapoor Zadran to Roy, FOUR, magnificent shot from Roy, that really is outstanding. Driven straight back past the bowler, high front elbow - classically stroked with immense power
1.6 Shapoor Zadran to Roy, no run, goes for a horrible cross-batted swipe and deservedly gets nothing for it

Never change, Jroy.

[Max Power]

Ian Bell level leave from Morgan there. Mohammad Nabi running wild

[Max Power]

What on earth is going on

[John Arne]

This must be the least intelligent bunch of players ever seen.

[Max Power]

I'm trying to just be happy for Afghanistan because they are a great bunch of lads but this is such absolute garbage from England I'm still annoyed.

[John Arne]

The 17yr old spinner looks the wrong side of 35.

[John Arne]

And he gets another wicket.

[niko_cee]

Such a shambles.

:cool:

[Max Power]

Don't agree with the consensus that England are favourites now. Pitch is miles from a minefield, just a bit slow. As long as Afghanistan don't shit the bed they should chase these easily off England's mediocre attack.

[John Arne]

Nice recovery from Ali and Willy.

But yeah, Afghanistan have to be favourites with our bowling attack. Plunkett and Jordan will both go for 50.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Don't agree with the consensus that England are favourites now. Pitch is miles from a minefield, just a bit slow. As long as Afghanistan don't shit the bed they should chase these easily off England's mediocre attack.

Yeah it's total patronising bollocks, as if they are Canada or something. Our attack is significantly inferior to theirs.

[Danny]

41/5 :cab:

[Davgooner]

Well, we've annihilated them.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Didn't win it by enough. Could well go out on net run rate now, notwithstanding our inevitable 10 wicket defeat to Sri Lanka.

[Byron]

I reckon Bangladesh could have a good go at this total.

MS Hitler's tears at the end :drool:

[Jimmy Floyd]

Mahendra doesn't do tears, just angry stares into the middle distance.

Trying not to get my hopes up. Bangladesh are tried and tested as far as abject capitulation is concerned.

[igor_balis]

Painful stumping, that.

[igor_balis]

Shakib gone. India favourites now?

[igor_balis]

Absolute bottling cunts.

edit: hi jimmy

[Jimmy Floyd]

That is the biggest bottle job I have ever seen in cricket.

[Byron]

I'm speechless.

[niko_cee]

Money's changed hands there.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Money's changed hands there.

He celebrated way too hard after the scoop boundary, I thought.

[Max Power]

The state of that last over from bowler and batting unit :D

Just outrageously poor cricket all round and I love it.

[Jimmy Floyd]

The 'deshis were so 'deshi it was untrue. Mushfiqur and Mahmudullah going for absolutely pointless personal glory and costing their country the match in the process.

Rock stars in their own living rooms.

[hfswjyr]

Only watched the "highlights", but the level of fielding on show was hilarious.

[Max Power]

Wahab Riaz back on it :drool:

Pakistan in the field are hilarious though. Smith just completed an all run four. It's not a big ground.

[Jimmy Floyd]

That all run four was the best.

They need Australia to collapse to spin here, I fear.

[hfswjyr]

What's going on here?

https://vine.co/v/ipUqamIVVWj

[Jimmy Floyd]

Wahab had bowled the full over full and wide outside off, so Smith took his stance over there.

[hfswjyr]

Would have loved to see what Smith would have done if Wahab had adapted and bowled at leg stump.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Been bowled, I imagine.

[ItalAussie]

Faulkner and Hazlewood are a class above any of our other bowlers.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Zampa was playing club cricket down the road from me last season, on a ground which has very short straight boundaries straight into the River Thames, and took something like 55 wickets in 13 games at what is a good level of cricket. Wonder if they will get him into Test cricket.

[ItalAussie]

Zampa has a decent amount of potential as a player. I think he's probably a lock for the ODI side.

For tests, he'll have to show he can do it regularly at first-class level before we displace Lyon. We've had too many bright young things come through, but they never stick. Lyon deserves better than that. That said, if we're playing two spinners, I'd have him ahead of O'Keefe.

Spinners we've had in the test team since Warne retired:
Nathan Lyon
Stephen O'Keefe
Ashton Agar
Moises Henriques
Glenn Maxwell
Michael Beer
Xavier Doherty
Steven Smith
Bryce McGain
Jason Krejza
Cameron White
Beau Casson
Dan Cullen
Nathan Hauritz

That is not a proud list.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Bryce McGain :cool:

Come on West Indies, you lazy wankers.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Rally is such a tune.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Just pahahaha at the choking, spineless saffas. Year after year. That shot from Roussouw was real never get picked again stuff.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Miller cleaned up middle stump playing back to an orthodox Chris Gayle off spinner. Start the laager.

[Byron]

Considering the Seff Effrican we have at work was giving it the big 'un, Tuesday is going to be fun.

[hfswjyr]

Looks like they're playing in the middle of a locust swarm.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Oh no, please don't collapse to Tahir. Anyone else.

[Jimmy Floyd]

This has been such a fucking awful run chase, although fortunately South Africa will always out-choke you in the end.

[Max Power]

Mustafizur seems like a laugh. I wonder if he'll be another Ajantha Mendis though? After a year or so of international and franchise cricket everyone works him out a bit. Good skills though, you don't learn how to bowl like that at Loughborough.

England are priced at 1.44 to beat Sri Lanka. In a limited overs match being played in Asia. In a world tournament. They are probably going to play four spinners. WHAT IS GOING ON?*




*I do actually fancy England, espeically if we're chasing. But still.

[Jimmy Floyd]

He really is good value, isn't he. Not sure how you do much more than nudging that for singles. Hang deep in the crease and belt him over his head?

I too think we'll collapse to spin. We just cannot play spin. Doesn't matter how good it is.

[Max Power]

They showed a split screen of two deliveries with 20km different in speed and they looked EXACTLY the same. Leg cutters, off cutters everything.

[igor_balis]

Mustafizur having a lovely time.

[hfswjyr]

Low-order destroyer.

[Max Power]

5-16!

[Jimmy Floyd]

I feel sorry for Athar Ali Khan. Every game he sounds so optimistic that this will be Bangladesh's day, and yet somehow it never is.

[ItalAussie]

I kind of hope New Zealand win the thing, even over us. They have to win something at some point, surely, and they've really dealt well with this format.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Peaked too early. Plus they might have to face the unfettered might of England in the semis.

Bit of a disaster for Asian teams at this tournament. Afghanistan are probably the biggest net winners. The world badly needs Australia to win tomorrow.

[Max Power]

If the final is played on that pitch they'll win it for sure.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Sanga in the Sky studio. What a dish.

[hfswjyr]

Why does no one expect the googly first up? I'm starting to see why Murali took so many wickets.

[Max Power]

Batting first = instant defeat.

DEW FACTOR

[igor_balis]

England batting first, that's not ideal is it?

edit: hi max

[Davgooner]

115-8

[Max Power]

Hope Dilshan opens the bowling for old times sake.

[Jimmy Floyd]

And is still there at the end when they win by 10 wickets.

Absolute classic: http://www.espncricinfo.com/icc_cricket_worldcup2011/engine/current/match/433603.html

[Max Power]

Huge wicket for Sri Lanka as Bell chips a catch to midwicket. Was back of a length and Bell tried to force it through the leg side but didn't keep it down. Was a loose shot and a simple catch. Another start wasted from Bell

:happycry:

[Jimmy Floyd]

What I love the most is something I hadn't noticed before, that they appear to have sent Swann in to hit out with 7 overs to go, ahead of both Prior and Luke Wright.

As I recall, the team considered 229 to be a decent score as well.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Fucking hell already clueless against Rangy.

EDIT: and out. Looked outside the line to me though.

[Max Power]

Root in early is no bad thing.

Sri Lanka must be rueing not picking six spinners though.

[Jimmy Floyd]

They made a horrible error leaving out Senanayake. Don't look at the deck, look at our acid red shirts or whatever the fuck it is.

On second look, that was plumb as fuck.

[Max Power]

Giles Clarke in attendance. Hope he gets dengue fever.

Is Mathews going to blow his gun spinners early? Just don't lose a stack of wickets and keep it ticking and then cash in against the medium pacers.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Yeah, we need to just go after the 12 overs that aren't Rangy and this leg spinner.

Love this from Jroy, hasn't picked a single variation so far but chugging along.

[Davgooner]

Giles Clarke in attendance. Hope he gets dengue fever. .

It looked as if Strauss was on the verge of twatting him.

[hfswjyr]

Did they pick that particular Vitality advert there on purpose?

[Max Power]

Think England have decided 150 is a match winning total. I disagree.

[Max Power]

Maybe not. This absolute filth from Perera has provided a springboard

[Jimmy Floyd]

They've fucked the bowling up, looks like Thisara will have to do another two overs of that garbage.

We remain clueless against any sort of pace off bowling though.

[hfswjyr]

Christ, no wonder they still need Herath to keep playing.

[Max Power]

Why has the slow left armer only bowled one? Mathews ballsed it up.

Buttler fucking ON IT

[Jimmy Floyd]

The slow left armer was a pie thrower extraordinaire in fairness. He got the selection horribly wrong and then burned his own overs too early. Needed to slip a Dilshan in.

[Max Power]

Could have bowled any spin in the middle overs and there'd be no damage. Sending the medium pacers in to face Buttler at the death was criminal

[Davgooner]

Is this Arnold on comms? Nice bit of seethe.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Narangoda Liyanaarachchilage Thisara Chirantha Perera is one of my least favourite cricketers, I think.

[Max Power]

Is this Arnold on comms? Nice bit of seethe.
He is the absolute King of seethe. Never heard anything like it.

[Max Power]

Get Arnie on the mic now

[Max Power]

Yesnoyesno

It's a rout :drool:

[Davgooner]

Nice for us to be on the right end of a shambolic run out.

[Jimmy Floyd]

lol at this. Angelo's had a stinker.

[niko_cee]

He'll still get a hundred and somehow lol them to victory.

[Max Power]

Not over yet

[Jimmy Floyd]

We have the exact opposite problem to them. Get Roy's meedos involved.

[John Arne]

Rubbish bowling.

[niko_cee]

:D

Only England could contrive to lose from having them 15-4, and with overs to spare by the looks of things.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Rubbish bowling.

Not really, they're just good at hitting spin for six. Still fancy us here.

[hfswjyr]

This guy looks like a massive chancer.

[Max Power]

Dont fancy Stokes with the last over. Need a wicket really

[hfswjyr]

I take it back.

[Jimmy Floyd]

This guy looks like a massive chancer.

He was, total hack.

Still fancy us.

[John Arne]

Great from Jordan and Stokes at the end there.

[Max Power]

Fair play to Stokes - didn't fancy him.

If England bowl first in the semi and final they can win it.

[leedsrevolution]

Nice win that.

[John Arne]

Not really, they're just good at hitting spin for six. Still fancy us here.

Nope. Rashid and Ali bowled absolute dross.

[Davgooner]

That lad that's donned the Sri Lankan domestic T20 looked good didn't he? The shank to midwicket off the handle of the bat was a highlight.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Nope. Rashid and Ali bowled absolute dross.

What should they have bowled instead of the deliveries they did? No full tosses or long hops. Rash was backing himself to induce the top edge which wins the match there and then, Moeen was bowling flatter but they just got hold of him.

Sri Lanka made the decision to chance their arm against both and pulled it off, just good batting I'm afraid.

[John Arne]

There was clearly no turn in the pitch... they should have bowled a little fuller and tried to get under the bat, I'm afraid. Whatever, we won.

[Jimmy Floyd]

We have a tendency to just slate whoever goes for runs, it's not always the bowler's fault in T20. Jordan bowled more bad balls than both of them combined, and he took 4 for 28.

[Max Power]

Again I think Morgan's captaincy of the spinners wasn't great. Should really have got them on earlier. Even when he does he seems to bowl them in an eight over block. Mix it up a bit don't let the batsmen get their eye in

[Jimmy Floyd]

I like chucking one on in the 7th over. A lot of teams do that. I would even burn Moeen in the powerplay if they have a left hander in. Was surprised we didn't do that against Gayle, who takes a while to get his eye in generally, but we are still, despite the exuberance, a very 'plans' based team.

[Max Power]

Yeah it is still all a bit orthodox in the field despite the huge strides made with the bat. I like the idea of bowling Jordan overs 14, 16, 18, 20. Plunkett and Willey up front and get the spinners in early.

Looking forward to India/Aus tomorrow. Massive.

[Davgooner]

Arnold reached peak cunt with his 'not only them' comment. You'd like to think Lloyd and Hussain troll the shit out of his off camera.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Arnold reached peak cunt with his 'not only them' comment. You'd like to think Lloyd and Hussain troll the shit out of his off camera.

I was ready to launch an invasion when he said that. Absolute snidey prick. At least he didn't manage to slip in any of his usual Man Utd banter.

[ItalAussie]

If we beat India, they're out and that'd be hilarious.

Get on board.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Don't worry, everyone's piled into the ute for this one.

Gayle hasn't even bothered with this game against Afghanistan, in which 124 are required by the West Indies on a rank slow pitch.

[Jimmy Floyd]

West Indies need to be bowled out for 97 or fewer here to get the New Zealand semi instead of the Australia/India one...

[Jimmy Floyd]

Willey fined for telling one of the Sri Lankans to 'fuck off'. Should be given a bonus if anything.

[Max Power]

Bravo gone. Game on

[Jimmy Floyd]

I can't think of a more enjoyable team to watch than Afghanistan. Really hope that two division structure comes in asap so we get to see more of them.

[Max Power]

"Young" leggie Rashid Khan looks a player

[Max Power]

I can't think of a more enjoyable team to watch than Afghanistan. Really hope that two division structure comes in asap so we get to see more of them.

If the rate of their rise in the past 5 years is anything to go by they will be the best team in the world by 2022.

Already better than Zimbabwe, outperformed Bangladesh by a mile and have been "in" all four games this tournament which is more than you can say for some of the others.

I'd love them to win this match.

[niko_cee]

That really is the mother of all bullshit decisions.

[Davgooner]

The keeper there. :D

[Jimmy Floyd]

Shahzad is a complete legend.

EDIT: :D

[Max Power]

Shahzad you beast :D

[Davgooner]

Fucking catch son. Fielder's killed himself in the process, and Inzamam nearly smiled.

[Max Power]

Inzy doesn't approve of that sort of extravagant fielding.

Nearly there lads

[Max Power]

Great scenes :cool:

[Jimmy Floyd]

What heroes.

South Africa have the highest net run rate in this group. Chin up, eh, boys.

[Max Power]

Fair play to WORLD BOSS there, nice touch

[ItalAussie]

Outstanding.

[simon]

This is the first time I've heard the Indian national anthem.

What the fuck is it? :D

[Jimmy Floyd]

I don't mind it but it's hilariously at odds with the INDIA MASSIVE ROCKSTAR SUPERPOWER thing they have going on around their cricketers.

The pindrop silence at opposition boundaries is the best sound in sport.

[Max Power]

I don't mind it but it's hilariously at odds with the INDIA MASSIVE ROCKSTAR SUPERPOWER thing they have going on around their cricketers.

The pindrop silence at opposition boundaries is the best sound in sport.

The absolute pinnacle of the genre:



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MvXFIEVHGCk

[Jimmy Floyd]

Gavaskar's having a hard time explaining this start.

Trashwin going the distance is another happy time in cricket.

[Max Power]

Yes Finchy. Bloody good rep.

Ashwin going around the park here :drool:

[Max Power]

Nowhere near it. Bent umpiring.

Come on Maxwell. Smash these cunts.

[Jimmy Floyd]

If MS goes up they always give it out. Not even a noise.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Australia have been so bad at coping with any sort of pace off the ball here. Always through their shots so early. It's not the joke pitches down under now, chaps.

[Max Power]

Absolute mess since the powerplay

[Jimmy Floyd]

Hmm. Don't think it's a wicket that lends itself to chasing 160, but also don't think Australia have the bowlers to defend it, and Kohli/Dhoni piss most chases.

Don't know how I'd cope with an England v India final.

[Max Power]

Calling a super over now.

[Max Power]

http://st3.cricketcountry.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/1869.jpeg

Yes Watto mate

[Jimmy Floyd]

Kohli/Dhoni still in the house. Dhoni despicable bottom hand hacks for six very much in the game here.

[Max Power]

Yuvraj pretending he's injured so he doesn't have to run twos is poor. Kohli is narked.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Yuvraj shouldn't be anywhere near this squad. Probably not in their first three squads.

[igor_balis]

Some absolutely baffling chat about player names there.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Unless you get one of these out they'll chase anything.

[Max Power]

Kohli is fucking quality tbf

[niko_cee]

This sounds like a fairly damaging over for 'the finisher'.

[Max Power]

Faulkner is bins and always has been. Zampa underbowled again.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Faulkner is bins and always has been. Zampa underbowled again.

I thought that. Not very brave captaincy at all from old Devereux. Leggie as likely to get Kohli out as anyone and they had to get him out.

[Max Power]

In that spinfest they lost to New Zealand he bowled 1 over for 3 runs.

[Davgooner]

713689253830533120

[Jimmy Floyd]

Bowling eight overs of Hazlewood and Coulter-Nile on this pitch is literally incompetent.

[Max Power]

I guess it's on the mighty ENGLAND to prevent the Evil Empire winning this tournament then.

[igor_balis]

I'm still fuming at Mahmudullah and Mushfiqur Rahim.

[Jimmy Floyd]

West Indies have half a chance with their attack unless they get bribed off, which is probably not as unlikely as it seems.

I think we'll do New Zealand.

[hfswjyr]

T20 is just the most random-outcome format, which annoys me more than it probably should.

I think we'll do England.

[niko_cee]

Fairly poor show from Australia letting the gruesome twosome do them over like that.

Agree on the random format and that being irrationally annoying. I suppose, in a way, it allows you to appreciate the nuances of every fine detail (ie the difference saving a run can make) but it mostly just feels completely luck driven. If you don't time it, does it pick out the fielder? There's no skill in (unintentionally) shanking it into space, but that can often decide a game.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Kohli's two sixes were probably the two worst shots he played, lumbering halfway down, getting nowhere near the pitch and just chipping it over long off with his massive bat. T20 is a better game on big grounds. The best shots were those ones he drove willy out past extra towards the end (one of which made the ghastly Gavaskar ejaculate), and the two yorkers he squeezed through point.

I've long been convinced Dhoni is fucking awful, no idea how he gets away with it. Fortunately Simple Suresh appears to have been found out at long last.

[Jimmy Floyd]

It's kind of sad watching Steyn get taken round the park by wankers like Chandimal. He should retire and stick to Tests or something. Not sure he'll be an IPL commodity for much longer, not on playing ability anyway.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Alan Wilkins American accent on commentary. RIP cricket.

[Jimmy Floyd]

New Zealand are batting, and I fancy us rotten. I dare you, England, to disappoint me.

[John Arne]

Early wicket.

[Jimmy Floyd]

'Colin Munro' can piss off back to the gardening job for a Highland estate in the 1980s where he belongs.

[hfswjyr]

Got it on the radio, and it sounds like we're struggling a bit. Hopefully the spinners continue to be good on this pitch.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Jroy is donning this. Hopefully gets him a late IPL deal so I don't have to watch him skying it for 10 off 4 balls at number six in the County Championship.

[niko_cee]

Imagine the net run rate.

:drool:

[Jimmy Floyd]

It's so refreshing to watch us go out and issue a clinical humping in a semi-final.

Badly need West Indies to win now. An England v India final would be too much for me.

[Disco]

Wait a minute, there's only one knockout round before the final? What kind of mad structure is that?

[Jimmy Floyd]

One with not enough teams in it because Giles Clarke/India. Although cricket doesn't really do quarter-finals to be honest, except at the World Cup, which has the worst structure for anything ever.

[Max Power]

Just watched the highlights. Great stuff. Scarily competent bowling performance as well by the looks of things. End times.

When Roy comes off :drool: Those straight drives :drool:

[hfswjyr]

Eoin Morgan. "We did really to peg it back after the first six or seven overs, Kane played really well and his wicket was very important. Continuing to take wickets helped us a huge amount. At one stage we were looking at 180, but the belief in our camp is a very aggressive brand of cricket and we have confidence at the moment - led by Alex Hales and Jason Roy. We are in a good position at the moment. [A final] is the kind of thing you dream about. The players have made a lot of sacrifices and worked very hard for it."

Well played and deserved on the day.

[niko_cee]

Get a fiver on Morgan for a golden duck in the final.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Kane Williamson really does have a camp voice. Bazza's testosterone legacy crumbling already.

[Jimmy Floyd]

West Indies won the toss and put indianteam in to bat.

But more importantly, the county vs university matches have started :drool:

[Davgooner]

Dhoni there, practising the sort of orthodox shot he hasn't yet managed to play for real in his career.

[igor_balis]

Kohli is ridiculous.

[Jimmy Floyd]

If England go down to this ghastly duo in the final I might cry.

[Davgooner]

We have to do these cunts.

[igor_balis]

That's that, then.

[leedsrevolution]

Brilliant from Kohli but he was dam lucky not to be out early doors. Gale out so this should be wrapped up now.

[leedsrevolution]

Or not...

[Sam]

This is game on. Thought they'd crumble with Gayle gone.

[Disco]

If India get teabagged by no balls and free hits. :drool:

[John Arne]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4zLfCnGVeL4

[Jimmy Floyd]

Probably never lolled so much at anything in my life.

That shot of the Indian players' wives was fucking priceless.

[Ian]

Are we going to beat these? The thought of losing to The Universe Boss is only slightly more palatable than losing to India.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I would have them as favourites to be honest, but it will be a very different surface to the one they spanked us on in the opener.

The Universe Boss has done literally nothing since that game as well. Not even made double figures and couldn't be arsed at all in two of the games.

[Davgooner]

That was the best thing I've watched in a long time. That's an absolute monster of a chase after being 50/2 after seven and it couldn't have played out any better than it did. Kohli and Dohni are absolutely massive cunts.

Siiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiilence.

[Ian]

Was it a proper silent finale? Or silent but for riotous murmurings?

[Max Power]

Haven't watched a ball. Checked the score at 20/2 or whatever and thought no chance. Gonna catch up with the highlights now with this world class Gavaskar seethe in my mind

https://mobile.twitter.com/CricketNDTV/status/715603247742865408

[Jimmy Floyd]

Was it a proper silent finale? Or silent but for riotous murmurings?

The noise was amazing. Huge cheers for dot balls, but fours and sixes greeted by total silence, as if somebody pulled the plug out. The level of expectation is ridiculous and can't help the players to be honest. Pretty much all of them bar Virat and to some extent Bumrash have performed very poorly at this tournament, but then that's also because the team is selected on marketability rather than merit.

[Max Power]

Well, Andre Russell hits a big ball.

Ian Bishop with some top calling at the end there.

"GAME OVER! GAME OVER! WEST INDIES HAVE UPSET INDIA... If you can call it that..."

Quite restrained really. I'd have whipped my cock out and slapped Sunil Gavaskar in the face.

[Jimmy Floyd]

In another era, Russell would be one of the great Test all-rounders. Would be a better bowler than he is (not hard), and come in at seven and play these Klusener-esque knocks. Alas he's probably the laziest out of all of them in terms of what cricket he plays.

[ItalAussie]

The noise was amazing. Huge cheers for dot balls, but fours and sixes greeted by total silence, as if somebody pulled the plug out. The level of expectation is ridiculous and can't help the players to be honest. Pretty much all of them bar Virat and to some extent Bumrash have performed very poorly at this tournament, but then that's also because the team is selected on marketability rather than merit.I assumed there was more regionalism than marketability. But I actually think there aren't that many obvious selection errors (Rahane and Dhoni are the glaring ones).

Sharma will take a match away from you when he comes off, and if he doesn't, there's still time to rebuild. Rahane has no place being in the T20 side, but the idea of an Indian player forgoing T20 to focus on his obvious ability in the longer formats is basically impossible. Kohli is good. Dhoni is there because he is somehow in charge of the BCCI, for reasons that I can't quite pin down. Raina hasn't been great for a while, but can still do a job - probably should have come in ahead of Dhoni.

No idea who Pandey/ya are, so if they're being picked on marketability, it's failed. Jadeja normally keeps producing results far better than his limited ability would suggest is possible. Ashwin is comfortably the best spin bowler in the world. Anyone who reckons they're picking a 37-in-two-weeks Ashish Nehra on marketability is vastly overestimating the pensioner dollar.

Some of the selection is a bit out there, but I don't know if that's the only reason in play. The real question for them in this tournament is why Ashwin (a good bowler) and Jadeja (a poor bowler who sometimes lucks out) managed to fail so badly.

[Ian]

The fuck is Bumrah's weird action/ run up all about?

Thought I was watching a sportsman-dies-on-pitch clip for a second.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Yuvraj Singh is the most egregious example - just not good enough for this level of cricket - and whilst Harbhajan didn't get onto the pitch, he was remarkably still in the squad. Raina has had no form for possibly two years and wasn't that great to begin with, if we're being honest. Ravi Jadeja is total horseshit and everyone knows it, but he gets picked every time on Dhoni's coat tails. Many are excited by Pawan Negi, but he doesn't get a game.

Hardik Pandya was probably their best selection because, whilst still raw, he offers them something they don't otherwise have with both bat and ball.

Their second highest run scorer was Dhoni with 89 runs. Even Shahid Afridi scored more than that.

[Max Power]

Ashwin wasn't picked for "marketability" more that he's Dhoni's mate from Chennai Super Kings (RIP). Even though he is actually rubbish and Dhoni rarely even used him this tournament even when they found themselves on slow pitches. Can also explain Raina.

CSK also the team of ICC president N Srinivasan of course.

[Jimmy Floyd]

That goes hand in hand with who you want on the posters though.

The other problem they have is the IPL is actually crap cricket, but whisper that. No bid for Guptill, Amla or Khawaja at this year's auction. I wonder why, especially on the latter two counts.

[Max Power]

Chris Morris $750,000 though. I'll never understand the IPL I'm afraid.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I looked through the squads in detail the other day in an attempt to unravel its mysteries, but there's no real rhyme or reason to it. Sri Lankans seem to be very much off the menu, and there's a mysterious predilection for filling up the excess overseas berths with workaday Australian medium pacers, like Ben Cutting and Joel Paris.

The player values themselves are all based on supply and demand. It's like when City overpay for young English players. There are only 32 starting berths for overseas and everyone wants to be there, so the teams have a stronger hand, but when it comes to Indian players the opposite is true, hence Ravi Jadeja being worth sixteen Kane Williamsons.

Even that fails to explain Chris Morris, but then Surrey have signed him as well for reasons that elude me, so I should button up.

[ItalAussie]

Yuvraj Singh is the most egregious example - just not good enough for this level of cricket - and whilst Harbhajan didn't get onto the pitch, he was remarkably still in the squad. Raina has had no form for possibly two years and wasn't that great to begin with, if we're being honest. Ravi Jadeja is total horseshit and everyone knows it, but he gets picked every time on Dhoni's coat tails. Many are excited by Pawan Negi, but he doesn't get a game.Harbhajan is a waste of space now, but he'll get in the squad until he dies.

Jadeja's the curious one, because you're not wrong, and I can't stand him. But you can't deny that he's been weirdly effective prior to this tournament - certainly far more than his ability would suggest he should be.

[Jimmy Floyd]

His record is propped up by a huge amount of success against England. Averages 22 against us and 56 against Australia in ODIs, both in a decent number of games. 'FML', as they say.

[ItalAussie]

He's an odd duck.

In other India-related news: http://www.espncricinfo.com/icc-world-twenty20-2016/content/story/993955.html


Dhoni blames no-balls, dew factor for loss

"But you have to realise it was half an hour early start, a bad toss to lose."

"It was quite difficult to score 190. We are saying 10-15 short based on the second innings but you have to analyse that the surface was completely different."

Aw.

[Disco]

I watched a fair bit of IPL a year or two back (I still don't know anything about cricket but I quite like watching it) and came to the conclusion that it had to be completely bent. Was I entirely or just mostly correct?

[Byron]

He's an odd duck.

In other India-related news: http://www.espncricinfo.com/icc-world-twenty20-2016/content/story/993955.html


Aw.

Aww, let me get out my violin.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I watched a fair bit of IPL a year or two back (I still don't know anything about cricket but I quite like watching it) and came to the conclusion that it had to be completely bent. Was I entirely or just mostly correct?

Entirely.

Two of the 8 teams are currently banned for corruption, although they've been replaced by another two.

[Ian]

Think this'll be the first time I've gone out of my way to watch a full T20 match.

Batting first. What'd be a good score here?

[igor_balis]

Fucking hell.

[Ian]

Lol, here we go.

[leedsrevolution]

Great start there.

[John Arne]

Wahey Roy :D

[igor_balis]

Oh no.

[leedsrevolution]

:(

[Davgooner]

Just turned and it's 9-2, and Morgan's just played a textbook forward defence.

Great.

[igor_balis]

Morgan looks perpetually dead behind the eyes. I know he's in poor form, but I don't think I've ever seen him look cheerful. He gives me the willies a bit.

[igor_balis]

That won't help. Eugh. Edit: Eoin's demeanour, I mean. In terms of run rate it might actually help us.

[John Arne]

That was inevitable.

Did I hear that Windies have won 10 tosses on the spin?

[leedsrevolution]

Well this is a bit shit.

[Davgooner]

These sort of T20 games are shit. We'll score something pathetic, Gayle will get out for nothing, and Marlon Samuels will plod his way to victory. Everyone will cry.

[igor_balis]

These sort of T20 games are shit. We'll score something pathetic, Gayle will get out for nothing, and Marlon Samuels will plod his way to victory. Everyone will cry.

Yep. With our deep batting line-up and sketchy bowling attack we'd be better served just going for it rather than consolidating. I'd rather see us all out for 100 trying to get 200 rather than eking out 132-7.

[leedsrevolution]

Yep. With our deep batting line-up and sketchy bowling attack we'd be better served just going for it rather than consolidating. I'd rather see us all out for 100 trying to get 200 rather than eking out 132-7.

You should put a quid on that exact score. I can see it.

[leedsrevolution]

Feel so fucking sorry for Joe Root. He's a class act.

[Ian]

Root. :cool:

Everyone else. :sick:

[igor_balis]

That's that, then.

[Ian]

Double-jinx team!

Played, Rev. o/

[leedsrevolution]

Have windies collapsed horrifically this tournament at any point?

[igor_balis]

They failed to chase the 124 set by the Afghans, but they were already through at that point.

[hfswjyr]

Need a few more here, but it's not the worst score in the world with 4 overs to go.

[Ian]

West Indies scores so far:
183 - England
127 (18.3 overs) - Sri Lanka
123 (19.4 overs) - Saffers
117 (already through) - Afghans
196 (19.4 overs) - India

[leedsrevolution]

Jesus how have they got so far with them scores. Not completely over then.

[hfswjyr]

Jesus how have they got so far with them scores. Not completely over then.
You can only beat what's in front of you (or what the other team sets).

[niko_cee]

We would never chase this down.

And, by the same token, even if the Windies are 33-6 after 5 overs, they'll still get it. I was at the Oval for that Champions Trophy final.

[leedsrevolution]

You can only beat what's in front of you (or what the other team sets).

Still when you consider the overs to the run rates it isn't brilliant.

[igor_balis]

Roooooooooooooooooooot

[igor_balis]

omfg

[simon]

'mon.

[Ian]

Root! :drool:

Get fucked, Universe Boss. Jimmy will be nursing a semi just now.

[leedsrevolution]

What a fucking hero. Even if we loose he deserves to be knighted.

[John Arne]

Just as I was about to change my opinion on Jordan he delivers this tripe.

[Max Power]

Dave Willeys aving a party

[Ian]

Willey's been great. Made it tight again after it looked like they'd bagged it.

[niko_cee]

I'm pretty sure Hales caught that exactly how you are taught not to as a kid.

He'd have looked a right pleb if he'd dropped it as well.

[simon]

This is tense.

[Byron]

They'll have to go for it now, that run rate is starting to creep up.