The Cricket Thread

[Ian]

Is David Willey normally this good?

[Max Power]

What about sport eh? Don't you just love it

[Byron]

:drool:

Mon you beautiful British bastards.

[Byron]

Well not like that Jordan, you tosspot.

[Max Power]

CJ living in that blockhole what a man

[Ian]

What about sport eh? Don't you just love it

Sport. :cool:

[Byron]

I've changed my mind Jordan, I love you again.

[Ian]

Fffffffffffffffffffffff-.............

[Kikó]

Stokes /o\

[Max Power]

Stokesy getting tap. Sport eh?

[niko_cee]

Leg stump long hop, that's the one Ben.

[Ian]

Ginger cunt.

[Byron]

Oh shiiiiiiiii

[Byron]

Fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck.

[Kikó]

Killed him. Jesus.

[Byron]

What the fuck is happening..

[Max Power]

Jesus never trust a ginger

[niko_cee]

:D

Only the scoreboard will save him from 'doing a Broad'.

[Byron]

Fair play from Windies. If ever there was a time to turn it on.

[Waffdon]

Scenes

[Byron]

You can get to fuck you little runt.

[Kikó]

Haha. Well done windies. Should have let Root have that final over.

[John Arne]

Those first two balls from Stokes were fucking turgid. Fucking donkey pace leg side crap.

[Ian]

Ginger, ginger cunt.

[Byron]

Oh for God's sake.

[Ian]

Stokes is in bits.

[niko_cee]

It was the first ball wot dun it. Such a bad ball. I suppose the small mercy for Stokes was it wasn't Samuels, but I'm sure he must have had a word at the other end. Old Warney would have given him two at the death as well.

[simon]

You can't even be mad.

Stokes won't be getting much sleep for a while.

[Max Power]

Not sure about them half volleys stokes lad. Still got to the final which is pretty decent and actually look like playing limited overs cricket with some degree of positivity and competence so that's alright.

West Indies are good lads so fair enough

[Davgooner]

Stokes is either superb or absolute dross. Having said that, the two decent balls he bowled ended up about 50 rows back. Braithewaite has fucking murdered us there.

Windies, though, Samuels aside, about the perfect winners of this.

[igor_balis]

carlos fucking brathwaite. ben fucking stokes. great game.

[niko_cee]

The only galling thing was seeing the Indian fans getting all over them. Who was that woman they kept cutting to (probably a West Indian mum or something)?

I recall a similar thing happening on that dark day in South London. Luckily they all fucked off when it looked a lost cause so weren't there when the bad things went down at the end.

[Kikó]

Cricket players with their tops off. Doesn't sit right.

[hfswjyr]

I remember watching "Carlos" swing and miss at about 6 deliveries in a row when they played Pakistan, before getting out next ball.

Complete chancer I'm afraid.

Well done to the Windies.

[Ian]

At least it wasn't the Universe Dross who won it for them.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Bloody loved the entertainment there. T20 at its best, what a great final. Shame about the end. No blame on Stokes, the assault was always coming, we lost it in the batting.

The best bit of the game was Johnson Charles's shot to get out. Just watch it on repeat for the rest of time. You keep doing that, Johnson, old boy.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Marlon Samuels dedicating the victory to Shane Warne (who always slates him for some reason) and then rocks up to the press conference like this:

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CfIujMAWIAA92qR.jpg

Before saying, of Warne, "I don't know why he talks this way about me. Maybe because my face is real and his face is not."

Well batted son.

[Max Power]

Samuels is a geezer and always will be

[Davgooner]

Lofty gets about.

[ItalAussie]

I've never been able to decide if I rate Samuels as a player or not. But he's certainly shown that he's incredibly composed in finals.

They basically won this tournament without Gayle as well. Good on them. Take his medal and give it to someone less pointless.

[Jimmy Floyd]

During the game I was calling it saying we should keep the atrocious Bravo in (he and his crap single can fuck off) so as not to expose the late hitters, including dropping dollies on purpose if necessary. I got lolled at when we then got Russell and Sammy out for bobbins, but who had the last laugh.

[ItalAussie]

During the game I was calling it saying we should keep the atrocious Bravo in (he and his crap single can fuck off) so as not to expose the late hitters, including dropping dollies on purpose if necessary. I got lolled at when we then got Russell and Sammy out for bobbins, but who had the last laugh.

I've often wondered about trying to pull off strategies like that. I think I was speculating a while back against India that keeping Rahane in as the required run-rate increased might not have been the worst decision in the world.

[igor_balis]

I suppose they could just retire out, lol.

[Danny]

I've often wondered about trying to pull off strategies like that. I think I was speculating a while back against India that keeping Rahane in as the required run-rate increased might not have been the worst decision in the world.

Or letting Bell and Cook plod their way throug an OD innings?

[Jimmy Floyd]

It only really applies in T20 as wickets are basically always bad in the other forms of the game. I did once see the England under 19 captain deliberately drop a catch against Sri Lanka so that they could get another couple of balls in before the incoming rain for the D/L situation, whereas the wicket break would have finished it there and then.

Then there has also been an interesting development in this tournament which was the 'pinch blocker', i.e. teams who lost early wickets would send some mug up the order so as not to expose their late order hitters too early. Bangladesh and Afghanistan both did it to reasonable effect.

[igor_balis]

That kind of shit does make me think that there might be something wrong with the rules though, if ostensibly 'bad' things are actually beneficial. Maybe just turn 20/20 into pure kwiq kriket and have it that you lose runs for wickets or some bollocks.

[niko_cee]

That must have been England's strategy behind missing so many run outs.

[hfswjyr]

That kind of shit does make me think that there might be something wrong with the rules though, if ostensibly 'bad' things are actually beneficial. Maybe just turn 20/20 into pure kwiq kriket and have it that you lose runs for wickets or some bollocks.

It all becomes part of the game. See fouls in basketball, steals in baseball, fouls in football, etc. etc. Sometimes the rules can be broken to get ahead (at a cost).

[Jimmy Floyd]

I was probably exaggerating about it always being a bad thing in the other formats as well. See Ian Botham famously running out Boycott.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WAeFm22xB7Q

[Jimmy Floyd]

County Championship starts today :drool:

My boys going with this team-of-all-the-talents at Notts:

Burns
Harinath
Sangakkara
Davies
Roy
Foakes
Curran S
Curran T
Batty
Rampaul
Footitt

Probably the most eclectic county bowling attack you're ever likely to see. A left armer on the fringes of the England squad, a 39 year old off spinner, an England Lions seamer, a 17 year old prodigy, and a fat cunt from Trinidad.

[Lee]

As somebody who knows about these things, will Leicestershire ever not finish bottom again? I remember when when we had good cricket team around these parts.

It's interesting, you get towards the end of the football season and those blokes the other side of middle aged are talking about watching County through the summer months. Never heard anything similar from the younger crowd. Is county cricket dying?

[igor_balis]

I'm gonna try to go to a few county championship games this season. I'm technically a Warwickshire fan but I'm mostly interested in going to a few new grounds, i.e. anywhere except Edgbaston and Stratford. Any nice grounds you can recommend Jimmy?

edit: or anyone really.

[Jimmy Floyd]

People have been saying county cricket is dying for 100+ years. It will never die and it still produces every single England player with no exceptions. It just doesn't fit in with marketing and bean counters. It's also much more geared towards older people because it's on in the week and during the day.

Leicestershire have probably bottomed out a couple of years ago and are now tentatively on the way back up, although probably not very far up just yet.

The best grounds are Trent Bridge, Hove and Taunton, and Scarborough when Yorkshire go and play there. The worst ground, by far, is Chelmsford.

[Max Power]

James Taylor forced to retire due to a heart condition. Jesus :serious:

Shame he didn't play more for England. Good player.

[Jimmy Floyd]

That is so gutting. Hopefully he'll be back in some other capacity.

[Max Power]

Chairman of selectors. Picking only players under 5'10

[Jimmy Floyd]

At least he went out with the Test place he should have had for some time.

Weird as hell, he seemed to be in consideration for the ongoing Championship match until the morning of day one.

[Davgooner]

Shit. :|

[Max Power]

Went into the doctors with what he thought was some 'viral infection' and they found a heart problem, same as Muamba apparently.

[ItalAussie]

That's really very sad.

I'm glad he cracked the test team, although it's gutting that it was for such a short span.

[niko_cee]

Jesus. I suppose it's better to find out that way than dropping dead in the middle. Gutted for the wee man.

[Ian]

This is why you can't let midgets play. The bat and pads were about fifty times his weight, the poor little fucker.

Seriously though: :(

[niko_cee]

I quite liked Jonathan Agnew's "Short batsmen are notoriously difficult to bowl at . . ." comment in the (career) obit. Whatever you call it. Definite dig there.

[Davgooner]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/36026355

Oi Oi.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Tenner on Broad being the first to say 'We all know Belly has a big heart' when he forces his way back into the England side for the first Test.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I say forces, he'll probably stroll into the number three or five slot in this form.

Personally I would bin off one of Hales and Compton and bung the Bell in at three, with Vince at five.

[Max Power]

Gallance will be back in the team at some point this summer I reckon

[Jimmy Floyd]

I'm watching Kohli and AB cream the comedy Delhi Daredevils attack around Bangalore, and Ravi Shastri has just issued the most orgasmic tracer bullet I've ever heard him do for a Kohli straight tonk. Channelling Martin Tyler's 'AND IT'S LIVE' voice.

I'm not sure who the Aussie commentator is, probably Hayden, but he's just described the Vodafone Superfan thus: 'If they turned the lights off in this stadium, that smile would still light it up'.

In happier news, hundreds today for Lyth and Robson. Poor blokes.

[Max Power]

I'd give Lyth another go.

Good shit this from Farbrace on Sangakkara: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/cricket/2016/04/14/kumar-sangakkara-the-dazzling-kind-perfectionist-sri-lanka-crick/

[Danny]

YJB off to a good start too. 107* right now

[Max Power]

Leicestershire la la la

http://m.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/current/match/946957.html

We're gonna win the league

[Jimmy Floyd]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/cricket/2016/04/19/this-sissy-society-forcing-alastair-cook-to-wear-an-approved-hel/

God bless you, Sir Geoffrey.

[ItalAussie]

The worst.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Joe Clarke with his second ton of the season already today for Worcestershire. Remember the name.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Notts v Yorkshire is on Sky if anyone fancies some County Championship before the football. All the England players are playing, notably ROOTEH and Hales.

Ravi Rampaul's buffet-inspired rampage through the championship has sadly been ended by injury though.

[Jimmy Floyd]

https://twitter.com/surreycricket/status/726838694577991680

I wonder what Stokes can possibly be saying at the end of that clip.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Root nicked off first ball :cool:

Jake Ball looks a proper bowler. Will play for England soon.

[ItalAussie]

http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2016/may/03/ecb-points-system-has-only-one-drawback-it-totally-devalues-test-cricket

They're so, so desperate to have an overall cricket world champion, which is totally missing the point. If you're the best team in the world, everyone knows it. West Indies and Australia at their peaks didn't need a trophy to tell the world that they were on top. Everyone knew it, simply from seeing the fear in other teams had when they took to the field. At the moment, no team has that, although another team will in time. There's no definitively best cricket team, and that's totally alright.

[hfswjyr]

Strange words from a stats man...

[ItalAussie]

Strange words from a stats man...

I actually have very little time for statistics in sports beyond the basic achievement measures. Simple numbers that measure obvious things that we can see with our own eyes.

The last thing I ever want to see is cricket analysis getting close to that of baseball.


EDIT: And don't get me started on "predictive sports analystics" which is mostly voodoo numerology based on shonky ad hoc arguments.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Tony Cozier has died.

:(

Legend.

[Ian]

In case anybody didn't know Sky have a thing on called "England in the 90s" from 10.30 tonight.

I wasn't paying attention when I was living through it though I suppose some of you probably had your fill of it at the time.

[Luke Emia]

Yeah that sounds wank.

[niko_cee]

Once was probably enough.

[Jimmy Floyd]

It was quite a comedic time. We had probably five genuinely top class players, but the bowling never really came together and we kept axeing batsmen for no reason.

Atherton, Hussain, Thorpe and Stewart were all as good as anything we have now, batting wise, Root aside. I include Cook in that because if he had to face peak Curtly Ambrose, peak McGrath, peak Donald, peak Wasim in every fucking series like Athers did, he would average about 10-15 less.

[Ian]

In the ad I saw the theme was basically "We had some top players, so what the fuck?"

From Jimmy's WDYTOE entries on me I feel like I need the education and perspective. Hopefully Ed Giddins gets a mention so I can learn who the fuck he is.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I think the absolute peak of the era was the 'You guys are history' spell.


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

[Ian]

Watching this England in the 90s thing.

In one early 90s series we used 24 players. Fucking hell.

[Ian]

Giddins finally gets a mention. :cool:

[igor_balis]

Test match cricket :drool:.

Also, Jimmy Floyd, great shout on Cricket Sadists Hour - it is excellent. I just read that a photo Jarrod took was used as the cover for an album by Sean Combs aka Puff Daddy aka Puffy aka Diddy aka P. Diddy, which is nicely surreal.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Finn ahead of Ball, which is a bit of a shame because I'd have loved to see Ball get a chance, but Finn is hardly a mug.

Vince is the right choice for 5, but the fact that he's with ISM has made me want him to fail.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Getting ripped to shreds by Dasun Shanaka. Welcome back, England.

[Davgooner]

Who are these two noobs?

SCJ Broad
JM Anderson

[Ian]

So we're giving out points for tests, one dayers and Twenty 20 matches in this series/tournament/trophy/whatever, but when it's only two teams is there any purposes to giving out points for things that aren't wins?

A lot of nonsense. Who's it supposed to appeal to?

[Jimmy Floyd]

It's supposed to make people more interested in white ball, because the ECB need to market white ball ahead of the 2019 World Cup.

They do it in women's series but it makes sense there, it is just pointless in the men's stuff.

I have no idea why they give out points for draws.

[Ian]

I suppose there are different points for a test draw/no result than in the white ball stuff but even then it feels like just pulling a number of points out of a hat when setting the thing up.

[niko_cee]

Why do they never start early anymore to make up for lost time?

[niko_cee]

Bet that was a hard decision for an opening batsman captain.

Err, no thanks. You have another go.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Sri Lanka are heading rapidly deshwards, aren't they, and the Bangla Bus somewhat in the other direction.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Sam Curran snaring Ravi Bop for fuck all on SS2 :cool:

[Max Power]

Catching up with highlights of the first two days right now. Peak Anderson yesterday, unplayable in those conditions. He could feasibly get to 500 wickets couldn't he?

Shout out to me for writing Bairstow off last year. Still can't keep but you know...

[Jimmy Floyd]

All the people saying he should move to 5 and Buttler come in to 7 are fucking idiots. If someone is doing well in a position, fucking leave them there. Bairstow's style is perfectly suited to being a Test 7 anyway as it's either counter-attack or just piling runs onto an already good situation.

Moeen is getting a bit hmm though, has lost all his batting form batting down there and will barely bowl at this time of year against this opposition.

[Max Power]

Yeah he seems a bit lost down there at the minute. Needs to go back that Ashes form of just having a dart and if it comes off it comes off. This pushing and prodding looks shit. No real point dropping him as we'll need him in the winter.

The only logic behind moving Bairstow up and Buttler in is taking the gloves off Bairstow but I suppose it isn't a major issue for now.

[ItalAussie]

That Sri Lanka team is really uninspiring.

We're touring there mid-year, so expect them to spin us out for about twelve. Then South Africa and Pakistan here at the end of the year, which is the most perfect tour I could have hoped for. Will try and catch at least a day or two of whoever's playing in Sydney.

[Ian]

Russell Arnold was trying really hard on the Day 1 Verdict to not just say they're a load of bobbins.

[igor_balis]

Love watching great seam bowling like this.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Chris 'Woakesy' Woakes taking 9 for 36 today, in addition to his hundred last week. Added to the England squad in place of the injured Stokes.

http://www.cricket.com.au/~/media/Players/Men/International/England/chris-woakes-eng.ashx

[Max Power]

Calling his 1-80 and pleasant 36 with the bat right now

[Jimmy Floyd]

I'd play Jake Ball actually, against this rabble. We'll need a bowling option like that when Misbah has trolled our main ones into a spiral of darkness later in the summer.

Also gives Moeen the chance to bat one higher and get some form back.

[niko_cee]

Moeen really ought to be batting 6 even if they do draft Bloaksey the Destroyer in.

[Ian]

That wicketkeeping. :harold:

[Max Power]

Couple of horror drops this morning after some great catches yesterday.

Give me a morning of Moeen please to soothe this hangover

[Max Power]

Every fielder on the boundary, slowish outfield. Of course Moeen laces four through deep midwicket. Timing :drool:

[Max Power]

Yes lad :thbup:

[niko_cee]

Although it's not quite there (yet) this Sri Lankan effort is starting to have the feel of that time we completely lost it against Mathews.

[Max Power]

Cook's worst captaincy performance ever that (and there were a few in that year or so)

[niko_cee]

Bloaksey's running through them.

[Ian]

This lot are hopeless.

[Jimmy Floyd]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i9vXSX4htCk

Just 60 seconds, and yet so much material. Why are they all sharing a flat, for starters? And is David Warner the best or worst actor in the history of recorded media?

[Ian]

That's mesmerising.

[Byron]

I can't stop watching.

[Ian]

Enjoyed that bit on Murali at lunch.

[Max Power]

That advert :D A fine addition to the genre.

Not entirely sure Kane Williamson is a human

[Jimmy Floyd]

David Warner appearing to be doing homework was quite a good gag, but there are so many questions unanswered. If they're all sharing a flat, why would 'coach' ring the doorbell for practice? Does he pick them all up in a minibus? Or do they do it in the flat itself?

Yuvraj certainly has the pick of the acting skills.

[Max Power]

Dangerous lead building

[Jimmy Floyd]

I'm more immersed in Surrey trying to defend 301 at Taunton against Mr Magoo and Jim Allenby than I am by the Test match. What I will say though is that Ball should replace Finn for the next match.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Fucking insane finish. 4 to win with 1 wicket left currently. I think we're going to shit it.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Bottling wankers.

[Danny]

Batty with a 10 fer :D

[Max Power]

Probably go on tour to India this winter now.

Did look a cracker at Taunton though :|

[Jimmy Floyd]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/36428120

Hallelujah. The sheer pace of the change in attitudes since Srinivasan got dumped on his arse has been astounding.

[Danny]

Just seen that on cricinfo. Tests have to be forward thinking if they want to remain relevant so I am on board.

Nice to see us remind Lancs of their place this morning too.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Us? You kept that quiet. Go sup some ale out of a flat cap.

[Danny]

Quiet? Just not as bad as Boycs so it seems quiet :D

[Jimmy Floyd]

Headingley is the only one of the six 'traditional' Test grounds that I've never been to, and long may that fucking continue.

[Danny]

Its the only one I have. Sadly. That was us getting bummed by India in 2002

[ItalAussie]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/36428120

Hallelujah. The sheer pace of the change in attitudes since Srinivasan got dumped on his arse has been astounding.

See how long it lasts if India get relegated.

[niko_cee]

I thought that league thing Vaughan was moaning on about in one of these Sri Lanka tests sounded dreadful. It sounded like the end of test series. I suppose taking power out of domestic boards' hands as regards scheduling and the like is good, but really test cricket doesn't lend itself to leagueafication. I don't see how running a league over multiple years is really any different to the idea of the ranking system they have at the moment.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I reckon you could sort something decent if you tried - having guaranteed games between all sides over a period is the main thing - but anything suggested by Michael Vaughan is by definition awful. Didn't he want divisions of 4 teams each? Dire.

[Byron]

I'd have thought it could work if it means regular test series for the Associate nations.

[Davgooner]

That innings by Nash last night for Sussex was the best T20 innings I've ever seen. Middled absolutely everything.

[niko_cee]

I reckon you could sort something decent if you tried - having guaranteed games between all sides over a period is the main thing - but anything suggested by Michael Vaughan is by definition awful. Didn't he want divisions of 4 teams each? Dire.

I think it was 2 divisions of 6, everyone playing home and away over 12 months. Apparently there would be loads or room left for the 'iconic' series, but Christ knows when. Having England dispatch all and sundry under leaden northern skies does sound quite appealing (imagine 5 consecutive under prepared opponents) as I guess that would be the only way to get the matches in. The best way to do it would be to find a summer that could take 6 tests and then have 2 3 test semis and 2 3 test finals/3rd place matches (for the top 4 teams) - but that's really only going to be England and Australia in terms of logistics, which won't suit India.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Richardson seemed to be suggesting the 7 team division would all play each other once over two years, which might not be symmetrical but does at least seem vaguely realistic and also not completely shit.

If you awarded say 10 for the series, 4 for a match win and 5 for an innings win or whatever then you'd have a league table going which would vaguely mean something.

[niko_cee]

I never knew Jason Gillespie was a card carrying vegan. What with Peter Siddle existing entirely off bananas you have to wonder about these Australian fast bowlers.

[niko_cee]

The state of this South African mob. Their tail begins at about 5. Is anyone aware this bizarre series is happening?

[niko_cee]

That's it for Compdog then.

I suppose he might get another go but even a buccaneering double ton at a run a ball might not be enough to save him. Fire up the next cab.

Shambolic from Hales as well.

[Ian]

Who's up next at 3 then?

[niko_cee]

Ginge up the order (classic England), Baz Gaz or one of the plethora of young openers who have been tried and discarded in recent years. Or Borthwick. Who knows.

[Max Power]

Borthwick seems to 'next cab off the rank'. Bayliss wants Root to move up to 3.

Bairstow's form in the past 12 months is absolutely scandalous :|

[Jimmy Floyd]

Borthwick is from the ISM stable which brings loud Michael Vaughan acclaim and makes me slightly nauseous, but he's a lovely cricketer.

Not conVinced thus far (geddit?).

[Max Power]

Still doesn't quite seem real that he debuted in that Ashes 13/14 series. What a winter that was.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Please let Chris Woakes ton up.

[niko_cee]

No dice.

Still, with the way our top order is going we're in danger of heading in the direction of our ill fated ODI teams of the past where we just pick 8 all rounders rather than any actual batsmen.

How's Buttler getting on this season?

[Jimmy Floyd]

Yet to play with a red ball.

I am a big fan of Woakes actually. Always have been.

[Ian]

http://p.imgci.com/db/PICTURES/CMS/203000/203015.1.jpg

His face when Bairstow dropped that absolute sitter yesterday was amusing.

[Max Power]

He's looked pretty good with the ball in these past two tests. Might see Finn dropped when Stokes is back

[Max Power]

RIP Compo

[ItalAussie]

The state of this South African mob. Their tail begins at about 5. Is anyone aware this bizarre series is happening?

I was tangentially aware that there was something going on, but I was quite surprised to see that it was a tri-series.

The erratic cricketing calendar really helps nobody. Series keep coming as something of a surprise unless you're paying close attention, which doesn't really happen in any other sport. It's not like Wimbledon is "sometime in June or July".

[Danny]

Cook playing a fucking ramp shot :D

[Ian]

I hope they have a look at the Cook innings on the Verdict because I didn't see it and it sounds like it was a right laugh.

Chef hitting a six. :drool:

[Danny]

Two ramps and a hoik over cow/midwicket.

[Max Power]

Glad to see Alex Hales doing well. Always thought comes across as a decent guy, like your older sisters boyfriend who is always nice to you even after they split.

[Danny]

But you know he never shagged her cause he always blows his load before finishing the job

[Max Power]

Super excited for him to be the first man to be out on 99 in all three formats.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I'm told Alex Hales shags everything that moves, and the rest. Still, nice for him to not be complete fucking shit unlike the last few openers.

Number 3 now the problem position. Someone tempt Trotty back.

[Ian]

Woakesy at 3.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Woakes is a geezer. So made up for him if he can nail it down (and let's face it, he offers more than Finn).

[Jimmy Floyd]

http://www.espncricinfo.com/magazine/content/story/1025727.html

That really does sound pretty great, if we're being realistic about things.

[Ian]

Yeah I like all of that. That it's going to incorporate the Ashes rather than dilute it is good as well.

[Danny]

I shall regurgitate what is undoubtedly the best comment on that article.

Level 1 - 6 teams. Two down
Level 2 - 6 teams. Two up and One down
Level 3 - 6 teams. One Up and Two down
Level 4 - 2 regional leagues of however many. One up from each.
Level 5+ - who cares at this point

No play offs.

Probably too much movement and the lack of play off will turn off the ICC in a heartbeat

[Jimmy Floyd]

Yeah but 7 + 5 is the only realistic option, because it needs voting in by 7/10 full members, so let's get the best realistic option.

If there's one thing the last few days have taught us it's that Sri Lanka will kick off about fuck all if they get the chance, as indeed will Bangladesh.

[Max Power]

Jason Roy going in right now on SS2.

[Jimmy Floyd]

:drool:

[Max Power]

Reverse sweep off McClenaghan now. Ridiculous

Out now. Oh well

[Jimmy Floyd]

Got a Sanga cover drive to make up for it though.

We'll piss this if we get a good score, Curran boys are too good.

[Jimmy Floyd]

:drool:

[ItalAussie]

Yeah but 7 + 5 is the only realistic option, because it needs voting in by 7/10 full members, so let's get the best realistic option.

If there's one thing the last few days have taught us it's that Sri Lanka will kick off about fuck all if they get the chance, as indeed will Bangladesh.

It'd be great if 7/10 voted to make it 7+7. Get Ireland and Afghanistan in there.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Ireland and Afghan are in there with 12.

[Max Power]

Afghanistan away, tough place to go etc etc

[Jimmy Floyd]

'Welcome to the third ODI in Jalalabad, and I can tell you now, this pitch is a bit of a minefield.'

[ItalAussie]

Ireland and Afghan are in there with 12.

True. Numbers are hard.

It'd be good to give the Dutch a run I suppose.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Well the good thing is there would be some form of promotion/relegation all the way down, so strong cricket nations would be rewarded and Zimbabwe, yeah.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Sam Curran bowling 86mph late inswingers at McCullum at age 18. Oh what things there are to come.

[niko_cee]

Classic bit of third umpiring there Bruce.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Woakesmania has somewhat caught me on the back foot.

[Max Power]

Sri Lanka celebrated on the penultimate ball and England stole another run. Plunkett hits the last ball for six :D

[niko_cee]

The England number three spot has claimed another casualty.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Borthwick next cab off the rank. I've always liked his cuddly 12 year old face. With him, Woakes and Root in the team it's basically a collection of people you want your daughter to marry.

Well, them and Ben Stokes.

[Davgooner]

Think we might win this.

[niko_cee]

Fuck a duck.


Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews on Test Match Special:

256 was below average

:D

[Max Power]

Like a role reversal of what seems like so many Sri Lanka - England ODIs in the past

[ItalAussie]

Borthwick next cab off the rank. I've always liked his cuddly 12 year old face. With him, Woakes and Root in the team it's basically a collection of people you want your daughter to marry.

Well, them and Ben Stokes.
It's infuriating how likeable most of them are.

At least one of the joys of playing the likes of Swann and Prior (and to a lesser extend Anderson and Broad) is that you knew they were just awful people, so when you did beat them it was extra-satisfying. But the majority of the English team seem rather nice at the moment. :D

[niko_cee]

Fairly heroic effort from Lakmal here to avoid the team bowling 20 overs and thus becoming susceptible to a Duckworth Lewis shoeing.

[Jimmy Floyd]

20 overs is the limit in our league games and some of the shenanigans you get are great. Last year my lot bowled our 20 in 45 minutes by bowling spinners and sprinting between overs like the Keystone Kops. Then it didn't fucking rain.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Jason Roy is the sex.

[ItalAussie]

What are the feelings regarding the "Super Series"? Do people even acknowledge it exists?

[Ian]

I only know a few people I talk to about cricket. The only time it's come up was explaining to one of them what it actually was.

[niko_cee]

Yeah, no one cares, but then this one has been very one-sided.

That said, I can't see how anyone is going to be bothered. ODI wins in the aftermath of, say, an ashes series defeat are scant consolation.

[Jimmy Floyd]

What are the feelings regarding the "Super Series"? Do people even acknowledge it exists?

I'd forgotten it existed until you posted that.

Works better in women's cricket because the formats largely involve the same players and there's a greater sense of continuity.

[niko_cee]

England's 2017 home schedule looks fairly lol. And what's this I spy? A return of the Champions Trophy? I still remember that Windies final at the Oval. One of the darkest days of my cricket watching life, saved only by the fact that all the chippy sub-continental cunts went home when it looked like England were going to win.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I was doing the door (well, checking tickets) at my club tonight as we put a beer festival on every year which is one of the ways we stay afloat. Decent event, 500 odd people from the local town and all the real ale bores you could wish to see, so you can imagine my surprise when Jade Dernbach arrived with his ticket.

'I've had this booked for months,' he said, and he was loving life trying the different ales and even got involved in the cheesy sing-song towards the end.

Not even joking.

[Danny]

Dont do that. Dont make me like him.

[Ian]

A beer festival at Jimmy's cricket club?

That's a TTH Meet waiting to happen.

[Max Power]

England gifting three wickets to filthy part time off spinners like the good old days

[igor_balis]

What does everyone think of the Amir situation? I think I'm on the forgive and forget side.

[Jimmy Floyd]

The build-up to this series is forcing me to ask myself tough questions about whether I like England or Misbah more. He's even come with a badass beard and yesterday played his trademark sweep-lol-no-mate-it-isn't shot against Sussex on his way to a leisurely 68 from 96 balls. As I type, cricinfo gives his age as 42 years, 42 days. What a man.

Really looking forward to the series and sort of hope Pakistan stick one up us in our Jimmyless first Test to really get the juices flowing.

[Max Power]

Could be a decent series if Pakistan bat well. Azhar Ali and Younis look in good nick.

Thoughts on Amir?

[Jimmy Floyd]

I'm all for him. Was but a nipper when it all happened.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Jake Ball getting the nod tomorrow. Good, he's looked terrific this season.

Sammy C klaxon also... shame everyone else at Surrey is literally useless. http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/946885.html

[Jimmy Floyd]

The great man, now sporting a beard, wins and bats.

35/3 at lunch today, 482/6 at lunch tomorrow (Younis 187 (299), Misbah 105 (384))

[Max Power]

Misbah's beard :cool:

Fuck off 80s Imran, there's a new heart throb in town

[Davgooner]

Didn't realise this was his first test in England. :happycry:

[igor_balis]

I...don't enjoy Blowfeld on TMS. Does this make me a bad person? Ed Smith is my favourite.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Come on old man. Don them senseless.

[Danny]

Push ups to celebrate. Don :cool:

Now get out.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I reckon he's my favourite cricketer of all time. Just dons people for fun, and is fucking 42. Not even 39. 42.

Oldest Test centurion since the 1930s :cool:

[Max Power]

The big man doing press ups upon reaching 100 greatest moment in the history of Lord's Cricket Ground?

[Jimmy Floyd]

It was, but now topped by Chris Woakes becoming England's premier Test cricketer.

[Max Power]

I was wrong about Woakes and I was wrong about Bairstow (he still can't keep though). Expect a Ballance triple ton next.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Imagine having my first day off work in months when Mohammad Amir is about to bowl :drool:

[Max Power]

I was off work that morning when he absolutely routed us at this very ground. Thrilling stuff

[Jimmy Floyd]

We're going down for sub 200 here.

[Jimmy Floyd]

He's fucking done Cook there with an absolute beauty. Hafeez is such a wanker. Isn't he the one who didn't want to play with Amir?

[igor_balis]

Amir :cool:

He deserved that.

[Jimmy Floyd]

If there's a lively wicket during the series they will blow us away.

[ItalAussie]

If that happens in game one, games two+ will be played on pitches the likes of which are normally only seen in India.

[Jimmy Floyd]

We haven't got Swann now, so I don't see the point of that, cobber. There's a reasonable chance here that Pakistan are actually the better side. Yasir running through us on a pitch that is not turning AT ALL. Beautiful drift.

[niko_cee]

The Aussie seethe.

:D

Rack off bouncer.

Anyway, Woakes is still there so a first innings lead should be a given. When is Stokes going to be fit again? Just get him and Buttler back in place of the mediocre batting shite currently padding out the middle order, well. Aggressive brand etc.

Finn's surely for the chop as well once Anderson is fit again.

Watched Sussex conspire to lose to Hampshire on the T20 tonight, abley assisted by some rank bad umpiring. The lbw on MAchan pretty much turned the game, and some of the wides that weren't given were fairly lol. That said, proper bottle job from Sussex (and Taylor). Run a ball fifty's not an awful lot of use bro.

[Max Power]

Probably classic Warne hyperbole but he's just said Yasir Shah has the best leg break OF ALL TIME.

Loved that ball to get Ballance

[Max Power]

Wahab will get Broad out everytime if he gets the chance to bowl to him. Couple quick bouncers and a yorker and he's gone

[niko_cee]

Jake Ball was the first player to hit the ball over a certain pavilion when he played in our franchise T20 league (i know) a few years ago so I'm confident he can do a job here.

Or not.

[Max Power]

Oh, Misbah :D

[Davgooner]

:D

First innings lacked those sixes from nowhere, so he'd thought he'd get back on it straight away this time around.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Woakes with 11 wickets in the match, what the fuck is going on.

Presumably after we've lost this, Stokes and Anderson will come back and we'll have to shed Finn and... Ball? That would be bold.

[Max Power]

Basically Woakes vs Shah this match. Feel Yasir will have the final say in the fourth innings

[ItalAussie]

Just realised this is at Lord's. Misbah on the honours board. :cool:

[Davgooner]

Lots of nice cover drives for four mixed with shit cross-bat wafts outside off.

Edit: Root mixing it up a bit. 'the fuck son?

[ItalAussie]

How close are Pakistan to having the best bowling attack in cricket? They must surely be right up there.

Their pace bowlers are at least as good as ours, and we don't have a spinner who deserves to shine Yasir's shoes by the looks of it.

[Ian]

Is Shah good against everybody or is this just England's abilities against spin being such that I could probably worry them for a wicket or two?

[Max Power]

Jesus that ragged.

Bring it home Mo lad

[igor_balis]

God I fucking love watching good leg spinners on a turning pitch.

[Davgooner]

For fuck sake.

[igor_balis]

HOT TAKE: Moeen Ali is actually pretty shit.

[Max Power]

Brainless.

Woakesy to fully cement his reputation as the premier all rounder in world cricket then

[Danny]

Moeen to be dropped on the back of that.

[Max Power]

Wahab Riaz is fucking quality

[Davgooner]

There's no good reason for Broad to be anywhere but No.11 these days.

[Jimmy Floyd]

What a bunch of absolute legends :cool:

I kind of want them to win the series.

[Max Power]

They are a likable bunch. Misbah's post match interview was quality. The geezer oozes charisma and leadership but in a real understated way.

It's gonna be a cracking series.

[Ian]

HOT TAKE: Moeen Ali is actually pretty shit.

As much as he genuinely seems a top bloke and his better innings are glorious viewing you'd think if literally anybody proves themselves to be a reliable spinner against teams who can play spin he'll be fucked.