The Cricket Thread

**Jimmy Floyd** · 07-07-2021, 07:51 AM

I know there's a narrative of kids not playing cricket, but in the area I prowl (Surrey, which in cricket terms also includes most of south London) the numbers of both kids and adults are soaring, there are more teams and players than ever and the constraint is having enough time and grounds to accommodate them all. I've even seen stats to back this up.

Presumably in other region(s) this isn't the case. I still think a lot of it is driven by the failure of marketing people to understand that, in England, cricket is a game of the thousands of town and villages, not a game of the inner cities, where (they imagine) all the lovely commercial potential is.

Pom Bears will no doubt solve everything.

**Ian** · 07-07-2021, 07:58 AM

Pom-Bears and The Croods.

**hfswjyr** · 07-07-2021, 08:00 AM

Is The Hundred organised by The Onion?

**Jimmy Floyd** · 07-07-2021, 08:05 AM

Its website is one of the 'best' parts. Is this not just a honking eyesore? https://www.thehundred.com/

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**hfswjyr** · 08-07-2021, 10:38 AM

https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/...full-scorecard

So many questions from a NZ fan. How did CdG do that? Why did Jamieson not bowl more overs? What happened in Surrey's first innings? Why was there not a 5th day?

**Ian** · 08-07-2021, 10:43 AM

I'd forgotten all about Felix Organ. What a name.

**Jimmy Floyd** · 08-07-2021, 10:49 AM

County games are 4 days, Kyle Jamieson was injured, Surrey are absolutely dismal but also have Hashim Amla.

I umpired Felix Organ in a game last year. Probably the 'biggest' name I've stood to bowl at my end so far. He was bang into it and a bit odd. I was also told some, ahem, interesting stories about him and his organ. You really do get all sorts in cricket.

**Ian** · 08-07-2021, 10:51 AM

How interesting are we talking?

**Jimmy Floyd** · 08-07-2021, 11:05 AM

Well, anything goes these days, so I guess not that interesting. Not as interesting as the one I heard about Sam Curran chopping his way through the England women's team, anyway.

**niko_cee** · 08-07-2021, 12:54 PM

Is Fakhar the guy who went berserk against South Africa recently?

**Jimmy Floyd** · 08-07-2021, 12:59 PM

Yep. And in the Champions Trophy final against India, memorably. Probably the loosest/streakiest batsman going.

**niko_cee** · 08-07-2021, 04:42 PM

These ODIs have been an absolute disgrace so far this summer.

How have we just thrown a scratch B team out there and wiped the floor with Pakistan?

**Jimmy Floyd** · 08-07-2021, 04:46 PM

Classic Pakistan. If we'd had our full strength team they'd have smashed us.

**hfswjyr** · 09-07-2021, 11:38 AM

From memory Fakhar has the strangest batting stance I've ever seen in person.

**Jimmy Floyd** · 09-07-2021, 11:39 AM

Are you thinking of Fawad Alam.

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**hfswjyr** · 10-07-2021, 01:08 AM

That's the one. Who coaches that stance?

**Danny** · 10-07-2021, 02:37 AM

Craig McMillian and Shiv Chanderpaul bastard child.

**Jimmy Floyd** · 13-07-2021, 07:57 AM

Hundred latest: umpires will not say 'over' but instead say 'five' and hold up a white card.

New audience etc etc.

**Ian** · 13-07-2021, 05:26 PM

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/av/cricket/57822755

Lovely stuff.

**niko_cee** · 13-07-2021, 05:58 PM

Yeah, just bowl that every ball.

Should have had him in the first over but neglected to DRS it.

**Ian** · 13-07-2021, 06:09 PM

Who the fuck is "John Simpson"?

**niko_cee** · 13-07-2021, 06:12 PM

Integral part of England Thirds (who Alex Hales still can't get a game for, pure banter from The King of Spain and co at this point).

**Ian** · 13-07-2021, 06:19 PM

Also James Vince has clearly forgotten he was supposed to be out 29 runs ago. Idiot. He can't even do that right.

**thommo** · 13-07-2021, 07:34 PM

James Vince finally gets his 100, wonderful stuff.

Gregory has played another great knock too, hope he can see this over the line.

Edit:

**niko_cee** · 13-07-2021, 07:55 PM

Well, that was pretty decent.

I say this with some reservation, but there can be few finer sights than a late afternoon cricket crowd in England in full flight. It seems a peculiarly British madness.

**Jimmy Floyd** · 14-07-2021, 07:57 AM

Only Pakistan could score 330, somehow work into that a collapse of 7 for 39, and then lose thanks to a marauding James Vince. Only Pakistan.

Ireland turned over South Africa at the same time which was pretty cool to see.

**Ian** · 16-07-2021, 04:34 PM

https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/t...e-game-1269911

Good article about the Pom-Bear SuperBlast and the effect on county cricket and quite even handed.

EDIT:

t could yet work. Whether it's played over 100 overs, 100 balls or five days, cricket is a great game. Perhaps the increased broadcast exposure will counteract all these other factors. But make no mistake: the ECB has bet the farm on this competition. If it fails, it could set the sport back a generation

Even if he just means set it back a generation in this country is that hyperbolic or actually plausible?

**Jimmy Floyd** · 16-07-2021, 07:53 PM

I see Pakistan have picked some bloke the size of a house who can't field to save his life, how delightfully on-brand of them.

Mental and doomed chase in progress here.

**Ian** · 16-07-2021, 08:37 PM

He might have a name more suited to being an oafish Stoke City centre half but Liam Livingstone is giving this a good old go.

**Ian** · 16-07-2021, 08:40 PM

Also I've decided that Shaheen has a slightly odd-shaped mouth.

Keep watching this thread for more cutting insights like that one.

**Ian** · 16-07-2021, 08:41 PM

Next up: I know the sweat won't help but I'm rooting for Livingstone a little less now I've seen what's under his helmet.

**ScousePig** · 16-07-2021, 08:50 PM

You could have put money on him getting out the ball after his hundred.

I'm off to Headingley on Sunday.

**Jimmy Floyd** · 16-07-2021, 08:51 PM

Originally Posted by Ian

Next up: I know the sweat won't help but I'm rooting for Livingstone a little less now I've seen what's under his helmet.

A few of them have that haircut after 'challenging' each other to do it on social media. Sportsmen must be some of the world's most bored, empty-headed people.

**Ian** · 16-07-2021, 08:52 PM

I actually don't care about the result that much, it's just nice to watch something with a lively crowd.

A bowler running in while the crowd are finishing the chorus to 'Hi Ho Silver Lining' after it's gone off the PA. What a scene.

**Ian** · 16-07-2021, 08:54 PM

The Proclaimers? At an England/Pakistan cricket match? Wat?

**Jimmy Floyd** · 16-07-2021, 08:56 PM

Had the golf and cars on earlier so only just noticed that the Professor himself is somehow still clinging on to his place in this Pakistan team. What a fucking trooper.

**Jimmy Floyd** · 16-07-2021, 08:57 PM

Originally Posted by Ian

The Proclaimers? At an England/Pakistan cricket match? Wat?

Presumably to celebrate Scotland getting the kinder end of the World T20 draw earlier today. Or not.

**Ian** · 16-07-2021, 09:09 PM

Ooh, I see they got the Desh. What are Oman and Papua New Guinea like? Both generally and relative to Scotland?

I have a soft spot for Papua New Guinea because I went to the Rugby 7s at the Commonwealth Games and they were great fun.

**Jimmy Floyd** · 16-07-2021, 09:12 PM

Scotland should beat them on paper. Only slight hitch is they have barely played during the pandemic, maybe even not at all. PNG are talented but raw. Oman are, well, shite, but playing at home. If Scotland play properly they will win. They have a football-esque record in major tournaments though (think they've never won a game, even) so prepare for disappointment.

EDIT: I'm wrong, they beat Hong Kong on duckworth lewis at the last one of these for their first and only tournament win.

**Clunge** · 17-07-2021, 07:49 PM

Hasnain chucks it. Have I missed a memo on this?

**Kikó** · 18-07-2021, 04:28 PM

I love how fat Azam Khan is and how that's cool in cricket.

**igor_balis** · 18-07-2021, 06:49 PM

Lammonby having a laugh here, salvaged Somerset's innings somewhat.

**igor_balis** · 18-07-2021, 06:57 PM

This is class

**Jimmy Floyd** · 18-07-2021, 09:05 PM

Originally Posted by Kikó

I love how fat Azam Khan is and how that's cool in cricket.

In certain countries (Pakistan, West Indies) it is. In England you'd get put on a low calorie diet and be made to do 400 hill runs up Great Malvern until you passed a skinfold test. It's symptomatic of why we traditionally win fuck all.

**Ian** · 18-07-2021, 11:20 PM

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/57881770

The Rashid catch in the video at the top.

**Ian** · 21-07-2021, 10:37 AM

I see Washington Sundar is playing in the 'County Select XI' against India. Have they dropped him, then?

**Jimmy Floyd** · 21-07-2021, 05:01 PM

First game of the Hundred (women's) starting now, should be interesting.

Opening KP Snacks ad and titles are not promising. Do we think Ebony really says 'Wicked track'?

**Max Power** · 21-07-2021, 05:06 PM

The naff branding and attempts to get the kids involved with a DJ and savoury snacks is whatever, it still baffles me why they didn’t just do this but with a t20 league?

**Jimmy Floyd** · 21-07-2021, 05:51 PM

Interesting phenomenon as I flick between BBC and Sky. On Sky it's fine. On the Beeb it's unwatchable.

**niko_cee** · 21-07-2021, 05:52 PM

I see Hameed got a ton for the county all star select XI.

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