The Cricket Thread

[Matt_]

What a performance by Middlesex with the ball this afternoon. Roland-Jones was outstanding on such a dead pitch, but Finn and Murtagh also bowled very well.

Unlucky Somerset, a great late season charge, but I feel Middlesex are very worthy champions over the season as a whole.

 

[hodge]

Plunkett wanted to play just didn't get picked

Surely you'd have picked him if he wanted to play and England okay'd it

 

[blademan89]

Surely you'd have picked him if he wanted to play and England okay'd it

No. We picked Willey instead.

 

[JonBCFC]

Not so great bowling performance from Yorkshire mind, their bowlers were really expensive at the end.. can't think why

 

[RavenBish]

Not sure what outraged (not that there's many) people wanted them to do. Nothing worse than sanctimony in Sport - there's no room for it because it inevitably bites you on the arse. Somerset and every county would have done the same.

 

[hodge]

The only part I don't like about it is the negotiating between the captains, it should be part of it for the batting captain to have to judge how much is enough.

 

[George Reilly's Hairpiece]

Thought the Yorkshire batting was naive toward the end. They should have started blocking and forced Middlesex to start offering more tempting deliveries, maybe by bringing a spinner on. Just swinging across the line was only going to have one outcome.

 

[slaphead]

Well, a shit end to a shit season for Hampshire. It is mitigated slightly by the horrific injury list we have, plus missing Carbs through illness has been a big miss too. However, that said, Bransgrove now needs to decide how he wants to take the county forward, are we going to stick with the decent youngsters and give CC2 a real go, or will he chase the money and concentrate on one day cricket? I much prefer the former but think we need to get up first time of asking or those youngsters will look elsewhere.

Well done to Middlesex, they deserved it after being unbeaten in the CC this year, and having to play on pitches which they have no say over. Also glad Somerset didn't win it after the way they have doctored their pitches this year, and then to hear Trescthick whining today on Sky over Middlesex sportsmanship today was a bit ripe.

I'd feel sympathy for Somerset if they'd been bitch raped by the ECB with their players like Yorkshire have.

They're not your players, they are England players who play for Yorkshire, not the other way round.

 

[blademan89]

Well, a shit end to a shit season for Hampshire. It is mitigated slightly by the horrific injury list we have, plus missing Carbs through illness has been a big miss too. However, that said, Bransgrove now needs to decide how he wants to take the county forward, are we going to stick with the decent youngsters and give CC2 a real go, or will he chase the money and concentrate on one day cricket? I much prefer the former but think we need to get up first time of asking or those youngsters will look elsewhere.

Well done to Middlesex, they deserved it after being unbeaten in the CC this year, and having to play on pitches which they have no say over. Also glad Somerset didn't win it after the way they have doctored their pitches this year, and then to hear Trescthick whining today on Sky over Middlesex sportsmanship today was a bit ripe.



They're not your players, they are England players who play for Yorkshire, not the other way round.

Root is. Bairstow isn't he doesn't have a central contract or whatever they are. There not the issue anyway as we know there gonna be missing it's the other 4 in and out a lot that disrupts the side but still we were only 60 runs off being champions again

 

[Walkley_Owl]

Well, a shit end to a shit season for Hampshire. It is mitigated slightly by the horrific injury list we have, plus missing Carbs through illness has been a big miss too. However, that said, Bransgrove now needs to decide how he wants to take the county forward, are we going to stick with the decent youngsters and give CC2 a real go, or will he chase the money and concentrate on one day cricket? I much prefer the former but think we need to get up first time of asking or those youngsters will look elsewhere.

Well done to Middlesex, they deserved it after being unbeaten in the CC this year, and having to play on pitches which they have no say over. Also glad Somerset didn't win it after the way they have doctored their pitches this year, and then to hear Trescthick whining today on Sky over Middlesex sportsmanship today was a bit ripe.



They're not your players, they are England players who play for Yorkshire, not the other way round.

Oh I forgot that Root came through the ranks at Lords not Headingley, at stages of this season we've had 6 players with England, of which only one is centrally contracted, the fact that little posh twat Strauss denied us Bairstow which helped his former county is what sticks in the craw.

 

[blademan89]

Oh I forgot that Root came through the ranks at Lords not Headingley, at stages of this season we've had 6 players with England, of which only one is centrally contracted, the fact that little posh twat Strauss denied us Bairstow which helped his former county is what sticks in the craw.

Pissed me right off that too with bairstow. However I doubt it would of made a difference but still a joke I'm pretty sure strauss would of let a middlesex player play in the same scenario.

 

[Walkley_Owl]

Pissed me right off that too with bairstow. However I doubt it would of made a difference but still a joke I'm pretty sure strauss would of let a middlesex player play in the same scenario.

Like Steven Finn?

 

[blademan89]

Like Steven Finn?

Not sure finn is in the one day squad tbf. However bairstow will probably not play in those 3 matches either.

 

[MJA]

The more I have thought about the way the season ended yesterday, the more I think it was a bit shit. If negotiating between captains to create a result ever happened in other sports it would be crucified and create investigations left, right and centre.

Both sides needed to win the game to win the league so, as someone said above, it should have come down to the Middlesex captain finding the right balance between having enough runs on the board and having enough time to bowl Yorkshire out - just as they would do for any other match.

Why were Somerset not contacted and asked their opinion of this agreement? This was a 3 way race for the title and just because Somerset weren't involved at Lords they still should have had a say and if all 3 parties didn't agree on it then the match should have been played like a normal cricket match.

I said yesterday that the season finale was good for county cricket because it created some excitement in the domestic 4 day game but now I have thought about it, it will actually be more detrimental to the game considering those looking in who don't usually show much interest in the county game (or cricket as a whole) will just see a result, in essence, being rigged

 

[blademan89]

The more I have thought about the way the season ended yesterday, the more I think it was a bit shit. If negotiating between captains to create a result ever happened in other sports it would be crucified and create investigations left, right and centre.

Both sides needed to win the game to win the league so, as someone said above, it should have come down to the Middlesex captain finding the right balance between having enough runs on the board and having enough time to bowl Yorkshire out - just as they would do for any other match.

Why were Somerset not contacted and asked their opinion of this agreement? This was a 3 way race for the title and just because Somerset weren't involved at Lords they still should have had a say and if all 3 parties didn't agree on it then the match should have been played like a normal cricket match.

I said yesterday that the season finale was good for county cricket because it created some excitement in the domestic 4 day game but now I have thought about it, it will actually be more detrimental to the game considering those looking in who don't usually show much interest in the county game (or cricket as a whole) will just see a result, in essence, being rigged

It was the only way to get a result out of that shit pitch what the Mcc provide for middlesex. If middlesex were in charge of there own pitch that situation would of never happened anyway. It was 2 teams trying to win the league what else could they of done no way could middlesex have got a big enough lead on that pitch in the time they had to then get 10 wickets as well. It was the right thing to do and the only thing to do.

 

[JonBCFC]

Perhaps Somerset were naive to think the other 2 counties wouldn't have played properly to come to a natural conclusion in the game at lords. Perhaps in hindsight we should of batted longer slowing the run rate down and leaving outselves needing to bowl them out on the last day!

 

[JonBCFC]

It was the only way to get a result out of that shit pitch what the Mcc provide for middlesex. If middlesex were in charge of there own pitch that situation would of never happened anyway. It was 2 teams trying to win the league what else could they of done no way could middlesex have got a big enough lead on that pitch in the time they had to then get 10 wickets as well. It was the right thing to do and the only thing to do.

Nah, bollocks. If you and Middlesex was the only 2 counties involved then fair enough, but the fact that their was a 3rd county involved dependent on the result at lords then that makes it wrong. If this was a game in the middle of the season then it would of ended in a draw, suppose you were both lucky you were playing each other last game so you could fix a result.

 

[blademan89]

Nah, bollocks. If you and Middlesex was the only 2 counties involved then fair enough, but the fact that their was a 3rd county involved dependent on the result at lords then that makes it wrong. If this was a game in the middle of the season then it would of ended in a draw, suppose you were both lucky you were playing each other last game so you could fix a result.

So what should we of done then just played out a draw? Every county would do what us and middlesex did yesterday that is a fact. We weren't lucky to be playing each other you were unlucky that we were as there was always gonna be a result. Also you've got to remember as this is a huge point , middlesex do not prepared there own pitches the Mcc do, you know as well as I do if they did not only would they of won the league easily before this week imo the pitch for this week would of been made into a result pitch. It's out of there hands what can they do.

 

[MJA]

The simple fact is that no other sport would allow this, and the reason that it wouldn't be allowed is because it is effecting the outcome of a match by agreement between 2 captains. It would be bad enough if it was just these teams involved in the title run in but the fact there was another county who could have won the league if this game had reached its natural conclusion makes it a very sad end to the season and Somerset have every reason to be aggrieved.

The condition of the pitch is irrelevant. If it is a pitch where a result is unlikely then that's what it is and it's tough luck I'm afraid. Middlesex having no control over the pitch condition has never been mentioned before, particularly in the previous 4 matches at Lords where they won 3 of these matches, so it's not as though results don't happen down there.

For me, any sporting tie that is not allowed to reach its natural conclusion should be voided particularly when those involved are happy to talk about the fact that this went on. It does the integrity of cricket no good at all

 

[blademan89]

The simple fact is that no other sport would allow this, and the reason that it wouldn't be allowed is because it is effecting the outcome of a match by agreement between 2 captains. It would be bad enough if it was just these teams involved in the title run in but the fact there was another county who could have won the league if this game had reached its natural conclusion makes it a very sad end to the season and Somerset have every reason to be aggrieved.

The condition of the pitch is irrelevant. If it is a pitch where a result is unlikely then that's what it is and it's tough luck I'm afraid. Middlesex having no control over the pitch condition has never been mentioned before, particularly in the previous 4 matches at Lords where they won 3 of these matches, so it's not as though results don't happen down there.

For me, any sporting tie that is not allowed to reach its natural conclusion should be voided particularly when those involved are happy to talk about the fact that this went on. It does the integrity of cricket no good at all

They drew 5 of the last 6 I think all down to the pitch. Somerset don't have any right to feel aggrieved whatsoever they would of done exactly the same 100% fact. They got unlucky we played each other. Who gives a fuck what happens in other sports that's completely irrelevant. Any county would of done the same I really can't see the issue it's happened before and will happen again.

 

[JonBCFC]

They drew 5 of the last 6 I think all down to the pitch. Somerset don't have any right to feel aggrieved whatsoever they would of done exactly the same 100% fact. They got unlucky we played each other. Who gives a fuck what happens in other sports that's completely irrelevant. Any county would of done the same I really can't see the issue it's happened before and will happen again.

100% fact? Are you sure? Not sure you can state something as a fact, when no one will ever know because we wasn't in that situation.

Think you're missing the point. It's the fact that a 3rd county that was involved that has made people miffed.

 

[hodge]

What kind of annoyed me was that there was no urgency in the first day or two for a game both had to win, the over rate was abysmal from Yorksire and Middlesex were plodding along like there was nothing at stake.

 

[George Reilly's Hairpiece]

It certainly does happen in other sports which is why the odds on a draw which is usually 9/4 or 5/2 is odds on when two teams meet each other and both know a draw will suit them.

As a Somerset fan I'm disappointed at the way Yorkshire gave it away at the end, but the game was never going to end in a draw once Yorkshire got to 350 runs in their first innings.

 

[MJA]

They drew 5 of the last 6 I think all down to the pitch. Somerset don't have any right to feel aggrieved whatsoever they would of done exactly the same 100% fact. They got unlucky we played each other. Who gives a fuck what happens in other sports that's completely irrelevant. Any county would of done the same I really can't see the issue it's happened before and will happen again.

I'm talking about 4 day games and I am pretty sure they have won 3 of the last 4 although I could be wrong.

And to say it is irrelevant regarding other sports is just ludicrous. Imagine Sheff Utd going into the final day of the season in 3rd place and the top 2 agreed to play out a 0-0 draw meaning they both go up and Sheff Utd don't. No matter what you say, there is no way you wouldn't feel conned which is exactly how Somerset will feel today

 

[hodge]

I'm talking about 4 day games and I am pretty sure they have won 3 of the last 4 although I could be wrong.

And to say it is irrelevant regarding other sports is just ludicrous. Imagine Sheff Utd going into the final day of the season in 3rd place and the top 2 agreed to play out a 0-0 draw meaning they both go up and Sheff Utd don't. No matter what you say, there is no way you wouldn't feel conned which is exactly how Somerset will feel today

Yeah that sort of thing has never happened in football to avoid relegation... Especially after a delayed start by 30 mins

 

[blademan89]

I'm talking about 4 day games and I am pretty sure they have won 3 of the last 4 although I could be wrong.

And to say it is irrelevant regarding other sports is just ludicrous. Imagine Sheff Utd going into the final day of the season in 3rd place and the top 2 agreed to play out a 0-0 draw meaning they both go up and Sheff Utd don't. No matter what you say, there is no way you wouldn't feel conned which is exactly how Somerset will feel today

Don't think they have. Drawn 5 of last 6 I think I heard yday. That would definitely happen in football though wouldn't it. It's the natural and right thing to do to benefit your own side

 

[Krazy8]

Yeah that sort of thing has never happened in football to avoid relegation... Especially after a delayed start by 30 mins

We did it to secure playoffs once as well. Played Hartlepool final day of the season knowing both teams needed a point, a defeat for either and vale would've snuck in. IIRC it was 1-1 after about an hour and then nothing happened for 30 minutes, captains shook hands and didn't bother with injury time.

It's also not uncommon to see county championship matches manipulated like this anyway. You'll often see it when days are washed out and both teams forfeit an innings. As unfortunate as it was for Somerset, I don't see what else Yorkshire and Middlesex could've done.

 

[hodge]

Oh yeah I have no problem with a total being set to force a result, as said previously it was the lack of over rate/urgency from Middlesex and captains being allowed to negotiate, should be part of the skill of captaincy to judge the declaration.

 

[slaphead]

Oh I forgot that Root came through the ranks at Lords not Headingley, at stages of this season we've had 6 players with England, of which only one is centrally contracted, the fact that little posh twat Strauss denied us Bairstow which helped his former county is what sticks in the craw.

Thought I may have caught a couple of Yorkie fish with that one! Root has been centrally contracted for 3 years now and plays all forms for England so it was going to be obvious that you would probably denied him for the bulk of the season. I see your point re Bairstow, and probably Ballance, but both have had incremental contracts for this season so would probably miss large portions. Willey and Plunkett were both brought in when on incrementals so absolutely no sympathy there.

The pitches debate is a valid one, had Middlesex been allowed to prepare their own pitches they would have won the CC in July. They have been hamstrung by the MCC insisting on boring draw pitches all year that wont produce a result if you played for 10 days on it. Somerset on the other hand have got away with murder in the way they have prepared theirs. Producing pitches that turn square and breakup after lunch on day 1 and barely gets a game past day 2 is not on, if a team that had a strong seam attack left pitches green to suit them, they would be fined for producing a substandard pitch.

The contrived result was always going to happen after Somerset won in 3 days (again, see above). Want did Trescothick want, for both Middlesex and Yorkshire just slug out a draw on and non-result pitch and just hand the title to them? Never going to happen, a solution was always going to be found that allowed for either team a chance to go for the win.

 

[blademan89]

Thought I may have caught a couple of Yorkie fish with that one! Root has been centrally contracted for 3 years now and plays all forms for England so it was going to be obvious that you would probably denied him for the bulk of the season. I see your point re Bairstow, and probably Ballance, but both have had incremental contracts for this season so would probably miss large portions. Willey and Plunkett were both brought in when on incrementals so absolutely no sympathy there.

The pitches debate is a valid one, had Middlesex been allowed to prepare their own pitches they would have won the CC in July. They have been hamstrung by the MCC insisting on boring draw pitches all year that wont produce a result if you played for 10 days on it. Somerset on the other hand have got away with murder in the way they have prepared theirs. Producing pitches that turn square and breakup after lunch on day 1 and barely gets a game past day 2 is not on, if a team that had a strong seam attack left pitches green to suit them, they would be fined for producing a substandard pitch.

The contrived result was always going to happen after Somerset won in 3 days (again, see above). Want did Trescothick want, for both Middlesex and Yorkshire just slug out a draw on and non-result pitch and just hand the title to them? Never going to happen, a solution was always going to be found that allowed for either team a chance to go for the win.

Finally someone talking sense