The Cricket Thread

[Luke_1884]

Not good. Another test match down the drain away from home.

A few half decent knocks in that second innings but we can't start to play that late in a test and expect to get anything out of it.

 

[blademan89]

12 now without a win with 10 losses

 

[RavenBish]

Fuck England - I am absolutely loving the blowback on Warner and Smith.

Say what you want about Aussies but this isn't faux outrage - it's all very genuine anger and couldn't happen to two bigger eggs. They've created this storm for themselves and there's no doubt in my mind the reaction would be far less of they'd not spent the last 18 months conducting themselves like a pair of sanctimonious bellends whilst behaving poorly themselves. Fucking karma.

Oh yeah...England need to pick Wood and Leach next Test.

 

[blademan89]

England have root,bairstow,stokes,Jimmy and broad who are by far the best players and undroppable. No one to replace cook although he's not scoring at all so is a worry. The rest of them are not that good to be honest hence the reason we've lost 10 and drawn 2 of our last 12 games.

 

[Ciderhead]

England have root,bairstow,stokes,Jimmy and broad who are by far the best players and undroppable. No one to replace cook although he's not scoring at all so is a worry. The rest of them are not that good to be honest hence the reason we've lost 10 and drawn 2 of our last 12 games.

It's true. And in 20, 30 years time people are going to look back mystified as to how we managed to have all of those 6 in the side at the same time and yet struggle so badly

 

[blademan89]

It's true. And in 20, 30 years time people are going to look back mystified as to how we managed to have all of those 6 in the side at the same time and yet struggle so badly

Yep our highest ever two wicket takers and what I'm pretty certain will be our highest ever 2 run scorers along with an outstanding all rounder, bairstow is class imo too and should bat higher yet it's going on 2 years since we won away. Shows how shit the rest are, maybe a tad harsh on malan. I'm sticking to doing the one dayers away at the minute as it's actually a pleasure to watch us in that format at the minute, when we were struggling in that we completely changed our approach and tactics and it's worked wonders yet we don't want to seem to try anything different in the test format.

 

[blademan89]

Warner, Smith and Bancroft sent home, 3 absolutely vile people, hopefully they get punished by ca severely.

 

[kieran_vale]

I refuse to believe for one second that Lehmann didn't know anything about this as seems to be claimed. And in the unlikely event he didn't know then he has failed as a coach in losing control of his team.

Other than that hopefully this is the last of Warner in international cricket, he is a really vile individual and will not be missed. Not to mention his complete hypocrisy after copping a bit of sledging back whining about it going over the line when by all accounts it was reported to be him who went way over the line with Bairstow in the last Ashes.

 

[Super_horns]

Smith and Warner banned for a year - Bancroft for 9 months.

Back just in time for the Ashes if selected again ?

 

[blademan89]

Looks like they've took the blame as everyone will have known for sure

 

[ValiantRob]

According to Aussie commentator Jim Maxwell, Warner was the instigator of this and influenced Bancroft to do it, Smith came across the two of them in discussion but didn`t find out what they had discussed..
It was the former South African bowler Fanie de Villiers who thought the Aussies were up to something as they had been getting reverse swing from something like the 25th over and asked the cameramen to look out for what they were up to

 

[RavenBish]

The bans are certainly on the harsh side but you can't help but applaud the approach Cricket Australia have taken with this from the very start.

I actually suspect Warner might be finished and would be surprised if he was back even after his ban concludes. Smith they seem to have very clearly left the door open to even as far as suggesting he could be captain again.

 

[blademan89]

The bans are certainly on the harsh side but you can't help but applaud the approach Cricket Australia have taken with this from the very start.

I actually suspect Warner might be finished and would be surprised if he was back even after his ban concludes. Smith they seem to have very clearly left the door open to even as far as suggesting he could be captain again.

Yep very harsh but the ecb would have done similar If not longer, just look at the stokes incident. Warner seems to be a very very hated man in world cricket which is understandable. Smith will be back and probably back to being the best again in a couple of years, Bancroft isn't actually that good so may not return.

 

[Soup Ladle]

http://www.newshub.co.nz/home/sport...reaks-down-in-tears-in-emotional-apology.html

Steve Smith crying. Granted he's taken the hit when others have got away scot free but my sympathy is only limited, yeah we all fuck up but he's only crying because he got caught and now his dirty laundry is out there in public.

I think the bans are fair. There's got to be an example to set. Unfortunately it hasn't gone far enough. I'd have sacked the coach and banned the bowlers as well. There's no way they weren't in on this.

 

[blademan89]

At fucking long last moeen is dropped

 

[Super_horns]

Harsh on Woakes though considering Stokes cannot bowl ?

 

[kieran_vale]

I think Moeen had to be dropped for this one. He just never looks like taking a wicket and his batting has been very ordinary this winter so not even that can be used to save him. Am sure he will be back in the team soon enough as his record at home is very good.

Lehmann has announced he will step down as the Aussie coach after the final test in South Africa. Can't see how this could have ended any other way. I still think he knew more than he's let on about it but that aside he is responsible for the team culture that has put them in this situation.

 

[RavenBish]

Harsh on Woakes though considering Stokes cannot bowl ?

That and the fact Woakes is about ten times the bowler Overton will ever be. Wood and Leach will bring some variety at least. Weakens the batting even further however (not that Ali has been doing much anyway in that regard)

 

[kieran_vale]

As bad as England’s batting looks right now have to hand it Boult and Southee. They are lethal in these conditions. Always forcing the batsmen to play.

 

[RavenBish]

stop picking james vince

 

[kieran_vale]

Excellent performance from Bairstow and Wood. Also impressed with Leach sticking around at the end of the day too. Once again too many in the top order fail after getting a start. Overall though 290-8 not the end of the world providing England bowl well with the new ball.

Cook is becoming a concern though, problem is there is nobody to challenge him. Seems to struggle to pick up the swinging ball.

 

[RavenBish]

top shelf bowling from Broad - Williamson is the big scalp needed now

 

[claret50]

It's been a pleasure to watch so far, unlike the blubbering Warner being interviewed right now.

 

[Super_horns]

Shame we let them back in it to an extent but still in a good position...

 

[kieran_vale]

More than decent position for England especially with a new ball due not long after the start of play. Hopefully Anderson and Broad can take care of business then things are looking good.

Australia getting absolutely pummelled in Johannesburg. Couldn't happen to a more deserving bunch. Looking down the barrel of an innings defeat if things continue like this.

 

[Super_horns]

Batting ourselves into a decent position with a strong lead - good innings by Vince and Stoneman.

Hopefully the weather/bad light won't get in the way.

 

[kieran_vale]

2 wickets for Broad off first two balls of the day. Fingers crossed this is one of those hot streak days Broad has.

 

[The Alex]

Taylor gone. Surely it's in the bag now?

 

[kieran_vale]

Beautiful bowling from Jimmy to tempt Nicholls in to the drive. If can get Watling quickly then I think we've got this.

 

[The Alex]

Yep, pressure very much on NZ now.