Cricket

[mb64]

Re: Cricket

The simple fact is England aren't THAT good. They outplayed us in The Ashes series and well deserved the win but they have a lot of deficiencies. They'll get trounced in India too.

Tset cricket has become very even all of a sudden.

Disregard England's performance in Pakistan.They have had avery successful 2 years & it was always going to be difficult to backup after their Ashes triumph.Their bowling is good but batting remains a concern.They will still be a big threat next summer.

 

[craig]

Re: Cricket

I actually thought the Kiwis used to be a half decent side but they are dead set DUDS hahahahahahahahahahaha :hihi

 

[TigerGoneNorth]

Re: Cricket

The simple fact is England aren't THAT good. They outplayed us in The Ashes series and well deserved the win but they have a lot of deficiencies. They'll get trounced in India too.

Tset cricket has become very even all of a sudden.

Disregard England's performance in Pakistan.They have had  avery successful 2 years & it was always going to be difficult to backup after their Ashes triumph.Their bowling is good but batting remains a concern.They will still be a big threat next summer.

They will certainly be a chance next summer but I'd have Australia as favourites. I'm not so sure about England's bowling. They rely a lot on Flintoff and how he copes with the big work load between now and then will be vital. Harmison is a bit flighty.

I'm not so sure about discounting Pakistan either Mighty Boy. They were ranked 7th before this series after all.

 

[mk33]

Re: Cricket

Towards end of last cricket season was worried about the depth of batsman in Australia but must say there have been some young batsman that under 26 that are starting to show some form in domestic cricket this season. Which augurs well with our test line up all over 30 and Clarke to come in as well.

Be intersting to follow the progress of some of these players next 2-3 years as some may be chances for Ashes call up (hopefully not for Hodgey), Windies and Pakistan tours and 2007 world cup.

12 months ago we did not have a back up opener now we have Chris Rogers, Phil Jacques and Callum Fergusson worth looking at.

Middle order depth now restored with Marcus North, Adam Voges and Shaun Marsh in Wa starting all right. Mark Cosgrove who maybe a smokey for 1 day spot in next 12 months,(only worry is his weight), Michael Klinger (who can open as well) has started to hit his straps and Lloyd Mash although just started could be a no 3 bat in a few years hopefully. Add Thornley, Travis Birt and under strength under of young bats coming thru looks good . Hopefully a few of these become world class.

Bowling ranks still a bit thin but Paul Rofe has started ok for Sa, Andrew Griffith could be a chance in Tas, hopefully Tait comes back well. Other that that its still thin with next level being Allan Wise, Mitchell Johnson.

 

[mb64]

Re: Cricket

Hodge out for a duck which leaves his position in the 1 day side very shakey.

 

[mk33]

Re: Cricket

Kiwis 0/79 after 11 overs, Mick Lewis 1st over 11 runs off it. Kiwis commentators wetting themselves.
Fortunately Hodge gets another chance as no other specialist bats for last game.

South Africa beaten outright, Beau Casson 8 wickets in match. Good luck against Warney

 

[Crystal]

Re: Cricket

"Suxty ate from foofty sux". Where do the Kiwi's get these accents? :

 

[Ready]

Re: Cricket

Don't know about their strange dialects but they won with ease in the end. Amazing. A record for a successful run chase in a one day international, and with six balls to spare!

Meanwhile Pakistan will chase 328 in the first ODI in Lahore. England made 327/4 with Strauss getting 94 and Flintoff 72 not out.

 

[Tigers of Old]

Re: Cricket

Don't know about their strange dialects but they won with ease in the end. Amazing. A record for a successful run chase in a one day international, and with six balls to spare!

Meanwhile Pakistan will chase 328 in the first ODI in Lahore. England made 327/4 with Strauss getting 94 and Flintoff 72 not out.

That's an incredible chase. The Aussie selectors have got some thinking to do re our bowlers...

Lewis 9 - 0 - 77 - 1 (4w)
White 4 - 0 - 34 - 1 (1w)
Johnson 9 - 0 - 64 - 0 (1w)

I've barely heard of these guys and we may not again.

 

[TigerGoneNorth]

Re: Cricket

It was always a stupid idea to blood so many youngsters.

 

[Ready]

Re: Cricket

Sachin Tendulkar has posted a record 35th Test century by reaching triple figures in the Second Test against Sri Lanka in Delhi, thus passing Sunil Gavaskar's mark of 34 which has stood since 1986. :clap

Pakistan-England score updates on CricInfo seem to have stopped for some reason.

 

[Ready]

Re: Cricket

England win the first ODI by 42 runs in Lahore.

Plunkett and Flintoff ran through the Pakistanis as the required run-rate climbed, with the home side losing their last six wickets for 23 to be all out for 285.

 

[Tigerclan]

Re: Cricket

Australia skipper Ricky Ponting was unhappy with his bowlers after New Zealand completed the highest

successful run chase in one-day international history on Saturday.

Nice effort by the Black Caps :clap :clap :clap

Just glad they lost the other two

 

[mb64]

Re: Cricket

Australia skipper Ricky Ponting was unhappy with his bowlers after New Zealand completed the highest

successful run chase in one-day international history on Saturday.

Nice effort by the Black Caps :clap :clap :clap

Just glad they lost the other two

Aussie attack looks wobbly wothout McGrath & Lee when he is onsong.Wouldn't read too much into this series.

 

[Bill James]

Re: Cricket

Looked pretty wobbly with Lee in game 2.

A bowler has conceded more than 80 runs from a completed 10 over spell in ODI's only 21 times. Lee is the only bowler to have done it more than once having done it three times. Don't get me started on his test average since his stellar first 50 wickets at less than 20. IMHO he is lucky to from NSW.

 

[DragaTheCro]

Re: Cricket

As a proud Black Caps fan, I was rapt with the boys' efforts chasing 331 runs. They were superb, particularly Scotty Styris and Brendon McCullum. Australia can count their lucky stars they won the series. I wore my Black Caps t-shirt with pride yesterday. Here's hoping NZ regain the Chappel-Hadlee trophy next year.

 

[mb64]

Re: Cricket

As a proud Black Caps fan, I was rapt with the boys' efforts chasing 331 runs. They were superb, particularly Scotty Styris and Brendon McCullum. Australia can count their lucky stars they won the series. I wore my Black Caps t-shirt with pride yesterday. Here's hoping NZ regain the Chappel-Hadlee trophy next year.

Good effort by Kiwis but they were playing a dead rubber against a 2nd rate Aust bowling attack.Needs to be put into perspective.

 

[Curtiger]

Re: Cricket

They were superb, particularly Scotty Styris and Brendon McCullum. Australia can count their lucky stars they won the series.

There's only one Southern Star. It must've gotten us over the line again. Phew. Another steal. The Australian cricket team is truly blessed to still be flukingthem after this long. :laughsanta

 

[Ready]

Re: Cricket

Pakistan won the second ODI by seven wickets to level the five-match series at 1-1. England recovered from 130/8 to be all out for 230 but it was never likely to be enough. Shoaib Akhtar 5/54 to set Pakistan on their way.

 

[marella jube]

Re: Cricket

Gilchrist's poor form continued in NZ ...Is he another suffering from burnout ? Should he consider (or be 'tapped' by selectors) standing down from ODIs to revive/prolong test career ? Rather than Haddin (re ODIs) reckon Crosswaite & Hartley ,both good young keepers,should come into reckoning. M Hussey has also kept for WA but may be a case of 'if it ain't broke....' rather than thrust a further burden on him.

Jacques (NSW) continues to hammer at the selection door,with a ton v Vics followed by centuries both days last weekend in club / intrastate matches. Cosgrove (SA) + Bailey (TAS) have also impressed lately as has L Mash (Vic) ...What's his background ? Late bloomer just sprung up from 'nowhere'.Certainly been consistent.

If only the young bowling stocks were even half as bountiful as the batting reservoir.Wise has been impressive this year but seems selectors more keen on Johnson from Qld on the promise of 'potential'.Thought Lewis did well in NZ & Bracken ok.Still puzzled S Clark gets a game for NSW,let alone the national side.Kaspar,Bichel + Gillespie deserve to be re-tread ahead of him,if we're going down that path...

Aware (c) look good on one's CV but think it also affecting C White's bowling in that he's not using himself enough.May be better for him to give the Vic (c) to someone else at season's end & concentrate on his bowling if he wants to crack & establish himself in international ranks.