Cricket

[mk33]

Re: Cricket

Crossthwaite dropped from the Vics team bit disappointing that asd based on batting not his keeping this year.

Bit surprised by this.His replacement is a 29 year old ex NSW.Appears to have been selected because of his stong batting.

agree MB its like when they dropped Berry even though he like Adam is one of the best gloveman in Australis. Pilon will never play for Australia, Adam will if Victorian selectors back him. Probably another Rodney Hogg mistake.

 

[Ready]

Re: Cricket

More interesting is Vaughan's long term future. This knee has been bothering him for quite some time now.

Since the Ashes, this team is struggling.
That's the difference between winning a series and being the number 1 side in the world over a long period I suppose.

That's the difference between playing Pakistan (whose team have really come on over the past twelve months) and India away and playing cannon fodder like the West Indies and a depleted South Africa at home.

No team could cope with the sorts of injuries and circumstances England have. Be like Australia starting the first Test against South Africa without Ponting, Hayden and Lee and with severe question marks over Hodge, Hussey and Tait.

Agree with TGN, Vaughan's career is in serious doubt as three operations have failed to fix the problem. Fine batsman and thinker so it's a shame.

 

[Tigers of Old]

Re: Cricket

That's the difference between playing Pakistan (whose team have really come on over the past twelve months) and India away and playing cannon fodder like the West Indies and a depleted South Africa at home.

No team could cope with the sorts of injuries and circumstances England have. Be like Australia starting the first Test against South Africa without Ponting, Hayden and Lee and with severe question marks over Hodge, Hussey and Tait.

.

Excuses, Excuses.
One thing the Poms lack is depth and that is something Australia has had the benefit from for years. If the Poms can't field their best side(which is very good) then they fall away dramatically.

 

[mb64]

Re: Cricket

That's the difference between playing Pakistan (whose team have really come on over the past twelve months) and India away and playing cannon fodder like the West Indies and a depleted South Africa at home.

No team could cope with the sorts of injuries and circumstances England have. Be like Australia starting the first Test against South Africa without Ponting, Hayden and Lee and with severe question marks over Hodge, Hussey and Tait.

.

Excuses, Excuses.
One thing the Poms lack is depth and that is something Australia has had the benefit from for years. If the Poms can't field their best side(which is very good) then they fall away dramatically.

Maybe we shouldn't be throwing stones.Our bowling depth looks pretty ordinary as evident with what we've seen in the 2 games we've played in South Africa.

 

[marella jube]

Re: Cricket

Crossthwaite dropped from the Vics team bit disappointing that asd based on batting not his keeping this year.

Bit surprised by this.His replacement is a 29 year old ex NSW.Appears to have been selected because of his stong batting.

agree MB its like when they dropped Berry even though he like Adam is one of the best gloveman in Australis. Pilon will never play for Australia, Adam will if Victorian selectors back him. Probably another Rodney Hogg mistake.

Ah,so Nathan's with the Vics . Played up here with St George & got the odd game with NSW before Haddin's move from the ACT. Capable but not a standout with the bat . Would have thought he may merited some time during the Ing Cup games if so handy with the willow .Good luck to him but a backward step for the Vics . Crosthwaite a good keeper with much more upside than Pilon . Ditto , Hartley from Qld . Youth worth perservering with ...Then again ,NSW have reinstated Greg Mail in place of Jacques....Could have been worse as they've been said to have been eyeing Graham Thorpe...        

 

[TigerGoneNorth]

Re: Cricket

More interesting is Vaughan's long term future. This knee has been bothering him for quite some time now.

Since the Ashes, this team is struggling.
That's the difference between winning a series and being the number 1 side in the world over a long period I suppose.

That's the difference between playing Pakistan (whose team have really come on over the past twelve months) and India away and playing cannon fodder like the West Indies and a depleted South Africa at home.

No team could cope with the sorts of injuries and circumstances England have. Be like Australia starting the first Test against South Africa without Ponting, Hayden and Lee and with severe question marks over Hodge, Hussey and Tait.

Agree with TGN, Vaughan's career is in serious doubt as three operations have failed to fix the problem. Fine batsman and thinker so it's a shame.

Vaughan's saying he'll be ok, no long term risk. The team Doctor though has gone on record as saying he has real fears for him.

I hope the Poms have enjoyed holding the Ashes because if he can't tour Australia they wont hold them for long.

 

[Ready]

Re: Cricket

Freddie Flintoff has got the first thing right as captain of England: won the toss and elected to bat. England are 48/0 off nine overs.

ENGLAND
AJ Strauss
AN Cook*
IR Bell
KP Pietersen
PD Collingwood
A Flintoff (c)
GO Jones (wk)
ID Blackwell*
MJ Hoggard
MS Panesar*
SJ Harmison
* Test debut

INDIA
W Jaffer
V Sehwag
R Dravid (c)
SR Tendulkar
VVS Laxman
MS Dhoni (wk)
M Kaif
IK Pathan
A Kumble
Harbhajan Singh
S Sreesanth

 

[Ready]

Re: Cricket

First Test, Nagpur
England won the toss and elected to bat
England 89/2 (Cook 44no, Strauss 28, Bell 9, Pietersen 1 no)
Lunch, day one

Cook has been a bit nervous on debut but has played some wonderful strokes as well. England need to consolidate in the next session. Sounds like both catches were excellent -- Laxman had 0.64 seconds to realise the outside edge from Strauss was going straight for his head and to get his hands in the way.

 

[Tigers of Old]

Re: Cricket

Confirmed McGrath not going to S/Africa.

The question has to be asked.."Is this the end for Oooh Aah?"

You'd like not to think so. However he ruled himself out of the Bangladesh tour also and won't play any test cricket before the Ashes series against England. That's a real worry I think.
He's almost 37 & father time is ticking for a bowler who's already past his best.
With his wife and kids as his obvious and warranted no1 priority, it could spell the end for the great fast bowler...

 

[Ready]

Re: Cricket

England are 167/4 not long after tea, and one wicket away from serious trouble.
Collingwood is 23 not out and Flintoff 20 not out. Cook made 60 on his Test debut.

 

[Tigers of Old]

Re: Cricket

Big test for Collywobbles.

 

[Ready]

Re: Cricket

First Test, Nagpur
England won the toss and elected to bat
England 246/7 (Cook 60, Collingwood 53no, Flintoff 43; Pathan 3/52, Sreesanth 2/56)
Stumps, day one

Some good starts but no-one managed to go on with it. Cook a solid 60 on debut and Collingwood has held the innings together. That's his third Test half-century in as many innings. A good partnership with Flintoff but after Freddie went things went downhill fast.

England really need to make early inroads tomorrow or they'll be suffering in the field for two days plus.

 

[Tigers of Old]

Re: Cricket

Good knock by Collingwood but appears the Poms are still in strife.

 

[Ready]

Re: Cricket

In trouble. Hoggard can stick around but Collingwood is not a quick scorer. Harmison may be good for 15 or might get out second ball. Panesar will display great footwork as he heads backwards towards the square leg umpire. He has been described as a ferret (goes in after the rabbits).

Lucky to add 20 more so a bold early showing with the ball is vital.

 

[mk33]

Re: Cricket

Confirmed McGrath not going to S/Africa.

The question has to be asked.."Is this the end for Oooh Aah?"

You'd like not to think so. However he ruled himself out of the Bangladesh tour also and won't play any test cricket before the Ashes series against England. That's a real worry I think.
He's almost 37 & father time is ticking for a bowler who's already past his best.
With his wife and kids as his obvious and warranted no1 priority, it could spell the end for the great fast bowler...

If everything Ok I think he will play Ashes and World Cup then retire. I dont think he will want to retire on this note. Before Ashes he may play ICC championship and who know maybe a months contract in county cricket. He's not missing anything in Bangles and will give Aussies something to look at in South Africa.

 

[Leysy Days]

Re: Cricket

If his wife illness turns out ok, I still reckon pidgeon will play for at least another 2 possibly 3 years.

He has always talked up his longevity & his long term goals & Leysy would be suprised if he finished b4 then.

obviously his wife predicament is the rider in it all.

 

[Ready]

Re: Cricket

First Test, Nagpur
England 393 (Collingwood 134no, Harmison 39; Sreesanth 4/95)
India 136/1 (Jaffer 73no, Dravid 40no)
Stumps, day two

England's tail wagged magnificently on the second morning. Harmison went ballistic but when he was stumped off Harbhajan the tourists were still only on 327/9 with Collingwood not out on 93. Panesar confounded popular opinion by hanging around for 9 while Collingwood reached his maiden Test century and then added many more valuable runs. Well played Paul Collingwood! :clap Who was the last bloke to play for Richmond CC who went on to make a Test century?

Hoggard got rid of Sehwag in the third over but that was the extent of England's joy in the field thus far. Sounds as though Panesar has made an encouraging debut with the ball though. England have a tough session to get through on the third morning before the new ball becomes available. A few quick wickets could tilt the balance in their favour.

 

[TigerGoneNorth]

Re: Cricket

They really need those quick wickets now.

 

[mb64]

Re: Cricket

1st test between India & Poms evenly poised.Poms need an early wicket/s otherwise India could build a hefty score.Well done to Collingwood on his ton.In the Aust 1 dayer Ponting & Symonds ruled out.Clark to come in for Johnson,would like to see Jaques play but he's probably just landed & might be better to wait until Sunday.

 

[mk33]

Re: Cricket

Qld 8/374
Bichel 57no
Warne 6w

NSW 141
Griffith 3w (doing well at end of season)
Tasmania 7/228