The Cricket Thread.

[victor meldrew]

Originally Posted by Motorboater

This is only a big deal because Australia did it.

I have to disagree, I believe its all about making one of the Marsh boys Captain

[victor meldrew]

Originally Posted by DB83

Have only read about this but it appears that Joe Root has had a brain fade.

Hurt his finger/hand just before close of play and gets cleaned up a few balls later. The last ball of the day actually. Why did he not simply retire hurt ?. Could, possibly, have come back in on the final day if he was required.

England still trail by a lot and they will have to show a lot more application tomorrow to save this one.

I suppose in hindsight its easy pick the pieces, however given the current state of play it might have been wiser to send out Anderson and save the skipper for the last day.

Originally Posted by bloke57

Well yeah! You can always find an extreme example (We'd 'ave dreamed of living in t'corridor etc.) but I think that my point still holds water for the everyday sportsman. It's combat of sorts but you are trained on green fields with tea breaks - not with live ammunition buzzing past your head.

They know what they are letting themselves in for and should not sign lucrative contracts, but just play county cricket, try working for a living from 15 to 65 rather than being a pampered menial.

[countjimmoriarty]

Originally Posted by Motorboater

This is only a big deal because Australia did it.

No, it's a big deal because it's bloody cheating, no matter who did it!

[scoundrel]

Perhaps I am alone in this but I really don't feel terribly excited. The Australians have been caught tampering with the ball and due process will deal with them. But they haven't sacrificed babies to Satan by the light of black candles and I think we need to maintain a sense of proportion. This is nothing like as bad as (say) a match-fixing scandal would have been.

[themidlander]

Originally Posted by Motorboater

This is only a big deal because Australia did it.

This is a big deal because it wasn't just a momentary action of an individual born out of frustration, but a concerted attempt by the senior players and management to cheat and attempt to cover up the cheating when they realised they had been rumbled. Then they make sure the culprit is a less cruicial, less experienced team member who put in the firing line by his captain (all be it willingly feeling the pressure to impress?).

Given the organised nature of this the suspicion must now be that this is not the first time that this team had undertaken these underhand measures under the Smith/Warner/Lehmann regime.

[bloke57]

Originally Posted by victor meldrew

I suppose in hindsight its easy pick the pieces, however given the current state of play it might have been wiser to send out Anderson and save the skipper for the last day.



They know what they are letting themselves in for and should not sign lucrative contracts, but just play county cricket, try working for a living from 15 to 65 rather than being a pampered menial.

You are all so harsh! ()

Of course you are right - but all I'm saying is they are human and by now probably heartily pissed off with cricket. Not saying they are justified in that, but that pissed-offness is bound to affect their play. That's all.

Not saying we need some big enquiry or restructuring or nuffin'. Jeez!

[scoundrel]

Just watching highlights of South Africa v Australia. Whatever Australia were doing with the ball, it wasn't working for them. Of course, it helps if, when you come out to bat, you walk out there with your batting head on...

[victor meldrew]

Originally Posted by bloke57

You are all so harsh! ()

Of course you are right - but all I'm saying is they are human and by now probably heartily pissed off with cricket. Not saying they are justified in that, but that pissed-offness is bound to affect their play. That's all.

Not saying we need some big enquiry or restructuring or nuffin'. Jeez!

I get your drift, but imagine playing in the ashes before flight, 12 to 14 weeks on boat, includes return trip and on tour for four and a half months, at least these days they get to fly.

Most international cricketers know what they are in for, if you look at the coming summer here its almost non stop, but a least they are at home.

I don't image anything will change until the ECB cash register breaks down.

[judy84]

Originally Posted by victor meldrew

I get your drift, but imagine playing in the ashes before flight, 12 to 14 weeks on boat, includes return trip and on tour for four and a half months, at least these days they get to fly.

Most international cricketers know what they are in for, if you look at the coming summer here its almost non stop, but a least they are at home.

I don't image anything will change until the ECB cash register breaks down.

I wouldn't defend this England team at all. They deserve nothing from this game. However the last day will give some of the players a chance to show how much guts they have. The weather has given them a lifeline.

A lot of overseas players come from their own domestic cricket to play a full grinding season of county cricket. I don't hear any bleating from them.

[bloke57]

Originally Posted by victor meldrew

I get your drift, but imagine playing in the ashes before flight, 12 to 14 weeks on boat, includes return trip and on tour for four and a half months, at least these days they get to fly.

Most international cricketers know what they are in for, if you look at the coming summer here its almost non stop, but a least they are at home.

Ah! I get it.

You are secretly porking all the cricketers wives while they are abroad. You don't want the coming home do you?

You old devil victor.