The Cricket Thread. - Page 534

**judy84** · April 1st, 2018, 02:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roger Allott

All 13 England wickets in the match thus far have been taken by Boult or Southee. All 10 NZ wickets have been taken by Anderson or Broad.

Both teams seem to have the same glaring problem - a lack of depth in their bowling.

.

As spoken about earlier, I think it is more about the wickets and the ball. With the new ball you get a bit of swing and movement off the wicket, then nothing. The drop in pitches can surely be experimented on to cultivate the grass and soil to produce wickets with something for bowlers like spin?

One thing I have found refreshing in the series is the sporting attitude and smiles at times. In this test, 4 times a batsman has been hit on the head and each time the bowler has rushed up to check he was ok.

One question about DRS. They have "on field call" or "umpire's call" when less than 50% of the ball hits the stumps or when the ball hits the pads in line for l.b.w. ; why don't they have it for the ball pitching outside leg stump?

**Greenman** · April 1st, 2018, 03:18 PM

With Smith and Warner and Lehmann all breaking down during their press conferences it sort of blows apart the tough, macho image of Aussie male that used to be prevalent. I was trying to remember the last Aussie batsman to do this and I think it was Kim Hughes when he resigned as Captain many years ago. All that said you would never seen Allan Border or big bad Merv Hughes blub...but then they never got caught cheating or even considered it. I also think it exonerates England's captain, Joe Root, who himself accused by the Aussies of ball-tampering in the Ashes, but their was no proof provided.

**effCup** · April 2nd, 2018, 12:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Greenman

all breaking down

Jane Bowron is a media rather than sports commentator. Hopefully the link works ok. Drag the window left/right.

**scoundrel** · April 2nd, 2018, 06:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Greenman

With Smith and Warner and Lehmann all breaking down during their press conferences it sort of blows apart the tough, macho image of Aussie male that used to be prevalent. I was trying to remember the last Aussie batsman to do this and I think it was Kim Hughes when he resigned as Captain many years ago. All that said you would never seen Allan Border or big bad Merv Hughes blub...but then they never got caught cheating or even considered it. I also think it exonerates England's captain, Joe Root, who himself accused by the Aussies of ball-tampering in the Ashes, but their was no proof provided.

Maybe yes, maybe no. As you say, there was no proof provided.

**victor meldrew** · April 2nd, 2018, 09:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by effCup

Jane Bowron is a media rather than sports commentator. Hopefully the link works ok. Drag the window left/right.

Just made me think if they had been females would we all be saying "crocodile?"

**Motorboater** · April 3rd, 2018, 09:09 AM

Faf du Plessis with one of the all time greatt junktime 100s in cricket yesterday.

**DB83** · April 3rd, 2018, 09:25 AM

England can finally pack their bags and return from down-under. Test results - played 7, lost 5, drawn 2.

But even a win from the last game would hardly paper over the cracks. Yet a win would have at least given something to smile over and the end-of-game/series beer would have tasted a little sweeter.

But I have said it before and will say it again. To win a game you often need to make the oppo believe that they can also win. Set a more gettable target and not waste the overs which could have made the difference.

**judy84** · April 3rd, 2018, 03:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DB83

England can finally pack their bags and return from down-under. Test results - played 7, lost 5, drawn 2.

But even a win from the last game would hardly paper over the cracks. Yet a win would have at least given something to smile over and the end-of-game/series beer would have tasted a little sweeter.

But I have said it before and will say it again. To win a game you often need to make the oppo believe that they can also win. Set a more gettable target and not waste the overs which could have made the difference.

I think the target was gettable on that pitch....382 or so in over 4 sessions or over 110 overs ( less than 4 runs/over). NZ's top batsmen got out to hairy fairy shots but if they had stayed in I think NZ would have won.
I don't think England would have won with another session. Sodhi 168 balls, Wagner 103 balls, batting at 8 and 9 showed that anyone could stay in by blocking, there was nothing in the wicket even on the 5th day.

**scoundrel** · April 3rd, 2018, 08:48 PM

I think what was shown in the difficult winter England have just experienced is that we do not have a strong bowling squad. Broad and Anderson have had much too much work to do and the other bowlers have not done nearly enough.

Moeen Ali- I like Moeen and I think he has done sterling work in the last few years, but he has been ineffective with the ball on this tour, which has left a big hole.

Jake Ball- Shit.

Chris Woakes- Very disappointing. He appears to be a yard and a half down on his usual pace and has not looked threatening.

England not only lost four out of five Ashes tests, they also lost by an innings and plenty in two out of the four, which shows that Australia bowled a lot better on the same track. On the one occasion when England managed to post a difficult target, they drew; the bowlers cannot take wickets. Moeen was not turning the ball and Woakes was not moving it off the seam or in the air. Anderson and Broad can't do it all by themselves and in any case they will be retiring not very long from now; and then England really will be in trouble.

**buttsie** · April 3rd, 2018, 08:50 PM

So the overseas touring teams leave with nothing Again

I wonder if its time the Cricket Admin culture of playing as many games as you can fit into the calendar to make as much money as possible at the expense of

1. decent tour schedules leading up to test series

2. rest day / spare day to help keep bowlers in tests / make up for lost time

The real issue would seem to be many grounds are now too far in debt
with infrastructure over spending more meaningless games is here to stay
unless those holding the purse strings start sharing the money around
to retire debt.

Might be in need of a re-think

The disparity in revenue / wages between the rich & poor countries in cricket if left as is will only see the poor losing too many players to T20 leagues and remaining uncompetitive

April 1st, 2018, 03:18 PM	#5332
Greenman Live Legend of VEF Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Underground lair somewhere in the world Posts: 20,353 Thanks: 30,936 Thanked 383,529 Times in 19,356 Posts	With Smith and Warner and Lehmann all breaking down during their press conferences it sort of blows apart the tough, macho image of Aussie male that used to be prevalent. I was trying to remember the last Aussie batsman to do this and I think it was Kim Hughes when he resigned as Captain many years ago. All that said you would never seen Allan Border or big bad Merv Hughes blub...but then they never got caught cheating or even considered it. I also think it exonerates England's captain, Joe Root, who himself accused by the Aussies of ball-tampering in the Ashes, but their was no proof provided. __________________ There was only ONE Greenman, and you accepted no substitutes! To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. Rest in peace MaxJoker-you will be sorely missed. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. 20,000: Milestone reached!

April 3rd, 2018, 08:48 PM	#5339
scoundrel Super Moderator Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: England Posts: 26,246 Thanks: 162,418 Thanked 278,569 Times in 26,189 Posts	I think what was shown in the difficult winter England have just experienced is that we do not have a strong bowling squad. Broad and Anderson have had much too much work to do and the other bowlers have not done nearly enough. Moeen Ali- I like Moeen and I think he has done sterling work in the last few years, but he has been ineffective with the ball on this tour, which has left a big hole. Jake Ball- Shit. Chris Woakes- Very disappointing. He appears to be a yard and a half down on his usual pace and has not looked threatening. England not only lost four out of five Ashes tests, they also lost by an innings and plenty in two out of the four, which shows that Australia bowled a lot better on the same track. On the one occasion when England managed to post a difficult target, they drew; the bowlers cannot take wickets. Moeen was not turning the ball and Woakes was not moving it off the seam or in the air. Anderson and Broad can't do it all by themselves and in any case they will be retiring not very long from now; and then England really will be in trouble. __________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

April 3rd, 2018, 09:09 AM	#5336
Motorboater Vintage Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 4,325 Thanks: 41,503 Thanked 38,255 Times in 4,299 Posts	Faf du Plessis with one of the all time greatt junktime 100s in cricket yesterday.

April 3rd, 2018, 09:25 AM	#5337
DB83 Vintage Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 1,472 Thanks: 1,948 Thanked 12,019 Times in 1,458 Posts	England can finally pack their bags and return from down-under. Test results - played 7, lost 5, drawn 2. But even a win from the last game would hardly paper over the cracks. Yet a win would have at least given something to smile over and the end-of-game/series beer would have tasted a little sweeter. But I have said it before and will say it again. To win a game you often need to make the oppo believe that they can also win. Set a more gettable target and not waste the overs which could have made the difference.

April 3rd, 2018, 08:50 PM	#5340
buttsie Porn Archeologist Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: earth Posts: 12,714 Thanks: 92,252 Thanked 241,301 Times in 12,746 Posts	So the overseas touring teams leave with nothing Again I wonder if its time the Cricket Admin culture of playing as many games as you can fit into the calendar to make as much money as possible at the expense of 1. decent tour schedules leading up to test series 2. rest day / spare day to help keep bowlers in tests / make up for lost time The real issue would seem to be many grounds are now too far in debt with infrastructure over spending more meaningless games is here to stay unless those holding the purse strings start sharing the money around to retire debt. Might be in need of a re-think The disparity in revenue / wages between the rich & poor countries in cricket if left as is will only see the poor losing too many players to T20 leagues and remaining uncompetitive