The Cricket Thread.

[Oswald]

Here are some cricketers who have passed away recently.

John Derrick. Former Glamorgan player. He was only 54.

Mike Bore. Former Yorkshire and Nottinghamshire player. Aged 69.

Peter Kippax. Former Yorkshire player. Aged 76.

[victor meldrew]

Watched the first hour at the pub. Jennings seems out of sorts and the only time he managed to get bat on ball was when he was out. Cook looking solid and just one moment from Morkel. Westley feeling his way around test cricket, while Philander has troubled all three with the bat.

[DB83]

England can count themselves fortunate that Philander had a jippy tum and was off the field for a lengthy time and could also not bowl immediately on his return.

And, yes, on his return he was very effective.

Westley got a few. Jennings and Malam rather fewer.

Those spoon-fed on the bash stuff would find today's play very tedious. But this was real test cricket. Shame about the weather tho.

[DB83]

Is it only me that notes a lack of comment when England have a rather good day in a Test Match. In fact one of their best for some time IMO since it was both with bat and ball. Rarely both come together at the same time.

Inspired captaincy or what to take of your main strike bowler (for the ambient conditions) after only 3 overs and throw the ball to Rowland-Jones who must have thought that birthday and Christmas had all come at once

[DB83]

Assuming it does stop raining over SE11 tomorrow, Joe Root has his first big decision to make as captain - when to declare.

Cook was IMO much too cautious in that respect. Better to get that ton rather than have another 30 mins at the oppo and then run out of time.

Of course he will be concerned that if he is too generous he could lose but I still think he holds enough aces with the bowlers. I can not see S.A. folding as quick as they did first time around but the bowlers still need enough overs.

[DB83]

Just one question.

Who decides just who is MOTM ?

Frankly, the decision to award it to Stokes came over to me smelling of nepotism. Ok. He batted well - he was expected to anyway. He bowled reasonably well - he was expected to.

However Roland-Jones rose above expectations. A five-for in the first. A vital wicket in the second (Amla) and finishing with eight.

Just who was the ejit ?

Now can England get two in a row ? Darn it. That is two questions

[countjimmoriarty]

Originally Posted by DB83

Just one question.

Who decides just who is MOTM ?

Not sure if it is still the case, but it certainly used to be the Sky commentary team.

[risen]

To Deep Backward Square, otherwise known as the Merv Hughes position.

Fabulous hit from Riki Wessels though.

[buttsie]

Originally Posted by DB83

Just one question.

Who decides just who is MOTM ?

Frankly, the decision to award it to Stokes came over to me smelling of nepotism. Ok. He batted well - he was expected to anyway. He bowled reasonably well - he was expected to.

However Roland-Jones rose above expectations. A five-for in the first. A vital wicket in the second (Amla) and finishing with eight.

Just who was the ejit ?

Now can England get two in a row ? Darn it. That is two questions

1st innings batting in tough conditions making runs + taking wickets v

Bowling in perfect conditions on debut and taking 8

Stokes for mine probably because being the hot head he is that type of batting performance wasnt expected.

MOTM awards for mine are pointless given its a team sport


England do flatter to deceive sometimes - its when the conditions dont suit that you see how good a team really is - especially bowling

[rewbear]

Originally Posted by buttsie

MOTM awards for mine are pointless given its a team sport

Don't know so much about in cricket because I never played it in anger, but certainly in all my time playing Rugby at junior and second team league level we always nominated our own player of the game, or the captain did, whether we won or lost - the only time I ever won it was when I dislocated my shoulder on one of the posts trying to stop a try with about 10 minutes left when we were 36-0 down in the piss-pouring rain away from home!

MoM awards actually help to instil team spirit with everyone agreeing the contribution by the recipient deserving of special mention, if only in my case for the humour value. Awards at professional and Test level are more likely to be motivated by the sponsorship value - hence the SLY commentary team making the award - than actual merit, although I do agree with DB83 that 8-fer on debut is deserving of a bottle of 'poo and a medal more than another above-average performance from a long time above-average performer.