Cricket Thread

Yamor

Seed

Posts: 3,207

Gender: Male

Re: Cricket Thread « Reply #855 on: March 23, 2008, 05:07:27 AM »

Well, I hope Harmy can get back to his best, but you're right, he hasn't been really any good already from the South Africa tour over 3 years ago - that was the beginning of his decline.
Interesting you mention Trescothick, because just yesterday he announced his official retirement from international cricket. Simon Jones I'm still hopeful we'll get back one day.
I agree as well that England will be looking to bat out tomorrow, and a bit longer into the 4th day, giving themselves a touch over 5 sessions to bowl out the Kiwis. I think thats the best case scenario...
Concerning the future, I agree that Flintoff should come in for a bowler, not a batsman when he's fit, especially since Collingwood's bowling has started looking fairly reasonable. If England agree with that, the long-term bowling attack will probably be Flintoff, Hoggard, Sidebottom, with Broad the back-up. Unless Simon Jones comes back.
The batting is more debatable, and I'm in favour of waiting to see how it goes in the county championship at the beginning of the season, and maybe bringing in completely new faces. Not sure about that one...


	Logged

invisibleman18

Veteran

Posts: 7,922

Gender: Male

Location: New Zealand

MW 2006 Fantasy WC & Prediction League Champion

Re: Cricket Thread « Reply #856 on: March 23, 2008, 06:18:41 AM »

I didn't hear about Trescothick's annoucement. Such a shame. Absolutely brilliant batsmen and a massive loss. We still haven't been able to fill the gap he's left.
Simon Jones was magnificent in the Ashes, and hasn't played since. Class swing bowler, but he's so injury prone. If we do get him back, he'll probably last just the 1 series again. Would really love to see him back though.

I think Broad has done enough on this tour to make it hard to drop him to backup. I imagine Hoggard will come back into the side at home though and Broad is probably his long term replacement. So for my next test lineup:

Cook
Vaughan/???
Pietersen
Bell
Collingwood
??? (could be Shah, could be Strauss stays and Pietersen and Bell move down 1, or could be someone completely new)
Flintoff
Ambrose
Hoggard/Broad
Sidebottom
Panesar

Anyway back to the match. 91-2 at the close with a lead of 176. Cook played an extremely silly shot to get himself out not long before the end of the day. But still, it's a situation I could not have dreamed we'd be in at the start of the day!


[ Last edit by invisibleman18 March 23, 2008, 06:59:45 AM ]	Logged

Bevc

Grand Slam Champion

Posts: 15,207

Gender: Female

Location: Cambridge - New Zealand

I'd give up chocolate but I'm no quitter!

Re: Cricket Thread « Reply #857 on: March 23, 2008, 06:22:33 AM »

Quote from: invisibleman18 on March 23, 2008, 06:18:41 AM

But still, it's a situation I could not have dreamed we'd be in at the start of the day!

So say Pete & I! pray

They are going down 1st thing in the morning to get to see tomorrows play cmon yeah

Then they have the option of staying to see any of the other days play.


	Logged

invisibleman18

Veteran

Posts: 7,922

Gender: Male

Location: New Zealand

MW 2006 Fantasy WC & Prediction League Champion

Re: Cricket Thread « Reply #858 on: March 24, 2008, 03:07:12 AM »

292-3 with a lead of 377. Hundreds for both Strauss and Bell. Bell's in particular has been one of the best innings I've ever seen. Never liked him much as a player because so often he gets a start and doesn't go on. But this time he has. He's got superb technique. Just like Cook, everytime he hits a boundary it's always a really classy shot.
Should be able to get this to a lead of 500 by drinks in the first session tomorrow (if we don't collapse now) then declare.


[ Last edit by invisibleman18 March 24, 2008, 03:07:35 AM ]	Logged

invisibleman18

Veteran

Posts: 7,922

Gender: Male

Location: New Zealand

MW 2006 Fantasy WC & Prediction League Champion

Re: Cricket Thread « Reply #859 on: March 24, 2008, 07:13:08 AM »

416-5 with a lead of 501 at the close. Absolutely incredible day. Bev's friends got an amazing day of cricket and will quite rightly stay on for what should be a good 4th and maybe 5th day.
173 not out from Strauss who was playing for his future. Batted all day without even giving up one chance for a catch. Amazing stuff. Looked back to his best like the player we remember from 2-4 years ago.
They may declare overnight, although personally I think I'd continue to bat tomorrow morning and have a bash for maybe an hour to frustrate NZ even more, and give their openers no time to properly prepare to start their innings, then declare. I reckon they might give Strauss an 45 minutes or so to reach 200 and if he gets out before, then declare.

Who could have imagined this when we were down and out at 4-3 on the first morning?!


	Logged

netcord

Seed

Posts: 4,452

Gender: Male

The Messiah is my sister

Re: Cricket Thread « Reply #860 on: March 24, 2008, 09:15:08 AM »

Looks like they're going to nick a series win after heading for a gubbing clap


	Logged

invisibleman18

Veteran

Posts: 7,922

Gender: Male

Location: New Zealand

MW 2006 Fantasy WC & Prediction League Champion

Re: Cricket Thread « Reply #861 on: March 24, 2008, 10:07:04 AM »

It would be deserved too IMO.
We were the better side throughout the 2nd test and we've been the better side throughout this match with the exception of the first session of day 1. The 1st test was fairly evenly matched too with the exception of the first session of day 2 where Taylor and Vettori took the game away from us, then the whole 5th day where we had clawed back into the game and then surrendered it. 2-1 would be a fair result IMO.

But there's still plenty of work to do for that. Still 10 wickets to take yet. Just one more performance from Sidebottom, man of the series by miles, will do it. If they manage to negate him this time, then we could well struggle to take them. I'd like to think we could take 10 wickets in almost 2 days but if Sidebottom doesn't continue his good form and Anderson continues his poor form in this match, Broad will struggle to do it by himself. A 5th day pitch doing something for Panesar would come in handy. Sidebottom is the key. As is Fleming. His last test innings and he'll want to go out in style so he will be a massive wicket.


	Logged

invisibleman18

Veteran

Posts: 7,922

Gender: Male

Location: New Zealand

MW 2006 Fantasy WC & Prediction League Champion

Re: Cricket Thread « Reply #862 on: March 24, 2008, 11:18:52 PM »

Well Strauss and Ambrose got out quickly and then Broad smashed 31 to take the lead up to 552 and the declaration came. Come on Sidebottom!


	Logged

Yamor

Seed

Posts: 3,207

Gender: Male

Re: Cricket Thread « Reply #863 on: March 25, 2008, 01:29:26 AM »

Panesar 6 overs 4 maidens 1 for 5 at the moment! Sidebottom and Broad also bowling not too badly at the mo. Come on England!


	Logged

Josh

ATP Level

Posts: 2,913

Gender: Male

Location: Amersham, Bucks

.....

Re: Cricket Thread « Reply #864 on: March 25, 2008, 01:30:21 AM »

Monty takes the first wicket and NZ still need another 500 to win Smile

Fleming needs 54 in this innings to achieve his goal of averaging 40 when he retires.


	Logged

invisibleman18

Veteran

Posts: 7,922

Gender: Male

Location: New Zealand

MW 2006 Fantasy WC & Prediction League Champion

Re: Cricket Thread « Reply #865 on: March 25, 2008, 01:59:10 AM »

Sidebottom is not bowling that well. Not looking like taking a wicket, and his pace is a bit slower than usual too (below 130km/h at the moment). 9 more wickets looks a big task at the moment with Sidebottom not on the money.

But then, it's only 9 pieces of good cricket in 4 and a half sessions. Doesn't sound so hard when you say it like that. lol


	Logged

Josh

ATP Level

Posts: 2,913

Gender: Male

Location: Amersham, Bucks

.....

Re: Cricket Thread « Reply #866 on: March 25, 2008, 02:29:01 AM »

100-1 now, just about when it all kicked off in the first innings...


	Logged

Yamor

Seed

Posts: 3,207

Gender: Male

Re: Cricket Thread « Reply #867 on: March 25, 2008, 02:52:53 AM »

Fleming wil now end his career with an average over 40. I'm happy for him, after all he's done for New Zealand cricket.


	Logged

Yamor

Seed

Posts: 3,207

Gender: Male

Re: Cricket Thread « Reply #868 on: March 25, 2008, 03:46:49 AM »

Looks like Panesar will have to bowl them out himself! 18-9-2-33. Not bad figures at all...


	Logged

invisibleman18

Veteran

Posts: 7,922

Gender: Male

Location: New Zealand

MW 2006 Fantasy WC & Prediction League Champion

Re: Cricket Thread « Reply #869 on: March 25, 2008, 03:53:00 AM »

Now he's got Fleming! cmon yeah

Panesar looks like being the key. Should be more in the pitch for him on day 5.

Fleming will feel rightly disappointed with his record. Reach 50 over 50 times, and only 9 times went onto 100. Quite fitting that his career ends with yet another half century and then getting out not long after again.


	Logged

Pages: 1 ... 55 56 57 [58] 59 60 61 ... 73

MurraysWorld Discussions > General Community > Sports Talk > Cricket Thread

« previous next »