Cricket

[Ferret]

KP has a decision to make?

I think the ECB has already made the decision for him.

It would appear so!

 

[ACE1888]

England beat 'loveable rogues' Pakistan in final T20 warm up game by 15 runs
Alas we lost the Division 5 play off final by 92 runs, Pencarrow thoroughly deserving the trophy on the day, but we picked up the Division 5 West trophy and all got Division 5 West winners Medals, and then got drunk on the way back, great fun it was!

 

[Whistler40145]

Having read that Lancashire have released Sajid Mahmood, which county do you think he will sign with for next season?

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Whilst the England team won as expected against Afghanistan, it is good to see how this side from a country where the Taleban when in power were totally against it, have come on in recent years and to reach this stage of the competition is a reflection of that.

They have had some notable victories over the last three years.
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Having read that Lancashire have released Sajid Mahmood, which county do you think he will sign with for next season?

On that I am unsure, but I remember Ronnie Irani's cricketing career blossomed when he left the home of the Red Rose. I see that the former wicket-keeper Jim Cumbes who became a senior member of the top level management, has now stood down from his senior position at Old Trafford.

 

[Whistler40145]

Sajid Mahmood's lack of form has been building up over a number of seasons & I can imagine that Lancashire CCC got to a point whereby he really wasn't a worthy asset to the club & therefore the only action available was to release him.

Jim Cumbes is to retire later in the year, he would have gone earlier, but it wasn't possible with all the building works being carried out.

 

[ainsworth74]

Whilst the England team won as expected against Afghanistan, it is good to see how this side from a country where the Taleban when in power were totally against it, have come on in recent years and to reach this stage of the competition is a reflection of that.

Yes that was good to see. If only they'd been more capable in the field they might have run India really close, as the difference between the two sides was the extra runs scored due to the dropped catches. Against England too better fielding would probably have made the game more of a contest. So an impressive side (especially considering what they have to work against) but more work to do.

I think the ECB should invite them across for a tour of England. Maybe couple of T20s against the full England side and arrange some more games (of all types) against some of the county's. I think what Afghanistan need (apart from fielding practice) is more experience of playing quality opposition.

 

[balne-wonderer]

Yorkshire are going to offer Anthony McGrath another season at Headingley according to what i've heard. I'm unsure about it, McGrath did step up at crucial times this season but he's stole a living for years from the White Rose.

 

[ACE1888]

One problem with cricket, especially at County Level, is too many players stay on past their best, and the Counties seem more than happy to continue this trend, not good at all for encouraging the Youth aspect, look at the likes of Derbyshire this year, cleared out most of the old guard, and with a young, more dynamic team, achieve promotion to Division 1, good on them I say
Furthermore...
After 30 seasons (1982 onwards) of playing cricket for Ludgvan C.C, as of today I'm calling it a day with regards to playing, finished with back to back promotions in the last 2 seasons, have contacted the Skipper and posted as such on Facebook, time for me to 'move on'

 

[Ferret]

Yes, Darren Maddy is one down at the Bears who I think needs pensioning off. He's in the side as a batsman, and he doesn't make runs often enough for my liking.

 

[Whistler40145]

Should the ECB have a set retirement age so Cricketers can't linger on?

 

[ainsworth74]

Should the ECB have a set retirement age so Cricketers can't linger on?

No, why should it? If a county is happy to have someone linger on then surely that's the county's business?

 

[Whistler40145]

What are your thoughts of Kevin Pietersen back in the England side?

Will he be a disruptive influence or behave in a gracious manner?

 

[Arglwydd Golau]

What are your thoughts of Kevin Pietersen back in the England side?

Will he be a disruptive influence or behave in a gracious manner?

I've read quite a bit today about KP, interesting stuff....many commentators hint that such disagreements in the past were settled in, shall we say, the 'traditional' manner and I think it was Vic Marks who suggested that the resulting blackeye could be explained away by a rising ball in the nets!
My own view is that KP should be in the team and he should be managed appropriately and effectively by captain and coach - not sure that this has been done successfully in the past. Although very different characters, I suspect, a certain G Boycott was also a bit of a primadonna in his own way and also spent time outside the team when he should have been playing. KP clearly has an interest in marketing himself as a brand (possibly the first time an England player has tried to do this) and I do think better attempts should have been made to engage with him. Having said that, he was also clearly ill-advised to do and say some of the things that he has done and said! I would always wish to see England put out it's strongest team, and in my own view that includes KP.
Oh, ..and also the not so subtle hints in the press that Jimmy, Swanny and Broady and not necessarily whiter than white!
I don't think KP will be disruptive.

 

[Whistler40145]

I don't think Andy Flower will take any messing from Pietersen. I can imagine him saying one more problem & that's you out buddy.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

While all this talk about the English cricket team continues, I see that the England Women are keeping up their excellent form at the very top level of the game.

 

[Whistler40145]

Yes, the England Women seem to be better than the Men's team at the moment.

 

[ainsworth74]

Yes, the England Women seem to be better than the Men's team at the moment.

Personally I think they're the strongest side representing England in any of the worlds major team sports. I'm looking forward to them claiming their second T20 World Cup on Sunday (counting chickens? Me? Never )!

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

I don't think Andy Flower will take any messing from Pietersen. I can imagine him saying one more problem & that's you out buddy.

This matter of a South African whose actions have not endeared him to some of his own team-mates and many of the general public, that has now reached a hoped-for reconciliation period is in stark contrast to the the way that two other overseas players chosen to play for England who had to wait for acceptance but did so in the most gentlemanly of manners.

I refer to K.S.Ranjitsinhji at the turn of the 20th century and Basil d'Oliveira in the later years of that century, both of which had to overcome personal and cultural apprehensions, yet both these players performed with great flair in their batting for their adopted country and did not appear to cause any problems to their fellow team members.
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Personally I think they're the strongest side representing England in any of the worlds major team sports. I'm looking forward to them claiming their second T20 World Cup on Sunday (counting chickens? Me? Never )!

In the immortal words of Victor Meldrew...."I just don't believe it !!! "

England Women have lost the T20 World Cup final...by just 4 runs..:roll:

 

[ainsworth74]

England Women have lost the T20 World Cup final...by just 4 runs..

Yep that was painful to watch but they'll bounce back I'm sure. However, I'm really enjoying the Windies currently storming to victory against Sri Lanka in the final.

 

[Whistler40145]

I wonder how good the Windies would be without Chris Gayle?

 

[ainsworth74]

I wonder how good the Windies would be without Chris Gayle?

Capable of winning a difficult T20 World Cup final I'd suggest...

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

I wonder how good the Windies would be without Chris Gayle?

On a more generalised matter, it was good to see the West Indies back to winning a trophy again. After being such a dominant force in Test cricket with their established pattern of four top-line pace bowlers coupled with individually gifted batsmen, it was very sad to see the gradual decline of their fortunes at the very top level, especially noting that in some innings, a most embarrassing paucity of runs were being scored.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

In the India "A" v England tour match, it was somewhat strange to see that it was Samit Patel who aided the England cause with his first century for England (104) as England reached 426 all out in their first innings, to take forward a lead of 57.

 

[ACE1888]

Day 1 on India v England
India 323-4 at close of play, England mis read one of flattest pitches ever in India, Leave out Monty Panesar, and play 3 seamers, who unsurprisingly, take no wickets...chumps

 

[Arglwydd Golau]

Day 1 on India v England
India 323-4 at close of play, England mis read one of flattest pitches ever in India, Leave out Monty Panesar, and play 3 seamers, who unsurprisingly, take no wickets...chumps

Agreed, Monty Panesar should have played, sometimes I wish that England could be a little more flexible, sure the three seamers and a spinner has often worked but on this type of pitch in India?? It's the kind of pitch where Australia would have once played Warne and McGill...I do hope Bresnan can prove me wrong but I think his bowling will be cannon fodder on this pitch.

 

[Ferret]

I wanted to play Monty - 3 spinners was always the way to go. Still, it's done now. And of course, it doesn't matter who you play if you don't hold your catches.

 

[LE Greys]

Day 1 on India v England
India 323-4 at close of play, England mis read one of flattest pitches ever in India, Leave out Monty Panesar, and play 3 seamers, who unsurprisingly, take no wickets...chumps

Ouch!

Is anyone on Freeview showing highlights? Channel 5 does not seem to have them.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Just logged on first thing. India have now moved on to 502-6 at tea, with Pujara moving on to 196 n.o.. Swann has now taken his fifth wicket. Still no wickets for any of the English pace bowlers.

In the other Test Match, West Indies recovered from 106-3 to move on to 527-4 declared. It must be a good batting track there as Bangladesh scored 556 all out in their first innings in reply.

 

[ACE1888]

India declared on 521-8... But we've scored 8 from the 1st over in reply
India, unsurprisingly, open with spin...

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

India declared on 521-8... But we've scored 8 from the 1st over in reply
India, unsurprisingly, open with spin...

Cheteshwar Pujari completed an undefeated double-hundred (206 n.o.) before India declared.

Just looked at the latest score for England after 14 overs...29-2