Cricket

[Busaholic]

By now, Morgan can surely be put into the slot reserved for ex-captains. Not sure whether that would be above or below Christopher Cowdrey - he at least had the grace to style his autobiography 'Good Enough?', a question which needed no answer.

In other news, KP has announced his signing by Surrey next season for all forms of cricket: no doubt a double century off the bowling of Loughborough University will precede a clamour for his England recall, which I trust will be resisted at all cost.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Sri Lanka 133 all out (37.2 overs)
Tahir 8.2-0-26-4
Duminy 9-1-29-3

South Africa 134-1 (18 overs)
DeKock 78 from 57 balls, with 12 x 4.

About as comprehensive a victory as could be expected.

 

[DownSouth]

First ever win for South Africa in a knockout match too.

With Sri Lanka now on their way, the contenders in the other half of the knockout draw (Australia, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh) will be hoping that whoever progresses from the Wellington quarter-final (NZ v WI) will go on to beat South Africa in the Eden Park semi-final. Playing the final against South Africa on the wide open expanses of the MCG will be far harder than playing New Zealand or the Windies at the same ground.



That one looks like it might have been a bit more interesting than the Pakistan-Ireland match I went to on Sunday, when I got sunburnt after falling asleep due to the soporifically defensive bowling from Pakistan.
The most memorable event of the game was the Irish fans giving Umar Akmal the wanker chant as he went Boycott style to contrive a century for Sarfraz Ahmed at the end of the run chase.

 

[ExRes]

In other news, KP has announced his signing by Surrey next season for all forms of cricket:

Not yet he hasn't, he may want it but he certainly hasn't got it. Even if he does get a Surrey contract not all those in the England set up are backing him for a recall


http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rc...xICQBQ&usg=AFQjCNHO3WlAPPIlp22ccDc4VZuhSKINZQ

James Whitaker is only a selector of course, so could be replaced himself if he's out of line with his colleagues and Colin Graves

 

[Busaholic]

Not yet he hasn't, he may want it but he certainly hasn't got it. Even if he does get a Surrey contract not all those in the England set up are backing him for a recall


http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rc...xICQBQ&usg=AFQjCNHO3WlAPPIlp22ccDc4VZuhSKINZQ

James Whitaker is only a selector of course, so could be replaced himself if he's out of line with his colleagues and Colin Graves

Surrey want him if he commits himself to them in all forms of the game, which apparently he is willing to do, assuming he is released from his IPL contract. Whether he gets back into the England side at a later stage is of course an entirely different matter, but he has well-connected friends, even if they include practically no current England test cricketers, team management or selectors!

 

[DownSouth]

India look like they are in a good spot in the second quarter-final, having scored 6/302 against Bangladesh.

The current record for the highest successful chase at the MCG is 295, so it would take something extremely special for Bangladesh to advance to the Sydney semi-final next week.

 

[ExRes]

Surrey want him if he commits himself to them in all forms of the game, which apparently he is willing to do, assuming he is released from his IPL contract. Whether he gets back into the England side at a later stage is of course an entirely different matter, but he has well-connected friends, even if they include practically no current England test cricketers, team management or selectors!

As well as getting out of that IPL contract, is he not signed to play for St Lucia again during June and July in the CPL ?

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

India look like they are in a good spot in the second quarter-final, having scored 6/302 against Bangladesh.

Their opening batsman, Ro Sharma, played a very good innings to score 137 with 3 x 6 and 14 x 4.

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After 20 overs, Bangladesh had scored 86 for the loss of three wickets. Bangladesh all out for 193 in 45 overs, having slumped from 189-6 with no reasonable chance of winning then.

A good bowling return by U.Yadav....9.1-1-31-4

 

[Busaholic]

As well as getting out of that IPL contract, is he not signed to play for St Lucia again during June and July in the CPL ?

Probably, but if you have enough money you can afford to tear up the contract and say 'what are you going to do about it?'. Cricket getting more like football, which can only be deleterious in my view.

 

[Oswyntail]

...Cricket getting more like football, which can only be deleterious in my view.

Yes, with one massive similar problem - it is cheaper and easier to hire in overseas players to hunt success than raise England qualified ones. In the very small catchment area that is County Cricket, this is savagely affecting the production of bowlers. We must return to the one overseas player per squad per season rule. (Qualified players like Trott are a different question)

 

[Arglwydd Golau]

Yes, with one massive similar problem - it is cheaper and easier to hire in overseas players to hunt success than raise England qualified ones. In the very small catchment area that is County Cricket, this is savagely affecting the production of bowlers. We must return to the one overseas player per squad per season rule. (Qualified players like Trott are a different question)

Yes, very much agree with this. I always feel more happy when a home-grown player does well for my county team...do others feel the same? There is a place for overseas players, but a limit does need to be set, and that should include kolpak players.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Yes, very much agree with this. I always feel more happy when a home-grown player does well for my county team...do others feel the same? There is a place for overseas players, but a limit does need to be set, and that should include kolpak players.

Jos Buttler was born in Taunton and is one young English cricketer to have made his mark on the game in the last few years.
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On the matter of "home" events, Glamorgan Cricket Club must be somewhat relieved that £4.4 million of a £6.4 million debt has now been formally written off by Cardiff Council.

 

[tony_mac]

It sounds pretty lively at Eden park.
NZ currently have 5 slips in place - I don't think you would see England doing that!

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Miller came in at a time when the run rate needed boosting for South Africa and scored 49 from only 18 balls with 3 x 6 and 6 x 4.
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World Cup...Semi-Final

South Africa...281-5 (43 overs)
du Plessis 82
De Villiers 65

Anderson 6-0-72-3 (Took three wickets for a lot of runs, but also scored 58)

New Zealand 299-6 (42.5 overs)
Elliot 84
McCullum 59
Anderson 58

Under the Duckworth-Lewis method, New Zealand won by 4 wickets

 

[tony_mac]

Considering how they have been scoring in the last 15 overs, the rain wasn't ideal for SA.
An exciting finish, though, I thought SA were going to do it towards the end.

 

[Busaholic]

Considering how they have been scoring in the last 15 overs, the rain wasn't ideal for SA.
An exciting finish, though, I thought SA were going to do it towards the end.

I agree - it really is ludicrous that such important games get shortened due to the demands of TV! Imagine if it was suddenly announced that the Men's Final at Wimbledon was to be contested over 3 sets only.
Looking at the scorecards, a comment a month ago by one of the wiser journalists covering the tournament came to mind: South Africa's lack of a reliable fifth bowler might come to haunt them, and I think this probably was what made the difference in the end. Imagine if it had been England chasing that target: preservation of wickets would have been seen as paramount, so an opener doing a Brendon McCullum and scoring 59 in double-quick time to get you off to a first wicket stand of 70 odd would have copped all the blame if/when Morgan and co failed to capitalise. Instead the NZ players took inspiration from McCullum's lead, Ross Taylor the steadying influence and allowing the other batsmen the freedom to play their shots.

 

[DownSouth]

It sounds pretty lively at Eden park.
NZ currently have 5 slips in place - I don't think you would see England doing that!

And that's why the cricket world needs Australia to beat India in the SCG semi-final tomorrow - the two most competitive captains leading their sides at the home of one day cricket would be a far better World Cup Final than the defensive captaincy of MS Dhoni.

I agree - it really is ludicrous that such important games get shortened due to the demands of TV! Imagine if it was suddenly announced that the Men's Final at Wimbledon was to be contested over 3 sets only.

I agree, knockout stage matches should have a reserve day allowing a complete replay (if the first innings did not get to at least 20 overs) or a resumption.

There also needs to be a shift away from awarding one point each for a washed out pool stage match, with points awarded according to the affected teams' win/loss ratio in their other matches.

Still, it is kind of funny that South Africa have had yet another World Cup campaign derailed by a rain-affected match.

 

[Oswyntail]

.... the two most competitive captains leading their sides at the home of one day cricket ....

South Africa vs New Zealand at Lord's

 

[muddythefish]

Is this tournament still going on ? When did it start - six months ago ?

Does anyone care ?

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

And that's why the cricket world needs Australia to beat India in the SCG semi-final tomorrow - the two most competitive captains leading their sides at the home of one day cricket would be a far better World Cup Final than the defensive captaincy of MS Dhoni.

How do you view the attributes of both bowling attacks when performing on the SCG?

 

[DownSouth]

India is very much a batting team (like South Africa) while Australia is more an all-round team with a quality bowling lineup and batting down to number ten with four all-rounders. The superiority of Australia's bowling unit (we have four bowlers who can swing the ball, two of whom can move it both ways) should be enough to neutralise the advantage India has over us in middle order batting quality.

The key will be whether Josh Hazlewood and Shane Watson can get the ball to swing. It's a given that the two Mitchells will get it to do, but if those 20 overs of pressure from quality swing bowling can turn into 40 it will be the difference that wins the match - just like it was when they shot Pakistan out for 213 at Adelaide Oval last Friday.

The weather is certainly on Australia's side, Sydney has had plenty of rain in the last few days that has kept the pitch under wraps, absorbing moisture from the ground and not seeing any of the sun. Both India and Australia will still use their spinners, but it will be just about taking pace off the ball and not about getting turn.

We saw with yesterday's Eden Park semi-final that an all-round team should usually come out on top of a batting team, especially if they have an attacking captain like McCullum or Clarke who is up to the challenge. AB de Villiers should probably resign from the South African captaincy, his strategy of stacking the batting at the expense of giving the opposition 10 overs of party time against part-timers was horribly exposed by a good all-round team.

 

[EbbwJunction1]

Is this tournament still going on ? When did it start - six months ago ? Does anyone care ?

Do you know, it occurred to me a couple of days ago that I didn't know what stage the competition was at ... and that I wasn't really bothered either way!

Since England's exit, I've seen very little in the papers about what has been happening and, as I haven't got Sky, I haven't been watching anything on TV.

I've seen today, though, that it's the final on Sunday ... and there's even been an article about it in a Welsh paper during the rugby season!

C'mon the Kiwis!

 

[Busaholic]

Going viral (well, for cricket anyway) is a clip of a hapless BBC reporter intending to say to Michael Clarke at the press conference after the Aussie semi-final win 'you've had tremendous success' but instead it came out as 'you've had tremendous sex', instigating collapse with mirth of Steve Smith sitting next to him.

I do hope NZ win the final, for all the obvious reasons of an impartial Englishman! If they get the opportunity to bat first and get off to a real flyer, that might represent their best chance, and Vettori could strangle the life out of the Aussie reply in what will probably be his last match in Kiwi colours.
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Hope the World Cup final lives up to its billing, with a fluctuating, tense match that is decided on the final ball of 100 overs played. Most impartial observers will probably be championing the Kiwis in their first ever final, particularly as they do not have home advantage. Martin Crowe, a fine examplar for NZ cricket, may well be watching his last ever match, as his leukemia has cruelly returned in an aggressive form, and a win dedicated to him would be absolutely fitting.

 

[muddythefish]

Do you know, it occurred to me a couple of days ago that I didn't know what stage the competition was at ... and that I wasn't really bothered either way!

Since England's exit, I've seen very little in the papers about what has been happening and, as I haven't got Sky, I haven't been watching anything on TV.

I've seen today, though, that it's the final on Sunday ... and there's even been an article about it in a Welsh paper during the rugby season!

C'mon the Kiwis!

Started in 2014 (or was it 2013?), too many teams, spread out over too long a period and then decided by a final in which it was always possible that one team was going to have an off day.

If they were going to have such a bloated tournament in the first place, they could at least have made the final the best of 3.

Farce.

 

[DownSouth]

A great game tonight, and an absolute privilege to be at the MCG to see Australia reclaim the World Cup on the back of absolute world-leading bowling - and a fitting triumphant close to the summer which started with the passing of Phil Hughes.

Michael Clarke should be expecting some tremendous sex tonight! Perfect captaincy, a fine 74 under heavy pressure from two world-class fast bowlers and a World Championship is a great way to finish off an ODI career of 245 matches, 7981 runs @ 44.6, 8 centuries, 57 wickets and a 70% win rate as captain.

Congratulations also to the other players retiring from ODIs or from all cricket at the conclusion of the World Cup - Shahid Afridi, Mahela Jayawardene, Kumar Sangakkara, Brendan Taylor and Misbah ul-Haq and probably (but not confirmed) Daniel Vettori.

If they get the opportunity to bat first and get off to a real flyer, ...

Mitchell Starc did a great job of ensuring the only thing off to a flyer was Brendon McCullum's off stump!

He was a most worthy Player of the Tournament with 22 wickets, average of 10.6, economy of 3.5 (best way to restrict runs is to send stumps flying!) and taking a wicket every 17.4 balls. Excellent to see that in a tournament of high run scoring, the quality pace and swing of Starc, Johnson, Boult and Southee was what set the top two apart from the rest.
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Started in 2014 (or was it 2013?), too many teams, spread out over too long a period and then decided by a final in which it was always possible that one team was going to have an off day.

If they were going to have such a bloated tournament in the first place, they could at least have made the final the best of 3.

Farce.

The next tournament will be more compact with only ten teams playing due to the TV rights deal with the Indian network Star Sports.

However, it is not guaranteed that being a Test nation will ensure automatic qualification so there is still a chance that there could be a third consecutive final being contested between the co-hosts if Ireland perform during the qualification stage and if England sort themselves out.

I would love a three match finals series like the World Series always used to have next time the World Cup is here!

 

[Busaholic]

Two events, apparently unconnected, unless....

1.) The Father Time weather vane on top of the Mound Stand at Lords has been flattened by the wind and will need significant repair

2.) The Aussies have already announced their squad for the Ashes tour here in July: one or two surprises, notably batsman Adam Voges at age of 35 on the back of an excellent Sheffield Shield season. Must give a certain England-qualified South African renewed hope! Anyway, how dare the Aussies be planning this far ahead? We'll know our team for the first test by the day before, and that's always been good enough for us, hasn't it?!

Headline in paper a few days ago -'Downton to go'. I immediately thought Paul of that name had fallen on his sword, but no, apparently there'a an abbey somewhere that shares that name. Must ask my friend the judge if she's heard of it.

 

[DownSouth]

Headline in paper a few days ago -'Downton to go'. I immediately thought Paul of that name had fallen on his sword, but no, apparently there'a an abbey somewhere that shares that name. Must ask my friend the judge if she's heard of it.

He certainly needs to be fired, along with the head coach and at least four players should not play ODI cricket for England again.

The ECB took their top seeding for the World Cup so seriously that they demanded the rescheduling of the 2014-15 Ashes series to give them better preparation for the World Cup. I'm guessing that joining Afghanistan and Scotland in being chewed up and spat out by Pool A is a little below the result they had in mind when they went so far as rescheduling an Ashes series!

 

[Arglwydd Golau]

The ECB took their top seeding for the World Cup so seriously that they demanded the rescheduling of the 2014-15 Ashes series to give them better preparation for the World Cup. I'm guessing that joining Afghanistan and Scotland in being chewed up and spat out by Pool A is a little below the result they had in mind when they went so far as rescheduling an Ashes series!

The best quote I saw in the media about England's performance in the World Cup was (along the lines of):
'England entered the tournament with a low expectation and failed to achieve it'
I don't have any confidence in England doing well in the Ashes ( I have tickets for the second day at Cardiff - an Australian friend said 'well, at least the game won't be over by then!').
I like the look of the Australian team, at least they choose players who are in their mid-thirties and at the top of their game...Haddin, Rogers, Voges etc...our media would be clamouring for their replacement with 20 somethings!

 

[Busaholic]

The best quote I saw in the media about England's performance in the World Cup was (along the lines of):
'England entered the tournament with a low expectation and failed to achieve it'
I don't have any confidence in England doing well in the Ashes ( I have tickets for the second day at Cardiff - an Australian friend said 'well, at least the game won't be over by then!').
I like the look of the Australian team, at least they choose players who are in their mid-thirties and at the top of their game...Haddin, Rogers, Voges etc...our media would be clamouring for their replacement with 20 somethings!

My county, Kent ,were involved in a first class match around 1960 that finished in a day. Seem to remember it was at Tunbridge Wells: I do remember that Kent were on the winning side, our fast bowler Fred Ridgway, got a stack of wickets for virtually no runs. Fred never got near an England side - now he'd be an automatic pick!

Don't entirely agree with what you say about the Australian team - Voges has never done much before for them, and he has been one of the least successful of Aussie batsmen in county cricket. Can't see Rogers being consistent either - maybe one or two good scores like last time, if luck is on his side. If Warner plays the entire series this time then surely he'll do something noteworthy, and Smith goes from strength to strength. Siddle will surely only carry the drinks barring injury. Poor old Agar might have been worth another chance - sometimes a player needs a good stage in order to shine

 

[Oswyntail]

....The ECB took their top seeding for the World Cup so seriously that they demanded the rescheduling of the 2014-15 Ashes series to give them better preparation for the World Cup.....

I believe it was the Australians who demanded the rescheduling.