International Cricket
- Thread starter planetgeli
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redsquirrel
This Machine Kills Progressives
planetgeli
There's no future in England's dreaming
Reading Blofeld's autobiography at the moment. He makes the point that for an 'institution' TMS has never found it easy to find a home and has been shunted around Radios 2,3,4 and 5...and 5Live.
Not that surprised by this.
paulhackett
voiced by strother martin
Ed Smith appointed new head selector. Part of the firmament but outside it as well.
Casual Observer
enough
The BBC are notoriously stingy and probably put in a piddly bid. I remember Malcolm Ashton, an occasional TMS scorer, being asked to pay his own air fares for a previous overseas tour.
paulhackett
voiced by strother martin
And Justin Langer is new Australian coach. As has been said, next Test not till later in the summer, review not taken place so quite early to appoint someone arguably from inside the group?
paulhackett
voiced by strother martin
From a cricinfo article.
"Langer is the Baggy Green in human form; the man who got hit on the head more than any other playing for his country; who dragged himself above far more gifted players and made the opening position his own in one of the best teams of all times. Like a leader of the Aussie battler resistance, he has formed a cult-like following in WA.
It was Langer who made hungover players run up and down an Adelaide hillto start this great era of WA cricket, got Short to lose weight, turned Turner into a hot IPL prospect, and has got the best out of the Marsh brothers.
If you are a young player right now in WA, not only are you in awe of Langer the WA legend, you are also dealing with the Australian coach-in-waiting. Langer speaks about cricket like he's a Samurai protecting a village from an invading army. He is the person who camera crews go to when they want the 'Test cricket is everything' speech. Recently when speaking to ABC, Langer was asked why he displayed the book The No Asshole Rule so prominently. "It is a reminder that we don't want knobs in our organisation," he replied, bluntly."
butchersapron
Bring back hanging
Langer is a great leader who helped turn somerset back into a proper professionally competitive club in the mid 2000s and will always be a somerset hero as a result. But what he most definitely doesn't represent is a break with the sporting traditions that aus are currently being found out for. Look at him deliberately knocking Tillakaratne's bails off when crossing the wicket to a new fielding position - which aus then appealed for as if Tillakaratne had trod on them. Dealt with in an utterly shit manner by the ICC of course which is one of the things that allowed aus to feel they can do what they want for so long.
redsquirrel
This Machine Kills Progressives
Neither of these are official yet as I understand (but they do seem pretty much done deals).
As butchers' said Langer is not going to change the culture of the Australian team at all, in anything he'll double down on it. He's also a right wing wanker.
I'm somewhat split on the choice of Smith. It's quite I surprising pick as my understanding was that this position this was going to be a full time one, so he'll have to give up his other interests (which is a pity as he's a good commentator and writer). He's not totally within the England bubble but I'd have preferred someone further removed.
littlebabyjesus
one of Maxwell's demons
I like Ed Smith. Very surprised by his selection as head selector. tbh I'm really not sure how important that job is. I think there are thousands of people who could tour county cricket, watch matches every day, talk to people, and then select the England team, and there would be no difference between their results at all. And that's exactly the kind of observation that Ed Smith would make!
Monkeygrinder's Organ
Dodgy geezer swilling vapid lager
So Ireland's historic first test then. Interesting to see how they get on - hopefully they can compete at least. 
(Delayed by rain at the moment though to no-one's surprise.)
(Delayed by rain at the moment though to no-one's surprise.)
planetgeli
There's no future in England's dreaming
Ireland got Pakistan at 13-2 with two in two balls. Fantastic start for them.
Monkeygrinder's Organ
Dodgy geezer swilling vapid lager
Not going so well now though. Ireland really struggling with the bat, still in danger of an innings defeat.
Monkeygrinder's Organ
Dodgy geezer swilling vapid lager
planetgeli
There's no future in England's dreaming
Test century to Kevin O’Brien, top stuff.
How many will Pakistan be comfortable chasing? Lead already 116.
How many will Pakistan be comfortable chasing? Lead already 116.
rekil
to menny cranks
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Spymaster
Plastic Paddy
They've let this get away from them. The captaincy's been poor from Safraz today, tbh. Slips missing, big gaps where there shouldn't be and apart from this morning there's been almost no feeling of pressure.
littlebabyjesus
one of Maxwell's demons
27/3
Game on!
Game on!
littlebabyjesus
one of Maxwell's demons
I so fucking love test cricket.
littlebabyjesus
one of Maxwell's demons
Following yesterday, Sarfraz's captaincy was awful. Didn't seem to have confidence in his bowlers (Amir aside, perhaps). Could have done with Wahab Riaz there imo. As for KOB? First century of any kind in seven years, only his second ever first class century. Whatever happens today, Ireland have made their mark on test cricket. Most teams get a pummelling in their debut test.
Monkeygrinder's Organ
Dodgy geezer swilling vapid lager
Yeah even if they ultimately lose it's an achievement to compete as well as they have, especially to come back from such a bad position yesterday morning.
Hopefully they'll get a few more games lines up.
Hopefully they'll get a few more games lines up.
The O'Brien's are cousins of mine.
Probably just jinxed Kev.
Yep
littlebabyjesus
one of Maxwell's demons
'Excellent running' says cricinfo referring to ul Haq. Not quite like his uncle, then. Looks like a find. Ireland need to get him soon.
Edit: Drop
Can't afford those. Balbirnie's not had a good match.
Edit: Drop
Can't afford those. Balbirnie's not had a good match.
littlebabyjesus
one of Maxwell's demons
Yeah, striding out to bat for your national team at Lord's in front of 30,000 in the most prestigious format by a mile is such a bummer.
Monkeygrinder's Organ
Dodgy geezer swilling vapid lager
He's been involved in a terrible mix-up leading to a run-out now.
(Don't know if it was his fault tbf).
