International Cricket
- Thread starter planetgeli
- Start date
Yes, they certainly dropped Stokes like a stone after he chinned that bloke.
littlebabyjesus
one of Maxwell's demons
This is worse than that though. Different kind of thing and much more damaging - Stokes can apologise/make amends/whatever for his spur of the moment drunken action. Smith can't undo the premeditation of his cheating.
SpookyFrank
A cheap source of teeth for aquarium gravel
Always had Smith down as a cunt tbh. Still very disappointed that this idiotic shit still happens at the highest level of the game.
SpookyFrank
A cheap source of teeth for aquarium gravel
While this is quite funny it does have a 'sour grapes' ring to it. England are quite obviously capable of getting slaughtered by a team that doesn't cheat as their recent performance shows all too well.
littlebabyjesus
one of Maxwell's demons
Ball never got old enough to reverse...tbf though, England scored some runs at various times against Aus. They just couldn't bowl them out. Broady does have a point on that - it's when you aren't getting assistance from the conditions that you consider this kind of cheating.
SpookyFrank
A cheap source of teeth for aquarium gravel
That Steve Smith sad face again in full:
Casual Observer
enough
Blimey. If Rajasthan Royals, kicked out of the IPL for two years for corruption, don't want Smith as captain then it's worse than I thought.
littlebabyjesus
one of Maxwell's demons
So, not to detract from the shambles in Auckland, this was the second time NZ have inflicted an innings defeat on England, and both the batting and the bowling are a concern. Moeen just looks shot as a test cricketer at the moment, sadly. Stokes has turned up unfit to bowl, which is very disappointing. Woakes looked a better batsman than bowler. The bowling looks thin to say the least once you get past Anderson and to a decreasing extent Broad. Cook failed twice again. Root got out for 50 again. It's same old same old.
Collapses happen every now and then. We shouldn't read too much into them necessarily - just random variation will throw up the odd occasion where everyone fails at the same time. But there is a need to bounce back. Losing 2-0 in NZ would be poor.
Collapses happen every now and then. We shouldn't read too much into them necessarily - just random variation will throw up the odd occasion where everyone fails at the same time. But there is a need to bounce back. Losing 2-0 in NZ would be poor.
littlebabyjesus
one of Maxwell's demons
Oh, and well done to Afghanistan for winning the WC qualifying tournament. They were pre-tournament favourites, but just snuck through in the end. Great tournament, with no fewer than five teams in a position where winning their final match would have seen them qualify in one of just two places. Tough luck Scotland - don't think anyone thought they would get so close. WI were fortunate, as were Afghanistan.
RainbowTown
Well-Known Member
That Steve Smith sad face again in full:
6/10 for effort. Though crucially missing the vital element in classic 'sad face pose' ; namely, tear-filled eyes and head sloping slightly to one side.
Strewth mate, you can do better than that.......
The whole team needs to be rebuilt around Root, Woakes and Stokes. Jimmy's 36 ffs. Moeen is neither a top bowler not a top batsman. And Root doesnt have the balls to be an international level captain. I'd give it to Stokes.
littlebabyjesus
one of Maxwell's demons
To be brutally honest, I think the future of this team may well depend on star players who have yet to emerge. Hameed, for one, and some young quick who's yet to be blooded. Plus the likes of Leach for the spinner. Otherwise, a period of 90s-style lean years may be on the cards.
Casual Observer
enough
Cricket Australia's 'Head of Integrity', Sir Les Patterson, will shortly arrive in SA to continue his investigations with CA's CEO due to fly out this evening. Once the findings are in, further disciplinary action may result.
I find it interesting that we've not heard anything from Lehman yet. He's an old school aussie from the generation that ruled the game and were ruthless in their approach. It wouldn't surprise me in the slightest if he was fully aware of what was going on but by trying to keep him out of it Smith may have set him up. If he was aware he only as two choices, continue with the lie which would mean lying on camera knowing he may get found out or come clean. If he comes clean then that'll show Smith was telling porkies which brings into question everything else he said in that news conference.
Quite frankly its funny as fuck but I don't think it's the massive deal the aussies seem to be making it to be. Everyone is up to something on a Cricket pitch and the higher the standard the dodgier it gets. They've just been caught out this time and its funnier because they've been so high and mighty and pious in the past. The spirit of cricket, the baggy green etc etc
Quite frankly its funny as fuck but I don't think it's the massive deal the aussies seem to be making it to be. Everyone is up to something on a Cricket pitch and the higher the standard the dodgier it gets. They've just been caught out this time and its funnier because they've been so high and mighty and pious in the past. The spirit of cricket, the baggy green etc etc
littlebabyjesus
one of Maxwell's demons
Why would Smith not be well liked in Aus? Without his runs in the recent Ashes, they might not have won the series. Careful what you wish for, if there are Aussies wishing to see the back of their best batsman. They don't have the likes of Lehman waiting for a chance like they did 20 years ago.
butchersapron
Bring back hanging
Smith was a effing hero in aus. Odd that someone who thought stokes should never play for england again now wants him as cpt.
littlebabyjesus
one of Maxwell's demons
Becoming clearer now. Warner has had mysterious taping on his fingers for a while now. It appears that he was the designated ball-tamperer. Then, with so many cameras on him after all his recent nonsense, they decided to switch to Bancroft, who turned out to be rather less adept at it.
butchersapron
Bring back hanging
Warner's tape has been noted but never made a thing of. The cameras on bancroft seemed to be because Faf du Plessis asked them to look at him for 90s minutes tp prove something - this after his getting done and smith saying nah mate, no need to do him a while back. Smith preparing the ground. The sugar thing is beyond stupid and obvious.
paulhackett
voiced by strother martin
I think warner's taping was questionable as is having one extra long finger nail?
paulhackett
voiced by strother martin
On a more positive note, player of ICC qualifying tournament calls out the ICC..
butchersapron
Bring back hanging
Or having the little finger back to front - what a weird pic
I do feel a bit for Bancroft. Whilst he probably volunteered and he knows the difference between right and wrong he should never have been put in that position. The whole thing kind of reminds me of...
If you're going to cheat you have to be way cuter and make sure the person doing it is up to the job, not the rookie.
If you're going to cheat you have to be way cuter and make sure the person doing it is up to the job, not the rookie.
Its not his age as such just that he is so junior in the team and 25 is pretty young still tbf.
The more I think about it the more I think that press conference was not a mea culpa at all but a desperate attempt to contain. They've clearly done it before and Lehman was clearly aware. By rushing in and telling a pack of lies in the press conference Smith has caused a world of trouble. Does he now continue with the lie to Cricket Australia or does he come clean? What do they do? I reckon despite all the noise coming from the PM and the media there main goal will be protect and contain.
Smith and Warner will both need to be stripped of their roles and get a few matches to sit out. Bancroft will probably get a shorter suspension. If it does come out that Smith lied and Lehman also knew I wonder if either of them can continue? It'll be a cover up.
