International Cricket

[littlebabyjesus]

Meanwhile, in NZ, Ali and Woakes dropped. Obviously there's a massive case for both those decisions, but anyone who now doesn't see an incredibly long tail is looking at a different team to the one I am. I don't think Leach should play. NZ don't bowl spin at Christchurch so it's hardly the ground to blood a newbie. So he'll probably play then.

tbh it's not the tail England need to worry about. Can Stokes bowl is the question, I guess. If yes, then you've got Bairstow at seven, Overton eight. It's not appalling.

Has it been explained why Stokes has turned up after a six month lay-off unfit to bowl?

 

[Spymaster]

Has it been explained why Stokes has turned up after a six month lay-off unfit to bowl?

That’s outrageous isn’t it?

Wtf’s he been doing?

 

[Spymaster]

Lehman has resigned

 

[Teaboy]

Has it been explained why Stokes has turned up after a six month lay-off unfit to bowl?

Saving himself for the IPL I imagine.

Lehman has resigned

That's really surprising news, who could have seen that one coming?

 

[planetgeli]

Has it been explained why Stokes has turned up after a six month lay-off unfit to bowl?

Of course.

“All I can say is what I’ve seen of him coming back into the environment and he’s worked his nuts off,” said Root. “He’s gone about things exactly how you’d expect a really good professional to do, and that sort of standard in training is why you get the performances on the field.“He (Ben) worked really hard back home in Durham to make sure when he did get his opportunity to come back and play he was ready,” Root said

Oh.

 

[littlebabyjesus]

Stokes is worth his place in this England team as a specialist bat, although to be brutally honest that says more about the weakness of England's batting atm than the strength of Stokes's batting.

But I wouldn't have picked him on principle for rocking up unfit to bowl.

 

[butchersapron]

Early indications seem to be that smith's tears and old man have turned the tide in aus...

 

[butchersapron]

Interesting little mickey arthur piece:

The truth about Aussie cricket culture

What I did understand was that successful teams are made up of very good individuals – good, solid characters – who pull in one direction and strive to attain the ultimate result together. You might have one or two difficult personalities, but you can manage those because the system doesn’t allow them to get away with too much.

Australia was different. The players, in many ways, were a law unto themselves. When I pushed hard on issues of culture, I was told by my superiors to back off. And when I softened my approach, I was told to go in harder.

 

[Teaboy]

Personally I do hope the aussie cricket team changes it's culture an goes back to the touchy feely team they were a few years ago. Aussies are shit at sport when they are being sensitive, polite and reasonable. Its no surprise that they improved under Lehman when he went back to streetfighter in your face sport of which Warner was the personification.

Bring back Xavier Doherty, he seemed like a nice chap.

 

[littlebabyjesus]

You knew they'd lost it when Nathan Lyon started spouting macho bollocks. Nathan Lyon?

It's a culture I don't think many of us over here really understand. The 'mateship' stuff of Allan Border, the team song, the sacred baggy green...

 

[planetgeli]

Last time I was in Australia, Queensland in fact which is probably relevant, the local news had a story about a drink driver crashing through a house. Like all those TV local news stories it was presented with a picture and a caption over the newsreaders' left shoulder. The pic was of the car in the house. The caption, in true Queensland style, was "Bloody Idiot". I'm consoling myself with the hope they've given Warner the same treatment.

Meanwhile, the crying Smith is currently consoling himself in business class on the way to Dubai. I expect he's off to coach some immigrant Pakistani labourers there. Yeah, that'll be it. Happy community service Steve.

 

[Reiabuzz]

 

[Teaboy]

Excellent. It's tears all round.

You knew they'd lost it when Nathan Lyon started spouting macho bollocks. Nathan Lyon?

Actually Lyon is a bit spikey.

The last time the aussies were over here for the ashes me and some guys from my cricket team went to the tour match at Northants. Oz spent most of the day fielding and as the shadows lengthened we were all well oiled and the 'bantz' with the fielders started. Marsh just ignored us, Peter Siddle joined in and had a laugh with us but Nathan Lyon was having none of it and gave it the full on "If you're so bloody good mate how come you're not standing out here?". It got a decent laugh from us but he was not laughing with us.

 

[littlebabyjesus]

Always liked Peter Siddle. Not particularly talented but gave it everything all the time.

 

[Reiabuzz]

Siddle was a good laugh. I quite like the Aussie style in a sense, wouldn't want to see them attempt to replicate NZ as Lehman wants as that would be completely unnatural. Aussies are the polar opposite from kiwis. They're gobby shites but that's part of the fun.

 

[Mumbles274]

Always liked Peter Siddle. Not particularly talented but gave it everything all the time.

Yeah.. Good bowler, always liked seeing him in their side.

 

[Doctor Carrot]

Early indications seem to be that smith's tears and old man have turned the tide in aus...

I've seen quite a bit of 'oh they made a mistake leave them alone' type comments on youtube. Since when was being a cheating bastard 'making a mistake?' They knew full well what they were doing, the only mistake made was not hiding the tape... Sorry... SANDPAPER... properly.

 

[Teaboy]

I've seen quite a bit of 'oh they made a mistake leave them alone' type comments on youtube. Since when was being a cheating bastard 'making a mistake?' They knew full well what they were doing, the only mistake made was not hiding the tape... Sorry... SANDPAPER... properly.

It has gone a bit OTT though don't you think? I mean if the ICC deem its only worthy of a 1 match ban its hardly crime of the century and the aussies know a thing or two about crime.

 

[littlebabyjesus]

It has gone a bit OTT though don't you think? I mean if the ICC deem its only worthy of a 1 match ban its hardly crime of the century and the aussies know a thing or two about crime.

I guess the argument would be that the ICC sanction is just for the ball-tampering itself. The CA sanction also takes into account various aggravating factors: the premeditation and conspiracy to do it, the lying to the umpires on the field, and the lying in the press conference at the end of play.

 

[Doctor Carrot]

It has gone a bit OTT though don't you think? I mean if the ICC deem its only worthy of a 1 match ban its hardly crime of the century and the aussies know a thing or two about crime.

It certainly has gone OTT but my sympathy is only slightly hovering above zero. The piece butchers linked to is well worth a read.

Isn't there a part of you that wants to see Warner weep into his hands in front of a frantically clicking gang of photographers?

 

[Doctor Carrot]

I guess the argument would be that the ICC sanction is just for the ball-tampering itself. The CA sanction also takes into account various aggravating factors: the premeditation and conspiracy to do it, the lying to the umpires on the field, and the lying in the press conference at the end of play.

When you put it like that it's difficult to disagree. I think the furore is OTT but then again this is Australia and the fact it's Australia just feeds it.

 

[Mumbles274]

ICC reviewing their rules for ball tampering

Bancroft not coming to Somerset

 

[littlebabyjesus]

When you put it like that it's difficult to disagree. I think the furore is OTT but then again this is Australia and the fact it's Australia just feeds it.

THEY HAVE BETRAYED THE BAGGY GREEEEEEEN

That's the bit I am not sad about at all. Who the fuck did they think they were kidding with this mythical Aussie sense of sporting fairness?

 

[butchersapron]

Somerset overseas player curse strikes again - we have had great difficulties getting one that didn't fall apart for some reason or another since langer retired.

 

[butchersapron]

Is it just me or did Warner's tweet about why he hasn't smithed up yet sound...ominous:

 

[Teaboy]

I guess the argument would be that the ICC sanction is just for the ball-tampering itself. The CA sanction also takes into account various aggravating factors: the premeditation and conspiracy to do it, the lying to the umpires on the field, and the lying in the press conference at the end of play.

Yes I see your point. I guess there is the other rather slippery / woolly issue of the MCC code of conduct spirit of the game stuff. As we found out with the Carew stuff that can be applied rather liberally. I guess CA acting as they have countered the need for that.

 

[Teaboy]

Bancroft not coming to Somerset

What do Somerset fans think about that?

I dunno but it seems a bit OTT as well. He's just a young player and a rookie at international level, should they have shown a bit of faith in him and offered him a bit of redemption? That being said him not getting experience of English conditions is somewhat useful.

 

[Reiabuzz]

I'm still not buying this shit about Bancroft being some innocent wide-eyed rookie. He's 25 and has been around the Sheffield Shield scene for years. And by the looks of it was also up to this in the Ashes. He knew exactly what he was doing.

 

[butchersapron]

What do Somerset fans think about that?

I dunno but it seems a bit OTT as well. He's just a young player and a rookie at international level, should they have shown a bit of faith in him and offered him a bit of redemption? That being said him not getting experience of English conditions is somewhat useful.

Very few people thought he should come here. I'm glad he's not. Not good for us and i don't think it would have been good for him.

 

[butchersapron]

I also suspect CA would not have offered a NOC anyway.