International Cricket

[littlebabyjesus]

But that's my point. England guarantee a good crowd. But we didn't get Mumbai etc. We got Hyderabad plus 4 other venues that had hosted 7 tests between them in their history.

Yeah. Dunno. I'd have thought Mumbai + Kolkata + three others would be the way to go every time England play.

That one in the Himalayas, though. Can't remember its name. Should play lots of tests there just for the views.

 

[littlebabyjesus]

In NZ, they play tests at smaller grounds because a crowd of 3–4,000 looks fine there, not so great at a huge stadium. But this series has shown that that's just not an issue in India. It was really pleasing to see 20k+ turning out regularly.

 

[planetgeli]

That one in the Himalayas, though. Can't remember its name. Should play lots of tests there just for the views.

We are in definite agreement here.

NZ venues, with their grass banks, look pretty cool too. I'm in a strange position, life-wise, and considered going. Up to about 10 days ago tickets were still available.

£20 each. Or £90 if you wanted to go through ticketmaster or whoever.

 

[Petcha]

NZ in december/january is quite lovely. So I'd say do it if you can afford the airfare. NZ aint cheap though once you're there.

 

[Petcha]

NZ defend 108 in Sri Lanka

 

[Monkeygrinder's Organ]

All going off in the first Australia-India test. India all out for 150 but Australia now down to 32-4. Bumrah sounds to be absolutely tearing it up.

 

[planetgeli]

47/6 Labuschagne out for 2 off 52 balls

 

[Santino]

LO, and I cannot stress this enough, L.

 

[two sheds]

62/7

 

[littlebabyjesus]

Watched the highlights. The groundstaff had apparently been concerned that unseasonal rainfall might have slowed the pitch down. It hadn't.

They barely showed any of Labuschagne's 52 balls. I have to assume lots of leaving on length, which you can do with confidence in Perth. All very well, but you don't get anywhere. Pant had the right idea. Swing and swing hard. It might go to hand but it might well go for six.

I think we're going to get a result in this match.

I'm amazed that Jadeja can't get into the team. He's a solid batter (averages 35) and he averages an astonishing 21 in Australia with the ball. Plus he's the team's best fielder.

 

[Petcha]

Bizarre pitch. Looked very green which is unusual in Perth. I miss the WACA.

And no need for spin. Lyon tried five overs but pointless. Over within three days.

 

[littlebabyjesus]

Bizarre pitch. Looked very green which is unusual in Perth. I miss the WACA.

And no need for spin. Lyon tried five overs but pointless. Over within three days.

It rained this week. Apparently it is normal in Perth for it not to rain at all between November and April.

 

[Petcha]

Climate change is fucking with cricket, globally. Not happy about this. I wanted a tense five dayer.

 

[littlebabyjesus]

Perth is still a unique spectacle, though, with the ball flying through like nowhere else. So at least that hasn't been lost with the move from the WACA.

But yeah, 17 wickets on the first day is disappointing.

 

[planetgeli]

And only 3 on the 2nd.

India rode their luck a bit, Australia sound sloppy (dropped catches, missed runouts).

And now India are completely on top. Jaiswal is class, he's going to make a lot of test runs.

 

[littlebabyjesus]

Yep Jaiswal looked very classy in the highlights.

Australia in a massive hole.

 

[Petcha]

I didn't see it but apparently Kohli came down in his pads at stumps to congratulate the two of them in front of the Aussies and also to remind them he was still to come. Nice trolling.

 

[littlebabyjesus]

I'm not sure Australia bolwed so badly. There was a fair bit of playing and missing, especially to Hazlewood, and on another day those would have taken the edge. However, Rahul played with soft hands and a few edges that were taken dropped short of the slips as a result, which is credit to the batter.

It's a bizarre example of a Perth test. Generally because of the bounce, you get fast-scoring encounters. So far, both teams combined have made 426 runs in two days. England regularly score that many in one day.

 

[Petcha]

Well the wicket looked distinctly brown now. So could be four days

 

[littlebabyjesus]

Meanwhile, watching highlights of West Indies vs Bangladesh in Antigua, there is no crowd. Not even a smattering. There is nobody there at all. Not even some schoolkids with freebies. Disappointing.

 

[two sheds]

So Australia need 533 to win

oops 9-2

 

[littlebabyjesus]

Woke up to see kohli get a 100 then bumrah knock over a couple.

One rule in cricket I don't understand. Why not finish the over when someone is out? So what if it's the last over?

Wicket now playing tricks. Aus are toast.

 

[littlebabyjesus]

Labuschagne bowling bouncers was one of the less expected parts of that. He bowls two separate kinds of filth.

 

[littlebabyjesus]

With that wicket, Bumrah's test average has dipped below 20.

No bowler who started his test career after WW1 has ever managed more than 100 wickets at under 20. Right now, he's in a group of one.

 

[Idaho]

It's a real treat to see Australia staring down the barrel on home turf.

 

[littlebabyjesus]

You wonder how much longer Kohli will play test cricket from the way he celebrated what was, in reality, a less important hundred than most that he's ever made, pummelling filth from Marnus Labuschagne to the boundary.

Feels like he may have some time next year pencilled in for the end.

 

[Petcha]

Some crazy money flying around in the IPL auction. Pant will have a spring in his step tomorrow that's for sure.

6 weeks work for a couple of mill. Ravindra will now be a wealthy young man too.

 

[Petcha]

Oh, it's actually 3.5 million USD for Pant... another day of trading tomorrow.

 

[planetgeli]

India U/19 are playing Australia U/19. 4 day unofficial test.

One of the India openers, and maybe we should remember his name, Suryavanshi, is 81 not out. Off 47 balls.

He's 13 years old.

And now he's got an IPL contract of about £100k with Rajasthan Royals.

 

[Petcha]

And Jimmy goes unsold