Cricket- the sport not the insect

[craig1985]

I don't know why Dhoni hasn't given the ball to Ashwin, India really need another wicket or two tonight, these two are looking good.

 

[Frosty]

Interesting article on Andrew Flintoff talking about the mental side of the game

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/16382095.stm

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

match winning partnership (on top the excellent bowling).
India look down the barrel of another loss.

 

[El Imbatido]

match winning partnership (on top the excellent bowling).
India look down the barrel of another loss.

Don't say that Timmy.....you'll jinx them. Now watch as Ponting comes out after lunch and gets done before his 100. Its all your fault Timmy

But on a serious note.....i haven't been able to watch any of this game yet. Worked yesterday and was out shopping this morning. Is it really as one sided as it seems from the scorecard? And why were Aus bowlers so much better than the Indians so far? Something in the pitch that has now gone?

 

[movingtarget]

India look a bowler short. Their strength is their batting and that is not happening for them either. Hard to see India coming back unless Australia has another collapse after Ponting and Clarke get out.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

Don't say that Timmy.....you'll jinx them. Now watch as Ponting comes out after lunch and gets done before his 100. Its all your fault Timmy

But on a serious note.....i haven't been able to watch any of this game yet. Worked yesterday and was out shopping this morning. Is it really as one sided as it seems from the scorecard? And why were Aus bowlers so much better than the Indians so far? Something in the pitch that has now gone?

I havent watched much, but it wasn't too lobsidded yesterday, forsure ponting and clarke just did a match winning session tho (providing they win of course). And yeah, the aussie bowlers seem that little bit more eager, or rather indian batsmans that much less convincing.

hopefully ponting does go out, cant stand him.

 

[Zam_Olyas]

India looks lost and as always ppl in india calling for dhoni's head.

 

[42x16ss]

Is Ishant Sharma carrying an injury or something? He seems a shadow of his usual self. Has also been a bit unlucky too.

 

[craig1985]

India looks lost and as always ppl in india calling for dhoni's head.

A favourite meme of mine from a few years ago:

DROP TENDULKAR!!!!!!

 

[greenedge]

Khan has been looking threatening. I hope Australia can win this ( if we don't well... ) Micky Arthur is right when he says we have the makings of the best pace attack. A pity that Lyon can't make an impact but he is against India the best players of spin.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

no need to hope. The way India have been batting they will win this with by an innings

 

[Ferminal]

Vintage Healy:

"The key for Michael Clarke, if he wants to reach 300, is to be there at the end of the day"

 

[craig1985]

The Aussies are showing India that this pitch is the demon pitch that they made it look like it to be.

 

[the asian]

Hope India lose the series 3-0 against the Aussies.
It looks like my Country(SL) will also lose the match against SA.
But at least we were handed an unexpected new year gift in the 2nd test.
We have achieved our target of winning a test in SA.

 

[the asian]

Good that Ponting scored a century. Hope this will prolong his test career.

 

[ramjambunath]

Hope India lose the series 3-0 against the Aussies.
It looks like my Country(SL) will also lose the match against SA.
But at least we were handed an unexpected new year gift in the 2nd test.
We have achieved our target of winning a test in SA.

Do you like Mathews in the team in his current state (not fit enough to bowl)? Must say that it's crazy he's batting above Chandimal in the order. Still the pitch seems a road and if the batting succeeds, this could be a draw. I hope they don't lose, if for nothing else, just to shut the thunderqunt Wessels up.

Have to say India is a large hearted team. Get Ponting and Mr.Snickit back in form.

 

[the asian]

Do you like Mathews in the team in his current state (not fit enough to bowl)? Must say that it's crazy he's batting above Chandimal in the order. Still the pitch seems a road and if the batting succeeds, this could be a draw. I hope they don't lose, if for nothing else, just to shut the thunderqunt Wessels up.

Have to say India is a large hearted team. Get Ponting and Mr.Snickit back in form.

Mathews should not be even in the one day team let alone the Test team, if he does not bowl. He is not good enough as a pure batsman to hold down the No 6 spot.
As for the match against SA, it will take a herculean task from our batting line up and I don't see it happening twice. The pitch may behave differently when messers Steyn, Morkel and Philander bowl

 

[ramjambunath]

Monty Python taught me to look at the bright side of life. If they survive the small matter of 50-60 overs from those three there's always Tahir to smash.

India should get an award being the good samaritans of cricket. 370 runs and one wicket in the day.

 

[craig1985]

Mathews should not be even in the one day team let alone the Test team, if he does not bowl. He is not good enough as a pure batsman to hold down the No 6 spot.
As for the match against SA, it will take a herculean task from our batting line up and I don't see it happening twice. The pitch may behave differently when messers Steyn, Morkel and Philander bowl

I hope Dilshan, Jayawardene, Sangakarra all shine for Sri Lanka. As for Australia, I also hope Clarke gets his 300.

 

[movingtarget]

With Cummins and Watson carrying injuries as well as Mitchell Johnson, the Australian squad is looking pretty good with those players returning later. Realistically though Johnson does not deserve to make the squad. He is like a slower version of Shaun Tait. First three balls will be wide, no ball and bouncer ! The South African series before last, he terrorised the SA's, broke the Captain's hand and bowled at his best. He has never regained that form. Even his batting is not what is was. If they can find another quality spinner they would have really good squad for the next Ashes series. Ryan Harris is also very good but injury prone. Would also like to see Tim Paine get a shot at being wicketkeeper but he is another injured player. He is a better batsman and wickekeeper than Haddin who too often throws away his wicket with silly shots and his keeping is also pretty average at times.

Starting to see why the Poms beat India so easily in their last series.

 

[Frosty]

Dilshan giving the saffers a tonking at the moment. Looks like a very easy pitch?

 

[greenedge]

Would also like to see Tim Paine get a shot at being wicketkeeper but he is another injured player. He is a better batsman and wickekeeper than Haddin who too often throws away his wicket with silly shots and his keeping is also pretty average at times.

Starting to see why the Poms beat India so easily in their last series.

But at the moment Haddin has been keeping fine. He combines well with Siddle and Pattinson.
lol.

 

[Spider1964]

Easy to get on the Michael Clarke over-rated bandwagon, but his Test and ODI records suggest that he has been a very good player for a considerable amount of time... consistent even.

------Mat Inns NO Runs HS Ave 100 50
Tests 72 119 12 4956 168 46.31 15 21
ODIs 206 188 42 6622 130 45.35 6 49

Not over-rated in my book. His media profile, including his looks, are sometimes confused with his rating as a player. The guy can play.

Hey ACF, the guy who can't bat is heading to his second hundred in three tests so far this summer....

Not a fan of him as a person but I think he gets some unfair criticism as a cricketer.

Agree with this (As I did previously in this thread when the knives were out )

FFS, he's averaging 69.5 in his last 5 hits at number 5 and ACF wants to change his batting position in the order?? Old saying... don't change what isn't broken.

In his past four tests batting at 5 -

112 v Sri Lanka
151 v South Africa (Coming in at 3/40 against a very new ball!!)
139 v New Zealand

The numbers don't lie.

Not wishing to gloat (BS... yes I am ) But just wanted to dig up some past posts of support for MJ Clarke.

I still reckon he has copped an inordinate amount of criticism on this forum, which I believe is unjustified. Just because you don't like his Tatts, his girfriends/s, his looks... doesn't take away from the fact that he is a good player and has been for a long time.

I'm not making him out to be one of the best of all time, or even amongst current day greats, but anyone who averages what he has for his career can play.

272 not out... and counting!

 

[42x16ss]

Not wishing to gloat (BS... yes I am ) But just wanted to dig up some past posts of support for MJ Clarke.

I still reckon he has copped an inordinate amount of criticism on this forum, which I believe is unjustified. Just because you don't like his Tatts, his girfriends/s, his looks... doesn't take away from the fact that he is a good player and has been for a long time.

I'm not making him out to be one of the best of all time, or even amongst current day greats, but anyone who averages what he has for his career can play.

272 not out... and counting!

TBH Clarke really seems to cop the most flak from Victorians (the rest from QLD'ers)

Ever since he has stepped into the captaincy he's kicked things up a notch. Made solid captaincy decisions and batted extremely well. This is his 5th test hundred in 12 months now?

Pretty handy IMHO and what you want from a captain.

 

[Spider1964]

TBH Clarke really seems to cop the most flak from Victorians (the rest from QLD'ers)

Ever since he has stepped into the captaincy he's kicked things up a notch. Made solid captaincy decisions and batted extremely well. This is his 5th test hundred in 12 months now?

Pretty handy IMHO and what you want from a captain.

You're right... but wasn't it his home crowd who booed him onto the ground at the New Years test last year?

293.... and still counting!