Ashes / Proteas vs India

[OomStruisbaai]

We have a challenge for most moronic post of the last twelve months.

Not that moronic. My NZ relatives and friends tell me that there is a kind of tension between those wanting a faster opening up and those who are quite happy to draw out the process. Obviously there are polar views held by extremists on both sides and the majority sit somewhere on a scale between those poles.

Yeah, I have zero connection to NZ but it will be interesting to see what they do. Omicron won't be the last variant so will they shut down/ delay opening when the next variant appears? A New Zealaners perspective would be interesting.

You can't blame them backing isolation. They had a lot of success doing it.

Sorry we Omnicroned the cricket thread.

[Calculon]

The only cricket happening is England getting thrashed, again.

Not blaming them, it's up to the kiwis to decide what to do regrading their borders

[Jb1981]

Not that moronic. My NZ relatives and friends tell me that there is a kind of tension between those wanting a faster opening up and those who are quite happy to draw out the process. Obviously there are polar views held by extremists on both sides and the majority sit somewhere on a scale between those poles.

Yeah, I have zero connection to NZ but it will be interesting to see what they do. Omicron won't be the last variant so will they shut down/ delay opening when the next variant appears? A New Zealaners perspective would be interesting.

You can't blame them backing isolation. They had a lot of success doing it.

Sorry we Omnicroned the cricket thread.

We were about to start a staggered re-opening and to be fairly open to double-vaxxed travellers by late April. Things have been pushed back a little with Omicron as we move to get people boosted but re-opening probably won’t be far away. The point of isolation was to buy time which we’ve used to get a good vaccination rate.

We are averaging about 20 cases in the community a day at the moment but it will be interesting to see what happens when omnicrom crosses the border. There are definitely some wary about re-opening and it is on a spectrum but I think most are pragmatic that we have got ourselves into a good position and it has to come.

[FalseBayFC]

Good mates of mine, a radiologist and and OR nurse, have just got their go ahead to move to Auckland. They've been given priority MIQ placement at the beginning of Feb because of their exceptional Essential Skills profile. They were very aggressively headhunted by Australian agencies too but have family in NZ.

[OomStruisbaai]

Kohli gone
IOL

Virat Kohli steps downs as India test captain
By Reuters Time of article published 2h ago


Johannesburg — Virat Kohli shocked the Indian cricket world on Saturday by abruptly resigning as the national side's test captain, after leading the team to memorable overseas victories in his seven years in charge.

The 33-year-old, considered one of the best batsmen of his era, took to Twitter to announce his decision a day after India's 2-1 series defeat in South Africa.

"It's been seven years of hard work, toil and relentless perseverance everyday to take the team in the right direction. I've done the job with absolute honesty and left nothing out there," Kohli said in his statement.


"Everything has come to a halt at some stage and for me as test captain of India, it's now. There have been many ups and also some downs along the journey, but never has there been a lack of effort or lack of belief."

The feisty top order batsman has had a difficult relationship with the Indian cricket board (BCCI) since stepping down as the Twenty20 captain after last year's World Cup.

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That cost him the one-day captaincy as well, with the BCCI installing Rohit Sharma as captain in both the short formats.

Kohli, who took over the reins in 2014, led India in a record 68 test matches, winning 40 and losing 17.

"BCCI congratulates #TeamIndia captain @imVkohli for his admirable leadership qualities that took the Test team to unprecedented heights," the Indian board wrote on Twitter.

BCCI officials were not immediately available to confirm who would take over as India's next test captain, although opener KL Rahul's name has already started doing the rounds.

The board's secretary Jay Shah wrote on Twitter after Kohli's surprise announcement: "Virat turned the team into a ruthless fit unit that performed admirably both in India and away. The Test wins in Australia & England have been special."

[Calculon]

He was a good captain for India, can't imagine the pressure involved in captaining that side.

[OomStruisbaai]

SA vs India currently in the u19 WC

[Rinkals]

It's a tough place to win for visiting teams, boet.

Love seeing India lose as much as seeing them throw toys out of their pram.

Would you like to explain that?

I was under the impression that our bowling attack was pretty decent, but you are making it sound as though it's all due to unplayable pitches.

SA's record at home is like Australia's because it's a hard place for visiting teams. The pitches have terrific bounce.

As Oom said, Australia do well over there because it's just like playing at home.

Also, your bowling attack is pretty decent.

Thanks.

[OomStruisbaai]

Would you like to explain that?

I was under the impression that our bowling attack was pretty decent, but you are making it sound as though it's all due to unplayable pitches.

SA's record at home is like Australia's because it's a hard place for visiting teams. The pitches have terrific bounce.

As Oom said, Australia do well over there because it's just like playing at home.

Also, your bowling attack is pretty decent.

Thanks.

We do pretty good in Australia.

[OomStruisbaai]

I checked back and Australia last won a test series against the Proteas in 2006 at home. The Proteas won the last 3 tests seriesse in Aus in 2008/9, 2013 & 2015/16.

[Rinkals]

The Saffer statisticians were drawing attention to the unusual statistic of a side winning a 3 test series despite never achieving more than 250 runs in an innings.

Our weakness is obviously in our batting, with only 6 top order batsmen, one of whom is woefully out of form and one of which is yet to show any aptitude (albeit with limited opportunities in red ball cricket).

Thommo's comment about our pitches possibly holds merit in that the Indians were unable to fully utilise their spinners, but both sides had the same surface to bat on and, indeed, the Indians won all three tosses (how do they keep doing that?) and got first use thereof, which should have benefitted the spinners bowling last,

Possibly the ease with which they won the first test (and the opinions of the various pundits who suggested that the two sides were mismatched) lead to overconfidence in the second test and self-doubt in the third.

In any case, a most satisfying series.

[Kiwias]

He was a good captain for India, can't imagine the pressure involved in captaining that side.

Kohli, who took over the reins in 2014, led India in a record 68 test matches, winning 40 and losing 17.

That is a pretty damned impressive record as captain.

[Jb1981]

That’s a great record as captain.

On hearing the announcement I did think that it would be funny if India’s captain was banned for their insinuations via stump microphone meaning the first act for the new guy was sitting out a test because of something done under Kohli’s watch .

[OomStruisbaai]

England drill fighting hard to get back in the test.need quick wickets

[Jb1981]

Head and Green are key wickets.

[Jb1981]

71-6 (effectively 186-6). This could already been enough but if England can run through the tail and bat well, they could walk away with a very flattering 1-3 scoreline.

[Gumboot]

Dear oh dear...

Feels like that was a pivotal moment for England.

[Jb1981]

Did I catch the commentary correctly that prior to the NZ series a couple of years ago that Steve Smith had a test average of 64 but that from the start of the NZ series (where Wagner troubled him repeatedly) and with similar approaches from other nations, that he has averaged 37 in the couple of years since?

That is a massive turnaround over a prolonged period.

[Gumboot]

Yep, he doesn't like it up 'im.




Not many do, mind.

[Big Nipper]

Yep, he doesn't like it up 'im.




Not many do, mind.

Ricky Ponting would like a word

[Jb1981]

250 lead up - probably match winning and if they can push it close to 300 with the evening session to come, very much so.

[Gumboot]

At 63/6 England still had a sniff. Now, they're no chance.

[Ymx]

Haven’t watched any of this one. Assuming it’s not a batters dream pitch.

Anyone with a good link?

[Enzedder]

England need 270. It's cloudy, lights are on, new pink ball.

I can see a score under 50 here

Watching on Sky, Mum but this one looks OK

https://cricstream.me/the-ashes-austral ... e/stream-3

Wait for 2 or 3 seconds and then click on the little red x, then the green play emblem

[Quade]

Should get much easier to bat on apparently. Really wouldn't be surprised if England get up for this if they get through tonight relatively intact.

[Ymx]

England need 270. It's cloudy, lights are on, new pink ball.

I can see a score under 50 here

Watching on Sky, Mum but this one looks OK

https://cricstream.me/the-ashes-austral ... e/stream-3

Wait for 2 or 3 seconds and then click on the little red x, then the green play emblem

Appreciated Enz

[Gumboot]

Should get much easier to bat on apparently. Really wouldn't be surprised if England get up for this if they get through tonight relatively intact.

Still another 55 overs to go in the day, according to Cricinfo.

[Gumboot]

Khawaja's a liability in the slips.

[Insane_Homer]

64/0 after 15

at this rate, with 42 overs left, could over today.

[OomStruisbaai]

England on their way to victory.

[Torquemada 1420]

England need 270. It's cloudy, lights are on, new pink ball.

I can see a score under 50 here

Marked.

[OomStruisbaai]

vokit my wicket.

[Torquemada 1420]

England need 270. It's cloudy, lights are on, new pink ball.

I can see a score under 50 here

Marked.

Mine.

[Torquemada 1420]

vokit my wicket.

Will share the blame.

[Torquemada 1420]

2 going the same way. No feet. Yawning gap between bat and pad.

[Kiwias]

Aus put Lyon back deep at square leg and Starc digs one in, so Stokes obediently hooks it straight to Lyon for catching practice. FFS. Starc told you what he was going to try.

[Insane_Homer]

92/4 - hope didn't last long.

[Farva]

This is actually a pretty interesting game now.
A real battle, could go either way.

[Quade]

While Root is in there's plenty of hope.

[Quade]

There's still hope. Sort of.