The Official Cricket Thread

[SaintK]

Great start by the Proteas.

Back to business as usual from England!

England bat deep. Only one session, still a marathon

You're amongst the tail already

[Mahoney]

Back to business as usual from England!

England bat deep. Only one session, still a marathon

You're amongst the tail already

And what a tail. Broad should be lucky to bat at 11, and he’s at 8.

[Enzedder]

Crappers first ODI against the Windies being played on a real turner in Barbados. Crappers sent in to bat and are struggling at 122/6 off 30 overs. Williamson just gone.

[Thor Sedan]

Crappers first ODI against the Windies being played on a real turner in Barbados. Crappers sent in to bat and are struggling at 122/6 off 30 overs. Williamson just gone.

I like this quote from Cricinfo:

Neil: "Does the pitch look difficult to bat on or are New Zealand just making it look difficult?"
Answer - It is not difficult, but perhaps slower than expected. Plus, turning and bouncing too.

So....erm....difficult?

[Enzedder]

All out 190. Not a terrible pitch by any means - it will be interesting if Bracewell and Santner can create the same difficulty as the Windies spinners. I have my doubts.

[Ovals]

The argument is a little different within England as the standard of counties #14 or so downward is pretty average and affects the product. Hence Berkshire (at least nominally amateur) thumping Middlesex a few weeks ago.

SHouldn't read anything into Berks beating Middx - None of the counties put out anything close to a 1st team for those friendlies - in a straight fight Middx would win 10 times out of 10. And, in terms of whte ball cricket, the 'lesser' 1st class counties tend to do very well in the T20. WHat the ECB have done is reduce the number of venues that people can go to wtach cricket in, for the whole of the summer hols - the vast majority of people are really nowhere near enough to the venues to actually attend.

The reason I picked out Middlesex was that was actually a half reasonable Middlesex side and they got pumped. You're right of course wrt say Bucks beating Surrey the same day.
Got to say I don't fully buy into this argument at all - attendances are pretty strong across The Hundred and being in the major cities makes them more of a 'hub' to get to than they'd otherwise be (West Country I accept has been shafted to maintain a Welsh presence). Also if you go to a County game you really do see the same old faces, the same old boys, the same Dads with the same kids who were born with a cricket bat in their hand. That's not meant pejoratively, that describes my school summer holidays pretty accurately. It's undeniable that The Hundred is engaging a young audience that have not been going to the Blast.
I don't hate the Blast and I don't hate County cricket, but what has become increasingly the case is cricket has isolated itself from mainstream sport and society. It's become more insular, if you play now and you're under 35 or so the odds of you either having a Dad who was a club cricketer, you went to private school or are from a South Asian background is near certain. The Hundred is the only prospect of reversing that and making cricket more a part of the popular culture of the country again that I see, which is why I'm a qualified supporter of it.

However, those hubs would still be hosting games plus the other 10 county venues - so using all 18 locations (withe the corresponding increase in macthes, patently makes the matches more accesible. Had the ECB promoted a relaunched Blast, in the same way it did the Hundred - we'd have even more young, new, people attending and it would have cost far less. The Hundred is losing around £15M a year when the compensation to the counties (for using their players) is taken into account.

[Biffer]

Scotland managed to lose to the USA today, giving away 15 runs in the last over to lose by two wickets. Disappointng reaulttbut three wins from four in the tri series means they're well ahead of USA and UAE in World League two.

[Biffer]

Pakistan beat the Netherlands today, a weak Ned side against a disinterested Pak side. If the Dutch had played to their ability they were capable of beating that performance but the Netherlands cricket board seems to just be happy to be playing these guys and not hugely interested in winning. English counties not being obliged to release Dutch international players also doesn't help.

[Enzedder]

Windies going at a run a ball (thanks to Hope) but have lost 2 wickets (including Hope)

37/2 off 6

[Kiwias]

WIndies cruising at 149/3

[Paddington Bear]

SHouldn't read anything into Berks beating Middx - None of the counties put out anything close to a 1st team for those friendlies - in a straight fight Middx would win 10 times out of 10. And, in terms of whte ball cricket, the 'lesser' 1st class counties tend to do very well in the T20. WHat the ECB have done is reduce the number of venues that people can go to wtach cricket in, for the whole of the summer hols - the vast majority of people are really nowhere near enough to the venues to actually attend.

The reason I picked out Middlesex was that was actually a half reasonable Middlesex side and they got pumped. You're right of course wrt say Bucks beating Surrey the same day.
Got to say I don't fully buy into this argument at all - attendances are pretty strong across The Hundred and being in the major cities makes them more of a 'hub' to get to than they'd otherwise be (West Country I accept has been shafted to maintain a Welsh presence). Also if you go to a County game you really do see the same old faces, the same old boys, the same Dads with the same kids who were born with a cricket bat in their hand. That's not meant pejoratively, that describes my school summer holidays pretty accurately. It's undeniable that The Hundred is engaging a young audience that have not been going to the Blast.
I don't hate the Blast and I don't hate County cricket, but what has become increasingly the case is cricket has isolated itself from mainstream sport and society. It's become more insular, if you play now and you're under 35 or so the odds of you either having a Dad who was a club cricketer, you went to private school or are from a South Asian background is near certain. The Hundred is the only prospect of reversing that and making cricket more a part of the popular culture of the country again that I see, which is why I'm a qualified supporter of it.

However, those hubs would still be hosting games plus the other 10 county venues - so using all 18 locations (withe the corresponding increase in macthes, patently makes the matches more accesible. Had the ECB promoted a relaunched Blast, in the same way it did the Hundred - we'd have even more young, new, people attending and it would have cost far less. The Hundred is losing around £15M a year when the compensation to the counties (for using their players) is taken into account.

I understand your point but remember that the Blast in it's original Twenty20 Cup guise was the next big thing to break into the mainstream, and it didn't. Plenty of other factors of course but I'm deeply, deeply sceptical that county cricket is able to preach to anyone but the converted. I'm biased from my minor counties perspective but for me growing up going to a game was always about pestering my parents to take me on the hour train to Lord's, an hour+ drive to Northampton or 90 minutes on the tube to The Oval. This hasn't materially changed

[Insane_Homer]

145/8 Rabada with both this morning

[Insane_Homer]

164/9

[Thor Sedan]

Seems like Anderson and Broad might just fancy these conditions.

[OomStruisbaai]

Openiners grind to 50/0

[OomStruisbaai]

Lots of movement

[SaintK]

Lots of movement

Is that why SA are charging along at 4 runs an over?

[Calculon]

3 runs in the last 4 overs, England building the pressure

[OomStruisbaai]

Lots of movement

Is that why SA are charging along at 4 runs an over?

Our test cricket is boring like our test rugby.

[Torquemada 1420]

Athers was harping on this morning that the SA batting had holes in it too and 220 would challenge them.

[Calculon]

TBF, the SA batting line up is a bit shit.

[OomStruisbaai]

Yep , Stokes again make the important breakthrough. They enter the tail now. 220 reasonable

[Ovals]

The reason I picked out Middlesex was that was actually a half reasonable Middlesex side and they got pumped. You're right of course wrt say Bucks beating Surrey the same day.
Got to say I don't fully buy into this argument at all - attendances are pretty strong across The Hundred and being in the major cities makes them more of a 'hub' to get to than they'd otherwise be (West Country I accept has been shafted to maintain a Welsh presence). Also if you go to a County game you really do see the same old faces, the same old boys, the same Dads with the same kids who were born with a cricket bat in their hand. That's not meant pejoratively, that describes my school summer holidays pretty accurately. It's undeniable that The Hundred is engaging a young audience that have not been going to the Blast.
I don't hate the Blast and I don't hate County cricket, but what has become increasingly the case is cricket has isolated itself from mainstream sport and society. It's become more insular, if you play now and you're under 35 or so the odds of you either having a Dad who was a club cricketer, you went to private school or are from a South Asian background is near certain. The Hundred is the only prospect of reversing that and making cricket more a part of the popular culture of the country again that I see, which is why I'm a qualified supporter of it.

However, those hubs would still be hosting games plus the other 10 county venues - so using all 18 locations (withe the corresponding increase in macthes, patently makes the matches more accesible. Had the ECB promoted a relaunched Blast, in the same way it did the Hundred - we'd have even more young, new, people attending and it would have cost far less. The Hundred is losing around £15M a year when the compensation to the counties (for using their players) is taken into account.

I understand your point but remember that the Blast in it's original Twenty20 Cup guise was the next big thing to break into the mainstream, and it didn't. Plenty of other factors of course but I'm deeply, deeply sceptical that county cricket is able to preach to anyone but the converted. I'm biased from my minor counties perspective but for me growing up going to a game was always about pestering my parents to take me on the hour train to Lord's, an hour+ drive to Northampton or 90 minutes on the tube to The Oval. This hasn't materially changed

Despite being relegated to the 'non school hols' period, and losing 15% of its' spectators as a result; the Blast still has more people attend than the Hundred. It had been growing quite rapidly, every year, and was definitely Mainstream (in the context of a minority sport). Had it been relaunched with half the promotion of the Hundred, it would have been more successful and not be losing the ECB £15M a year. There'd also not be the problem that we now have more tournaments than we space for in the summer - reducing the CC and making the 50 over contest a 2nd XI tournament. We simply don't have the space for 4 elite tournaments. The season has become a complete mess. Even the Ashes, next season, has been shunted around to keep the Hundred in the limelight.

[JM2K6]

Yeah, the Blast was a raging success - very weird to suggest otherwise, really. It saved the counties and was wildly popular.

[And 1 guest]

I hate this policy of bowling short to the tail as the default strategy. Especially with bowlers without express pace

[OomStruisbaai]

Need to bowl very short to Jansen. The days without helmets , you had to play the hook/pull quickly.

[And 1 guest]

Need to bowl very short to Jansen. The days without helmets , you had to play the hook/pull quickly.

Jansen's box is probably chest protector height to most people

[OomStruisbaai]

Cricinfo

Trundler: "Given that the cricket fans who follow your commentary are spread across the globe, I'm intrigued as to why by far the majority of comments are focused on England's Bazball approach and on English players. Are there not many Protea supporters following the match, is there not as much interest in the Protea team or their approach, or are South African cricketers and their cricket just boring?" Well, I guess there's no similar label for SA's approach, for all that their consecutive chases against India were scarcely less impressive in their own way

[OomStruisbaai]

Need to bowl very short to Jansen. The days without helmets , you had to play the hook/pull quickly.

Jansen's box is probably chest protector height to most people

Pretty sure he and his identical twin boet were a good lock pairing in their school days.

[OomStruisbaai]

OK we got past 220.

[OomStruisbaai]

Stokes spoil the party.

[OomStruisbaai]

Maharaj & Jansen partnership was good. The new ball tomorrow due and every run a bonus for us.

[Insane_Homer]

326 all out

161 lead.

[Insane_Homer]

86/4

still 75 behind

[JM2K6]

Have to say that we've been very lucky to see some superb bowling attacks in England this year. NZ, India, SA all have an array of quality bowlers. Great to watch.

[Insane_Homer]

86/6

[Biffer]

You know that thing I said about the new England approach getting found out v better sides? Yeah, that.

[assfly]

Oh my. I thought SA got a bit lucky with the toss and the weather, but this is turning into a thumping.

[OomStruisbaai]

You know that thing I said about the new England approach getting found out v better sides? Yeah, that.

The Cricinfo lot went into silence with their Neverending Bazball shite.

This test is far from over with Stokes still batting

[SaintK]

You know that thing I said about the new England approach getting found out v better sides? Yeah, that.

The Cricinfo lot went into silence with their Neverending Bazball shite.

This test is far from over with Stokes still batting

Mate. You'll win by an innings. Utterly embarrassing after all the hype shite