NPR

Gumboot wrote: ↑Tue Jul 04, 2023 7:39 am Surely there's room for both Bairstow and Foakes in the same batting line-up. It's hardly a settled order...is it?

Yes, but Bairstow's form suggests it would be a mistake. He's a very good middle order player and the vacancy would be at #3, which is where Root definitely doesn't want to bat. Foakes is a very good option for a #7/#8 but you wouldn't really want him any higher than that. Maybe Bairstow not having the gloves and instead being Angry Ginger Johnny with a real point to prove would overcome the technical deficiencies enough for him to bat 3, but I just keep seeing him getting bowled by the nip-backers instead.

Lawrence is a very similar kind of player to Pope and someone I thought would be nailed on as England's next excellent Test bat years ago, long before Pope's emergence, because his technique was excellent and he really understood his own game. However it looked like he then had to concentrate a lot on T20 and I think he lost some of what I thought were his real strengths. I don't know if he's successfully merged the two disciplines now, but obviously being a good ODI/T20 batsman is a bonus when it comes to selection for this team.

Definitely someone I really _want_ to succeed, y'know?

Phew - Chris Sole has some pace.

Zim 13/2 chasing 234.

Thor Sedan wrote: ↑Tue Jul 04, 2023 11:14 am Phew - Chris Sole has some pace.

Zim 13/2 chasing 234.

Now 33/3 after 6.2

Gumboot wrote: ↑Tue Jul 04, 2023 12:55 am I read that England will bring in Dan Lawrence if Ollie Pope doesn't recover from his shoulder injury. Reckon they'd be better off with Ben Foakes, who's a far better keeper than Bairstow, and no slouch with the bat. The excellent Carey has given Australia a clear advantage in the keeping department so far.

Pope out for rest of series. No additional player added to the squad so looks like Lawrence will be direct replacement.

Thor Sedan wrote: ↑Tue Jul 04, 2023 11:14 am Phew - Chris Sole has some pace.

Zim 13/2 chasing 234.

Genuine quick. Up to 92mph according to cricinfo.

Zimbabwe four down now, although the last over got tonked for thirteen.

Hmmmm...Zim starting to roll over Scotland. Burl playing a well timed innings.

Looks like they might have to throw Sole back at them to see if he can pick up a cheeky wicket or 2. RRR only 4 an over now.

Biffer wrote: ↑Tue Jul 04, 2023 12:09 pm

Thor Sedan wrote: ↑Tue Jul 04, 2023 11:14 am Phew - Chris Sole has some pace.

Zim 13/2 chasing 234.

Genuine quick. Up to 92mph according to cricinfo.

Zimbabwe four down now, although the last over got tonked for thirteen.

138/5 after 26. On a knife edge. The Dutch will be watching with interest, as they will benefit from a Scottish win by a margin as small as possible.

This partnership has taken the win away from Scotland. Shame after a great start.

Zim bat pretty deep actually.

Thor Sedan wrote: ↑Tue Jul 04, 2023 1:12 pm This partnership has taken the win away from Scotland. Shame after a great start.

Zim bat pretty deep actually.

6 down now. Zim still very much in the driving seat though, you would think. RRR very achievable unless Burl gets out soon.

S/Lt_Phillips wrote: ↑Tue Jul 04, 2023 1:25 pm

Thor Sedan wrote: ↑Tue Jul 04, 2023 1:12 pm This partnership has taken the win away from Scotland. Shame after a great start.

Zim bat pretty deep actually.

6 down now. Zim still very much in the driving seat though, you would think. RRR very achievable unless Burl gets out soon.

7 gone. Burl still there though. 58 from 89 balls needed. Definitely more interesting that writing reports!

On a slightly different track - I see piers morgan has gone into full meltdown about England being hard done by.

Jonny is a saint, England are the unluckiest team on earth and Aussies are big fat meanies.

I feckin' hate that guy.

Oh Zimbabwe

Burl goooorn!! Scotland wrestle back the advantage!!

Blimey - that turned around quickly!!

Looks like a shootout for CWC qualification between Scotland and The Netherlands on Thursday, with the Dutch needing to win by a fair margin as the Scots will qualify even with a small loss due to superior NRR.

A well-deserved kick in the teeth for the ICC it would be, an Associate nation in their exclusive 10-team showpiece event.

Thor Sedan wrote: ↑Tue Jul 04, 2023 1:41 pm On a slightly different track - I see piers morgan has gone into full meltdown about England being hard done by.

Jonny is a saint, England are the unluckiest team on earth and Aussies are big fat meanies.

I feckin' hate that guy.

He knows exactly what he’s doing and people fall for it every time

clydecloggie wrote: ↑Tue Jul 04, 2023 2:05 pm Looks like a shootout for CWC qualification between Scotland and The Netherlands on Thursday, with the Dutch needing to win by a fair margin as the Scots will qualify even with a small loss due to superior NRR.

A well-deserved kick in the teeth for the ICC it would be, an Associate nation in their exclusive 10-team showpiece event.

Well played Scotland!

Fucking yaaaaaaasssssss

Scotland have beaten three full ICC member inside ten days.

This associate member / full member bullshit has to end.

West Indies, Zimbabwe and Ireland will make more money from the Cricket World Cup than Scotland, even though they haven't qualified for it.

Also, there are no full member v Associate member games scheduled in ODI cricket. Not this year, not next year and not any year after that.

But growing the game, yeah, obvs, right.

ASMO wrote: ↑Mon Jul 03, 2023 6:51 am I just find it all hilarious, i got absolutely no skin in the game, but if what happenned is within the laws of the game then stop moaning and maybe blame the player who was dumb enough to do what he did. This idea of "not within the spirit of the game" died with proffesional sport, its simple really, if you dont want it to happen, make a law against it, otherwise suck it up.

Cricket is weird in the way it picks and chooses what is sporting. The sledging wouldn't be tolerated in any other sport. Not even football.

Biffer wrote: ↑Tue Jul 04, 2023 3:05 pm Also, there are no full member v Associate member games scheduled in ODI cricket. Not this year, not next year and not any year after that.

But growing the game, yeah, obvs, right.

Have you tried poaching some Saffers? Seems to be how a few others stay in the top flight.

Sandstorm wrote: ↑Tue Jul 04, 2023 3:55 pm

Biffer wrote: ↑Tue Jul 04, 2023 3:05 pm Also, there are no full member v Associate member games scheduled in ODI cricket. Not this year, not next year and not any year after that.

But growing the game, yeah, obvs, right.

Have you tried poaching some Saffers? Seems to be how a few others stay in the top flight.

Got some. Thanks.

Thing is, all these really good games between Scotland West Indies, Zimbabwe, Sri Lanka, Ireland and the Netherlands could've been at a World Cup.

But the BCCI was so terrified by Associates having the temerity to win some games in 2007 they threw them out. Or at least that's what they thought.

BTW it's virtually nailed on that Scotland will fuck this up against the Netherlands, just so you're all aware.

Biffer wrote: ↑Tue Jul 04, 2023 6:18 pm BTW it's virtually nailed on that Scotland will fuck this up against the Netherlands, just so you're all aware.

Ah, you do have some Saffers then.

Torquemada 1420 wrote: ↑Tue Jul 04, 2023 3:08 pm

ASMO wrote: ↑Mon Jul 03, 2023 6:51 am I just find it all hilarious, i got absolutely no skin in the game, but if what happenned is within the laws of the game then stop moaning and maybe blame the player who was dumb enough to do what he did. This idea of "not within the spirit of the game" died with proffesional sport, its simple really, if you dont want it to happen, make a law against it, otherwise suck it up.

Cricket is weird in the way it picks and chooses what is sporting. The sledging wouldn't be tolerated in any other sport. Not even football.

Every sport has weird lines between what is and isn’t acceptable.
Off the top of my head:
Football - acceptable to get in the ref’s face and tell him to fuck off, unacceptable to play on if someone is down injured (rugby vice versa of course)
Rugby - acceptable to pantomime boo until the ref gives a card, unacceptable to boo the kicker, and let’s not forget traditionally acceptable to stamp/fight in a way that could grievously injure someone, so long as you didn’t gouge.
American football - acceptable to hit a player in a manner that can cause brain injury, unacceptable to ‘run up the score’.
Tennis - acceptable to deliberately exaggerate ‘oohs’ and ‘aahs’ after playing a shot, unacceptable for the crowd to make a sound.

I could go on.

What makes cricket’s different is that the Spirit of the Game, far from an abstract concept, is incorporated into the Laws of the Game in the preamble. Like any preamble, the Laws should be interpreted with that in mind.

I came across this magnificent story about WG Grace that seems to be somewhat appropriate.

In that immortal match between Gloucestershire and Essex in 1898, the fearsome fast bowler Charles Kortright did trap him plumb and then got him to snick behind the wicket off successive balls. On both occasions, Grace glared down the wicket, his gaze bristling with hypnotic power. The umpire was bullied into shaking his head. Finally, Kortright grabbed the ball, stomped back to his mark and sprinted in, propelling the ball out of sheer fury, perhaps sending down the fastest ball ever bowled. The middle-stump was knocked out of the ground and the leg stump flew halfway to the boundary. Grace paused for a while, perhaps waiting for a belated call of no-ball or plainly gobsmacked by the delivery. And then he turned to walk back. It was then that Kortright shot the immortal line after him: “Surely you’re not going, Doctor? There’s still one stump standing.”

I am fully aware that the story quoted is quite possibly an anecdote but still WG is revered as the Father of Cricket.

Some of the Australian based satire sites I follow are going in boots and all over this...

conveniently forgetting about the wailing that goes up whenever Australia cops a decision that goes against the grain for them.

Guy Smiley wrote: ↑Wed Jul 05, 2023 12:45 am Some of the Australian based satire sites I follow are going in boots and all over this...

conveniently forgetting about the wailing that goes up whenever Australia cops a decision that goes against the grain for them.

Yeah the level of outcry from the Australians regarding the Starc no catch definitely matched the holier than though blubbering coming from the English.

Open your other eye you hateful ugly little parasite......

"Gentlemen, you can't fight in here. This is the Long Room!"

Guy Smiley wrote: ↑Wed Jul 05, 2023 2:43 am

Yes Sherlock impressive. As are the two Austtaliia have won.

Seeing we are on the Cricket thread remind me how many Cricket World Cups NZ has, oh that's right lol....

Deepsouth wrote: ↑Wed Jul 05, 2023 6:51 am

Guy Smiley wrote: ↑Wed Jul 05, 2023 2:43 am

Yes Sherlock impressive. As are the two Austtaliia have won.

Seeing we are on the Cricket thread remind me how many Cricket World Cups NZ has, oh that's right lol....

Its cricket on a rugby forum. You will probably all over the place if the Wallabies beat the Boks this weekend?

OomStruisbaai wrote: ↑Wed Jul 05, 2023 7:09 am

Deepsouth wrote: ↑Wed Jul 05, 2023 6:51 am

Guy Smiley wrote: ↑Wed Jul 05, 2023 2:43 am

Yes Sherlock impressive. As are the two Austtaliia have won.

Seeing we are on the Cricket thread remind me how many Cricket World Cups NZ has, oh that's right lol....

Its cricket on a rugby forum. You will probably all over the place if the Wallabies beat the Boks this weekend?

Not really mate. Don't think you can read to much into this year's RC. Too much tinkering going on ahead of the World Cup...

By the way Oom would like to apologise for my previous poaccusation regarding AWB. Sorry.

OomStruisbaai wrote: ↑Wed Jul 05, 2023 7:09 am

Deepsouth wrote: ↑Wed Jul 05, 2023 6:51 am

Guy Smiley wrote: ↑Wed Jul 05, 2023 2:43 am

Yes Sherlock impressive. As are the two Austtaliia have won.

Seeing we are on the Cricket thread remind me how many Cricket World Cups NZ has, oh that's right lol....

Its cricket on a rugby forum. You will probably all over the place if the Wallabies beat the Boks this weekend?

Not really mate. Don't think you can read to much into this year's RC. Too much tinkering going on ahead of the World Cup...

By the way Oom would like to apologise for my previous poaccusation regarding AWB. Sorry.

Enzedder wrote: ↑Wed Jul 05, 2023 7:14 am Walking to Abbey Road.jpg

Deepsouth wrote: ↑Wed Jul 05, 2023 7:32 am

OomStruisbaai wrote: ↑Wed Jul 05, 2023 7:09 am

Deepsouth wrote: ↑Wed Jul 05, 2023 6:51 am

Yes Sherlock impressive. As are the two Austtaliia have won.

Seeing we are on the Cricket thread remind me how many Cricket World Cups NZ has, oh that's right lol....

Its cricket on a rugby forum. You will probably all over the place if the Wallabies beat the Boks this weekend?

Not really mate. Don't think you can read to much into this year's RC. Too much tinkering going on ahead of the World Cup...

By the way Oom would like to apologise for my previous poaccusation regarding AWB. Sorry.

No worries Boet. Can take it on the chin and move on. Good luck for saturday.