The Cricket Thread

[Carrotdude]

Even when they’re fit though, they don’t have the impact that some of the overseas guys do. Might just be me though

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

That is because our pitches aren't designed to help the absolute expresses. We don't have a pitch even close to the old WACA for example.

There are nine current test grounds here(Lords, the Oval, the Rose Bowl, Trent Bridge, Headingley, Edgbaston, Old Trafford, Cardiff, Chester-le-Street). Not one of those grounds is a haven for the super quicks.

So our real quicks never get to bowl on anything that helps them. Whereas say, a Brett Lee would have toured here having played at least 10 matches a year on the WACA to refine his technique for using his extreme pace. He simply had more practice in suitable conditions.

(This doesn't explain Shoaib Akhtar, as I remember Rawalpindi being an absolute dust bowl, but he was a complete freak of nature)

 

[Carrotdude]

Kind of ironic that Crawley batted like Sibley yesterday

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

Bright enough start this morning. The pitch looks a bit more docile without the cloud cover, but the SA quicks are still very dangerous.

 

[Dinowolf]

Bairstow gone 49

134-4

 

[Dinowolf]

Nortje bowling up to 94 mph, ball reversing.

IMO there's nothing docile about this pitch, except for the lack of swing in the air.

 

[WsWolf]

Great ball that.

 

[Dinowolf]

Crawley gone 38

147-5

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

Nortje bowling up to 94 mph, ball reversing.

IMO there's nothing docile about this pitch, except for the lack of swing in the air.

I disagree. Bounce seems to be very consistent. No cracks are obvious. It isn't spitting or keeping low.

We have no idea whether it will take much turn yet obviously.

The issue here is the extreme pace of Nortje.

 

[Dinowolf]

They've just put up a graphic on Sky saying yesterday swing was 0.9 dg and today is 1.7 dg.
Atherton says the surface of the pitch has got harder which will suit the faster bowlers.
Rabada is bowling at 88 mph too.
Yes the pitch is not 'hostile' but it isn't 'docile' either.

Now the ball has done over 35 overs it will have softened up and whether it will spin or not remains to be seen

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

That isn't a lot of swing at all. And it never swings much at Old Trafford. Its not a vicious pitch. Its not a featherbed. Its a good sporting pitch.

Stokes has just fucked his knee going for a run which isn't good.

 

[Carrotdude]

It’s been reverse swinging loads this morning.

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

It really hasn't. It's doing a bit, which is what a good pitch should. We dont want a road and we dont want a minefield.

This is a simply good pitch creating a good contest between bat and ball.

 

[Dinowolf]

That isn't a lot of swing at all. And it never swings much at Old Trafford. Its not a vicious pitch. Its not a featherbed. Its a good sporting pitch.

Stokes has just fucked his knee going for a run which isn't good.

Agree with this but you have to factor in the bounce from the hard pitch.
I just disagreed with your use of the word docile, but I do see what you mean about 'sporting'.

It looks to me that Stokes has trapped a nerve in his knee trying a quick turn for a possible second run.

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

I said "more docile" in comparison to how it was in overcast conditions yesterday morning. That's all.

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

A smaller top division of the County Championship and fewer days of cricket are among proposals from a review into the men's game in England and Wales.

The review, led by Sir Andrew Strauss, is aimed at producing "sustained success" for the England men's team.
Any changes to the domestic structure would have to be agreed by the 18 first-class counties.

There is no proposal to cut the number of first-class counties and The Hundred will remain until at least 2028.

HERE'S A FUCKING TIP, DICKHEADS. RATHER THAN CUT COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP AND SO ON, BIN THE FUCKING 16.4 OFF. THEN YOU WILL SOLVE ALL YOUR PROBLEMS.

 

[Dinowolf]

I said "more docile" in comparison to how it was in overcast conditions yesterday morning. That's all.

OK

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

That is a very good session for England. Get past 250 and the lead looks significant. Get to 300 and it is probably match winning.

 

[Dinowolf]

12 off that 75th over.
Make hay before the new ball is due

 

[Dinowolf]

Foakes passes 50