IPL Thread

Royale with Cheese

Just threw on Setanta Sports there and an IPL game is on. Kolkata vs Hyderabad. Wasn't really following the schedule for this closely so didn't know the league had already started.

Thought I'd start a thread about the IPL if anybody else is watching it. Kinda hard to get into it though with not knowing a clue about any of the teams. Hyperabad struggling currently on 78/6 after about 15 overs. Symonds is still at the crease though.

The cheerleaders need to go. They're not even Indian.

Memnoch

I've watched all five games so far and been thoroughly entertained, and even though the pitch for the kolkotta vs hydrabad game was crap the game itself was a nailbiter.

Mccullum's opening 158* in the first match was one of the best batting innings I've ever seen and there has been some great cricket besides. Was cool to see players like Mcgragh and Pollock having lost none of their skill and little of their edge. Gilly also. It's great entertainment.

The dancing girls are a part of the 20/20 format unfortunately (remember the world cup in SA?). They are there to stay and if they help pull in the crowds and increase the exposure of cricket then why not.

Royale with Cheese

Kings XI Punjab vs Rajasthan Royals today. I might adopt Rajasthan Royals as my team. Mainly because they have Shane Warne, as captain and coach. Plus they spent by far the least of any of the teams.

Rjd2

Royale with Cheese wrote: »

Kings XI Punjab vs Rajasthan Royals today. I might adopt Rajasthan Royals as my team. Mainly because they have Shane Warne, as captain and coach. Plus they spent by far the least of any of the teams.

Well to hell with you!:D I adopted the Punjab as my team mainly because iit lookest the most balanced team, Yuvraj, Sanga, Jayawdene, Sarwan, Hopes, Lee, Chawla, and Sressenth and they lost to your team of mediocrity:pac::eek:

Memnoch

Go Royals, I like them. TBH I think they could be the dark horse. With Grahme Smith joining along with a few others they will be much stronger.

Punjab to me look unbalanced. Sangakara is great, Jaywardana is class but not in form atm, yuvraj is hit or miss. Their bowling is a weak link though. Brett lee will probably go after the next two games. That leaves Srisanth (always been crap IMO) and Hopes to spearhead the attack? Lol lol.

For those of you who were watching todays game, I thought it was great how the crowd got behind the home team. Also Srisanth was booed the entire game, with chants of "Srisanth hai hai," in Hindi, which means, "Srisanth die die," well it's not a literal translation. It's not really a death wish or threat, but a general announcement of severe disapproval. It started right after he walked up to Karman Akmal and talked nonsense to him. The crowd were chanting against him the whole match after that.

Imagine, a fierce Indian crowd supporting a Pakistani player over a "local hero," this to me is the beauty of the IPL.

All the jealous **** in the british media and cricket establishment and their talks of "will the fans support the IPL and the manufactured franchises" have been proven to be the utter tripe they are.

DMC

Memnoch wrote: »

All the jealous **** in the british media and cricket establishment and their talks of "will the fans support the IPL and the manufactured franchises" have been proven to be the utter tripe they are.

Its only a week old. That's why I won't pass any firm judgements on the IPL until the season is over.

The question that really should be asked is "will the fans support wane?" Something that's embedded in cricket's long history is novelty. Actions, personalities, tournaments, powerplays, gimmicks etc. The IPL has had a good first week. But I'm looking to week six. At that stage, all the pundits, fans, administrators and players will be able to call what happens next.

simonrooneyzaga

id love to watch it but lack a subscription to setanta 1/2 - why cant they show repeats on the freeview setanta! by the looks of the scorecards, there is some serious big hitting going on - 150 is looking to be the average strike-rate! McCullum, Watson, Yuvraj and Hussey are a few who have put in massive performances with the bat, with warney the stand out bowler so far! (3 wickets for around 16 runs off 4 overs yesterday!)

Memnoch

DMC wrote: »

Its only a week old. That's why I won't pass any firm judgements on the IPL until the season is over.

The question that really should be asked is "will the fans support wane?" Something that's embedded in cricket's long history is novelty. Actions, personalities, tournaments, powerplays, gimmicks etc. The IPL has had a good first week. But I'm looking to week six. At that stage, all the pundits, fans, administrators and players will be able to call what happens next.

Well I dunno if it will continue at this massive intensity throughout the tournament. But honestly, if you look at some international matches (that don't involve india), I've often seen pretty pathetic crowds recently, even for ODIs. Same goes for the domestic season just started in England. I think week 6 will be fine because that will be finals/semi-finals. I'd be more concerned around week 3-4 as the pack gets seperated and teams that are at the bottom of the table might not get as much support.

But the reality is that each team has only 7 home games in the tournament. And with sell out crowds, many people aren't even able to get in to watch a game yet and will be eager to. +Ticket prices seem to be sensible which is a great move.

Also apparently the largest demographic that has "switched" over to watching cricket in India is women and children. The IPL is on at prime time in India and apparently women are abandoning their soaps to watch it (lol). It's getting double the ratings of the soaps and this is because of the involvement of bollywood stars like Shah Rukh Khan and Preity Zinta et. all. And having invested 70 million+ dollars into it, I'm sure they will keep promiting and providing the entertainment.

The best thing about the IPL is that people might come for the dancers or the stars or the glamour, but they will end up staying for the cricket.

And since it's 20/20 and the games are either in the evenings or in the weekends, it means people can easily come in. It gets around the problem of taking off a day off work for an ODI etc. It's great entertainment and so far people seem to really be enjoying themselves, and I think it will continue.

Xavi6

Royale with Cheese wrote: »

The cheerleaders need to go. They're not even Indian.

Great quote here from BBC -

"People have asked who my favourite cricketer is and I'm like saying: 'Cricket?'"
Bangalore Royal Challengers' American cheerleader Jenny Zaleski knows all about the IPL.

The cricket itself is obviously getting big coverage here in Australia. Watched a special report on Andrew Symonds and Adam Gilchrist the other night and it was unbelievable how much of a reaction they have gotten over there. Symonds said it's mad that a few months ago they were burning his picture and now he's a hero. He's getting pretty much $100,000 a game which is a nice little earner for what is essentially 'fun' cricket.

Memnoch

simonrooneyzaga wrote: »

id love to watch it but lack a subscription to setanta 1/2 - why cant they show repeats on the freeview setanta! by the looks of the scorecards, there is some serious big hitting going on - 150 is looking to be the average strike-rate! McCullum, Watson, Yuvraj and Hussey are a few who have put in massive performances with the bat, with warney the stand out bowler so far! (3 wickets for around 16 runs off 4 overs yesterday!)

Hey I don't know your financial situation but it's only 20 yoyo's for a month's subscription. And since there is no yearly subscription you can unsubscribe after the tournament is over. 20 euro's is like the price of two cinema tickets these days, or one takeaway. Well worth it for 40 games of stunning cricket IMO.

There have been lots of great performances, not Yuvraj though. His score is misleading. In that 57, he survived a PLUMB lbw appeal at the start of his innings, then he was dropped on 15 by Lehman off a sitter from Warne, and then dropped again by Kaif for 35. Out of the Indian Batsmen, Gambhir has been the most impressive, along with young Jadeja from the Raj Royals, carting Brett lee around the park as if he was some school boy.

Today's match is going to be a rocker, with two strong teams having their full complements of players to chose from:

http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/ipl/content/story/347209.html

Royale with Cheese

Hmmm, this competition's not much use on weekdays. Don't get to see any of it. Suppose most cricket is no different though. I miss being a student.

Memnoch

they show 2 hour long highlights of the games at 8:00pm, so even if you miss the live game just watch the highlights. Since the game itself is only 3-4 hours long you won't miss much by watching the highlights.

simonrooneyzaga

How come mascheranas is still playing for hampshire? Is he only playing a few weeks of the IPL or something with the Rajastan royals?

Rjd2

simonrooneyzaga wrote: »

How come mascheranas is still playing for hampshire? Is he only playing a few weeks of the IPL or something with the Rajastan royals?

Yep.

Memnoch

You guys should catch the highlights of the Raj Royals vs the Deccan Chargers on Setanta tonight if you can. Absolute CLASSIC of a cricket game. I promise you will enjoy it. It had everything.

simonrooneyzaga

not on freeview setanta is it?

Memnoch

no sorry, none of them are on freeview

simonrooneyzaga

you think they would have given us cheapskates at least a highlights package!!!

Memnoch

Well they don't have any other cricket on Setanta, and if they had it on freeview none of the south-east asian population would subscribe.

Royale with Cheese

Woooo go team Warney. I missed it again because Setanta 2 is currently f*cked. God damn I hate ntl.

coldfire1x

IPL is till going strong even after most of Aus and NZ crickters have left. I have watched most of the matches, obvisously the live ones only during the weekends and rest highlights at 8pm most of the weekdays.

I must say, its a great entertainment, better than watching boring reality shows on most of the channels.

It's great to see most of the grounds are full with spectators, switch to Sky Sports for county cricket, and there's no one in the stadium.

My fav teams: Channai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royal

Memnoch

Highlights of today's game: Chennai vs Delhi are well worth watching. Great game of cricket

Royale with Cheese

Final's on today. Rajasthan Royals vs Chennai Super Kings. Anybody gonna be watching?

Royale with Cheese

Rajasthan win off the last ball. Pretty decent final. Go team Warney.

simonrooneyzaga

the bollywood scripters must have had something to do with it!

Mahatma coat

OnYa Warney

good series that, watched a fair few of the gamesas it ws on in the eenins over here.

would have to say, I wtched the worl cup last year and, this was far better