A view from the boundary - off-topic discussion

Beasty

A lot of forums have an off-topic thread, so I thought I would start one here.

If you have something that perhaps doesn't warrant a thread of its own, post it here (maybe your own latest exploits - 6 sixes in an over - that sort of thing;)), or perhaps the odd cricketing anecdote (I know, there are so many) along with anything that may perhaps only have a relatively tenuous link to cricket but you feel you want to share it here

Beasty

Here's a start - the first ever 6 off the first ball of a Test Match

Chris Gayle, for the WI v Bangladesh earlier this week

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9m7IvD1h5FQ

Football Gambler

I noted that the commentator said it was something different to bowl a spinner first up in a test match, and as a cricket follower I'm all for a bit of innovation, but it's Chris Gayle he's bowling too, not Mike Atherton or Geoff Boycott.

It wasn't trying something different, it was plain daft. Talk about handing the initiative to the opposition!

It was funny though!!!

TheDrog

not as daft as you might think, Gayle was just as likely to do that to any of the seam bowlers and spin has caught him out early in the past a few times

Rjd2

TheDrog wrote: »

not as daft as you might think, Gayle was just as likely to do that to any of the seam bowlers and spin has caught him out early in the past a few times

Yep and the same bowler got him in the twenties very quickly after.

Football Gambler

TheDrog wrote: »

not as daft as you might think, Gayle was just as likely to do that to any of the seam bowlers and spin has caught him out early in the past a few times

Yeah, it happens quite often to fast bowlers in test cricket.... as the first line in Quote 2 suggests...

TheDrog

amazing how often it has happened to spinners as well. Spinners have opened the bowling in test matches in the past and not been hit for 6. The plan worked, as pointed out the bowler got Gayle in the early 20's something that every team in international cricket would be more than happy to do. Claiming that opening the bowling with a spinner on a turning wicket handed the initiative to the West Indies just seems short sighted on your part, it's a 5 day game the first ball going for 6 didn't mean that much in the long run.

Football Gambler

You're right, you would be happy to get Gayle in the 20's every time.

The point I was trying to make wasn't with regard to the actual 6, it was about not letting Gayle get off to a flier, which could have been the case. If he was 50 not out after 10 overs, it wouldn't look too clever, and the captain would have got slaughtered.

Ok, so it worked for Bangladesh this time, but I bet if they tried it all the time, it wouldn't prove too successful.

Of course Gayle can take fast bowlers apart as well, but I bet his eyes lit up at the site of a spinner first up. I believe it was a very risky move (bordering on stupid), I don't think that is being short sighted to think that.... Gayle eats spinners for breakfast, there are plenty of openers around the world who wouldn't want to face spin first up and would probably struggle, I wouldn't put Gayle in that category though.

The pitch also may have looked spin friendly, but how could anyone know it was turning before a ball had been bowled on it?

Without wishing to contradict myself, it could be regarded as very brave captaincy, as I don't think a captain of Eng, Aus, SA, etc would dare try it. Whether that's because of fear of doing something different, or because they think it's a stupid idea, I don't know........But my view is, that it was a very risky move.

booth70

Interesting anecdote......

India v West Indies 1983 Test and One day series

Clive Lloyd and his men arrived in India still smarting from the World cup final defeat to India at Lords earlier that summer and vowing to avenge their defeat

Sunny Gavaskar is at the prime of his career and having , as an opener , carried the Indian top order for a decade decides to demote himself to no: 4 for the last test match in Madras (amidst great debate in the media).....WI bat first and make 300 odd....India in reply lose Gaekwad and Vengsarkar to I think it was Marshall in the first over with no runs on the board

Gavaskar walks in at no: 4....As he walks past Viv Richards at slip Richards says....'' Sunny....it dosen't matter where you bat in the order...when you come in the score is still zero'' !!!

Gavaskar goes on to make 236 but India get hammered 6-0 in the One dayers and 3-0 in the test matches and the revenge is complete!

Beasty

If you get chance to watch the highlights of the last day of the NZ v England Test Match without knowing today's result I would suggest you do so. I picked up the highlights this morning where I left it live last night and it was absorbing to say the least ...

decies

Beasty wrote: »

If you get chance to watch the highlights of the last day of the NZ v England Test Match without knowing today's result I would suggest you do so. I picked up the highlights this morning where I left it live last night and it was absorbing to say the least ...

Gutted

dfx-

Beasty wrote: »

If you get chance to watch the highlights of the last day of the NZ v England Test Match without knowing today's result I would suggest you do so. I picked up the highlights this morning where I left it live last night and it was absorbing to say the least ...

How long were the highlights? Every ball?

15 days of absorbing and at times thrilling cricket and it finishes 0-0, great stuff

Dozen Wicked Words

Such a shame more NZ fans didn't go to see it, they did their country proud there,

very unlucky not to win the series,

out played England in 2 out of the 3 tests. Hopefully they will kick on from there, with some good young players coming through, always liked NZ.

Those 3 Tests were a fantastic advert for "proper" cricket.

dfx-

I'll be interested in the next Cricinfo "Switch Hit" podcast, who have a tendency to gloss any test series where England have struggled.

I found it remarkable that George Dobell still thinks that given last year's series again, England would defeat South Africa:eek:

Beasty

dfx- wrote: »

I'll be interested in the next Cricinfo "Switch Hit" podcast, who have a tendency to gloss any test series where England have struggled.

I found it remarkable that George Dobell still thinks that given last year's series again, England would defeat South Africa:eek:

I think they went into this series underprepared and underestimating the opposition. I suspect they will hammer NZ in the forthcoming series in England. What they then need is a decent performance from Australia to force them to lift their game. Then I think they can take on any team (as they proved in India). If you pick the 11 best "English"men they can match SA. Prior is playing the role of all-rounder. Broad will hopefully mature (I know we've been waiting some time for him to show consistency with the ball and indeed bat) and they have two of the best batsmen in the World in Cook and Pietersen, and also on the bowling front with Anderson and Swann

Rascasse

I'm not sure if it was England being under prepared (although there was only one warm up game) or fatigue. The players are off the back of a long tour in India and I'm sure once they've rested they'll easily win both of the return tests before the Ashes.

Similar story with England v SA last year where in the two months before the series started they had the played the series against the WI and the 5 ODI's against Australia. South Africa were fresh and it showed. It's entirely possible that a fresh England v SA would have been a closer run affair.

I think the fact that SA play fewer matches (a quarter less than England/Aus/India) and shorter series (no 5 match test series and only a few 4 match series) is probably the key to them staying at number 1 for the foreseeable future. Teams like England play too much cricket to be on top form all the time. One thing I heard during the India v England series was that the total number of match and training days for England in the next 12 months is 280. Now, obviously not all players play for all 3 teams, but that is still an insane schedule.

Rjd2

Beasty wrote: »

If you pick the 11 best "English"men they can match SA. P

http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/series/534190.html

dfx-

They've gone into a lot of first tests undercooked, but South Africa were the team that took advantage. There's no reason to suggest in another series that the same thing wouldn't happen again as it did in Sri Lanka, UAE, South Africa, India and now New Zealand.

I also think England have enough depth to not have a problem in coping with WI series or one dayers against Aus.

Finally I think SA have England's tactics of frustration with the ball marked. Kallis and Amla and to some extent ABdV, Petersen, Smith and Du Plessis have the technique to wait it out. And Steyn etc will still blow them away.

Dozen Wicked Words

Very sad news from New Zealand, Jesse Ryder is in critical condition with suspected fractured skull. He was assaulted outside a fast-food outlet. Hopefully he will be ok.

Such a talent, but don't think the lad was ever on the rails to come off them.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2013/mar/27/jesse-ryder-critical-condition?CMP=twt_gu

F.J.

I hadn't realised he had played for Ireland.Did he play many games?

TheDrog

only a couple, he didn't finish his contract. He's now being described as stable but still can't breathe without the machines. Two men have been arrested.

TrueDub

F.J. wrote: »

I hadn't realised he had played for Ireland.Did he play many games?

As The Drog says, he only played a couple of games. He wasn't a success, and didn't assist by not turning up for a game or two. He wouldn't go down as one of Ireland's better overseas players.

That said, he seemed to be sorting his life out, and getting back to playing at his best, so what happened was dreadful. Hopefully he comes out ok and can get back on the field of play.

Rascasse

I see on Broadsheet that someone has poured weed killer all over the square at YMCA's ground.

http://www.broadsheet.ie/2013/05/03/was-it-for-this-45/

Rival club? GAA fundamentalists? Schoolboy prank? Pretty shameful behaviour whoever did it.

Beasty

Mindless vandalism I would guess - we had a similar issue with the velodrome at Sundrive a couple of years ago when vandals ruined it's surface by setting fire to some plastic road barriers on it. That resulted in a 12 foot high fence being placed round the track. The problem with something like this is you will never be able to make a cricket pitch completely secure (in Ireland anyway) - even CCTV is unlikely to catch people as this sort of damage can be done in a couple of minutes, and no-one will be able to afford full-time security

TrueDub

Agreed on the shame of it, a disgrace. Any information to the Gardai at Irishtown.

Beasty's hit the nail on the head, this could happen anywhere.

djimi

Absolutely disgusting behaviour. Didnt something similar happen to another pitch a few years ago? Pembroke maybe?

D3PO

its disgusting I hope they catch the toerags that did it.

As to the post querying if a rival club potentially were the perpetrators. Are you for fu(king real ?

Dozen Wicked Words

Jesse Ryder continues to fupp up any career he might have, suspended for 6 months for doping offence. Not sure what he's taken but he really has wasted his talent.

Dozen Wicked Words

Ashes Cricket 2013 pulled from sale. Possibly the worst cricket game of all time has been abandoned. Some great running between the wickets at 9.18 on this vid. Loads of other classic gameplay on youtube, worth looking at.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EtkpqDAZMLc

Anyone had the misfortune to buy this?

HonalD

Dozen Wicked Words wrote: »

Ashes Cricket 2013 pulled from sale. Possibly the worst cricket game of all time has been abandoned. Some great running between the wickets at 9.18 on this vid. Loads of other classic gameplay on youtube, worth looking at.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EtkpqDAZMLc

Anyone had the misfortune to buy this?

Heard about this today - maybe a cult game in the making.

The moonwalk at "2.57" is class.

As you say the running between the wickets is great - especially when they both are running in the same direction!

TrueDub

You probably didn't notice, but I've not been posting as much in the last while. Here's why:



Baby girl, born at the weekend. I may be online more now, but at odd hours of the night!

Dozen Wicked Words

Congratulations, sleep is probably over-rated anyway.

Monkeybonkers

I thought you were the little one!

Congrats man, beautiful little girl

Beasty

Just seeing the highlights of Day 1 of NZ v Sri Lanka on Sky (as there's rain at the SA v WI Test)

That innings from Brendon McCullum was something else - he now has the 2 fastest ever centuries for NZ, both set in the backend of 2014.

195 off 134 balls is something special in any form of the game. It may be that Sri Lanka don't have the best bowling attack around, but his last big "effort" was 202 against Pakistan having already hit 302 and 224 earlier in the year against India, and he's become the first Kiwi to hoit 1,000 test runs in a calendar year

I've got to say guys like him are bringing a new level of entertainment to the Test arena. It's a credit to the game that there is a lot more ambition within Test cricket with more batsmen prepared to entertain rather than focus solely on survival (and this is coming from someone who's boyhood cricketing hero was Geoffrey Boycott!!)

Rjd2

Some special innings so far this year from Mc Cullum, the triple century against India when the game looked gone initially, the double against Pakistan just after the Hughes tragedy where he took Pakistan apart mainly Baber and the quicks and this.

Its tough to summarise the position of test cricket at the moment, attendances are a concern especially in Asia, and so many teams are poor overseas, but we do get some cracking matches and innings like that from Mc Cullum and from Warner and ABDV these days.

Heck Misbah hit 100 of 52 balls this year. :eek::eek:

Rjd2

Not Glenn Maxwells finest moment.:P

https://vine.co/v/OHYBjgrW72M

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TCvk59FglVs

Gillespy

McCullum in the form he's in must fancy a shot a Lara's record.

As amazing as that kind of hitting is, Karunaratne's innings was every bit as special if not more. Whose 190 was better, Smith or McCullum's? Vastly different strike rates but both still great to watch.

Rjd2

Gillespy wrote: »

McCullum in the form he's in must fancy a shot a Lara's record.

As amazing as that kind of hitting is, Karunaratne's innings was every bit as special if not more. Whose 190 was better, Smith or McCullum's? Vastly different strike rates but both still great to watch.

Its very hard to judge. I'd say maybe Mc Cullum because that simply was not a 400 pitch first innings pitch and tbh it was just more fun to watch than Smith.

Not taking anything away from Smith, because it was a superb knock as well, I just preferred the Mc Cullum one.

Also on the Mc Cullum knock, I like how Angelo didn't bowl himself, but next morning when he was out and it was doing all sorts he brought himself on instantly! I'd do the same tbh. :P

Rjd2

So then Dale Steyn be honest what do you think of the current wicket you are bowling on?:P

https://twitter.com/EWNsport/status/550945784003592195

Rjd2

Kane on ESPN for catch of the day. I am going to go out on a limb and say thee ESPN lads don't watch to much test cricket.:P

http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=12131004

GerB40

Hello folks, I'm looking for a bit of advice. I don't usually gamble but there's a 75/1 bet that I just can't avoid. This bet involves 5 sports that I am fairly knowledgeable about. Alas, one of these is cricket which I don't follow and don't have a clue about.

This bet is England to win the ashes this year so I was wondering if any of you more knowledge cricket fans could tell me, do England have a chance? Is this bet worth taking?

Thanks in advance...

Renno

The fashionable thing would be to say that England don't have a chance. The bulk of the senior players that won the last Ashes in England 3-0, now gone, an ageing bowling attack, no replacement for Graeme Swann, etc, etc.

Australia meanwhile are on a roll, dispatched India this winter fairly easily, players such as Warner and Mitchell Johnson who can take the game away from England quickly, and huge depth in their bowling resources.

But.....England haven't lost an Ashes at home since 2001. They still have a team full of exciting batsmen, which although not proven in Test cricket, look decent enough. Trott could be back to bolster the middle order (although I wish he wasn't). The lack of a decent spinner looks problematical - especially when the series is going to be played at the back end of the summer, when spin could play a decisive part.

But Australia aren't in that good a position either. Lyon is developing to a decent spinner. Clarke may not play another Test, and Ryan Harris has to be struggling with old age/injury (although as I said, that strength in depth is there, and may be required).

So everything points to an Australian win - maybe 2-1 or 3-1 with rain allowing a draw or two.

But then the bookies wouldn't be offering the bet of England were bound to win would they! England have a chance of winning back the Ashes, but I don't think they will.

GerB40

Renno wrote: »

The fashionable thing would be to say that England don't have a chance. The bulk of the senior players that won the last Ashes in England 3-0, now gone, an ageing bowling attack, no replacement for Graeme Swann, etc, etc.

Australia meanwhile are on a roll, dispatched this winter fairly easily, players such as Warner and Mitchell Johnson who can take the game away from England quickly, and huge depth in their bowling resources.

But.....England haven't lost an Ashes at home since 2001. They still have a team full of exciting batsmen, which although not proven in Test cricket, look decent enough. Trott could be back to bolster the middle order (although I wish he wasn't). The lack of a decent spinner looks problematical - especially when the series is going to be played at the back end of the summer, when spin could play a decisive part.

But Australia aren't in that good a position either. Lyon is developing to a decent spinner. Clarke may not play another Test, and Ryan Harris has to be struggling with old age/injury (although as I said, that strength in depth is there, and may be required).

So everything points to an Australian win - maybe 2-1 or 3-1 with rain allowing a draw or two.

But then the bookies wouldn't be offering the bet of England were bound to win would they! England have a chance of winning back the Ashes, but I don't think they will.

Thanks for that very diplomatic answer so I'll ask you personally, who would you put a few quid on? I've watched the ashes before with someone who knows the game and I picked up a little from him. I'll doubtless be glued to this one so who knows, I might even end up liking it..

Renno

Not a gambler, but checking out the odds there, and they seem to match what I said, which I'm pretty chuffed about.

To be honest, I'd be putting money on Australia to win. But if this was the fifth part of an accumulator, and I was confident with the other four, then I'd take a risk. Australia are Evens at the moment to win the series, so I presume the bet with them to win isn't worth taking?

GerB40

Renno wrote: »

Not a gambler, but checking out the odds there, and they seem to match what I said, which I'm pretty chuffed about.

To be honest, I'd be putting money on Australia to win. But if this was the fifth part of an accumulator, and I was confident with the other four, then I'd take a risk. Australia are Evens at the moment to win the series, so I presume the bet with them to win isn't worth taking?

It's part of an accumulator which has

Ronnie O Sullivan to win the snooker world championship.

Rory McIlroy to win any masters.

Rafael Nadal to win the French open

The All-Blacks to win the world cup.

And our dear neighbours to win the ashes.

It's 75/1 so I see no harm in putting a tenner on it..

Edit: I looked it up and edited my comment to be the correct accumulator.. What do ye think, is it worth a punt?

Dozen Wicked Words

Don't think it warrants a thread of its own but Shahid Afridi has signed up for the start of Northants Steelbacks T20 campaign this year. Hopefully he can do a decent turn for us.

Should put a few more bums on seats, although they got good crowds last year despite their abysmal performance.


Although saying all that, I'll believe it when he actually plays (the county have form for signing numerous players and then have them pull out of deal for one reason or another)

Rjd2

Mega signing really, he may be on the decline slightly internationally and still mental as ever but in the blast he could still be awesome, he tore it up for Hampshire a few years ago as well.

Most counties are looking towards India and Pakistan because they know their is an Asian population that needs to be tapped into and Afridi is easily the biggest draw from Pakistan.

Guptil has rocked up for Derbyshire also, 6 cc games and 3 natwest blast matches, could be a decent signing if he rediscovers how to bat. :P

Rjd2

Tom Cooper for Somerset is a gun signing in all formats, outside chance of playing test cricket for Australia in the next few years if he keeps his form up.

Also amazing takedown of Channel 9's decline over the years. Long but worth a read.

http://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2015/feb/13/channel-nine-destroying-cricket-legacy

Gillespy

Can't believe so many people are annoyed by Channel 9. 90 overs a day for five days is a lot of time to fill, bit of banter and anecdotes from their careers is a good thing. Brayshaw and Nicholas aside, they're either ex-captains or greats of the game. People take things way too seriously. I enjoy their commentary every winter.

Dozen Wicked Words

Maurice Chambers, Northants pace man managed to hit the bowlers end umpire with one of his deliveries in their match with Surrey. Probably sums up his season.

https://amp.twimg.com/v/93b7a9fb-28f8-4bb1-9ba6-7c714c1ed74f

Beasty

Very saddened to see Tony Cozier has died

Really liked his commentry style on TMS

RIP