International cricket thread

Strumms

I think Stokes is a guy who is quite adept at both the old unjustly talking things up and misplaced loyalty…dangerous.

problem with that is it becomes too easy to position yourself as a bit of a BS merchant and he’s heading that way after his positive comments in the wake of a comprehensive 4-1 series defeat…

He needs to realise that he can be honest, frank and reasonable with people, without throwing his team under the bus…

the press and fans will and probably are already are turning on him… this a fella who had millions of tonnes of support, goodwill and likability…. People don’t like being bullshîtted, especially when they are paying money to go watch you, support you and then the BS….

you have to balance honesty and loyalty.

Gillespy

Highly doubt England fans are ready to turn on Stokes. Far too much credit in the bank. 4-1 looks bad but it was closer than that if you watched it. Plus it's India, no one wins there. And he had three young spinners with a combined one cap before the series. All important context. Foolish to expect anything more than nicking a game or two. Simply not realistic.

Press might because that's the gig. They invented the term Bazball and ran wild with it when it was winning. Stokes and McCullum have always hated it. Pretty pathetic to be laying into them now after finally losing a series.

Strumms

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121873113#Comment_121873113

look at the margins of defeat though,

one defeat by an innings and 64 runs..

one defeat by 5 wickets..

one defeat by 434 runs

one defeat by 106 runs

thats not close in fairness. And yep, watched it but those stats there speak for themselves.

Laying into them nope, being critical for a pretty disastrous series.

Strumms

NZ lose 1 wicket and score an entertaining 109 runs in the AM session of their second innings vs Australia. A very entertaining morning of test cricket in Christchurch……. NZ lead by 149, 7 wickets remaining. Aussies will be getting nervous….next session crucial. I’d say NZ will be hoping for a total lead of 300 plus.

Mysterypunter

New Zealand now on 345/6. 251 in front. My 80 all out prediction was miles off the mark. Still looking for 70 or 80 more I'd say

Mysterypunter

New Zealand 372. Australia need 279

Strumms

Australia struggling 34/3 but a solid century partnership would steady their ship.

Smith, Khawaja and Labuschagne out very cheaply…. Green and Head struggling to score… id say NZ with that lead and having taken early wickets are the favourites. Green gone as I type, another for Sears, this has been a classic.

MFPM

Good second innings by NZ, I'd make them favourites now, Aus need 202 with 6 wickets remaining. If they can Head and/or Freen early they'd have a great chance.

Strumms

Yep, NZ slightly favourites and two early wickets it’s essentially game over and 1-1…

Mysterypunter

Session delayed by rain but dominated by Australia 174/5, Marsh 55* Carey 50*

Strumms

Two all rounders making the NZ attack look suddenly blunt… 77 needed now and the favourites title fairly swing back to Australia…. Some average bowling… 2-0 incoming…. Been a good contest but 80/5 —-> 209/5….. some recovery but NZ will be dismayed going from having them 80/5 and in a world of shît to practically cruising.

MFPM

All over bar the shouting. Marsh and Carey have been excellent. NZ looking like they'll fall short once more against Australia.

Mysterypunter

220/6 now Marsh out for 80 after a stand of 140 with Carey who is 71*

Strumms

Almost a hattrick from Sears, 224/7… 😅 this is brilliant !

MFPM

Starc gone too, 7 down! Maybe it's not over.

Mysterypunter

Sears with 2 in 2, Starc 1st ball duck 227/7 now

Strumms

Fûck, about an inch over the gully fielder …. Australia have as they do, some luck, could be 9 down…

MFPM

Will Carey get a century? Needs 13 but Aus only need 17.

Mysterypunter

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121877838#Comment_121877838

Ended 98* but wasn't too bothered. 32* for Cummins. 281/7 win by 3 wickets

MFPM

Australia win, Carey just misses out on 100. NZ paid for poor first innings, they did well to get into the match but they couldn't finish the job.

Strumms

Two observations…

Thought Southee was a bit negative the last 15 overs with his field placement. Waiting till single digit runs were needed before packing the slips cordon and having more close catchers…. Don’t get that…. Could have applied a bit more pressure, weird from a bowler captaining , needed to risk it….

also after lunch the accuracy from the bowlers in general seemed to dissipate, made it a lot easier for Cummins and Carey.

Mysterypunter

Rattled through the run chase today. New Zealand also slogged away their last 3 wickets in the 2nd innings. Southee is a terrible batsman for a player who scored 77 in his debut test. 100 tests now and I think it's still his highest score. He got it off 40 balls against England with 9 sixes. Yesterday he had Kuggeleijn 40* at the other end, but just gave his wicket away, does it a lot. 320 may have been a winning lead

Gillespy

Southee only knows one way to bat unfortunately. Looks like he's unsure of staying on as captain. His output has dropped off a cliff in the last year or so. Captaincy is the only thing keeping him in the side.

Long wait now to the next Australia test match and it's the big one, India at home either side of Christmas. India going for their third straight series win there. Be interesting to see the Aussie batting lineup for that first game. Smith to open or go back to four. Labushagne will continue as there seems to be no one to replace him.

Strumms

Umpiring is just getting unbelievably worse.

im dipping in and out of Sri Lanka vs Bangladesh… both sides playing some brilliant cricket…still could go either way…

an LBW shout by the Bangladeshi bowler, and a very impressive, aggressive and vociferous appeal from everyone in green….sees no hesitation from the umpire to give it out… 👆🏻

Never looked out in realtime and on replay… big inside edge onto pad, plus the contact is not nearly in line with the stumps, it’s about 3-4 inches outside off and probably going over, what the actual fúck is the craic with these umpires ?