International cricket thread

A slightly modest total by SA considering the talent in their ranks but a disciplined chase by England and they bowled very well too aside from at the death. England didn’t loose wickets with regularity aside from the dodgy start seeing them 32/3 after a quarter of their chase... makes the job, of winning with 4 balls to spare even more impressive.

I’m a Bairstow fan.

Gillespy wrote: »

Change of broadcaster in New Zealand must be why Sky aren't showing cricket from there anymore. It was Sky Sport and is now Spark Sport. The good news is NZC are streaming the games on their youtube channel and is available to watch here.

Yesterday's T20 against the West Indies was a fun game. No more Ian Smith or Simon Doull but I liked the new lot.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuKowzPg2-A0FcmyPa3yWug

Thanks for the link, just turned it on and missed Brandon King walking back after his usual duck. How is that man stealing a living as a cricketer, I may have mentioned him before on this thread. West Indies 10/1 after New Zealand put up 239/3, Phillips made a fast 100.

So SA vs England... South Africa bat first and off to a flyer, boundaries galore and some very indifferent bowling, but as I type Archer bowls a pearlier and it’s 33-1 after 4 overs.

24 runs off Sam Curran’s two overs, all over the place is putting it politely but SA taking him to the cleaners.

English making a super go at chasing 192... 40 runs coming off the last two overs which has been indifferent bowling but world class striking by the two lads Malan and Buttler

I watched the first 6-7 overs of the first innings, switched over and forgot about it. It was taking far-far too long to get through the overs. Ultimately it looked like the game lasted 3 and a half hours despite it being short of 14 balls.

That's IPL territory and I don't think they even have the "Strategic Time Outs".

If somebody who is an absolutely staunch cricket lover cannot watch it, what hope do they have for new people to the sport. This is supposed to be the game that attracts the new fans and I find it too slow and boring. But I'd sit down for 8 hours in a day and watch test cricket.

Australia V India 1st ODI went an hour over schedule. The 2nd ODI they were going over schedule but Australia bowled the last 3 overs quickly to avoid the fine.

The argument against slow over rates for test cricket is that fans are paying for 90 overs but are being left 5-10 overs short. I don't mind that if the play is actually good. But ODI and T20 is becoming absolutely unwatchable with the amount of time it takes to rattle through the overs.

India rallied from 152/5 after 32 to post 302/5 off 50. Pandaya 92* & Jadeja 66* 150 stand off 18, and around 125 off the last 12. Australia just starting the reply

India salvaged some pride. Hardik had a great series, deserved more. Natarajan bowled well on debut. Thakur too.

Maxwell needed to get the job done himself. Zampa and Hazlewood are only capable of defending and getting ones and twos.

Got to see their new Keith Miller, Cameron Green make his debut.

First ODI postponed in South Africa due to a positive covid test. Hoping to play it Sunday now.

Could be a good finish in the first T20 in Australia. They need 49 off 28. India fighting back well.

Mysterypunter wrote: »

Kane Williamson scored 251 last night in the first test. New Zealand 519/7d West Indies 49/0, two days gone.

Watched some of it. Pitch was so green but didn't do much. He gave it away in the end looking to push on. Never looked in any danger until then. Just on a different level.

Situation not helped by Chahal then getting 3 for 25. Hopefully nothing untoward has gone on. If it did why would they admit anything. Delayed concussion is a thing. Langer can be angry all he likes, bit like Lehmann when Broad didn't walk. They were the first to use the concussion sub so no need to be bringing anything shady into it.

Big bash league starting today, another slogging tournament, unless you are the Sydney blockers. They needed 60 off 6 overs and blocked 4 of them. Also interviewing players in the middle of the game, ridiculous. Also had an interview with an opener who got 47 off 39 in a nine an over chase, and they were congratulating him.

Tom Mann Centuria wrote: »

Was a strange run chase alright.
I actually quite like the BBL coverage. I like Aussie sports coverage generally though, admittedly it's an acquired taste.

The coverage is grand, but they sometimes ignore what is going on in the match. Sydney needed 31 off 11 balls and they were showing Carlos Braithwaite hitting 4 sixes in the T20 world cup final, not a mention that he hasn't scored a run in 3 years, and that his team had thrown away the game. What were they doing bringing in Silk and Hughes, when Christian was sat on the bench. The chase got to 42 off 24 balls, and the commentary was all about the tremendous hitting power Sydney had on the bench.

West Indies getting flattened again, only Blackwood is providing any resistance. Their A side is in New Zealand as well and last night, my nomination for worst international cricketer, Brandon King made another well crafted duck. What a player.

A very entertaining first day in the South Africa vs Sri Lanka first test.

Sri Lankan batsmen not afraid to play some attacking positive cricket with the bat... 300 up in the 71st over and just 5 wickets down... gives them a nice platform to attack with the ball tomorrow... set up nicely.

Brisbane Heat collapsing again. Woeful stuff after such a solid start.

Edit: maybe all the domestic T20 tournaments around the world's posts should be in a thread specifically for them?

Gillespy wrote: »

India well placed at the MCG. Rahane, the stand in captain, with a fine hundred and good contributions by Gill, Pant and Jadeja who is still in. Really impressed by how they have bounced back from Adelaide.

Meanwhile Pakistan are 30/1 after 20 overs still trailing by 401 runs. Looks hard work all around there.

Yep, India well placed barring a 36 all out collapse! They seem to have Smith's number, first Test duck in 4 years.

Love watching Kane Williamson bat - he hit his 23rd Test Century, he gets a bit overlooked in the Smith/Kohli/Root pantheon debate but can hold his own with any of them in my view.

Close enough game going on in South Africa against Sri Lanka.

Australia effectively 2-6. Green in with Cummins and Starc to come are capable of putting some score together. Never know how India will cope chasing a middling score after what happened at Adelaide.

Smith's terrible run of form continues. Bowled behind his legs by Bumrah for eight. India can't be believing their luck, last tour Smith and Warner were banned. Now Warner is injured and Smith is in horrible form. They have their own problems but Australia are there for the taking.

Proper cricket lads. Fafs 199, Rahanes Century, the end of the NZ-Pakistan game. Real cricket that will be remembered.

Meanwhile in ODI/T20 somebody hit 70 off 30 balls and nobody remembers it the next day.

Gillespy wrote: »

Williamson cementing his no. 1 ranking with another great hundred. Really put the boot down to go from 50 to 100. Scores almost level with only three down. Big Lord's test final has added something to this winter's cricket. NZ well placed if they win here.

A real masterclass by Williamson, three centuries by the NZ players in that innings. They've really dominated Pakistan in this series.

Australia well on top after three days at the SCG. Again very reliant on Labuschagne and Smith for runs. Smith finally ending his drought with a hundred. Marnus out in the 90s. Pucovski on debut made 50 too. Interesting story with him, real prodigy who was blighted with concussion problems delaying his debut until now.

All falling apart for India. Jadeja injured his thumb and will miss the rest of this and some of the England series. Pant got hit too and probably won't keep. Long list of injuries now. Bumrah looked a bit concerning too late yesterday.

Sideshow is where the next game will be held. India don't want to go to Brisbane citing bubble concerns. Cynics suggest it might be due to Australia's great unbeaten record at the Gabba.

after a decent opening partnership of 71, india now 98/2 chasing 407.

as an aside, anyone see the reason for the earlier postponement?

Great response overall by the Aussies to the last test. Nice to see Smith back among the runs. Surprised if India hold on to the draw but either way the series is set up for a big finale in Brisbane. Is Kohli due back for the 4th Test?

Gillespy wrote: »

No Kohli isn't coming back. Covid restrictions would stop him even if he tried to now. He'll be well rested for England on Feb 5th.

Yeah, I figured that. The Indi/Eng home and away series and the Ashes looking like really good series to look forward to.

Pant having a good crack at this total. Good fun while it lasts. 230 is still a long way away yet.

Turns out there's more to the Siraj racism story than I said earlier. Braindead stuff in these times and in with such a small crowd so spread out.

Pant falls for 97 right on the second new ball. 145 more to get now. He has given India a chance. Pujara is looking a lot more comfortable today. He holds the keys nows. A fit Jadeja would be great to have waiting to bat.