Off Topic Cricket Thread

  • Please bear with us on the new site integration and fixing any known bugs over the coming days. If you can not log in please try resetting your password and check your spam box. If you have tried these steps and are still struggling email [email protected] with your username/registered email address
  • Log in now to remove adverts - no adverts at all to registered members!
I know my cricket.

I can now confidently predict a thumping Watford win.
"Life's tragedy is that we get old too soon and wise too late."
Bejamin Franklin.
If your Ben Franklin quote is anything to go by, then - GET OFF MY LAWN YOU YOUNG WHIPPERSNAPPER!
You must log in or register to see media
 
  • Like
Reactions: Uber_Hoop
Another fantastic Ashes series with 2-2 being just about a fair outcome.

Ninesy asked yesterday what our combined eleven would be, but we never found time to discuss it. Here's mine anyway....

Crawley
Khawaja
Smith
Root
Stokes (Capt)
Bairstow
Carey (Wk)
Woakes
Wood
Starc
Broad

What do you think?
 
  • Like
Reactions: QPR999
Another fantastic Ashes series with 2-2 being just about a fair outcome.

Ninesy asked yesterday what our combined eleven would be, but we never found time to discuss it. Here's mine anyway....

Crawley
Khawaja
Smith
Root
Stokes (Capt)
Bairstow
Carey (Wk)
Woakes
Wood
Starc
Broad

What do you think?
I'd have to have Lyon in it, 9 wickets in only 2 tests. Hate to think how many he'd of got if he played all 5 matches. Aussies missed him big time. I'd have him in instead of Carey to balance the side and give the gloves to Jonny !
 
Not sure about what would happen if Jonny and Carey ended up batting together lol, think Jonny might deliberately run him out ! Would be a long night aswell trying to talk Smith or Root into moving up to number 3, and even more fun telling the Aussie players that they are gonna play Bazball or they'll be dropped ! Otherwise we could have Crawley on 100 off 70 balls and Khawaja 20 off 60 !
 
Another fantastic Ashes series with 2-2 being just about a fair outcome.

Ninesy asked yesterday what our combined eleven would be, but we never found time to discuss it. Here's mine anyway....

Crawley
Khawaja
Smith
Root
Stokes (Capt)
Bairstow
Carey (Wk)
Woakes
Wood
Starc
Broad

What do you think?

Pretty much the same Strolls, I think I would have Lyon in for one of Bairstow or Carey. ( Assuming we're picking players that remained fit theoretically. ) If it was earlier in the series I would've had Cummins in there somewhere.
 
An absolutely blinding series. Massive well done to both sides bring their own game to the series and us all getting to see them both pitting their wits and skills against one another.

I completely enjoyed listening to Test Match Special for all 5 Tests. Great commentary for an amazing series <applause> <applause> <applause>

Hard to imagine another series as good to come along again.
 
And a fit leach you would’ve lost all 5 Lol
5 pitches prepared as requested by the home side. 4 tosses won. Easily the best of conditions. Had a ball replaced in the last innings that was clearly not in the same condition as the one being replaced when Australia were on top. Yes you need more luck. Again - ashes retained - job done. <party>
 
Another fantastic Ashes series with 2-2 being just about a fair outcome.

Ninesy asked yesterday what our combined eleven would be, but we never found time to discuss it. Here's mine anyway....

Crawley
Khawaja
Smith
Root
Stokes (Capt)
Bairstow
Carey (Wk)
Woakes
Wood
Starc
Broad

What do you think?

Tough one to answer....

Top 4 are shoo ins
Stokes at 5 and captain- no brainer
This is where it gets difficult.... try to fit in 2 from Brooks, Bairstow, Carey, Marsh, Head. All of them have a case for inclusion and all would relish playing bazball style.....
Then I'd have cummings over woods on fitness grounds and he's a superb bowler...
Then 2 of Woakes, Starc, Broad as need a spinner in there somewhere and left field choice I'd pick Murphy

It's an almost impossible question but it would be one hell of a side to watch....
 
The Australian camp have been left with a sour taste in their mouth following the Ashes, after being snubbed by England for the traditional post-series drinks in a move they've labelled 'pathetic'.

Australian players were spotted looking into the hosts' dressing rooms after play to see if they could share a beer, before eventually giving up and leaving The Oval at around 10.45pm.

England's team were then spotted coming out of the ground shortly after the Aussies had left.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/c...c-snub-fifth-Ashes-Test-beer-drinks-Oval.html
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Disappointing way to end the series for the host nation.
 
Crawley
Khawaja
Stokes
Root
Marsh
Bairstow
Woakes
Wood
Murphy
Starc
Broad

Based (just about) on best averages. Carey undoubtedly the better keeper but he added little
with the bat. Smith has an aura but his average was way down the list, plus Marsh can bowl. Stokes has to bat at 3. I have no doubt Lyon would have been in had he not been injured. Long tail but some quick runs in it.

I think the compressed format of this series, apparently to make way for the Hundred, really harmed the Aussies. They had no time to see if their squad players had any form, surely Warner would have been dropped if they had a semi functioning replacement, and their second line bowlers/sort of all rounders Green and Boland were really not worth the trip, though Green might come good with time.

At the end the Aussies did really well to draw the series. For me Bazball only works with a team which is 100% committed to it and has the capability to implement, and England are there at the moment - they play this way because they like it. The way they bat, especially, takes the initiative from the opponents, to the extent that Cummins put us in to bat at the Oval because he knows we like a chase - he was playing our tactics, not the conditions, and was immediately on the back foot. Stokes and McCullum were well into Cummins’ head by the end and it showed.

It will be interesting to see what happens in India….
 
Last edited:
Crawley
Khawaja
Stokes
Root
Marsh
Bairstow
Woakes
Wood
Murphy
Starc
Broad

Based (just about) on best averages. Carey undoubtedly the better keeper but he added little
with the bat. Smith has an aura but his average was way down the list, plus Marsh can bowl. Stokes has to bat at 3. I have no doubt Lyon would have been in had he not been injured. Long tail but some quick runs in it.

I think the compressed format of this series, apparently to make way for the Hundred, really harmed the Aussies. They had no time to see if their squad players had any form, surely Warner would have been dropped if they had a semi functioning replacement, and their second line bowlers/sort of all rounders Green and Boland were really not worth the trip, though Green might come good with time.

At the end the Aussies did really well to draw the series. For me Bazball only works with a team which is 100% committed to it and has the capability to implement, and England are there at the moment - they play this way because they like it. The way they bat, especially, takes the initiative from the opponents, to the extent that Cummins put us in to bat at the Oval because he knows we like a chase - he was playing our tactics, not the conditions, and was immediately on the back foot. Stokes and McCullum were well into Cummins’ head by the end and it showed.

It will be interesting to see what happens in India….

Yeah, I was going to have Stokes at 3 but it meant pushing Root or Smith down to 5. I'd love to see Stokes bat there going forward.
 
Another fantastic Ashes series with 2-2 being just about a fair outcome.

Ninesy asked yesterday what our combined eleven would be, but we never found time to discuss it. Here's mine anyway....

Crawley
Khawaja
Smith
Root
Stokes (Capt)
Bairstow
Carey (Wk)
Woakes
Wood
Starc
Broad

What do you think?

Khawaja is one of the most boring cricketers I’ve seen and should be playing in the 60’s.
 
  • Like
Reactions: jeffranger