Off Topic Cricket Thread

After going on about winning in India being more important to them than the Ashes, Aussies 109-5 on first day of the series.

 

Fully doctored wickets!

 

177 all out. We’ll see how that stacks up once the Indians have had a bash.

Apparently India, Australia and England are the only Test playing nations able to stage 4 or 5 match series (and always against each other) because with the way TV deals work and attendances etc staging a Test is, in most cases, loss making and other nations simply can’t afford it. Hence these off two or three game series. Not promising long term.

 

Says england Australia and india

 

India would have to rank as the perennial cheats.
First they blatantly doctored the pitch, then .............
https://www.smh.com.au/sport/cricke...-of-ball-raises-eyebrows-20230210-p5cjfb.html

 

Aussies complaining about cheating?

 

You can’t be serious!
We’re novices.
Just ask a couple of the former English captains.
India of course, lead all forms of cheating.
It’s in their blood.

 

Bigger series than the ashes you know.......

Get that sandpaper out of the pocket, you need wickets quickly.....

 

On the contrary, nothing beats the Ashes, period! We just thought a spot of Delhi Belly might be good preparation before a visit to the Old Dart.

 

Aussies getting mullered

 

It quite rare that I support India in a cricket match. I’ll make an exception today. Stomping all over them Aussies.

 

We’re only there for the a good suntan, a drive by of the Taj Mahal and a good curry.

The real stuff starts in England.

 

You'll get a better curry when you come to Edgbaston!

 

Just the normal bazball to start the 2 match series then lol. Some horrendous dismissals amongst all the fun with Root and Stokes culpable. Crawley just isn't Test standard having been dropped 1st ball and then clean bowled before edging to slip for 4. Duckett loaded beautifully for his 82 and deserved a ton. Brook and Foakes rebuilding nicely with unbroken stand of 70 as I write. I have to say we've found a pearl in Brook, just keeps improving and looks a special special player ! Hoping we can push on to 350 or more before getting a bowl at them late on under the lights.

 

325 for 9 declared

 

Early wicket for Robinson

 

Crawley drops a sitter. Why is he in the team again?

 

Williamson out plum lbw to Anderson.
Inexplicably not given out on the field.

Oh Jimmy Jimmy......

 

Anderson is still an incredible bowler.
Great attacking cricket from England all day, including the progressive declaration, on a slow wicket.

New Zealand finish on 37-3.
288 behind.

 

Crawley is very much Test standard when he gets in, but he plays too many rash shots early on and goes cheaply too often. He's got the talent, but perhaps not the temperament. McCullum and Stokes seem to place great faith in him but surely he'll lose his place when Bairstow comes back. Bazball is great fun, but it's nuts seeing Root get out reverse-scooping straight to slip. Brook is a beautiful player and scores at better than a run ball without the need to resort to 20/20 shots.

England in a very strong position after being put in.