Off Topic Cricket World Cup

Ok Ernie, where's the problem with this catch

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/av/cricket/48533642

 

No problem. Good catch.












Only, let's face it, it's gotta be a doddle catching a cricket ball with a pair of novelty oversized wicketkeeper's gloves the like of which De Kock wears.

 

Often wonder if Sky cameras ever pick up spectators who are not supposed to be there, or are there with someone they're not supposed to be with...

 

Every match I reckon! The UHD matches too won't help with that, as you can pick out all the crowd. England just lost their first wicket today v Bangladesh but think they will be way too strong.

 

apologies for the slight spoiler on this one:

archer took a wicket today and after the ball hit the stumps, it flew over the boundary without bouncing.

 

He looked good didn't he.

 

he did, though 0-79 of 10 overs against pakistan was disappointing. still, different pitches and conditions...

 

The Aussies are looking like they will beat Pakistan today. Looking forward to Windies v England at the weekend, backed the Windies at 18-1 for the final but will settle for them losing that one!

 

Pakistan would have fancied getting 308 but they're having a middle order collapse, and we know all about them...

 

Absolutely brilliant last 30 minutes though.

If they hadn't lost 7 wickets you would back Pakistan all day long.

 

I know it was only against Afganistan, but Eoin Morgan's 17 sixes in his 148 is some hitting facing 71 balls. Afganistan are no slouches these days, they can play a bit.

 

Probably should have saved it for one of the better teams but was a nice innings to watch. There's a thing in sport about not humiliating weaker oppositions, some agree, some don't. He was probably treating it as free batting practice knowing what was following him and after being out injured.

 

Maybe so but it really sets down a marker. From an opposition point of view it will leave them wondering, you may get the openers out cheaply but it will be relentless for the 50 overs with whats to come. This really is our World Cup to throw away in true English style!

 

Very true, Afganistan is a weaker side, but getting better all the time. I was listening to the TMS podcast, and a women doctor who was working out in Afghanistan for the UN, started a charity there back in the early 2000. Now there are over 100 cricket pitches there, which this charity has helped to develop, and it has gone from zero to this in about 15 years, which is an amazing achievement.

The amazing thing about this knock was he went off in the game before with a bad back.

 

If you are interested, this is a great documentary about the development of cricket in Afghanistan.

 

Cheers for that, I certainly watch it.

 

It really is a truly remarkable story and started in the refugee camps of Pakistan to where they are today. It was good to see their first coach, after getting them so far, then being replaced, but finally getting the assistant coaches job. He certainly deserves a great deal of credit, for what he achieved.

On a general point, watching it, reminded me what the Arab mentality is like. I worked in the Middle East a lot, and their arrogance showed through, whereby they blame others if they made a mistake, very much highlights why the Allam's are like they are. This is very much a case of not wanting to lose face and blame everybody else.

 

Hindsight and all that but today was pretty dreadful. You could be right with the matches we have left to come!

 

Awful today under pressure. It's how we perform vs the top teams, who we haven't played so far. In reality, we have to play the other three best teams and one win will be enough to qualify for the semis. Then it's best team in the day. As we know, it's never the best team at the beginning of a tournament that wins.
I sill think it'll be rare no one comes off in that at ting line up, so best to get them out of the way now.

 

Long way to go yet.

India are odds on and it’s plain to see why but for me,New Zealand look a good bet.