The Cricket Thread 2015-16

Massive credit due

 

Incredible catch by Maxwell.

 

Finished with a 6. England win by 3 wickets. Great to go to OT for decider.

 

Match Drawn against Somerset .

 

Good fight back. Hants beat Yorkshire and Sussex and Somerset draw and it's escape on.

 

I think I'd rather there was a loser between Sussex and Somerset. Otherwise we'd probably still be in the bottom two going into the last week (even with us beating Yorkshire), and hence our fate would not be in our hands. It would also increase the likelihood of us having to beat Notts to survive - we'd do well to win both of these last two games. Obviously it would be nice to have Sussex and Somerset both very much within reach of us, but I think I prefer the alternative of having out fate in our hands and having a three or four point breaching space over one of them, maybe even as much as ten or eleven (meaning that a draw could well be enough against Notts, or maybe even a loss).

That said though, us beating Yorkshire would take some doing. Even without Root (rested by ECB), Plunkett, Bairstow and Rashid (all rested by Yorkshire), they are still an immense outfit. Their seamers in particular could easily blow us away. I mean, Somerset's managed to do for one innings at Taunton of all places.

I'm hoping for either two solid days of rain next week (leaving enough play to pick up some bonus points, but not enough to force a result), or us preparing a pancake flat pitch like we did when Carberry and McKenzie put on their 500-odd partnership against Yorks a few years ago. Then back us to go and win at Trent Bridge (or draw, if Sussex lose to Somerset and then lose away to Yorkshire).

 

Relegation it is then .

Though why people get so wound up about relegation where Cricket is concerned , is beyond me ................

 

Last ODI v Australia today. Going for England (of course), but by no means certain....been a strange series.

 

I know the Roy wicket shouldn't have been given out (what exactly was Hales looking at, to not advise him to review?!), but I really don't have any sympathy with this start of ours. You do not win the toss at 10.30 in England and ask to bat first. If ever a ball is going to swing, it's going to be in these conditions.

No doubt our thinking is that we have two spinners, Old Trafford wickets usually takes turn, and the longer the game goes on, the more turn it will continue to take. And at the end of this match, that may yet be what wins us the game. But at the very least, deciding to bat first is a massive risk.

 

I was looking forward to today as well ....let's hope the middle order can stabilise things. Shame about Taylor....I really rate him.

 

Morgan's done. Hit on the head.

 

Blow for England losing Morgan, but no risks should be taken. Hope he's okay. Starc looked really shocked...hardly surprising after recent events.

 

6 down, effectively 7 if Morgan doesn't come back. As I say, you simply do not choose to bat first at 10.30 in England. The domestic competition last month showed that. Willey's early wickets on Friday showed. These wickets today show that.

 

Getting a right flogging boys, didn't see this coming that's for sure...

 

Eoin Morgan has concussion and will take no further part in the match.

 

If he was English, he'd return

 

No one would return with concussion. You play on with concussion in any sport you are taking a huge risk with your health. You can even die if you continue with a concussion.

 

He's soft mate, taking the weak option. Did you see the incident? Anyone else would've batted on

 

After what happened to Hughes I would have thought you would have stopped with the "Aussies are invincible" attitude.

 

No ones invincible, there were a few hits to the head in the Ashes and they played on. I was just having a laugh that your captain is Irish and is weak as piss.. That is all Surprised you draw yesterday, how you finding this season?