Fun Cricket

michaellevenson

Moderator
Staff member
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Any fans of this great game?

There's a lot of interesting changes possibly coming, lots of questions are being asked, an exciting time for the sport.

Will Test matches be reduced from five to four days?

I hope not , it's a bad idea, and I can't see it working on the Sub Continent. You'd have to increase the number of overs in a day, to possibly 110 to compensate for the loss of a day and that's not really possible in ,say India, where it gets dark quickly. But then again the idea of using a pink ball and introductory day/ night cricket for Tests is a way out.

Personally I'm happy with five days as it reduces results affected by rain. Also you would lose that unique fifth day pitch that spin bowlers cherish. Though in the recent England vs South Africa game the visitors collapsed on day four thanks to Moeen Ali's spin.

Another topic is the future of ODI 50 over matches. Does it have a future now that twenty20 is taking over. This may sound crass , but why not reduce ODIs to 40 overs, Forty40, sounds marketable to me.

Finally will The MCC plan for an English version of the IPL or Big Bash work? I'm a fan of the 18 county game, lots of history, and I'm sure some tweaking of the twenty20 Blast would work.



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ant-mac

Member: Rank 9
Yes, I love cricket in all its various forms, from Twenty20, 50 over ODIs to full blown five day test matches. I can't say that I'm fond of the introduction of the pink ball - we've been doing just fine with the white ball in day / night ODIs for decades - but I suppose it's just a sign of the times.

I'm also a bit concerned about the industrial action currently taking place within Cricket Australia...
 

michaellevenson

Moderator
Staff member
Yes, I love cricket in all its various forms, from Twenty20, 50 over ODIs to full blown five day test matches. I can't say that I'm fond of the introduction of the pink ball - we've been doing just fine with the white ball in day / night ODIs for decades - but I suppose it's just a sign of the times.

I'm also a bit concerned about the industrial action currently taking place within Cricket Australia...
OMG that could weaken the Aussie team for the Ashes, how sad! We English might win 5-0 , having said that we'll probably win anyway.
 

ant-mac

Member: Rank 9
OMG that could weaken the Aussie team for the Ashes, how sad! We English might win 5-0 , having said that we'll probably win anyway.
Well, someone has to take pity on the piss-weak Poms... :emoji_wink:

Of course, if the strike isn't resolved, there'll be no competition, so everyone will lose.
 

ant-mac

Member: Rank 9
I once watched an hour of cricket.
You're not the first of your gender or nationality to do so...

I once knew a couple of Dutch women who both loved cricket. Of course, they're both dead now.

But don't worry, it wasn't because of the cricket.
 

TheSowIsMine

What an excellent day for an exorcism
VIP
You're not the first of your gender or nationality to do so...

I once knew a couple of Dutch women who both loved cricket. Of course, they're both dead now.

But don't worry, it wasn't because of the cricket.
I would have died if I watched more...
But I did sorta learn a few of the rules.
 

michaellevenson

Moderator
Staff member
Well, someone has to take pity on the piss-weak Poms... :emoji_wink:

Of course, if the strike isn't resolved, there'll be no competition, so everyone will lose.
I have in front of me now the top ten rankings;
Batsmen Australia 2 Smith and Warner; England 2 Root and Bairstow; Bowlers Australia 1 Hazelwood England 2 Anderson and Broad; All rounders Australia 1Starc England 3 Ali, Stokes and Broad.
To borrow a line from Arthur Dent " weak poms? this is obviously a strange use of 'weak' that I wasn't previously aware of"
 

ant-mac

Member: Rank 9
I would have died if I watched more...
But I did sorta learn a few of the rules.
What could you possibly have against a game as noble as cricket?! :emoji_astonished:

It's one of the most civilized past times known to Humankind... Where else can you find a sporting event that doesn't start until 11 in the morning, stops for lunch, afternoon tea and regular drink breaks? Where else can you find a sporting event that halts for rain and bad light? Where else can you find a sporting event that can take up to 5 days and still end in a draw or no result?

Of course, cricket wasn't always limited to just 5 days... :emoji_wink:
 

ant-mac

Member: Rank 9
I have in front of me now the top ten rankings;
Batsmen Australia 2 Smith and Warner; England 2 Root and Bairstow; Bowlers Australia 1 Hazelwood England 2 Anderson and Broad; All rounders Australia 1Starc England 3 Ali, Stokes and Broad.
To borrow a line from Arthur Dent " weak poms? this is obviously a strange use of 'weak' that I wasn't previously aware of"
Well, as a cricket lover, I naturally gave a high regard and respect for statistics - as should all cricket lovers. However, we both know they are in a continual state of flux. At the end of the day, we're all only as good as our next game...

Oh and I didn't say, "weak poms", I said, "piss-weak poms"... :emoji_wink:

The last Ashes series was in the Mother country, but the next one - if it goes ahead - will be on our home ground. So I just hope you guys bring your best game with you. After all, it's no fun if we kick your arse too easily... :emoji_relaxed:
 

Gavin

Member: Rank 6
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The last Ashes series was in the Mother country, but the next one - if it goes ahead - will be on our home ground. So I just hope you guys bring your best game with you. After all, it's no fun if we kick your arse too easily... :emoji_relaxed:
Speak for yourself. I always enjoy watching the poms get thrashed.
 

michaellevenson

Moderator
Staff member
So the Ashes starts with a whimper really. Solid scoring from England but really slow.
The Ashes is immune from the withering on the vine suffered by global test cricket, but many more days like this and it won't be. England have set out to draw this first game, so I can understand why as going 1-0 down away from home is fatal usually in the history of this series. Hope for more excitement tomorrow.
 

Gavin

Member: Rank 6
VIP
I can understand the logic of playing for a draw as well but it doesn't say much for their confidence in their ability to win games. Test cricket is really struggling (despite being my preferred form of the game) and, although the ashes remain popular, play like this will continue the reduction in interest people have.
 

michaellevenson

Moderator
Staff member
Okay lets go through how a five day test match i.e. England vs. Australia might be played out. This is an imaginary example and I'm assuming you've watched the attached vids to get a basic of the game.
How a match unfolds in a five day match .
Day One; Team A bats first and at the end of day one, after three two hour sessions the score is 308 for 7. This means that 308 runs scored and 7 men are out. Team A have lost 7 of their 10 wickets. A days play is 90 overs, weather permitting i.e.,90x 6 balls. If play is lost to rain then that number will fall. However usually up to thirty minutes might be added to the days play to make up for lost time. Or maybe an early start the next day . If no interruption for weather happens 90 overs must be bowled, if the fielding team is slow and hasn't reached 90 at the allotted end of scheduled time, then 30 minutes can be added to finish the overs. A team can be fined for slow over rate.
Day 2; Team A continues its 1st innings and ends up 500 all out, meaning all ten wickets are taken and the innings ends.
There's a eleven a side of course, but 10 outs, you have to bat in pairs.
Team A 500 in 150 overs, so we've used up 60 overs in day 2 , 30 left minus 2 overs allowed for change of innings. So Team B has 28 overs batting to do in day2 . End of day2- Team B 75for 1. Team B are 425 runs behind 9 wickets ( batters) left.
Day 3; Team B bat all day and at the end are 375 for 9, still 125 behind.
Day 4 Team B quickly lose last wicket and end up 398 all out.
Team A starts second innings with a lead of 102, but there's only 2 days left, minus 5 overs that Team B took up finishing their innings. Team A had better score quickly if they want to win. A team wins by obviously bowling the other out twice, 2 innings per match, so Team A scores quickly and with 10 overs left in day 4 have scored 300 for 6 an overall lead of 402. They think they have enough and declare their innings closed. The captain of the batting team , wether he is out in the pitch batting or waiting to come in ,or has already been got out, can signal to the umpires that he is declaring the innings over. Team A has set Team B 403 to win, and with 8 overs left in day4 (10 minus 2 for change of innings) plus 90 on the last day, Team A feels they have enough time to get the other side out while setting them an imposing total to win.
Team B starts second innings and at end of day 4 are 21 for 0 from 8 overs.
Day 5 ; lets go through the three possible scenarios, Team B races to the winning target of 403 and wins, this is very unlikely, 403 can be done in one day limited over cricket, but rarely in 5 day Cricket in just 98 overs because of fielding differences. In 5 day cricket the fielders may take up any position that the Captain wants, he can put all his men crowding the batsman, or most of them could be positioned at the edge of the field stopping fours and sixes , so scoring is much harder.
Scenario 2, Team B is bowled out, they lose all ten wickets for say 224 runs meaning Team A wins by 178 runs.
Scenario 3, at the end of Day 5 team B scores 224 runs for 6 , this means Team B didn't get the runs , and Team A didn't get Team B all out, time has run out. Team B has clung on ..After 5 days ....a draw..Can only happen in Cricket!
 
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ant-mac

Member: Rank 9
Australian Cricketers Admit To Ball Tampering


Australian cricketer Cameron Bancroft has admitted to ball tampering against South Africa in the third test match held in Cape Town. During the cricket match, television footage showed Bancroft take sticky tape out of his trouser pocket before rubbing it on the ball. On discovering that footage of the incident had been broadcast, Bancroft put the tape down the front of his trousers, before he was spoken to by the on-field umpires.

Speaking after the event Bancroft admitted that once he was sighted on the big screens, he panicked quite a lot. At a later press conference, Australian Cricket Team captain, Steve Smith, admitted that the plan to tamper with the ball was concocted by the leadership group within the Australian Cricket Team.

Personally, I believe that those members in the leadership group of the Australian Cricket Team who conspired to cheat should be immediately dismissed. They should all be given a lifetime ban and stripped of all awards and trophies they may have received throughout their cricket careers.

Furthermore, the current Australian tour of South Africa should be immediately halted. The Australians should immediately return home and the South Africans should be awarded overall victory for all cricket matches that were to be played in all categories of cricket during the tour. And if anyone has a problem with that, you know who to blame for it...

Those cheating bastards in the Australian Cricket Team who've ruined Australia's international sporting reputation and brought the game of cricket into disrepute. Fucking scum.
 
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Gavin

Member: Rank 6
VIP
Those cheating bastards in the Australian Cricket Team who've ruined Australia's international sporting reputation and brought the game of cricket into disrepute. Fucking scum.
I don't know. Our reputation as a nation of sledgers isn't exactly the reputation we like to believe we have.

Also given the hysteria about this incident (although I agree with the sanctions imposed) I'd like to know where all the outrage is around our footballers who beat their girlfriends or wives, or commit rapes. They don't seem to get anywhere near the attention (or the penalties) that these three have.
 

ant-mac

Member: Rank 9
I don't know. Our reputation as a nation of sledgers isn't exactly the reputation we like to believe we have.
That's certainly true.

While a little good-spirited ribbing between friendly teams can enhance a cricket match, the apparent style of sledging employed by the Aussies is far from acceptable. To paraphrase a certain saying: "It's not cricket."
Also given the hysteria about this incident (although I agree with the sanctions imposed) I'd like to know where all the outrage is around our footballers who beat their girlfriends or wives, or commit rapes. They don't seem to get anywhere near the attention (or the penalties) that these three have.
I think they got off far too lightly. I'm sick to fucking death of people who make excuses for bad-sports and cheaters. It's long past time when new standards were introduced into cricket - and sports in general. A few high profile athletes should be made an example of, just to make sure the message gets through to the slow learners.

As for the other sports you mentioned, I'm not really familiar with them. However, if an individual commits a crime, they should be prosecuted and punished for it. People should be held responsible for their actions.
 

michaellevenson

Moderator
Staff member
This is a devilish wind up perpetrated by Johnathan Agnew on fellow commentator and cricket legend Geoffrey Boycott.
A quick summary for those not familiar with cricket.
Boycott one of the few players ever to score one hundred hundreds in first class games, internationals or club matches.
First class means sanctioned by the governing body , and given proper recognition as an official game.
During the Apartheid era of South Africa, SA were banned from international cricket, but Geoffrey Boycott was part of an England team against the Rest Of The World team that played five matches in England and included banned SA players.
These matches were unofficial internationals ( test matches), but were still counted as first class official games. Boycott scored a hundred runs in one of the matches, contributing to his overall " hundred hundreds"
Now apparently a press release from the ICC , the governing body has downgraded these matches to non first class status, meaning all records are scrapped, and any runs scored don't count towards individual player records. So Boycott 's famous 100th Hundred scored at his home ground in Leeds, which is commemorated was now his 99th!. That's the background, here's the wind up.
 
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chainsaw_metal1

Member: Rank 8
I am fascinated by the game (admittedly, mostly due to being a fan of the Fifth Doctor), and have attempted to watch videos about it online. The actual fundamentals elude me, but I think if I had the chance to watch a live match I would fully enjoy it.
 
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