Howaaaaazzaaaaaat?? The Cricket Thread!

by **android** » Tue Nov 22, 2011 12:10 pm

A much better effort by the Aussies in the second test against South Africa with a gutsy win.
Looks like Australia have unearthed a new fast bowler in Pat Cummins who had a great debut bowled brilliantly in the second innings and then hit the winning runs.

by **Virgostar** » Wed Nov 23, 2011 7:30 am

Indeed. Just hope that he gets managed well and doesn't have to make an early retirement or nothing, because he is a real find.

My WA cohort, what do you reckon about Mickey Arthur becoming Australian coach? A good thing or not? If he can do for us what he did for the Saffers, I'd say we're onto a good thing....but first, get rid of the detritus from our team (Mitchell Johnson in particular needs to go).

by **android** » Wed Nov 23, 2011 12:19 pm

Virgostar wrote:Indeed. Just hope that he gets managed well and doesn't have to make an early retirement or nothing, because he is a real find.

My WA cohort, what do you reckon about Mickey Arthur becoming Australian coach? A good thing or not? If he can do for us what he did for the Saffers, I'd say we're onto a good thing....but first, get rid of the detritus from our team (Mitchell Johnson in particular needs to go).

I think Mickey Arthur will do a good job in helping rebuild the team, also have a bit of time for John Inverarity and Rod Marsh as selectors. Mitch Johnson has a serious toe injury so don't think he will play in the next test. He really does need to go back to shield cricket for a bit to sort out his action and get a bit of confidence. I would not rule out him coming back to Test cricket.

I think this will be the last summer we see Ponting, Hussey and maybe Haddin and the Aussies will not find it easy to beat NZ or India. I just hope they can be competitive with signs of improvement,blood some new players yet offer the aging champions a farewell test.

by **android** » Fri Nov 25, 2011 9:24 am

Better stand by the phone Shell with 5 players unavailable for the the First Test against the kiwis we may be needed.

by **Virgostar** » Sat Nov 26, 2011 10:02 am

Well in the end we weren't needed! :lol:

Dave Warner, Mitchell Starc, Ben Cutting & James Pattinson were added to the squad instead. Will be good to watch Warner slay the Kiwis, hopefully this becomes a regular gig.

by **android** » Sat Dec 03, 2011 10:24 am

Aussies going pretty good against the Kiwis in the First Test being played in Brisbane. The heat is off Ponting after he got some more good runs and managed to help run out Khawaja the man most likely to replace him :lol:

.
Haddin and a lucky Clarke played well and the man to miss out was Hussey. Hughes still does not look like a test batsmen to me and Warner got a good ball. The other newbies look ok. As for the Kiwis they try hard but don't look like world beaters and they dropped a few catches.

by **Virgostar** » Sat Dec 03, 2011 12:09 pm

Feel sorry for Warner & Khawaja. The latter was looking good until Ponting ran him out. :roll:

Uzzy should've been the one to post a half-century instead.

Haddin & Clarke both played well. Agree with you android, Mr Hughes not a Test batsman to me either. Don't know why we're persisting with him...then again, I won't complain when he hits another Test ton, but they appear to be few & far between, a bit like Ponting & runs right now (except for this innings & the last one in South Africa).

Dropping catches might be an antipodean affliction, non? We dropped a fair few too.

by **bergkamp2004** » Sat Dec 03, 2011 11:11 pm

Poor dan the man Vetorri ran himself out on 96!!

Aussies should win this from here

NZ may have a lead of 120 i say

by **Virgostar** » Sun Dec 04, 2011 9:05 am

Too easy in the end. Well done James Pattinson for getting the 5 wicket haul in the 2nd innings.

Once Mr Watson comes back, surely Mr Hughes should be dropped? I'm personally in favour of retaining Mr Warner for at least one reason....he's excellent in the field. I think he took about 4 or 5 odd catches in this match & he's pretty handy at stopping boundaries & runs when need be. Ok, so he didn't have a good time with the bat in the 1st innings, but surely hitting the winning runs in the 2nd has to count for something? (Especially when Hughes got out the ball after he got dropped. :roll:

)

by **android** » Sun Dec 04, 2011 9:29 am

Yes Shell good win by the Aussies. James Pattinson looks a find. Clarke is doing a good job as captain.
Nathan Lyon confirmed his place as Australia's no.1 Test spinner with a great game.

Usman Khawaja shows excellent temperament and seems to have a good batting technique so maybe he should move to the opening position so the selectors can drop Hughes who's second innings dig is proof enough why he needs to go back to shield cricket to sort out his technique.

I would give Warner another go too if Watson is not fit or Hughes goes and Mitchell Starc still looks a bit raw but will improve with experience. Hussey better get some runs next test because the selectors knives could be out.

As for the Kiwi's Vetorri is a great player and Dean Brownlie showed some ticker but one can see why NZ is number eight in the Test ranking.

by **bergkamp2004** » Thu Dec 08, 2011 8:23 pm

Sehwag hit 219 in an ODI vs Windies!!

New World Record

by **android** » Fri Dec 09, 2011 1:07 pm

bergkamp2004 wrote:Sehwag hit 219 in an ODI vs Windies!!

New World Record

Gee I wish I was there to see that. Incredible think the Indians will be too good for the Aussies when they come over to tour. Be different ball game too whats happening now between the Aussies and the Kiwis.

Shell think the selectors have their knives out for Hughes finally ?

by **Virgostar** » Sat Dec 10, 2011 6:58 am

I would like to hope and think so! The guy clearly doesn't have the technique for Test level.

Well this Test is certainly turning out to be a low-scoring one...2nd day in and the Kiwis are in their 2nd innings!

by **android** » Sat Dec 10, 2011 9:19 am

and batting well this time around Shell. Maybe I spoke too soon about the Aussies doing it easier against the Kiwis then India. We may very well lose this test the way things are going.

by **bergkamp2004** » Sun Dec 11, 2011 12:13 am

great fightback by the Kiwi's

by **Virgostar** » Mon Dec 12, 2011 5:04 am

android wrote::o and batting well this time around Shell. Maybe I spoke too soon about the Aussies doing it easier against the Kiwis then India. We may very well lose this test the way things are going.

Well in the end we did, but only by 7 runs. Gutsy effort in the end by both sides I reckon, but the Kiwis definitely had our measure. Missed seeing the momenbt where Warner got his maiden Test century, but good on him for doing so.

Now to Boxing Day and beyond....

Surely Phil Hughes won't be given another reprieve. He clearly hasn't learnt from his mistakes - yet again he got out to Chris Martin playing the same bloody shot that's got him out 4-odd times already! :evil:

The boy's got serious technical issues and shouldn't be in the side at all until he can absolutely prove for sure that he's been able to conquer all of his problems. If it takes years, then so be it.

Ricky Ponting I'm 50/50 on. His batting is pretty shonky atm, but he's still alright in the field. Based on his batting I wouldn't retain him, but I'd say he's now a Test-by-Test case. I'd perhaps throw Mike Hussey into that box as well, given how he's batting right now.

Dave Warner HAS to play Boxing Day after this latest knock. The selectors would have rocks in their head if they don't allow him to play...possible back strain pending of course.

If Ryan Harris is fit, then Mitchell Starc will have to return to state cricket. Sure, he's a good bowler, but he's still maturing as a cricketer. If Harris isn't fit, then I guess he might retain his place.

Brad Haddin's looking a bit wobbly as a wicketkeeper batsman. The knives keep coming in and out for him, especially in the batting department. With Tim Paine still in recovery mode, might we see Matthew Wade make his Test debut soon?

Speaking of Test debuts, if Shane Watson isn't fit for the next Test, anyone for a bit of Ed Cowan? Ok, so the guy's on the wrong side of the 20's, but his performances in state cricket have been excellent & I think it's his time. Whether the selectors pick him, I don't know. I'd like to hope they have their smarts about them compared to the last bunch.

I think India will be rubbing their hands with glee right now thinking that they can steamroll us. I wouldn't put it past them. I'm predicting a 3-1 Test series win to India. If we can only draw against the lowly Kiwis in a 2 Test series, then how can we expect to beat India, the 2nd ranked Test team, in 4?

by **android** » Mon Dec 12, 2011 10:26 am

Well done NZ great win but gee two pretty weak teams. Australia is a team of either batsmen with poor technique which is found out against good bowling or aging champs who's time is now up.
I am thinking put Cowan in with Warner drop Watson down the list and drop one of the aging champs either Ponting or Hussey or both. Lucky for both Ponting and Hussey no one is standing out to take there place but then again Ferguson just scored a ton in his last shield match.

by **Virgostar** » Tue Dec 13, 2011 10:18 am

And Mr Ferguson has been talked up as a real Test prospect for years...I can't remember whether he has made his Test debut or not, but I do know there's been talk of him slotting into the Hussey spot for a while now.

by **bergkamp2004** » Wed Dec 14, 2011 1:04 am

Bracewell should have been man of the match!!!

by **Virgostar** » Wed Dec 14, 2011 10:35 am

^ I know it's kind of heresy given that I'm an Aussie and all, but I agree with you. I think if it had've been up to anybody else but the general public (which is the way the cricketing "geniuses" at Channel 9 are doing it these days, gettin' involved with the smartphone technology & all), Bracewell would've been MOTM.

by **android** » Wed Dec 14, 2011 12:07 pm

Bracewell had to be man of the match silly channel nine had the voting open before the match had been decided. Surely they will have to resort back to the panel of experts.

by **Virgostar** » Thu Dec 15, 2011 3:48 am

According to Fox Sports News, they're dumping this new fandangled voting system for the India series. I think there might've been some uproar over that MOTM decision just quietly...

by **Virgostar** » Tue Dec 27, 2011 1:12 am

What does everyone think about the Indian cricket board's grand decision not to allow DRS for this series?

Personally, I hate them right now, but I hate Cricket Australia and the ICC more for letting the BCCI walk all over them. Who died and made the BCCI the governing body of the cricket world? As we saw yesterday with the Cowan and Hussey decisions which shouldn't have been dismissals, we might've gone on to post a much bigger score. I just hope India have a few bad decisions to their name during this Test series, then it might make the friggin' planks at the BCCI make a decision re: DRS then. :roll:

IMO, DRS should be mandatory across all Tests, you don't get to pick & choose. Ok, it does slow up the game and many sides have bad luck making a right decision, but with howlers like the 2 dismissals I mentioned, it's absolutely needed.

by **android** » Tue Dec 27, 2011 8:28 am

India has most of the cricket money and power so unfortunately they get what they want. I think the Aussies are in trouble in this match now unless they get quick wickets tomorrow.

by **skapunk** » Thu Dec 29, 2011 7:44 am

Oh man! What a shocker. Indian top order tumbles, and India loses.