'I am confident they play cricket in Heaven. Wouldn't be Heaven otherwise, would it?'
This is the catch-all for cricket discussion.
I'm pretty sure there's far less of us keeping track of what happens in the square than in the NFL, so we'll quietly stake out some space here in cow corner.
Might not be the best time to start a cricket thread, after England collapsed for 51 in the second innings in Kingston, but its the start of their Windies tour, so alot can change in the next couple weeks. With the English summer only a few months away and our team undergoing a crisis of confidence, I know there are some Aussies on the board who can feel the rumble of the approaching Ashes. I've got a soft spot for the Kiwis and the Saffers, as the best side in the world at the moment, are fantastic to watch. So there's lots to talk about.
Our nets started a couple weeks ago and I've played a couple times in an indoor league on Sunday nights. Its felt good to actually face a few balls and start to get things clicking again for the season.
Who do you support? Who do you rate with the ball? The bat? Are you playing anywhere? Where have you played previously?
But after all, its not the winning that matters, is it? Or is it? Its - to coin a word - the amenities that count: the smell of the dandelions, the puff of the pipe, the click of the bat, the rain on the neck, the chill down the spine, the slow, exquisite coming of sunset and dinner and rheumatism.
My Dad was visiting this weekend and so we listened to a lot of the Cricket (Mum and I aren't into cricket at all. If we go to a match with Dad we take books rather than watch the tiny people dressed in white way off in the distance.) That was a spectacular collapse, even for England.
I agree that there's a certain dedication that it takes to watch and enjoy cricket in person. I personally enjoy viewing tests on television, since there's more analysis and you're right up on top of the wicket.
That was a spectacular collapse, even for England.
Yeah, I couldn't believe my eyes when I flipped over from Ireland v. France and it was 27-7. At that point, I was just wishing them to get past the all-time low score of 45 posted in 1887.
I remember being in the pub when Athers and his crew were out for 46, sometime in the 90's. I occasionally go to watch Lancs, but they flatter to deceive every year, unless it's in the one-day competitions...they always put failure in the league to the number of no results early in the season.
I didn't see Ath comment after the match finished on Saturday, but I'm sure he was having flashbacks.
I'm not too far from the Rose Bowl down here in Hants, but only just moved down here, so the county game's not particularly grown on me so far. Went last year to watch Hants play Gloucestershire, but that's the extent of my participation so far. Might have to make a more concerted effort this year.
Lancs have now appointed Peter Moores as coach for this year, which is a nice change from getting one of the usual Lancashire Mafia in. Probably rules Lancs out of the race to sign Peterson if he ever becomes available, but never mind 
The only way to make Cricket interesting at all is if there is death on the line. Hence the attraction to the movie Lagaan.
When I lived in NYC I always see Indians and Pakistanis playing cricket in the park. I made an honest effort to watch the game and try to understand the point of the game and what's going on. I can honestly say I have no idea what's going on. < /ignorant American rant >
The only way to make Cricket interesting at all is if there is death on the line. Hence the attraction to the movie Lagaan.
Let's just say it's more cerebral, and leave it at that.
Let's just say it's more cerebral, and leave it at that.
Let's.
When I lived in NYC I always see Indians and Pakistanis playing cricket in the park. I made an honest effort to watch the game and try to understand the point of the game and what's going on. I can honestly say I have no idea what's going on. < /ignorant American rant >
That's fair enough. It took me awhile to get into the game, but I had good friends to help me along. I tell you, the Indians and Pakistanis that play in the States are hard-core. I played in a mixed league for two seasons in D.C., which was fantastic for a number of reasons and incredibly frustrating for others. There's also a major problem with the States in that you can't get sufficient cricket coverage to give you a chance to figure it out on your own.
I'm interested in the game, but it seems to be non-existent in Texas (surprise, surprise). There also is no video game presence. I learned rugby, hockey and soccer by way of joystick, but that is not an option with cricket. Sadly, that leaves me with the bulk of my cricket knowledge coming from Douglas Adams.
I'm interested in the game, but it seems to be non-existent in Texas (surprise, surprise). There also is no video game presence. I learned rugby, hockey and soccer by way of joystick, but that is not an option with cricket. Sadly, that leaves me with the bulk of my cricket knowledge coming from Douglas Adams.
I don't imagine its easy to get ahold of any actual cricket in Texas, but there are video games out there. EA's Cricket 07 or Brian Lara 07, both of which you can get from Amazon.com.
If you're more into flash games and you don't mind only getting one aspect of the game, there's the old stand-by of Stick Cricket. They've got a training mode now, which might help you learn the different types of shots.
Thanks for the links. The only cricket we get down here are of the swarming insect variety.
Oh Lordy, this isn't good.
First day of the 2nd test between W Indies and England.
Number of balls bowled - 10
First day abandoned due to the condition of the outfield, which looked like a beach.
Not much chance of play for the rest of the test either, I would have thought.
Number of people known to me who have flown out to the W Indies to watch this particular test - 1.
I was listening to Test Match special on the way home, and one of the commentators was Sir Vivian Richards, in whose honour this particular stadium is named. He sounded like he was ready to kick someone's head in. Any attempt by the other commentator to lessen the potential impact was swatted away like a loose delivery.
He used the phrase 'lack of respect' in a way which boded ill for the groundsman, that's for sure.
The Late Sir Patrick Moore wrote:'I am confident they play cricket in Heaven. Wouldn't be Heaven otherwise, would it?'
Are you sure he's "late"? I'm sure that I would have remembered. Or are you referring to the time slot for "The Sky At Night?"
I was put off cricket at an early age by learning to score school games since I was injured the first season we played. For the next half a decade, I was the only kid at the school who knew how to do it, so was never given the chance to play.
It's certainly a very English game; other than the Ashes a few years ago, it only seems to lead to disappointment.
Haakon7 wrote:The Late Sir Patrick Moore wrote:'I am confident they play cricket in Heaven. Wouldn't be Heaven otherwise, would it?'
Are you sure he's "late"? I'm sure that I would have remembered. Or are you referring to the time slot for "The Sky At Night?"
Man, I seriously thought he was dead. Guess not. Post amended. I'm sorry, Sir Patrick. Rumors of your death have been greatly exaggerated.
And yeah, today was a farce. There's some talk of trying to pick up play tomorrow or possibly moving venues, but I didn't get to see any of it. Only saw the reports after the fact.
I wouldn't piss Viv off. Or anyone who has made their living swinging a piece of wood around, frankly.
I didn't realise until I was watching more of the coverage that the head groundsman is ex-W Indies international Andy Roberts. The latest news seems to be that there will be a test match at the Antigua Recreation Ground, starting Sunday.
Looks like we've seen the last of the Stanford Series as well, given that he's been charged with $8bn of investment fraud. Hope the W Indies players have spent all their winnings.
The ECB have, of course, dropped him like a molten potato.
Haha, yeah, The ECB ran away very very quickly...
Aussies have just started the return tour to SA. They won the recent tour in Aus 2-1, so it should be a cracker.
Aussies have just started the return tour to SA. They won the recent tour in Aus 2-1, so it should be a cracker.
I really enjoyed the first series this year, so I'm looking forward to seeing how this one pans out. Checking the score this morning, it looked like your lads were in abit of trouble. It was 164-4 when I first looked, but it looks like things have stabilized abit at 245-5.
I've taken the work laptop downstairs for the start in Barbados. Looks like a helluva pitch and Straussy's starting to open up. With Bopara and Shah in the side, I think we've got the bats to put up a big total, but let's hope we've got the bowling to close it off. I'm not optimistic without Freddie or Harmo.
I am - Harmison hasn't been right since the Ashes, and Fatty Flintoff must be one of the most overrated cricketers in history...most of my Lancs supporting mates can't stand him.
Problem on this pitch will be getting the Windies out - looks pretty docile at the moment.
I am - Harmison hasn't been right since the Ashes, and Fatty Flintoff must be one of the most overrated cricketers in history...most of my Lancs supporting mates can't stand him.
Problem on this pitch will be getting the Windies out - looks pretty docile at the moment.
Yeah, means that we're going to need a sharp field and some clever bowling. The fielding, I'm not too worried about. The bowling's a different matter.
I'm gonna disagree on Fred, but then again, I only know him on the England stage, so I can't speak for his county game.
Did anyone see the Ntini balled that removed Ponting yesterday? I saw it on the recap on Sky, then had to go find it on Youtube - its that good.
Wooot! Aussies have done exceptionally well on the 2nd day of the 1st test...
North, on debut, made 117 and Johnson, our frontline pace bowler, made 96 not out!!
all out for a hugely respectable 466...
Mitchell Johnson's a helluva bowler. The way this SA v Aus series has panned out doesn't bode well for the Ashes...
But the big news this morning, Pakistan's militants are doing their level best to twist the knife in Pakistan's cricket. Just glad noone is seriously injured. Sri Lanka have had their fair share of playing through violence.
That'll be the last tour to Pakistan by anyone for a few years.
I think the militants made a huge mistake there. They'll lose tons of support amongst ordinary Pakistanis. They love their cricket.
This is probably the only way Cricket will get on the front page of the NY Times. I do hope this spurs Pakistan to crush the insurgents like bugs though.
Another quality farce in the W Indies, as they play for bad light because they were ahead in the 1st ODI with England on Duckworth/Lewis, then lose 2 quick wickets, miscalculate the D/L and go off to find they have lost by one run.
Serves them right for playing for a D/L decision...and quite why they couldn't turn on the floodlights is beyond me. Botham and Hussain giving them a right caning on Sky Sports
That was in fact, hilarious.
What's not so funny is England's collapse today.
And there goes Prior. And Broad, in the space of three balls. So that's eight wickets gone.
Wow, we're poor. I'll have a coronary if we break a hundred.
Yes - and there's one person largely to blame. Take a big step forward, Kevin 'The Big I Am' Peterson.
This overrated loudmouthed arse has decided that he wants to go home, he's had enough of this tour. Well, KP, if I was in charge of England you'd never play for us again, you greedy grasping sack of shit. Everything is always about him....he can't get on with Peter Moores, he always thought Alan Stamford was dodgy (so, you were forced onto the plane for a 2 week freebie in WI at gunpoint, were you ?), he can't wait to go home. Oddly enough, he won't be at home for long because him and that other overrated sack of lard, Fatty Flintoff, will now be heading to Serth Arfrica to play in the clown circus that is the IPL. Not too knackered for that, eh lads ?
Both of them, by any reasonable measure, should now have played for England for the last time. Both have been indulged for far too long, both are selfish, tiresome and legends only in their own minds.
Put your money on an Aussie caning this summer...0-4 with one rained off is my bet.
Wrapped up the Wisden Trophy again today by beating the Windies by 80-odd runs and an innings.
These last two Tests have been good fun to watch, but I'm not sure they should be taken as an indication of how well we're going to do against the Convicts.
Its disappointing to see the way Gayle has approached the longer game, and I'm sure it doesn't do anything to help the rest of his team. If they make a series of the ODIs, can they still consider this tour a success? I don't think so.
Also, Colly keeping wicket was fun to watch.
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