General Cricket (not the chirpy kind) Discussion Thread

[Nimzonia]

England bowling has been pretty poor, so Khawaja might have a chance here.

[Liventia]

England's women not having much luck in their Ashes test either, they're 127/6 responding to Australia's first innings 331/6d.

[AiliailiA]

England bowling has been pretty poor, so Khawaja might have a chance here.

I don't think the bowling has been poor. The ball doesn't seem to be swinging like it did at the beginning of previous innings. Probably something about the atmosphere or maybe the ball itself.

[Nimzonia]

England bowling has been pretty poor, so Khawaja might have a chance here.

I don't think the bowling has been poor. The ball doesn't seem to be swinging like it did at the beginning of previous innings. Probably something about the atmosphere or maybe the ball itself.

I think Anderson has been poor for two tests now. Even when the conditions were good on the second day, he wasn't doing anything.

[AiliailiA]

England's women not having much luck in their Ashes test either, they're 127/6 responding to Australia's first innings 331/6d.

I had to look that up. Apparently, in the women's league "the Ashes" are decided by an equal weighting of the Test (they only have one), three One Day games, and three 20/20 matches. Six points for the Test and 2 for each of the other games (making the Test component only one third).

Furthermore, a women's Test is only 4 days and in the past many Test matches between England and Australia have been drawn.

It's up to their league to set those rules of course, but I'm a bit bothered about calling it "the Ashes" when the Test format matters even less than a third.

[Liventia]

Lost in the Ashes chat today… India A's Shikhar Dhawan made 248 in an unofficial ODI against South Africa A off 150 balls. His 248 was the second highest List A score in history, 20 runs shy of the record. India A made 433/3 and beat South Africa A (394) by 39 runs.

[Liventia]

England's women not having much luck in their Ashes test either, they're 127/6 responding to Australia's first innings 331/6d.

I had to look that up. Apparently, in the women's league "the Ashes" are decided by an equal weighting of the Test (they only have one), three One Day games, and three 20/20 matches. Six points for the Test and 2 for each of the other games (making the Test component only one third).

Furthermore, a women's Test is only 4 days and in the past many Test matches between England and Australia have been drawn.

It's up to their league to set those rules of course, but I'm a bit bothered about calling it "the Ashes" when the Test format matters even less than a third.

It actually used to be just Tests, but the format has changed to protect the Tests because teams play very few. By making it the heaviest weighted, it maintains its importance while encouraging the teams to play for a win, because as you say they've often been draws, and in single-Test series that has meant the Ashes have been retained. The governing bodies are still the ECB and CA, so they're always going to call it the Ashes.

[AiliailiA]

I don't think the bowling has been poor. The ball doesn't seem to be swinging like it did at the beginning of previous innings. Probably something about the atmosphere or maybe the ball itself.

I think Anderson has been poor for two tests now. Even when the conditions were good on the second day, he wasn't doing anything.

Yeah, but there's no alternative. I expect to see a lot of Swann, with the quicks alternating at the other end.

Cook really should consider a part-timer. That usually gets at least an over of slow scoring as the batters check out the bowler they don't know. Cook could even bowl himself, though Pietersen and Bell both have better records.

See, I get the impression that Australia are batting in a hurry; restricting their scoring is how to make them do something silly.




Khawaja out for 21. Plain forward defensive shot which went wrong, doesn't matter if he edged it or not (lbw or caught, either way).

[Cyborg Holland]

Lost in the Ashes chat today… India A's Shikhar Dhawan made 248 in an unofficial ODI against South Africa A off 150 balls. His 248 was the second highest List A score in history, 20 runs shy of the record. India A made 433/3 and beat South Africa A (394) by 39 runs.

I noticed that no-one has said the actual record, what is it?

[Liventia]

Lost in the Ashes chat today… India A's Shikhar Dhawan made 248 in an unofficial ODI against South Africa A off 150 balls. His 248 was the second highest List A score in history, 20 runs shy of the record. India A made 433/3 and beat South Africa A (394) by 39 runs.

I noticed that no-one has said the actual record, what is it?

Alistair Brown made 268 for Surrey v Glamorgan in an English domestic 50-over game in 2002. Here's a full list of top List A scores.

India A's total today was the 6th highest List A innings total in history.

[AiliailiA]

I had to look that up. Apparently, in the women's league "the Ashes" are decided by an equal weighting of the Test (they only have one), three One Day games, and three 20/20 matches. Six points for the Test and 2 for each of the other games (making the Test component only one third).

Furthermore, a women's Test is only 4 days and in the past many Test matches between England and Australia have been drawn.

It's up to their league to set those rules of course, but I'm a bit bothered about calling it "the Ashes" when the Test format matters even less than a third.

It actually used to be just Tests, but the format has changed to protect the Tests because teams play very few. By making it the heaviest weighted, it maintains its importance while encouraging the teams to play for a win, because as you say they've often been draws, and in single-Test series that has meant the Ashes have been retained. The governing bodies are still the ECB and CA, so they're always going to call it the Ashes.

Okey-doke. I'll admit I was never even aware of the women's Ashes before.

Seems they used to play Test series of 3 matches but the last three have all been 1 match. You'd think the obvious way to avoid drawn games would be to play 5 days?

[Nimzonia]

I think Anderson has been poor for two tests now. Even when the conditions were good on the second day, he wasn't doing anything.

Yeah, but there's no alternative.

I'm pretty sure if Onions had played, he wouldn't have done any worse.

[Cyborg Holland]

Must've been helluva match

[Liventia]

Yeah, but there's no alternative.

I'm pretty sure if Onions had played, he wouldn't have done any worse.

Onions should really have played instead of Bresnan, who hasn't done anything with the ball this Test. I'd take Onions' attacking threat over Bresnan's 40 runs. Unfortunately Onions broke a finger playing for Durham against Scotland yesterday and is out of the last Test.

[AiliailiA]

I'm pretty sure if Onions had played, he wouldn't have done any worse.

Onions should really have played instead of Bresnan, who hasn't done anything with the ball this Test. I'd take Onions' attacking threat over Bresnan's 40 runs. Unfortunately Onions broke a finger playing for Durham against Scotland yesterday and is out of the last Test.

Onions can't bat though. Are you sure you want to do without Bresnan's 12* and 45 in this Test?

[Cyborg Holland]

Just one more, just one more...

[Liventia]

Onions should really have played instead of Bresnan, who hasn't done anything with the ball this Test. I'd take Onions' attacking threat over Bresnan's 40 runs. Unfortunately Onions broke a finger playing for Durham against Scotland yesterday and is out of the last Test.

Onions can't bat though. Are you sure you want to do without Bresnan's 12* and 45 in this Test?

On this wicket, for this Test particularly, yes, I'd take Onions over Bresnan. Home ground, great first-class record, all that.

[Nimzonia]

Onions should really have played instead of Bresnan, who hasn't done anything with the ball this Test. I'd take Onions' attacking threat over Bresnan's 40 runs. Unfortunately Onions broke a finger playing for Durham against Scotland yesterday and is out of the last Test.

Onions can't bat though. Are you sure you want to do without Bresnan's 12* and 45 in this Test?

A few wickets from Onions would outweigh 57 runs I reckon. I get the feeling England could be defending 450 right now and still lose.

[Cyborg Holland]

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[AiliailiA]

Warner out for 71. Caught off the bowling of ...

[Nimzonia]

Warner out for 71. Caught off the bowling of ...

To be honest, I would have rested Anderson rather than Bresnan. Anderson already looked shot at Old Trafford. Then again, I'm saying this with hindsight.

[Liventia]

Warner out for 71. Caught off the bowling of ...

Meh, Bresnan's 2/87 so far in this match. Onions would have more than that. He was in top red-ball form too, having taken 9 in a match last week.

[AiliailiA]

England with one review, use it on Smith (who probably wasn't going to get much anyway)

OOPS!

[Nimzonia]

I can't see a wasted review making much difference at this stage.

[AiliailiA]

During the rain break the channel I'm watching showed some old England/Australia footage ... not really old, but from before DRS anyway. 2000's.

It really brought home to me that DRS sucks. When the umpire's finger went up, the whole fielding side would celebrate and the batsman would walk off with as much pride as he could muster. Everyone in the crowd likewise: it was done for better or worse.

The way they're celebrating now with Clarke bowled.