Cricket International Series & General Chat

[BookMan]

Sydney Thunder win the Big Bash. Well done. The first 4 seasons the ran last or 2nd last. From last to first.

They also won the Women's Big Bash.

Go the Thunder

Yes I caught the end as the England test is rain delayed,the whole series has been action back from start to finish,maybe I will take more interest next time,the trouble is many of these games clash.

There's so much cricket and variations now it's hard to keep up.

Another champion innings Khawaja

Here is his his recent innings in all matches.

[BookMan]

Khawaja left out of the one day squad for NZ. having watched him recently it is difficult to believe he could be left out, his batting has been sublime. Shaun marsh is still good enough though... Connections, all about connections...

It is causing quite a bit of discussion in the media

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/cricket/usman-khawaja-set-to-win-place-in-odi-squad-for-new-zealand-tour-after-bbl-form/news-story/989af44461c45ead33a05056fd5fac67

http://www.smh.com.au/sport/cricket/usman-khawajas-australian-oneday-snub-indicates-selectors-are-out-of-touch-20160125-gmdcth.html

http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2016/jan/25/in-form-usman-khawaja-overlooked-for-australias-odi-tour-of-new-zealand

[Will27]

Khawaja left out of the one day squad for NZ. having watched him recently it is difficult to believe he could be left out, his batting has been sublime. Shaun marsh is still good enough though... Connections, all about connections...

It is causing quite a bit of discussion in the media

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/cricket/usman-khawaja-set-to-win-place-in-odi-squad-for-new-zealand-tour-after-bbl-form/news-story/989af44461c45ead33a05056fd5fac67

http://www.smh.com.au/sport/cricket/usman-khawajas-australian-oneday-snub-indicates-selectors-are-out-of-touch-20160125-gmdcth.html

http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2016/jan/25/in-form-usman-khawaja-overlooked-for-australias-odi-tour-of-new-zealand

Unbelievable decision not to pick him.

They should've also put him in the T20 side as well.

At least your boy Lyon got dropped.

[BookMan]

Khawaja left out of the one day squad for NZ. having watched him recently it is difficult to believe he could be left out, his batting has been sublime. Shaun marsh is still good enough though... Connections, all about connections...

It is causing quite a bit of discussion in the media

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/cricket/usman-khawaja-set-to-win-place-in-odi-squad-for-new-zealand-tour-after-bbl-form/news-story/989af44461c45ead33a05056fd5fac67

http://www.smh.com.au/sport/cricket/usman-khawajas-australian-oneday-snub-indicates-selectors-are-out-of-touch-20160125-gmdcth.html

http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2016/jan/25/in-form-usman-khawaja-overlooked-for-australias-odi-tour-of-new-zealand

Unbelievable decision not to pick him.

They should've also put him in the T20 side as well.

At least your boy Lyon got dropped.

Haven't u heard? Lyon is the greatest ever Australian spinner after Warnie. The commentators on Channel 9 tell us every few Test overs what a great spinner he is. Edge of your seat stuff when you are watching him, not knowing which batsman will tonk him out of the ground for consecutive sixes.

In T20, having watched a few Big bash games, he wouldn't even make top 5

[stoneyboy]

The Future Of Cricket.

Big Bash League: Is this the future of cricket? Are Tests in danger?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/35374444

[BookMan]

The Future Of Cricket.

Big Bash League: Is this the future of cricket? Are Tests in danger?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/35374444

That's a good in depth article.

The $20 ticket price is even better for families, at $40 for a family of 4.

I was surprised how much i enjoyed the tournament this season. I haven't engaged with it before, but did this year.

Have also enjoyed the coverage. two of the three female commentators i heard were excellent, better than most of the channel 9 commentary team. Kevin pieterson was also refreshingly amusing. There were some flashing stumps and bails and different (from ch.9) Statistics graphics which were also refreshing

I would like to see scheduling the tournament so more of the known Australian internationals can play

One factor yet to play out is Channel 9 being protective of its Australian Cricket summer games monopoly. Their interests are not the same as Channel 10, who holds the BBL rights. Channel 9 will not want to see Channel 10 getting such huge support at the possible cost of its own cricketing summer product.

This could lead 9 to ensure Australian players are not seen during future tournaments. Whether or not 9 sees it as attracting more viewers to its own games or sees the Channel 10 coverage of BBL as a threat remains to be seen.

In a perfect world the Australian Cricket Board would put its own interests first, but I am not sure that will happen.

[7by7]

Afternoon of day four and South Africa are 167 for 4; Amla 73*, Bavuma 32*.

300 ahead, on a pitch which is deteriorating.

The question is; when will de Villiers declare?

Although the lead is slowly increasing, England are probably happy as they are using up overs. The later South Africa declare, the fewer overs England will have to face to save the game.

One point; Abbot has a hamstring injury and is extremely unlikely to bowl; leaving South Africa a seamer short.

Maybe this is preying on de Villiers mind; he doesn't want to give England a sniff of victory as his specialist bowlers get tired and he has to start using part timers?

A South African victory seems most likely; a draw if England bat well.

But If at tea tomorrow England need less than a 100 with 4 or 5 wickets left and the South African specialist seamers tired; who knows?

[7by7]

223 for 4 at tea; Amla 96*, Bavuma 63*.

South Africa 356 ahead.

Declare at tea?

Mark Boucher on TMS

With all this talk about declaration, another thing AB de Villiers will have to be aware of is the weather.

People who know this ground know where the bad weather comes in from. The possibility of rain is quite high.

[stoneyboy]

223 for 4 at tea; Amla 96*, Bavuma 63*.

South Africa 356 ahead.

Declare at tea?

Mark Boucher on TMS

With all this talk about declaration, another thing AB de Villiers will have to be aware of is the weather.

People who know this ground know where the bad weather comes in from. The possibility of rain is quite high.

Rain stopped play.

Edited January 25, 2016 by stoneyboy

[stoneyboy]

Nicked it Stuart Broad.

[7by7]

Amla c Bairstow b Broad in the drizzle after tea for 96.

Still no declaration.

[7by7]

Come on, AB!

Surely it's better to be bowling than batting in these conditions?

(You can't see the blustery wind in that photo.)

Edit:

Umpires taking them off.

According to Mark Boucher, who should know, if the rain comes hard now that's it for the day.

SA are 381 ahead; the current highest score to win a test at Centurion is 251; and that was the infamous Cronje fix!

AB must declare now, surely?

Edited January 25, 2016 by 7by7

[BookMan]

First T20 India v Australia is on today.

In a first for OZ international Cricket, they are having the women's team play their games against India before the main men's game

[Will27]

First T20 India v Australia is on today.

In a first for OZ international Cricket, they are having the women's team play their games against India before the main men's game

Steve Smith not captain.....staggering!

[BookMan]

First T20 India v Australia is on today.

In a first for OZ international Cricket, they are having the women's team play their games against India before the main men's game

Steve Smith not captain.....staggering!

Havimg a rest apparently. He looks relaxed.

Couple of nervous outfielding fluffs byvthe newbies

[7by7]

Well, AB did declare during the rain break yesterday and South Africa got Cook, Hales and Compton before bad light brought the day's play to a halt with England on 52 for 3.

With Root and Taylor at the crease, much better batting conditions than yesterday and, with the possible exception of Anderson, those yet to come all capable of holding up and end and sticking around for a while England should have had a fighting chance of batting out the 98 overs (extra 8 added to make up for those lost yesterday) to salvage a draw.

Instead there was another abject surrender like that at the Oval last year!

The last 7 wickets falling for just 43 runs in 71 balls!

It was almost like their attitude was "We can't win this, let's get it over with before lunch!"

Not what one expects from professional sportsmen; surely winning a series 2-0 is better than winning 2-1?

OK, they might not have salvaged the draw; probably wouldn't have done; but they should have tried!

Kagiso Rabada, aged only 20, finished with match figures of 13 for 144; the second best performance ever by a South African behind Makyaha Ntini's 13 for 132 against the West Indies at Port-of-Spain in 2005 and the best ever by a South African on home soil.

South Africa v England: Hosts race to 280-run consolation win in final Test

[Will27]

First T20 India v Australia is on today.

In a first for OZ international Cricket, they are having the women's team play their games against India before the main men's game

Steve Smith not captain.....staggering!

Havimg a rest apparently. He looks relaxed.

Couple of nervous outfielding fluffs byvthe newbies

Call me old-school, but I reckon players in international

games shouldn't be allowed to speak on the microphone.

The Big Bash is different as it's a domestic comp.

To me, it devalues the game.

[7by7]

Meanwhile, a very moving and inspiring interview with blind English cricketer Hassan Khan, currently in Australia for the visually impaired Ashes, on TMS during lunch yesterday.

I hope it will play where you are.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p03gjgdj

There's also this article in the Guardian: How blind cricket made an England star of Hassan Khan

[BookMan]

First T20 India v Australia is on today.

In a first for OZ international Cricket, they are having the women's team play their games against India before the main men's game

Steve Smith not captain.....staggering!

Havimg a rest apparently. He looks relaxed.

Couple of nervous outfielding fluffs byvthe newbies

Call me old-school, but I reckon players in international

games shouldn't be allowed to speak on the microphone.

The Big Bash is different as it's a domestic comp.

To me, it devalues the game.

I wonder if Smith was put off by the commentators talking with him when he was facing...

I thought Healy was going live to smith...then Smith holed out

[farmerjo]

Well, AB did declare during the rain break yesterday and South Africa got Cook, Hales and Compton before bad light brought the day's play to a halt with England on 52 for 3.

With Root and Taylor at the crease, much better batting conditions than yesterday and, with the possible exception of Anderson, those yet to come all capable of holding up and end and sticking around for a while England should have had a fighting chance of batting out the 98 overs (extra 8 added to make up for those lost yesterday) to salvage a draw.

Instead there was another abject surrender like that at the Oval last year!

The last 7 wickets falling for just 43 runs in 71 balls!

It was almost like their attitude was "We can't win this, let's get it over with before lunch!"

Not what one expects from professional sportsmen; surely winning a series 2-0 is better than winning 2-1?

OK, they might not have salvaged the draw; probably wouldn't have done; but they should have tried!

Kagiso Rabada, aged only 20, finished with match figures of 13 for 144; the second best performance ever by a South African behind Makyaha Ntini's 13 for 132 against the West Indies at Port-of-Spain in 2005 and the best ever by a South African on home soil.

South Africa v England: Hosts race to 280-run consolation win in final Test

Yes turned over after the t20 aus v india and replays were on,thought the rain must have come in until i read this.

[Will27]

Steve Smith not captain.....staggering!

Havimg a rest apparently. He looks relaxed.

Couple of nervous outfielding fluffs byvthe newbiesCall me old-school, but I reckon players in international

games shouldn't be allowed to speak on the microphone.

The Big Bash is different as it's a domestic comp.

To me, it devalues the game.

I wonder if Smith was put off by the commentators talking with him when he was facing...

I thought Healy was going live to smith...then Smith holed out

You might be right BM.

Channel Nine 'caused' Steve Smith's dismissal in Australia's Twenty20 loss to India

Read more: http://www.watoday.com.au/sport/cricket/channel-nine-caused-steve-smiths-dismissal-in-australias-twenty20-loss-to-india-20160126-gmep6p.html#ixzz3yP4sF0lU

[BookMan]

You might be right BM.

Channel Nine 'caused' Steve Smith's dismissal in Australia's Twenty20 loss to India

Read more: http://www.watoday.com.au/sport/cricket/channel-nine-caused-steve-smiths-dismissal-in-australias-twenty20-loss-to-india-20160126-gmep6p.html#ixzz3yP4sF0lU

Kohli likes to run his mouth of course... Though he must be the World's #1 batsman at the moment?

I was thinking... India is so powerful now in International Cricket their players can say and do pretty much anything they like. They won't find too much opposition or criticism, with players and commentators having a vested financial interest in being nice to India

Two LBW decisions India got also that were questionable. One a mile outside the line. Felt like the umpire was bullied into giving the first decision, after the Bowler blocked his view the ball before and both the bowler and Kohli got nasty.

That was a sign of the changed landscape IMO... A wicket keeper/Captain going off when a decision is not given, and the bowler telling the Umpire to look at the big screen if he couldn't see the wicket.. remembering of course India refuses DRS

In the past the TV coverage and commentators would have highlighted the players behavior towards the umpires and maybe the players would have copped a fine... strangely their was silence

I predict many many years of eating cricketing humble pie for other countries

[Will27]

You might be right BM.

Channel Nine 'caused' Steve Smith's dismissal in Australia's Twenty20 loss to India

Read more: http://www.watoday.com.au/sport/cricket/channel-nine-caused-steve-smiths-dismissal-in-australias-twenty20-loss-to-india-20160126-gmep6p.html#ixzz3yP4sF0lU

Kohli likes to run his mouth of course... Though he must be the World's #1 batsman at the moment?

I was thinking... India is so powerful now in International Cricket their players can say and do pretty much anything they like. They won't find too much opposition or criticism, with players and commentators having a vested financial interest in being nice to India

Two LBW decisions India got also that were questionable. One a mile outside the line. Felt like the umpire was bullied into giving the first decision, after the Bowler blocked his view the ball before and both the bowler and Kohli got nasty.

That was a sign of the changed landscape IMO... A wicket keeper/Captain going off when a decision is not given, and the bowler telling the Umpire to look at the big screen if he couldn't see the wicket.. remembering of course India refuses DRS

In the past the TV coverage and commentators would have highlighted the players behavior towards the umpires and maybe the players would have copped a fine... strangely their was silence

I predict many many years of eating cricketing humble pie for other countries

I agree 100% BM.

When Kohli went off after the first appeal was turned down (Finch also hit it BTW), I reckon the umpire caved in for the next 2 decisions.

The commentators won't say a word, especially new ones like Hussey.

That changed landscape you're talking about changed years ago.

Harbhajan Singh and the BCCI were allowed to get away with murder over the "monkeygate"

affair with Symonds.

The movie Death of a Gentleman only exemplifies this.

[ripstanley]

David Warner won the Allan Border medal

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-01-27/david-warner-wins-allan-border-medal-and-test-player-of-the-yea/7119282

[BookMan]

David Warner won the Allan Border medal

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-01-27/david-warner-wins-allan-border-medal-and-test-player-of-the-yea/7119282

Fair enough too

I was concerned they might have given it to Nathan Lyon for singing the team song

I enjoy watching Warner bat. There is the same sense of anticipation I got every time Shane Warne came on to bowl

Speaking of watching... Women's cricketer of the year. Ellyse Perry.. I like to watch.

Edited January 27, 2016 by BookMan

[rijit]

Can't find a link, but England HEAVILY criticised by Boycott for not trying in the ultimate innings v s. Africa and doesn't think hales is up to test cricket atm.

Sent from my GT-I9000 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Edited January 27, 2016 by rijit

[BookMan]

Can't find a link, but England HEAVILY criticised by Boycott for not trying in the ultimate innings v s. Africa and doesn't think hales is up to test cricket atm.

Sent from my GT-I9000 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Here is the Hales one...

South Africa v England: Alex Hales 'hasn't got it' - Geoffrey Boycott

http://www.bbc.com/sport/cricket/35392680

'England have shown no heart' - what they said

Former England captain Michael Vaughan told BBC Test Match Special: "England have batted on a pitch with a bit of spice and they have shown no heart.

"It's almost like the white towel has been thrown in. It was a really feeble way to finish the tour."

Former England batsman Geoffrey Boycott: "Get your head down and save the match. But there was no effort this morning.

"Coming out and playing shots, does that excuse you after winning the series? No. There's no excuse for that. You have to be professional. That's not good enough.""Whether that's the end of the tour mentality I don't know. If you'd offered me 2-1 before the series I would have snapped your hand off."

http://www.bbc.com/sport/cricket/35408018

Edited January 27, 2016 by BookMan

[BookMan]

Players union to seek feedback over live interviews after Smith's T20 dismissal

The Australian Cricketers' Association will seek clarification from TV networks over what constitutes acceptable player engagement during matches after the furore created by Steve Smith's dismissal on Wednesday night.

Channel Nine came under fire on social media with many accusing the network of being responsible for the star batsman losing his wicket in the first Twenty20 international.

The incident took another twist on Wednesday when David Warner asked why Virat Kohli did not receive more scrutiny for his feisty send off to Smith.

Smith had been doing a live interview with Channel Nine commentators Mark Nicholas, Ian Healy and Michael Hussey in the over of his dismissal but was not spoken to in the lead-up to the ball which got him out.

This is in keeping with the guidelines given to networks regarding when they can communicate with players, one of which is they cannot speak to the facing batsman while the bowler is in his approach to the crease.

It's understood Smith does not blame the broadcaster for his wicket, which sparked a dire batting collapse that crippled Australia's run chase. The Test and one-day international captain did not appear uncomfortable at any stage during his interview, at points even sharing a laugh with Nicholas.

The controversy comes days after a boundary-bound shot by Kohli struck Channel Nine's Spidercam, an aerial camera, and was ruled a dead ball, costing India four runs. Indian captain M.S. Dhoni later said networks should be fined $2000 every time this occurred.

While the ACA have no qualms with the circumstances leading to Smith's departure, the players' union said it would seek feedback from players and speak to networks over the appropriate times they are spoken to.

"We think players have been really accommodating," ACA chief Alistair Nicholson said.

"Being miked up, there is the right time and place to do that but there's a greater level of feedback we need to seek from players over when that engagement is going to be acceptable.

"It's very difficult for players in a live environment to push back on what they've been asked to commentate on."

"Clearly we need to get more feedback. We've seen it evolve over a couple of seasons, the insight on the field is growing and growing and growing, there needs to be more work done to identify what areas can be strayed into."

Television interaction with players in Twenty20 matches is a feature of both the Nine and Ten networks' coverage of the format, and welcomed by viewers, who appreciate being taken inside the mind of the player in the heat of battle.

Players are not obliged to wear microphones if asked by a broadcaster and have the right to say no. No Indian player was miked up in Adelaide.

There was an instance in the Big Bash League when the Melbourne Stars' Kevin Pietersen asked Ten's commentary team not to speak to him until he was settled in, a wish granted by the network. He was run out moments later.

http://www.smh.com.au/sport/cricket/australian-cricketers-association-to-seek-feedback-from-channel-nine-over-live-interviews-after-steve-smiths-twenty20-dismissal-against-india-20160127-gmf7nl.html

Edited January 27, 2016 by BookMan

[BookMan]

Oh yeah, baby!!

Things are getting interesting!

Steve Smith unimpressed with Virat Kohli's send-off during Twenty20 at Adelaide Oval

Australian Test captain Steve Smith has hit back at Virat Kohli, labeling the sledge of his dismissal "not on".

Smith was talking to the Channel Nine commentary team when caught by a fired-up Kohli in Tuesday's Australia Day Twenty20 loss to India.

Kohli, clearly aggrieved by Smith's on-field analysis, proceeded to gesture with his right hand and mouth off that the Australian skipper had been talking too much and should focus on his batting

Speaking to Fox Sports on the Allan Border Medal red carpet, Smith believes Kohli's celebration was not necessary.

"He gets pretty emotional out there, doesn't he?" Smith said

"I don't think you need to do that kind of thing when someone gets out.

"It's fine to have a little bit of banter when you're out in the field, but when someone is out I don't think that's really on."

The 26-year-old fell short of blaming Channel Nine for his wicket, saying his dismissal was due to a bad shot.

"It [the commentary] was on at the time, but for me it was just a bad shot," Smith said.

"I tried to chip one over the top for two rather than trying to hit him for four or six.

"It was my fault and I got to do better next time."

It's not the first time Kohli has been caught getting under the skin of Australia this summer, telling all-rounder James Faulkner "I've smashed you enough in my life, just go and bowl" in an exchange between the pair during the third one-day international in Melbourne.

In response to the Faulkner sledge, Kohli said in a Facebook Q&A last week that teams are looking for an edge in a competitive environment.

"It's happening on a regular basis nowadays. Cricket has become really, really competitive and people will try and disrupt you in any way possible." Kohli said.

"The opposition has every right to use that as long as it doesn't cross the line. And you have every right to reply as long as it doesn't cross the line.

"I think there have been a lot of smart comments over the years and mine turned out to be a perfectly timed one. I didn't intend to do that, I just said what came to mind, which was actually not far from the truth."

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/sport/cricket/steve-smith-unimpressed-with-virat-kohlis-sendoff-during-twenty20-at-adelaide-oval-20160128-gmfrvz.html#ixzz3yVBDYrzJ

[Will27]

Thommo brings the house down at the AB Awards.