The Cricket Thread 2013

[eastie]

No luck about not getting a major test for 2 years - just a rank shockingly bad decision.

[villajk]

We're going to abandon the game before it gets abandoned.  Can't see how there can be any more cricket here today.  Not that what we've seen was up to much.

[PGW]

I see that Sreesanth has today been banned for life for Spot fixing...what a prat!

He played for Bears in 2009 and i liked him he seemed to give his all albeit not overly successful.

[TheTimVilla]

Swann and Broad too tired to play for England but can play in YB40 final.

[paul_e]

Swann and Broad too tired to play for England but can play in YB40 final.

I don't see the problem, Swann doesn't play ODIs anyway and Broad has played a hell of a lot of games for England across all formats in the last year or so.

Aside from that we need to look at other options, if Jimmy and Broad were playing would Rankin have got much game time, for example?

[eastie]

Swann and Broad too tired to play for England but can play in YB40 final.

I don't see the problem, Swann doesn't play ODIs anyway and Broad has played a hell of a lot of games for England across all formats in the last year or so.

Aside from that we need to look at other options, if Jimmy and Broad were playing would Rankin have got much game time, for example?

They never asked to be rested by England - this is notts first final in over 20 years so having served the county for years they fully deserve the chance to play in the final.

One 40 over game is a lot different to 5 one day games - its a one off huge occassion for notts - let the lads enjoy it .
Other players have been given the same privilege to play in finals in recent years as well.

[PaulWinch again]

Unchanged again, I just hope they realise we need more frontline bowlers going forward.

[PaulWinch again]

Finn strikes good start.

[PaulWinch again]

This pitch is going to be a great opportunity for Stokes to show his merits as a seamer.

[PaulWinch again]

Rankin bowled beautifully there, he worked over Watson and got him out.

[paul_e]

Rankin bowled beautifully there, he worked over Watson and got him out.

Agree, excellent over, set Watson up perfectly.

[PaulWinch again]

I'm not overstating here, but Rankin is playing himself into the Test squad.

[PaulWinch again]

Stokes needs to show more control than that.

[PaulWinch again]

Great bouncer from Stokes gets Marsh.

[PaulWinch again]

Clarke given out but bloody hell I'm not sure on that one, big wicket from Finn.