The Cricket Thread 2016

[UK Redsox]

Da Beeb

The second ball of Stokes's second over in the Australian second innings was the 1,000,000th legal delivery bowled in Test cricket in England.
As if to join in with the celebration of this milestone, Australian opener Warner punched it down the ground and past mid-on for four during that opening stand of 113.

[paul_e]

Da Beeb

The second ball of Stokes's second over in the Australian second innings was the 1,000,000th legal delivery bowled in Test cricket in England.
As if to join in with the celebration of this milestone, Australian opener Warner punched it down the ground and past mid-on for four during that opening stand of 113.

On sky David Lloyd was going on about for ages before teasing that there was a milestone coming up and then just before he could say what it was they put it on the screen in the ground.

[PGW]

I never liked Javid Miandad but I don't think I'm alone in that!

I never liked that Brian McMillan geezer that used to play for South Africa.  Had a mullet and came across as a really unpleasant and niggly character.

Had one season playing for Bears in 1986....i can't really remember how he got on for us......can't be arsed to look it up.

[OzVilla]

Da Beeb

The second ball of Stokes's second over in the Australian second innings was the 1,000,000th legal delivery bowled in Test cricket in England.
As if to join in with the celebration of this milestone, Australian opener Warner punched it down the ground and past mid-on for four during that opening stand of 113.

I know Cricket is a game full of statistics but that one is mental.

Who keeps records of these things.

[robbo1874]

It is funny...I don't like Clarke but did like Ponting.

i hated Ponting until 2009 ( I think it was) when he copped that one in the chops fielding close in just before lunch and was spitting blood. He made nothing of it, brushed it off and carried on til lunch. He massively went up in my estimation then. Clarke was maybe a better captain tactically, but the old school Aussies have never really been convinced by him as a captain although his batting is hugely respected here. His time has come and I think you'll see steve smith step up for the next series and a huge clear out of the side. Very UN-Australian-like, but I think it will happen. Also think they'll probably ditch Lehmann and maybe the selectors won't even be safe.

Was in the pub yesterday afternoon and one old boy (late 50's maybe early 60's) when we were talking about the cricket snarled, and I mean snarled: "it's a Fackin Disgrace" music to my ears, old mate!

[aev]

Gideon Haigh said that whilst Clarke is a better captain, Cook is the better leader, which I thought was a very good point.

[OzVilla]

Never liked Ponting. Respected him as a player but thought he was a petulant Captain whenever things went against him. I mean, how hard was it to Captain with Warne and McGrath in the side.

Never liked Clarke either despite him carrying himself an awful lot better than Pontingever did. However, he went up a lot in my estimations with the way he handled the whole Phil Hughes tragedy, the way he represented the team etc.

Clarke has looked like a different person since then, lost the spark, rarely smiles, batting forms been poor. I think it's taken a lot out of him.

[robbo1874]

I think you're right there, Clark always used to wear a smile, it's more the clenched jaw these days when he's facing the media. I take that as a sign england have the better of him. Fuck knows they had the better of us in the last series.

[ACVilla]

It's currently being reported that Clarke is set to announce his retirement at the conclusion of the current series. Hardly a major shock. With Clarke and Rodgers going, Voges not seemingly up to it, Haddin and Watson virtually gone it seems yet again the Aussies will have to rebuild.

[PGW]

My pleas for today 1 more wkt each for Broad (10 in match) Stokes 6 wkts in match so that the record that only got equalled in the last
test - 2 English bowlers getting 6 wkts in a match, a record that had previously stood since Headingley 1981

[Chris Jameson]

In the interest of balance I never liked Boycott at Yorkshire but think he's excellent as a summariser. Used to like watching Vaughan as a player but as a person I cannot stand the bloke. For some reason James Taylor irritates me but I think that is just me being heightist.

[PGW]

My pleas for today 1 more wkt each for Broad (10 in match) Stokes 6 wkts in match so that the record that only got equalled in the last
test - 2 English bowlers getting 6 wkts in a match, a record that had previously stood since Headingley 1981

That's the record sorted early doors....come on now Broady get your 10fer

[PGW]

If Stokes were to get the other 2 what record must that surely break 2 England bowlers getting 8 fers in same match?

[passitsideways]

It's currently being reported that Clarke is set to announce his retirement at the conclusion of the current series. Hardly a major shock. With Clarke and Rodgers going, Voges not seemingly up to it, Haddin and Watson virtually gone it seems yet again the Aussies will have to rebuild.

I guess it comes down to the emotional toll that the last nine months have probably had on him. Otherwise, the cupboard's bare enough (at least so it seems - we don't seem to have a lot of convincing candidates on standby) that he probably would've been worth persisting with, given that 34 isn't exactly ancient and he would've had it easier on the roads we seem to put out regularly now.

Our batting really does look in the shitter now though. Warner and Smith I both expect will bounce back, but that leaves three spots to fill. Voges isn't bad, but he's not quite good enough to justify retaining at his age.

[richard moore]

Brilliant, shedding a little tear here. Last time I did that was at the end of the semi at Wembley where I was comforted by some Villa fans around me