The International Cricket Thread

[PaulWinch again]

Blown it.

[cdbearsfan]

Sigh. Wouldn't mind England losing to South Africa but you just know the Saffers will absolutely choke against India/Australia as ever.

[taylorsworkrate]

Well, with the start, Brook and Livingstone did well to get it reasonably close. Shouldn't really have blown it when it was 25 from 18 required but with it finishing close, it effectively means that beat USA and England will be in the semi final

[simboy]

If I was to pick one moment that cost the game - and I do understand it’s not that simple - it was Wood not catching de Kock in the deep. Lazy cricket. He seemed off it all game.

[taylorsworkrate]

I think the top order batted poorly. Brook and Livingstone did well to even make a game of it in fairness

[cdbearsfan]

England now need a very comfortable win against USA to go well past South Africa's NRR to be sure of qualifying. It's just about possible to improve your NRR and still lose I'm certain bizarre circumstances so England would want to be a decent level over SA NRR to be 100% sure.

[Monty]

It's funny, T20's been around for two decades now and I just...I still don't see it as real cricket somehow. I know I'm in an ever-diminishing minority here, but it's been a while now and I just cannot warm to it.

[cdbearsfan]

I like it but give me a choice between winning the County Championship or the T20 Blast and it's still the Championship every time. And The Hundred can still fuck off.

I think the format has been much better for this one. It provides a nice mix between giving the lesser teams a chance while not making it too much of a coin toss who goes through. A shame about the dreadful scheduling. World Cups should always be in odd years away from major football tournaments and the Olympics. Even more so from 2028 when cricket is actually in the Olympics.

[charlatan]

It's funny, T20's been around for two decades now and I just...I still don't see it as real cricket somehow. I know I'm in an ever-diminishing minority here, but it's been a while now and I just cannot warm to it.

And decades longer than that in club cricket.

[charlatan]

I like it but give me a choice between winning the County Championship or the T20 Blast and it's still the Championship every time. And The Hundred can still fuck off.

I think the format has been much better for this one. It provides a nice mix between giving the lesser teams a chance while not making it too much of a coin toss who goes through. A shame about the dreadful scheduling. World Cups should always be in odd years away from major football tournaments and the Olympics. Even more so from 2028 when cricket is actually in the Olympics.

Definitely agree with the first sentiment.

On the format I don't like how the draw for the super eights was largely predetermined to suit TV times (presumably) when the games are split between two shite times here (one game when I'm mostly still working during the week and another just as I go to bed).

[Monty]

It's funny, T20's been around for two decades now and I just...I still don't see it as real cricket somehow. I know I'm in an ever-diminishing minority here, but it's been a while now and I just cannot warm to it.

And decades longer than that in club cricket.

True, but I mind that a lot less as it feeds into the 'cheerful amateur' vibe. In fact it slightly sharpens my ambivalence to the format at the top of the game - shouldn't the real players be better than this?

I agree though that the formatting (and the rain!) has also hurt my chances of getting into this tournament. And the timing, with the Euros as well as all the tennis.

[cdbearsfan]

I like it but give me a choice between winning the County Championship or the T20 Blast and it's still the Championship every time. And The Hundred can still fuck off.

I think the format has been much better for this one. It provides a nice mix between giving the lesser teams a chance while not making it too much of a coin toss who goes through. A shame about the dreadful scheduling. World Cups should always be in odd years away from major football tournaments and the Olympics. Even more so from 2028 when cricket is actually in the Olympics.

Definitely agree with the first sentiment.

On the format I don't like how the draw for the super eights was largely predetermined to suit TV times (presumably) when the games are split between two shite times here (one game when I'm mostly still working during the week and another just as I go to bed).

Yeah, don't disagree with that. Think that's inevitable sadly as Indian TV rules.

[Villa Lew]

I like it but give me a choice between winning the County Championship or the T20 Blast and it's still the Championship every time. And The Hundred can still fuck off.

I think the format has been much better for this one. It provides a nice mix between giving the lesser teams a chance while not making it too much of a coin toss who goes through. A shame about the dreadful scheduling. World Cups should always be in odd years away from major football tournaments and the Olympics. Even more so from 2028 when cricket is actually in the Olympics.

Agree with you about the scheduling CD, but cricket, tennis and golf should not be in the Olympics.

[cdbearsfan]

Disagree, the bigger the better for me. The second biggest sport on Earth should be in there. I think it could be great to spread the game to non-Commonwealth countries, too.

Regardless, read that the Indian broadcasters give the IOC something like $20 million for the rights to show the Olympics. It goes up to $120 million once cricket is in. So once it's in, it's staying in. They aren't going to turn down that sort of cash.

[Monty]

Yeah the best use of T20 for me is that it's a form of cricket compatible with the Olympics.