The International Cricket Thread

[olaftab]

Steven Finn, Former England bowler on BBC Test Match Special: "I'm almost in shock. I don't think anyone saw that coming."

I know he has friends in the dressing room, but is he fucking joking?! We ALL saw that coming.

Unbelievable claptrap. Finn is from them. He is known as England Test bowler but probably wouldn't feature in the list if top 100 international bowlers. Far too much dross around in this generation of test match players all brought about by absolute shameful money gathering greed from ECB.

[Lsvilla]

Steven Finn, Former England bowler on BBC Test Match Special: "I'm almost in shock. I don't think anyone saw that coming."

I know he has friends in the dressing room, but is he fucking joking?! We ALL saw that coming.

Unbelievable claptrap. Finn is from them. He is known as England Test bowler but probably wouldn't feature in the list if top 100 international bowlers. Far too much dross around in this generation of test match players all brought about by absolute shameful money gathering greed from ECB.

On the contrary - he’s in the same category as Larwood for me - not many get the laws changed because of their bowling.

[PaulWinch again]

I think Finn was a cracking bowler - he was another that was killed by the system. They took a wicket taking bowler, tried to change him so that he bowled dry, and then discarded him when their attempted changes ripped his technique part.

[KevinGage]

Personally, I just think you are a very cynical bunch.

This England cricket team are a force for good.

Think of the trauma the Aussies have been through in recent years. Half the country on fire three years ago. Covid fuckeries for the last two years.

And here comes the England cricket team to restore national prestige, pummeled with pride.

Yes, the true Aussie cricket fan might have hoped for an actual sporting contest.

But that's just greedy. Can't have it all.

[Brazilian Villain]

I'd probably have more sympathy for England's cricketing latest humiliation if BBC Sport hadn't done a piece last week the gist of which 'if you think England are bad in Oz spare a thought for Ireland who've just lost to the USA'.

[Rory]

I'd probably have more sympathy for England's cricketing latest humiliation if BBC Sport hadn't done a piece last week the gist of which 'if you think England are bad in Oz spare a thought for Ireland who've just lost to the USA'.

I don't disagree, but as with the T20 World Cup, I'm not sure when Ireland became good enough that their losing to any associate nation is a surprise.

They'd probably put up at least as much of a fight against the Aussies as England have done this series, but Ireland are still essentially shit at cricket.

[Brazilian Villain]

I'd probably have more sympathy for England's cricketing latest humiliation if BBC Sport hadn't done a piece last week the gist of which 'if you think England are bad in Oz spare a thought for Ireland who've just lost to the USA'.

I don't disagree, but as with the T20 World Cup, I'm not sure when Ireland became good enough that their losing to any associate nation is a surprise.

They'd probably put up at least as much of a fight against the Aussies as England have done this series, but Ireland are still essentially shit at cricket.

True, it's still very much a minority sport here but then England aren't great at hurling.

[Rory]

I'd probably have more sympathy for England's cricketing latest humiliation if BBC Sport hadn't done a piece last week the gist of which 'if you think England are bad in Oz spare a thought for Ireland who've just lost to the USA'.

I don't disagree, but as with the T20 World Cup, I'm not sure when Ireland became good enough that their losing to any associate nation is a surprise.

They'd probably put up at least as much of a fight against the Aussies as England have done this series, but Ireland are still essentially shit at cricket.

True, it's still very much a minority sport here but then England aren't great at hurling.

True so, although if there's one group of sports supporters who'd embrace hurling, I think it would be cricket fans. Let's hope, if that ever happens, the Barmy Army aren't on board!

[UK Redsox]

A thing that makes me wish I was Irish is Hurling. I think that would have been a sport that suited me perfectly

[Monty]

I discovered recently that a great-great-grandfather died in a hurling incident (I don't say 'accident' as it seems to me that getting whacked in the neck seems to some extent to be the purpose of the sport).

[Risso]

My brother-in-law played in the same hurling team as Steve Staunton.

[Rory]

I discovered recently that a great-great-grandfather died in a hurling incident (I don't say 'accident' as it seems to me that getting whacked in the neck seems to some extent to be the purpose of the sport).

That most definitely would've been fouling the man.

It's a physical game but the rules do not allow striking an opponent with the hurley. All proper coaching emphasises restrained use of the hurley and seriously frowns upon any play that may result in either you accidentally hitting an opponent, or putting yourself in a position where you could accidentally be hit.

So while it can/does happen, being struck in the neck would be no more a part of hurling than Tyson biting Holyfield's ear was a part of boxing.

Sorry for sounding all serious, I just think hurling's reputation as being brutal is unfair, and it's certainly nowhere near as dangerous as rugby, say.

[tomd2103]

Back to cricket and it seems that the vultures are circling over Silverwood already.

[paul_e]

Back to cricket and it seems that the vultures are circling over Silverwood already.

Rightly so, this is as bad as we've seen in an ashes tour.

[Risso]

I discovered recently that a great-great-grandfather died in a hurling incident (I don't say 'accident' as it seems to me that getting whacked in the neck seems to some extent to be the purpose of the sport).

That most definitely would've been fouling the man.

It's a physical game but the rules do not allow striking an opponent with the hurley. All proper coaching emphasises restrained use of the hurley and seriously frowns upon any play that may result in either you accidentally hitting an opponent, or putting yourself in a position where you could accidentally be hit.

So while it can/does happen, being struck in the neck would be no more a part of hurling than Tyson biting Holyfield's ear was a part of boxing.

Sorry for sounding all serious, I just think hurling's reputation as being brutal is unfair, and it's certainly nowhere near as dangerous as rugby, say.

According to my aforementioned family member, the most violent part was always the post match fight between the teams. He reckoned it didn't matter who the teams were, there was always a massive scrap. And apparently Steve Staunton was absolutely hard as nails.