The International Cricket Thread

[Rory]

"The Hour" sounds intriguing. Great idea Rory, any additional chances to win honours should be embraced.

Why thank you!

[dave.woodhall]

As someone who cares as much for cricket as he does for caterpillar racing, it strikes me as no surprise that England are shite in tests when they spend a big chunk of the season playing all these different competitions. It's like having a five a side tournament in the middle of the football season then wondering why we don't win the World Cup. 

[Chico Hamilton III]

We got our tickets recently for the South Africa test at the Oval in September - the Saturday, which will no doubt clash with a big Villa game. It’s amazing how test cricket suddenly becomes important again when it comes to setting ticket prices.

[Rotterdam]

I still don't see anything The Hundred has over the Blast that couldn't be remedied with marketing. Is anybody who isn't already interested in cricket going to show up for The Hundred? And if they do, is a different number of balls per over going to make it uniquely attractive or help them get into the other formats?

For cricket fans, it's messing with the format in an unnecessary way, with less cricket to watch.

For non-cricket fans, whether it's 100 or 120 balls, it's a chance to get drunk in the open air on a summer evening with blokes smashing a ball about the place.

I can only think it's the product of a committee of PR morons who think cricket is too complicated because they can't process more than one number at a time, so have taken a punt on decimalising it.

No different to introducing a new trophy in football called 'the hour' whereby each half is 30 minutes, the goals are widened and for ten minutes of each half there is a limit on the number of defenders you can play.

Talking to someone recently ITK, the ECB were looking for a format they could potentially export and make money from. They are desperate to get India involved for obvious reasons and hopefully franchise out the format to claw back some of the huge investment they've made.  If The Hundred hasn't taken off in Australia in the next couple of years and then the sub-continent,  it will probably falter. India is the key, but they don't want it impacting on the IPL.

PS I hated it last summer and will do so again.

[Meanwood Villa]

I went to watch a Hundred match last year so maybe I am part of the problem but expecting it to take off in India is nuts. The IPL is the established short format tournament in the world. They don't need it.

[Jon Crofts]

Englands day in the Fourth Test.





Because England didn’t bat and aren’t 38 for 4.

[PaulWinch again]

Yes quite we’ve done alright with the ball there, but Australia probably already have too many runs.

[PaulWinch again]

As an aside Bangladesh winning a Test in New Zealand is an incredible result. It was a thrashing as well. Well done to them.

[Risso]

I'd say it was an even day for England, which is obviously a massive improvement. They need to get Smith out cheaply now. Not that it really matters, as Paul says, we'd struggle to match their batting total already over two innings...

[Nunkin1965]

As someone who cares as much for cricket as he does for caterpillar racing, it strikes me as no surprise that England are shite in tests when they spend a big chunk of the season playing all these different competitions. It's like having a five a side tournament in the middle of the football season then wondering why we don't win the World Cup.

This test feels like when Villa score in the 5th minute of injury time and we're 0-3 behind.
At least Caterpillar races tend to last longer than an England Test innings.

[PaulWinch again]

Giles’s interview with Simon Mann was really poor, came across defensive and didn’t appear to have any clear ideas except trying to suggest the individuals involved in the decision making aren’t accountable for the failures.

[Steve67]

Giles’s interview with Simon Mann was really poor, came across defensive and didn’t appear to have any clear ideas except trying to suggest the individuals involved in the decision making aren’t accountable for the failures.

Giles needs to sack himself.  Did well with the Bears but way out of his depth in the test arena, sadly. Nice guy and great player, despite me supporting the Pears but he and Silverwood need to step down.

[dcdavecollett]

Wow!

Corporate arse-covering! Who would have guessed it?

[PaulWinch again]

Oh dear. Dropped catches again.

[Risso]

Giles’s interview with Simon Mann was really poor, came across defensive and didn’t appear to have any clear ideas except trying to suggest the individuals involved in the decision making aren’t accountable for the failures.

Giles needs to sack himself.  Did well with the Bears but way out of his depth in the test arena, sadly. Nice guy and great player, despite me supporting the Pears but he and Silverwood need to step down.

He's got that annoying habit of saying 'OK' after he's made a statement, as if he's forcing the listener to agree with what he's saying. OK?