The International Cricket Thread

[olaftab]

With respect tomd2103 that’s load of bollocks. Every country prepares pitches and selects bowling attack to suit their strength.

[taylorsworkrate]

I'd say the main difference in English conditions, isn't actually the pitches which by and large have been reasonably flat for a while, its the ball.

The dukes ball is the only ball that does anything for the seamers anywhere in the world.

[olaftab]

Again, I would have to disagree. Imagine you are cricketer having played all your cricket on the sub continent and then you turn up at Headingly to face an England all seam attack on a very green wicket prepared for the home bowlers and temperature struggling in and around 17 degrees, low clouds also making the ball swing. It's a totally alien and hostile environment but hey that's how and where cricket is played in this island. Any home advantage has to be exploited.

[olaftab]

Anyway what's going on with the pitch in Bengaluru? 10 fall for 46 on first morning but since then bowlers can't buy a wicket for love or money? India now 402 for 3.

[stubbsyandy]

Pakistan played better than us

[cdbearsfan]

Anyway what's going on with the pitch in Bengaluru? 10 fall for 46 on first morning but since then bowlers can't buy a wicket for love or money? India now 402 for 3.

Ffs.

[Meanwood Villa]

Anyway what's going on with the pitch in Bengaluru? 10 fall for 46 on first morning but since then bowlers can't buy a wicket for love or money? India now 402 for 3.

That seemed to do the trick

[paul_e]

Again, I would have to disagree. Imagine you are cricketer having played all your cricket on the sub continent and then you turn up at Headingly to face an England all seam attack on a very green wicket prepared for the home bowlers and temperature struggling in and around 17 degrees, low clouds also making the ball swing. It's a totally alien and hostile environment but hey that's how and where cricket is played in this island. Any home advantage has to be exploited.

Reusing the same pitch isn't exploiting the home advantage though, it's rolling the dice and praying you win the toss.

[cdbearsfan]

Looks like India might have done enough to survive with torrential rain now and more expected tomorrow.

[Meanwood Villa]

That's annoying

[olaftab]

Again, I would have to disagree. Imagine you are cricketer having played all your cricket on the sub continent and then you turn up at Headingly to face an England all seam attack on a very green wicket prepared for the home bowlers and temperature struggling in and around 17 degrees, low clouds also making the ball swing. It's a totally alien and hostile environment but hey that's how and where cricket is played in this island. Any home advantage has to be exploited.

Reusing the same pitch isn't exploiting the home advantage though, it's rolling the dice and praying you win the toss.

Hang on a minute, it's their ground, it's their choice, no rules were broken and there was an equal chance England could have batted first. And it's not that different from leaving a bit of grass on to suit your selected attack. They had a better spin attack so would have won despite the toss. Where is the problem?

[olaftab]

Looks like India might have done enough to survive with torrential rain now and more expected tomorrow.

I think there will be enough play tomorrow for NZ to knock off 107 or so.

[paul_e]

Again, I would have to disagree. Imagine you are cricketer having played all your cricket on the sub continent and then you turn up at Headingly to face an England all seam attack on a very green wicket prepared for the home bowlers and temperature struggling in and around 17 degrees, low clouds also making the ball swing. It's a totally alien and hostile environment but hey that's how and where cricket is played in this island. Any home advantage has to be exploited.

Reusing the same pitch isn't exploiting the home advantage though, it's rolling the dice and praying you win the toss.

Hang on a minute, it's their ground, it's their choice, no rules were broken and there was an equal chance England could have batted first. And it's not that different from leaving a bit of grass on to suit your selected attack. They had a better spin attack so would have won despite the toss. Where is the problem?

Woah, chill out, I didn't say they'd broken any rules, I just said reusing the same pitch is not remotely comparable to preparing pitches to suit your strength, for the exact reason that you agreed with. Whether they'd have won if they'd lost the toss is conjecture but the truth is that as soon as they won and batted first they were favourites, I just don't like the toss being that big of a deciding factor.

[olaftab]

Toss was not the big factor. A talented spin attack was. They had it we didn’t.

[Monty]

I'm with McCullum, it's part of the international game that pitches change around the world and within reasonable limits (England in India the other year) it's good and nice that teams get a bit of home advantage. Like, oh no is there turn in the subcontinent? How about getting on with it.