World Cup and Test Cricket 2019

[muzzer]

I’ve been playing cricket for longer than I care to remember and I don’t understand the DRS, let alone the rule cited by Simon Taufel mentioned above, that the batsmen had or hadn’t crossed when the throw was made which ran one of them out, or didn’t. But he’s right, it would appear. It’s Geoff Hurst’s second goal all over again.....

I really don’t think you can have joint champions. But in a post truth world, all is possible surely. And cricket is likely to survive the impending armageddon precisely because it is played almost exclusively by former colonies. But that’s another discussion.

[LHC]

While it is true that England benefited from some fortuitous events towards the end of the match, it should be remembered that New Zealand had their own lucky moments as well.

Firstly, the match was played at Lords on a pitch that suited New Zealand's style of play and tactics more than England's (I think England's winning percentage at Lords is less than 50%. If it had been played at Edgbaston, I suspect the result would have been very different). New Zealand were also lucky enough to win the toss so that they could bat first. I understand that 17 of the last 21 teams batting first in CWC had won, and the last four teams batting first had won at Lords. So they had the most favourable conditions they could have hoped for, and were only denied by the smallest of margins.

[DracoM]

True.

[teamsaint]

I’ve been playing cricket for longer than I care to remember and I don’t understand the DRS, let alone the rule cited by Simon Taufel mentioned above, that the batsmen had or hadn’t crossed when the throw was made which ran one of them out, or didn’t. But he’s right, it would appear. It’s Geoff Hurst’s second goal all over again.....

I really don’t think you can have joint champions. But in a post truth world, all is possible surely. And cricket is likely to survive the impending armageddon precisely because it is played almost exclusively by former colonies. But that’s another discussion.

When I followed cricket in a devoted fashion, ( and played for many years) I always feared the Germans taking the game up in a serious manner.

My other fear was finding myself bowling at guys who had played a few games for Hampshire seconds........

As regards armageddon, I tend to hang on to FDR's words about fear right now.

[teamsaint]

While it is true that England benefited from some fortuitous events towards the end of the match, it should be remembered that New Zealand had their own lucky moments as well.

Firstly, the match was played at Lords on a pitch that suited New Zealand's style of play and tactics more than England's (I think England's winning percentage at Lords is less than 50%. If it had been played at Edgbaston, I suspect the result would have been very different). New Zealand were also lucky enough to win the toss so that they could bat first. I understand that 17 of the last 21 teams batting first in CWC had won, and the last four teams batting first had won at Lords. So they had the most favourable conditions they could have hoped for, and were only denied by the smallest of margins.

Quite.

So it goes in sport. And to be honest, though I do approve of VAR/DRS etc, a good part of the fun of sport is the " What if" factor.

imagine the trudge home from SMS or wherever in the November rain after a home defeat with no " What if" Lino/Ref/sheer bad luck moments to console us.

[Belgrove]

After the mayhem of the World Cup Final, some semblance normal service being resumed was anticipated for the inaugural Test against Ireland at Lord's - but it was not to be. A match spanning the hottest day on record was concluded in just seven sessions, two of which contained an innings by either side, two five-wicket hauls and a notable match-saving innings by a night-watchman. To top that, after the thunder storm had cleared on the final morning, Ireland were dismissed for a record low total at Lord's. Phew - and the main event of the summer is still to come with the Ashes, commencing this Thursday.

I'm not sure that England can take much from the win against Ireland other than they did not lose. The Ashes is certain to be a bowler's series with pitches prepared to suit England's impressive attack. Archer has already drawn Australian blood, expect more. I'm not anticipating many high scoring matches, but that always adds to the excitement. Expect Messrs Smith and Warner to be kept well away from the Hollies Stand at Edgbaston.

[LMcD]

Did the (winning) England captain complain about the pitch:
(a) to save Ireland's blushes; or
(b) to get the Irish on side when the backstop next comes up for discussion; or
(c) in the hope that a better pitch is provided for the Test Match against Australia; or
(d) to manage the expectations of any England fans who might be in danger of getting carried away?

[DracoM]

All four, I'd say!!

[johncorrigan]

I was sad to see the death announced of Glamorgan's Malcolm Nash at 74. I suppose that if you are always going to be recalled, you couldn't choose many better to be linked to than Sir Garfield Sobers, even if you were on the receiving end. Here is 1968...often wondered about the 5th one...the fielder almost seems to fall over the boundary rope comedy style.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KZUVL3SqqZo

:daff2:

[DracoM]

How many more times is Umpire Joel Wilson to be proved incorrect in his decision-making?

[cloughie]

I was sad to see the death announced of Glamorgan's Malcolm Nash at 74. I suppose that if you are always going to be recalled, you couldn't choose many better to be linked to than Sir Garfield Sobers, even if you were on the receiving end. Here is 1968...often wondered about the 5th one...the fielder almost seems to fall over the boundary rope comedy style.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KZUVL3SqqZo

:daff2:

Indeed Malcolm was a good solid county cricketer who was one of Glamorgan’s regular bowlers for many seasons and that over the years has been overshadowed by being tonked on an afternoon in Swansea by a Sir Gary, with his eye in. I suppose in the plus side he didn’t have to dig in his pockets much to buy a drink thereafter! RIP Malcolm

[antongould]

Indeed Malcolm was a good solid county cricketer who was one of Glamorgan’s regular bowlers for many seasons and that over the years has been overshadowed by being tonked on an afternoon in Swansea by a Sir Gary, with his eye in. I suppose in the plus side he didn’t have to dig in his pockets much to buy a drink thereafter! RIP Malcolm

..... and as so often the rampant forces of commerce retrospectively ruined the historic event to Nash’s disgust, with Christie’s getting in on the act “Nash's problem with Christie's is simple: he bowled one Stuart Surridge to Sobers six times. It wasn't a Dukes or the third of three balls used in the over - as the lot notes erroneously claimed. Since the sale, Christie's have played a consistently straight bat - citing the accompanying certificate of provenance, signed by Sobers, stating "that this signed cricket ball was bowled during the over in which I hit six sixes off Malcolm Nash…"”

[burning dog]

Nash was experimenting with medium-ish finger spin in the style of Derek Underwood rather than his usual medium-fast seam up. Coincidentally I was at Folkestone cricket that day. Kent put together a huge score against Northamptonshire, John Sheperd scored 150 plus . Underwood was playing for Kent. He had just bowled out the Aussies at the Oval in the "D'Oliviera Test"

[DracoM]

Ashes- what next?

1. Drop Moeen Ali: invertebrate batting, ineffectual bowling.
2. Stop suggesting that it all happened because that 'magician' James Anderson wasn't bowling. Self-deceiving guff. We need to build for future.
3. Drop Roy - that dismissal reveals a disgraceful failure to respond to team's state in his very FIRST Ashes match. We learnt a lot - actually too much.
4. Pick Leach as decent spin bowler. Can bat too.

Just a few thughts.

[gurnemanz]

Michael Vaughan claims that England's poor showing in the 1st Ashes Test is down to winning the World Cup. Australia played only one game less. Should winning a major trophy not give your confidence a boost? I could understand New Zealand being deflated. I heard Glenn McGrath predict a 5-0 victory for the Aussies, but I'm pretty sure England will get their act together.