The Ashes.......

[DracoM]

But if you want to see a truly, truly bit of bizarre play, just check out what has just happened in South Africa, first test vs India.

SA needed 16 runs off 18 balls to WIN one of the most magnificent run chases in cricket. And instead of rotating the strike, taking a few chances, for some totally inexplicable reason Faf du Plessis, already with 120+ to his name and thus seeing it like a football, more or less stonewalled. Then it was 16 of 12 balls. Then du Plessis contrived to run himself out leaving Philander and Steyn at the wicket. Both are notable biffers, but did they hit anything? No, they left and they left. So it's now 16 off six. Suddenly, Steyn on the very last ball, smacks a six. End of match. Boos all round the ground. The SA crowd had gradually realised what they were watching - one of the most inexplicable ends to a famous test match in which the host country tried everything they could to STOP themselves winning. It was utterly bizarre. Lots of mega recriminations, and amazed commentary.

[amateur51]

But if you want to see a truly, truly bit of bizarre play, just check out what has just happened in South Africa, first test vs India.

SA needed 16 runs off 18 balls to WIN one of the most magnificent run chases in cricket. And instead of rotating the strike, taking a few chances, for some totally inexplicable reason Faf du Plessis, already with 120+ to his name and thus seeing it like a football, more or less stonewalled. Then it was 16 of 12 balls. Then du Plessis contrived to run himself out leaving Philander and Steyn at the wicket. Both are notable biffers, but did they hit anything? No, they left and they left. So it's now 16 off six. Suddenly, Steyn on the very last ball, smacks a six. End of match. Boos all round the ground. The SA crowd had gradually realised what they were watching - one of the most inexplicable ends to a famous test match in which the host country tried everything they could to STOP themselves winning. It was utterly bizarre. Lots of mega recriminations, and amazed commentary.

Has the spectre of match-fixing been mentioned?

[DracoM]

http://www.espncricinfo.com/south-africa-v-india-2013-14/content/current/story/703517.html

Some baffled fallout here.

I had the same thoughts as you, amateur51, and I bet we weren't alone. Perish the thought! A test match with a sub-continent team involved! Lese Majeste, mate!

[amateur51]

http://www.espncricinfo.com/south-af...ry/703517.html

Some baffled fallout here.

I had the same thoughts as you, amateur51, and I bet we weren't alone. Perish the thought! A test match with a sub-continent team involved! Lese Majeste, mate!

Well indeed, and with memories of the match-fixing history of RSA's Hansie Cronje coming to the fore.

[amateur51]

Day One belonged to Australia, with England relying heavily on Pitersen to create a substantial innings. But Day Two was definitely England's with Australia succumbing England-style leaving England 91 runs ahead and the Auistralians with only one wicket left.

Significantly, one of the batsmen left is Brad Haddin on 43 n.o., so who knows by how many that 91-run will be reduced.

A much better display by England - even Sir Geoffrey was pleased

[gradus]

Sir Geoffrey's hubris = inevitable nemesis for anyone batting at the time eg KP in the last session.

[hedgehog]

I think this shows up the weakness in application in the teams - England complacent then rattled in the first three Tests and now Australia lackadaisical. But I expect the 2nd innings to be different re Oz - could be quite a good finish!

[amateur51]

I think this shows up the weakness in application in the teams - England complacent then rattled in the first three Tests and now Australia lackadaisical. But I expect the 2nd innings to be different re Oz - could be quite a good finish!

Were England really complacent on the First Day of the First Test?

[hedgehog]

Were England really complacent on the First Day of the First Test?

Well, we'll never know But I mean more not concentrating on the task, making things work. The English bowlers now are doing what Australia managed to do - pin the batsmen down and/or take advantage that they are in a 20/20 batting mode. It's not that the wicket is suddenly so much different from the Gabba!

[amateur51]

Well, we'll never know But I mean more not concentrating on the task, making things work. The English bowlers now are doing what Australia managed to do - pin the batsmen down and/or take advantage that they are in a 20/20 batting mode. It's not that the wicket is suddenly so much different from the Gabba!

Not sure about that, The commentators keep emphasising that it's a drop-in pitch and Simon Hughes has made a vid about
'the blancmange bounce'

[hedgehog]

Not sure about that, The commentators keep emphasising that it's a drop-in pitch and Simon Hughes has made a vid about
'the blancmange bounce'

blancmange or jelly-legs on the wicket? Ahem. England. Deary, deary me. Well I guess 231 mightlook like a big score to get

[muzzer]

At this rate all the achievements of the last decade will vanish from the nation's memory quicker than you can say "Normal service resumed". Perhaps the PM needs to make a statement about it, that usually works......

[amateur51]

At this rate all the achievements of the last decade will vanish from the nation's memory quicker than you can say "Normal service resumed". Perhaps the PM needs to make a statement about it, that usually works......

"Keep smiling through, just like you always do ...."

[DracoM]

It was the first hour horror story - field placing....erm, what field placing? No 3rd slip, no third man, ball whanging lucratively through both positions, and the English attack bowling short and shorter. I mean, what genius of a strategist thought THAT one up? Whatever optimism the England team may have had stepping out to dismiss the last Oz wicket, would have evoprated in the MCG heat within fifty minutes, so that if you then bowl like that to a field like that, suddenly the long hot day stretches out like the road to nowhere.

THEN came Carberry.

When Cook and the rest of the watching team needed to see briskness and authority at both ends, Carberry honestly looked like a paralysed, clumsy, terrified night watchman, he could hardly get the ball off the drop-in square, and looked more assiduous beating away flies that clearly worried him rather than the Oz bowlers. The optimism would have drained out of the entire team as he dragged Cook back into crouching terror rather than playing each ball on its merits.

And, sorry to revisit this, but Root is NOT a No 3 in any shape or form. He needs time away from the Test team. He simply hasn't cut it.

The England set-up HAVE to move a better technician to No 3 and either move Bell there, and get Gary Ballance into the side at 5, OR nurture Jos Buttler as a lot better bat than Bairstow and a not bad keeper either coming in at 6. Or even better Steve Davies - already a regular opener, has international experience, and is day in day out very decent keeper. Oh for the days of James Foster or Chris Read. Or even the Prior of yesteryear.

And as I have said before - Lumb and Hales for Notts? No doubt we will see them in the ODIs, but why not in full team? Both bat regularly and prolifically high for one of the top counties. And my hobby horse - Onions and Borthwick - both are critically important parts of the champion county's potent attack, the one as deadly line and length bowler, the other as good and developing a No 4 as any in the country, and more than promising leggy, plus being a knock-out fielder.

The tired terror-filled, strategically bereft governorship at the top of the Test set-up needs to look very hard at itself. Cook is NOT an international captain. Almost anyone could captain when the powerful names on that list really fired - say 18 mths ago - but now, they need chiding, urging, admonishing and leading. Sorry, Ali Cook is too nice, too programmed, too unimaginative, too frightened and now too shell-shocked to lead. He might make a good deputy. Place him against Dhoni, Smith, McCullum, Clarke and you see what I mean.

Plain fact is that they are exhausted, played out, formulaic, and lacking basic techniques. It was a disaster already there signalled in the final throes of the UK Test series. They badly, no very badly, need sleep, boredom, and lots of time off.

[Serial_Apologist]

Religion promises a better hereafter...