Cricket

Hat trick for Moeen Ali! First England spinner to take a hat-trick since 1938-39, first ever Test hat-trick at the Oval.

hero

love Moeen, makes up for Stokes missing the century/hat trick double yesterday

Nice day to be at the Oval today - wasn't sure it would be worth it, definitely was in the end.

https://www.facebook.com/testmatchspecial/videos/10155565558424904/

Good day for statisticians.

Match ending Test hat-tricks:
G Lohmann Eng v SA Port Elizabeth 1896
H Trumble Aus v Eng Melbourne 1902
M Ali Eng v SA Oval 2017

what would we do with mo

better than we'd do without

I was pleased they were making a game of it for a while there

really hard to think of many close Tests England have been involved in recently

basically because nobody can play test cricket any more.

I hate 20-20

Thoroughly enjoyed the West Indies victory earlier this week.

Also enjoyed Gareth Batty's response to the crossbow bolt being fired into the Oval on Thursday:

"Someone saw it in flight, there was a noise when it landed but it happened so quick. It is a deadly weapon for sure, if it had hit someone it would have caused some serious damage. It just shows the world we live in."

feel crossbow bolts being fired into county cricket grounds don't really represent 'the world we live in'? actually a bit more representative of the medieval period than 21stC Vauxhall?

Everyone banging on about it being a really serious incident amused me somewhat

i know. pictures of umpire looking seriously at an arrow. i mean it probably could have seriously injured someone, but response was v 'terrorist incident' and they seem to have boarded up the box windows in the OCS stand when i cycled past yesterday - those dangerous corporate hospitality insurrection bloc.

Tempting to say ‘lol Scotland’ but, really, the lols are on us for having to rely on such a massive slice of luck.

the lbw just beforehand as well

robbed

MEANWHILE...

!!!!!

that's the kind of news that really kickstarts your day

I wondered if there was a cricket thread! Jesus Christ, that's quite some news to wake up to.

Root out

Luckily for us, there's some excellent, tense cricket to watch, by way of therapy

(...I'm talking about Zimbabwe vs UAE! For now at least)

the next test in the current SA v Aus series is shaping up nicely as well

that was the implication haha

hah sorry yes!

I'm SHELLSHOCKED after England's HUMILIATION it would would appear

i am actually watching Zim vs UAE though

and at this point my reaction to team england is 'lol'

Instinctively, the shape of the side feels better with Root at 3 and Stokes at 5/Bairstow 6, but I'm not convinced about Stoneman or Malan, and we're totally seamer top-heavy. And that 'best tail in the world' tag is fast becoming a joke.

I kind of think that if Root wants to bat 4 he should bat 4. Malan did enough in Oz, he was our best batsman there, but Stoneman needs runs. Re. the tail, it's amazing how the "engine room" can suddenly look like a team full of bits and pieces players, but I think Stokes and Mo will both come good again

I think Mo needs a break. He looks frazzled.

Oh Zimbabwe! Oh the choke! We might get Mrs SV's lot on the WC too now! Although I'm probably rooting for Afghanistan

Bloody hell! doesn't that open it up for Ireland and Scotland again?

Ireland yes, Scotland no I see. C'mon the Afghans!

they did it!

Woo!

I claim (potentially spurious) Afghan heritage so they're my joint second team. Delighted they beat Australia's B squad today.

Shade thrown

Boyd Rankin, good Ulsterman

looking forward to Afghanistan knocking out England in the Super Sixes

Smith should resign, he's an appalling cheat.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/43526870

Australia's Cameron Bancroft has admitted he tampered with the ball during the third Test against South Africa - and captain Steve Smith says he knew of the plan in advance.

Smith said it was a "big mistake" but added he would not stand down.

He said the team's "leadership group" had spoken about it and "thought it was a way to get an advantage".

loooooooool

'lol england' vs 'lol australia'

cheating will kill cricket. Bradman will be birling in his grave

guy who played in Bodyline tour freaked out by ball-tampering

stepping down.... for rest of match. Fuck that, life bans required!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/43533070

'life bans' is ridiculous

this is all really funny though

ICC off the money

xp

not when they're aussies :D

I feel sorry for Bancroft and think he should face no further punishment but Smith should never play for Aus again, Warner should be sacked too along with lehman. Who else is in the 'leadership' group?