Cricket

Also, Afghanistan lazily swatting the Windies away today. What a force they could be if they've learnt how to chase targets!

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2018/mar/25/steve-smith-must-go-australia-jason-gillespie

Footage has since emerged which it is alleged shows Bancroft putting sugar in his pocket during the Ashes, while Vaughan has highlighted the amount of tape certain Australia players wore on their fingers during the series. Both could be used to affect the condition of the ball.

Vaughan, who captained England to an Ashes series victory in 2005, told BBC Radio 5 live's Tuffers and Vaughan Show: "I cannot think that has been come up with over lunch in Cape Town.

"I look at the amount of tape some of the fielders have worn, particularly during the Ashes series at mid-on and mid-off. You don't have to name names, they know who they are.

"I am pretty sure it was going on throughout the Ashes series - but it was not the reason England lost 4-0. They still would have lost the series."

He added: "One unwritten rule is that you do not take an object out there to tamper with the ball. I am pretty sure the Australians and the players involved in that leadership group will face the consequences."

Vaughan is not the only former international cricketer to have his suspicions, with former South Africa fast bowler Fanie de Villiers saying he told camera operators to keep an eye on the Australians in the field while commentating in Cape Town.

"I said earlier on, that if they could get reverse swing in the 26th, 27th, 28th over then they are doing something different from what everyone else does," De Villiers told RSN Radio.

"We actually said to our cameramen: 'Go out (and) have a look, boys. They're using something.'

"They searched for an hour and a half until they saw something and then they started following Bancroft and they actually caught him."

does anybody believe Boof didn't know? I sure don't and I don't think the Aussie public does either.

It also seems like Warner is the chief culprit. Cant see him playing for Australia again nor Smith. They will taint any team from now on if they play.

It's hard to believe that Lehmann didn't know, but the team culture review that's going to happen should be enough to end his tenure before his contract runs out, after next year's Ashes.

I think that Smith will play at the highest level again, but won't be captaining his grade side let alone Australia. Warner will hit the KP/Gayle T20 circuit sooner rather than later. The threat for the other players and staff is that Warner might take a few down with him if told outright that his international career is over.

so game on at Malahide then...

Is it ever

If this doesn't bring Slop back to ILX, nothing will

Surprised Tom hasn't posted yet either

I only just noticed and an actual Scotsman scored 140 no, not an Aussie or a Springbok or whatever.

there must be some Scot-fixing going on here!

gadzooks!

Sweet of England to let Scotland get 371 really

Let's see if they can finish it by the 40th over, just for laughs

;)

lol

lol indeed

Oh my good God. Athers, Blowers, Boycs, Belly, Beefy, we gave your boys a hell of a beating.

Looks like a decent track, Brian.

watching this rather than the wc tbh

i know this is fast-food nonsense but

world record!

This is fucking mental.

Let's see those Australia faces.

Everything's coming up England!

LOL England.

maybe get somebody involved who gives a shit about Test cricket idk

India just have better players?

not mutually exclusive to my point

true

Ooh, getting pretty tense now.

England do have good bowlers at least

Indeed. At work today, missing this. Bah!

i've had "never in doubt" cued up for the last 10 minutes

never in doubt

Stokes for the madness.

Alastair Cook!!!

ah rats cocks

BEN FUCKING COX

UP YOURS WARWICKSHIRE WHEREVER YOU ARE

speaking as a (largely nominal) Bears fan i just wanted anybody but Sussex :D

haha that's cool then

my dad, good Droitwich lad, enjoyed this too

Prithvi has landed

...awkwardly, and is out of the first Test. How disappointing!

Yasir Shah is Warne without the sleaze

yeah that's a shame. Still think it should be a good series.

Yes.

We'd also talk about the Windies but SV might not be able to take it so

this is absolute trash from india. morons

Pujara is v good but it would seem that India are 100 or so runs shy.

Meanwhile Williamson looks like he might be doing a Kohli on Pakistan...

I suppose SV will have to start posting to this thread again

We will still contrive to lose but I am enjoying it while I can.

so predictable