Cricket

No need to be calling people immature just because you disagree with them though.

It's not so much disagreement as exasperation at the whole "stupid cunts mess up again grumble grumble we're the worst team in the world" attitude that Mr. Neuname is espousing. He's not alone either. We don't know whether England will win this Test, but what's clear is that they are very much on top with a 100-run first-innings lead at least (more if Harmison keeps firing).

But it's not "immature". Pessimistic perhaps, but not immature.

Yeah, I was more talking about

A very immature mentality.
A very immature mentality.
A very immature mentality.
A very immature mentality.
A very immature mentality.

and, to a lesser extent

it's always absolutes
it's always absolutes
it's always absolutes

Yeah, and I was only talking about those things in a cricketing context. You're a little guilty of ad hominem in this case, caek.

Harmison misses a 50 in the most predictable manner imaginable. Monty really is the biggest spacker in the universe. Bastards. String 'em up.

Not Panesar's fault that Harmison was desperate to get his 50.

They should both be hung from the players' balcony.

Anderson, OTOH, should be knighted forthwith.

Doing a Hoggard v Hayden on Smith!

Yeah, and I was only talking about those things in a cricketing context.

Try not to tell people they deal in absolutes and are immature in any context. This is good advice for anyone. (It's particularly good advice for you, so I guess that makes it an ad hominem.)

251-7, new ball, no second slip for de villiers and anderson swings one and it goes straight to where 2nd slip wouldve been.

Kerr, Tom D, yr team is shite

Trescothick = cheat. Yep.

A great player - I'm glad he seems to be happier now. We could really do with some Tresco-like performances from our current openers in the coming year.

haha wtf 84 all out and I missed it!

SOUTH AFRICA INNINGS

"Have the England team been at the Murray Mints again?"
Cookie Wookie in the TMS inbox

"Jacques Kallis said in the paper today that their last match was their worst yet. I wonder what he will say about this one!"
David, Aylesbury in the TMS inbox

1626: You won't see that again in a hurry - Broad finishes with 5-23 from 10, Harmison 2-4 from one, Flintoff 3-29 from seven, Anderson 0-26 from five. We'll have a 10-minute break before England's openers return to the fray.

83 all out actually and Nel was the top scorer with 13.
England 77-0. The games gonna be over in 40 overs. I don't suppose the crowd will mind.

37.1 overs all in. 10 wkt win

As someone on the BBC text commentary said, they could have that 20-20 game now!

So freakish one-off, or a brave new dawn for English cricket? I'm thinking the former...

it's just nice to not be on the receiving end of a result like this for a change.

well done matt prior for his 6 catches and one of them was spectacular to say the least.

SA just haven't turned up since going 2-0 up in test series.

Freddie batted quite brilliantly again though today. Which is good to see.

Patel with a five-for!

3-0 england with 2 games left

4-0

good times.

31 off 12 balls for Flintoff. Was trying to think of the last time england had such a good one day run, and came up with nothing.

most mature OD innings i've seen him play. that deft cut of his past gully was a particularly elegant stroke.

He's on fire at the moment- averaging 187 for nthe series by my calculations!

And he's taken 10 wickets at 12.9 too!

Sorry stats geeking out here...

Flintoff and Harmison have made a huge difference since they came back.

It's probably been mentioned upthread, but having them come on 1st and 2nd change- rather than, say Sajid Mahmood- has made such a big difference. They can really strangle the opposition from over 10 onwards.

ughh another Shane Watson "comeback"..

oshit i didn't realise he was player of the series or whatev in the IPL

he'll still fail innit.

HAY LOUIS HOW MUCH DO YOU THINK INDIA WILL DESTROY AUSTRALIA BY?

I THINK SEHWAG IS OTM RE 3-1

So a steady start from the Aussies. Who would have betted against a Punter century? I predict a high scoring draw for this one.

ya well this is the biggest series in years, of course nobody's paying it attention. whole thing depends on whether india's batsmen choke imho

also hearty lolz @ the idea (nay, the reality) of cameron white as the best test cricket team's spinner

That late wicket was important. Watson will be facing the new ball tomorrow morning.

australia could yet be bowled out for 350 or less, that lower-order looks like the sort that could easily either crumble, or put together a succession of very irritating partnerships. it all depends which india come out tomorrow. but with the arguable exception of clark (who got 44 in a tour match) they can all bat to a good standard, if not a very good one. mind you now i've said that haddin will get a ton or something

also i'm gonna go for 2-1 scoreline to australia, but reverse that if india fire with the bat

I think a lot depends on how well the likes of Lee and S Clarke feel comfortable against spin. My guess is not so much.

well hopefully australia's lower-middle powerhaus of watson white haddin will preclude the need for tailend runs (like england expects much out of lol anderson sidebottom panesar), but as i say stuart clark made 44 primarily against spinners who had wrecked australia's top and middle order, and both lee and johnson know how to play

plus, this hasn't been a spinner's pitch

at least we will be gifted the spectacle of cameron white trying to outfox tendulkar et al

Fair points all. And yes Tendulkar and co must be salivating! I reckon he'll pass Lara easily this match.