Cricket

67-8

Bells got us over 100 at least

110 all out. A fucking shambles.

I don't think Union is a class signifier outside of England, hardly.

A kind of relevant article I read yesterday: http://www.smh.com.au/news/sport/its-a-crime-how-footy-heroes-go-bad/2008/03/07/1204780065538.html

Also It's pleasing the NRL season starts next week :):):)

bump for ^^^ this article.

League is nothing in Scotland. We like Union

"We" being some border hill farmers and assorted bankers/ brokers/ lawyers in Edinburgh.

I don't think Union is a class signifier outside of England, hardly

Ha ha, right

Okay, I didn't know this. So Union is a poshoes sport everywhere except Wales?

I don't know about Ireland, but I would have guessed so there too

No it's NOT a fucking poshos sport!

Nor is Union a working class sport.

However folks of all classes play and watch it. I suppose it's predominantly middle-class.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/graphics/2007/09/01/wags/p4.jpg

It is in Scotland (xxp) Which is why next-to-nobody plays it or watches it

http://www.sportingheritage.co.uk/acatalog/spc416_jason_leonard.jpg

extract from an interview with Jason Leonard :

When did you first begin playing rugby?

The main sport at my school, in Barking, East London, was very much football. Everyone wanted to play for West Ham, the local team. Rugby took off under a new sports teacher who loved the game and it appealed to me immediately. I liked the idea that you could run round for 80 minutes knocking lumps out of each other

I know that Bath considers itself to be posher than Bristol because it's a rugby town and not a football town. Also football games at the Mem = public transport is packed, streets busy with pedestrians; rugby games at the Mem = roads crammed with 4x4s and BMWs.

Look POLO is a posho's game. Rugby Union isn't.

Aussies postpone tour of Pakistan http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/7288996.stm

lol awesome stuff there. Vettori on the last ball of the over goes for a single to keep strike, but the ball goes to monty who lets it go through his legs for a 4. 2 balls later Gillespie is bowled and David Lloyd says it was all part of the monty masterplan.
NZ 181-9 in reply to England's 342

League is nonsense. However, Union might be the best sport played.

... wait isn't this a cricket thread?

rong.

anderson's one good test for another 3 years (and 2 back problems)

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/counties/somerset/7297935.stm

and Vettori out for a duck. Didn't expect that. 3 wickets or 187 runs to win.

Billy Corgan is at the game!!

David Lloyd says Siamese Dream was a smashing album. lol
Roger Daltrey is there too.

Sidebottom and Broad are bowling really well. Impressive stuff. I hadn't realised Broad was so tall. He's 6'6 and still growing, so he might end up 6'8.
Used to love watching Joel Garner and Curtley Ambrose bowl. They were huge guys.

Mills out LBW. 270-8

311-9

Monty takes the final wicket Sidebottom shows his team mates how to catch the ball.. McCullum out on 85. Series is now 1-1.

Hair is back
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/7303232.stm

NZ collapsing like an English batting order here. Gone from 100-1 to 138-7
Sidebottom with 6 wickets.

Strauss makes a century!!!!!!!!!

And now Bell.

1 wicket to go at lunch.
Sky are showing the england fan from the other test falling while carrying his pint. I dont think i'll ever tire of seeing that. Hope its on youtube.

Here it is ! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fyc22i1hVbk
youtube says its a kiwi. It was amazing that it was actual live footage as it happened. They were focussing on the crowd pointing out all the crazy barmy army fancy dress and they picked up the drunk guy and then he fellover. The whole commentary were pissing themselves.

This was brilliant too http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lhP8d9U3RXI&NR=1

A win by 121 runs. Southee 77 not out after smashing sixes all round the ground in only 39 balls

Shoaib Akhtar given five-year ban
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/other_international/pakistan/7323360.stm

IPL has just kicked off, is this end of cricket as we know it?

Holy shit 158 off 73 balls from McCullum!

The first day of the first test and summer is....... where?

Any chance of this lasting til Monday does we reckon? The weather offers one hope that it might but by all accounts aren't England expected to give NZ a pasting?

They'll be extending each day's play should today be a wash-out. But yeah, a fairly good chance of play on Monday I reckon.

Then there's a fairly good chance I will be not at work on Monday I reckon. Still do cheapio final day tickets at Lord's right?

NZ 2/1

This ain't goonna last til monday.

Anderson will be swinging it about like no one's business.

NZ 104-5

pwn

Anderson will be shit for the next 2 matches then. The boys got talent if only he had consistency.

Captains innings from Vaughan, a century.
England 317-8. montys in to parter the skipper.

montys out 2nd ball

England 235-3 Strauss out for 106. 59 needed to win.
Will England collapse?

KP run out