Cricket

finally the crowd, realising its allover, have woken up and are celebrating

just like football world cups, a great tourney with a boring one-sided final as one team underperforms. Sri Lanka were never in with a chance,Pakistan always ahead and thoroughly deserved winners. Congrats to Pakistan.

Time for Official Ashes Cricket Thread 2009: England Vs Australia

Raises the prospect of day night tests

Andre Nel's a rum character isn't he? I mean, I'd seen him bowl in Tests, and knew about his suppsed alter-ego Gunter, but I went to the first day of Middlesex v Surrey yesterday and his oddness really stood out.

Following through to have words nearly every ball. HOWLING with despair when he felt that, if the batsman had played a different stroke and the ball had been a bit better, he might have got a wicket.

On one occasion when the ball flew through quite close to off stump he fell over as if shot, curled into a ball and started and went AAAAARGGGGHHGHH. He did get Shah's wicket next ball though, so maybe it worked.

Most amusingly of all he tried a weird double action for one delivery, which completely put him off his stride, the batsman, quite understandably, pulled out of the shot and moved away from the crease, the ball looped very slowly and very wide out of the top of Nel's hand, and eventually trickled into the perplexed batsman's toes. Whereupon Nel gave a MASSIVE shout for lbw. I think he was joking. I hope he was.

Highlight of the day - a 200 ball 48 from Billy Godleman. Jesus. Shah was good though.

And Harmison delivers a brute of a ball to Phil Hughes who can only fend it off to gully apparently. Should England play Harmison?

i say yes others say no

if we lose the 1st test he might get back in

Onions gets Ponting for 1 as well - loose waft apparently. I'd like to see Harmison play because I enjoy it when he sticks it up 'em so to speak, but I suppose selectors want people who'll repay them sticking with them, something Harmison has consistently failed to do. And, apart from the memorable opening spell at Lord's and those two amazing balls at Edgbaston (Clarke and Kasprowicz obv) he was our weakest fast bowler, in an admittedly strong attack. I say 'apart from', obviously they were all absolutely crucial moments.

the slow ball that got clarke was the pivotal moment in the series 4 years ago. That was the moment i realised we could win.I'll always thank him for that. Hes so frustrating as he has so much talent

That Nel post is quite superb.

Andre rouses the Cardus in us all

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/cricket/8128701.stm

ICC, please stop fucking around.

this is how nazi germany happened

"Some Test matches finish in four days and some in five and we want as many people as possible to turn up to these matches. We want Test matches in certain countries India to be more spectator-friendly," said Morgan.

I remember reading about a four day day night test match during the beer hall putsch, exactly the moment it started.

Nazis were always going on about the Four Hundred Year Reich Four Day Test

Quite a good barney going on on Sky just now, the Lancashire CC chief exec blaming everyone else (including the players!) for the match being abandoned on his waterlogged ground

can we plz acknowledge the forward strides of afghanistani cricket

If you weren't too lazy to link to this then yes, we could.

they totally won the 4-day game by 1 wicket, it was thrilling

should prob link to this too then, eh?

absolutely thrilled for them.

In Affectionate Remembrance of Dutch Cricket Which Died At Amstelveen on 26th August 2009
Deeply lamented by a small circle of sorrowing friends and acquaintances
R.I.P
NB: The body will be cremated, and the ashes taken to Afghanistan

Apparently Andy Flower was this close to playing the Headingley Test, before Prior's back sorted itself out

Wouldn't he have to become English first?

I agree with head honco from the Lancashire CC - the only reason why it was called off is because England is SOFT (because they knew we had them beaten in the first game before it rained) and because Australia is almost as SOFT as well. In the good old days, someone like a Lillee or a Merv would be out on the pitch screaming "POMMMMMMIIIEEESSSS COME OUT AND PLAAAAA-AY!!"

Anyway, I knew the lads from Kabul had it in them.

wow we're fucking destroying the poms in the one dayers. the selectors must be so proud of what they've acheived over there <3

ODIs is the only type of Cricket that matters.

otm

http://i29.tinypic.com/102wnrr.jpg

Ponting retires from international Twenty20s, undermines dignity by namechecking club sides:

"While I will no longer be available for Australian Twenty20 cricket, I look forward to playing with Tasmania's KFC Big Bash team where possible and to fulfilling my contract with the Kolkata Knight Riders in the Indian Premier League."

ODIs is the only type of Cricket that matters.

They don't call it ODI Match Special.

Got to love those Tasmanian KFC Big Bash guys, good on you Punter.

If KBP were awake, he'd tell you that KFC Big Bash is the pinnacle of Australian culture

...and he'd probably be right

Nah, it's beer snakes during an ODI match.

Good night!

Good night!

Why does Shah get anywhere near any England squads? He's the worst player ever to play for England in recent times. Cant believe there was actual morons who campaigned for him to get a chance. He's fucking useless.

TS: Kenny Miller vs Owais Shah

Scottish football vs English one-day cricket

Ponting retires from international Twenty20s, undermines dignity by namechecking club sides:

man you should see some of the corny as fuk advertisements he's on on australian tv -_-

so yuh that doesn't surprise me

The kids in Mumbai are right, Test matches are old hat. ODIs are back! THREE-NIL!!!

Cameron White should stay in at No. 3 btw. Ricky can have the rest of the tour off.

Please, folks, a big hand for your Natwest Series winners!!

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_al_2n52q1Eo/Rs6nfdHJuRI/AAAAAAAAANc/VuNfdaqGmR4/s1600-h/1077519.jpg

Shah hits form!

hell freezes over too

pigs in the sky celebrating Owais Shah

out for 98..