Cricket

I had a specific point which was nuanced and the concept of Bazball is ugh on purpose

However, it's been a good day I've been able to sit and watch for a change and the main thrill is watching England playing against the weekend's potential weather

When Bazball beats the English weather then talk to me.

Bazball is the enemy of thought is my big ish

I can barely believe this is happening. Someone on 5 live just said England haven't been 300+ for 2 in a match against the Aussies since 1985.

When Bazball beats the English weather then talk to me.

Or wins the Ashes.

Haven't watched much cricket since it went over to Sky 15+ years ago but reading about yesterday and you can't help but think this is the country we live in. A son of a banker playing a gambling one-off innings. Liew talks it up. I want it torn down.

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2023/jul/20/zakball-comes-home-as-crawley-rewards-englands-indulgence-in-style

he didn't play wildly, it's a slow-looking track and there's a good chance they'll lose a lot of the weekend so they're watching the clock

England are going to win the Ashes 3-2 this year, I can feel it.

Liew hardly talks it up. The key line in his article is "imagine, by way of a thought experiment, if a player such as Ravi Bopara had received the same kind of love and indulgence that Crawley has enjoyed."

I was looking at the conclusion. But yes there is an ambivalence to it.

"When it fails, of course it reeks of decadence. But when it works, the returns can be stupendous."

England are going to win the Ashes 3-2 this year, I can feel it.

Yes, the momentum is definitely swinging their way, the Aussies (Cummins especially) look as if they've have lost their nerve.

130 ahead. Declare at lunch or just before. They'll need to roll the Aussies this afternoon.

Might get 1.5-2 sessions on Sunday so it really comes down to today.

From The Guardian:

"Stef B writes in. “This amazing cricket has made me yearn for the good old days, when us in the UK could watch it live on TV, free of charge. I would walk back quickly from school and turn BBC2 on and enjoy the play. Any chance it comes back? Have a fair dinkum day.”

Strewth, cobbber. Zero chance, I’m afraid. The ECB is entirely dependent on Sky money now, nothing would happen without it."

Shame the Saudis aren't interested in test cricket this dick could've worked up a bit of outrage about it.

It's impressive nonetheless. Barstow 99 not out. Eng 275 ahead. Aus should be demoralised, we'll see.

To use a good Scottish word, Australia have been absolutely mollocated today.

Updated met office forecast has rain all Day tomorrow and Sunday now.

Australia will retain the Ashes.

Shame that this is how it looks like it's ending. Just needed one more session..

Kind of hilarious how the Aussies are crawling along at barely over two an over after England bazballing themselves out after 55 overs.

Whatever @stuartbroad8 did, it worked! 👀#BBCCricket #Ashes pic.twitter.com/InV6MSKQXF

— Test Match Special (@bbctms) July 28, 2023

Haha fuck McGrath there.

that Smith not out call sounded like proper close as fuck forensic CSI shit from the umpire.

I’m sure I’ve seen calls like that given out so many times in the past that I assumed as long as you had the ball in your hand it counted.

The only good thing about the Ashes ending is not having to listen to Jim Maxwell. McGrath isn't exactly the most gripping summarizer either.

the cricket stats guy has a really irritating voice. Here is an interesting stat for you m8. 3-1

He has a stat for absolutely everything and some of them are very interesting but there's far far too many of them.

your boys haven't got this yet calz

apparently statman is also a stand-up comedian and Edinburgh fringe regular, but I'd still rather hear his most boring stats than the racist smug twat Vaughany waxing lyrical about his dazzling career during tea break.

xp

none of these are my lot!

xxp

ffs earlier I was placing small wicket to go in the next over bets, didn't win once and gave up. sheeit, 3 wickets gone in the last 3 overs now!

make that 4

Interesting stat, that

Seems like our humble West Midlands heroes will be overlooked by the metropolitan elite yet again

— Rory Macqueen (@RNMacqueen) July 31, 2023

I thought at the time of that dropped catch by Stokes and the wasted review then it was going to be the Aussies day, that was dramatic!

Bazball = cheating.

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2023/aug/01/the-ashes-2023-fifth-test-australia-vs-england-aus-v-eng-day-five-team-drinks-locked-out-snubbed

umpires chose the replacement ball, take it up with them

my question is why the first ball was so crap

how does this work? if the ball gets damaged after so many overs do they even have some comparable used balls at hand for replacement? If they are still sore about that Bairstow stumping then that is about as churlish and pathetic as it gets.

Wouldn't be surprised if Emg paid them off.

Calzino: the replacement has to be of comparable wear and tear. This was not it, apparently

They should have some balls from net practice?

The umpires should have a whole stock of balls, in differing stages of wear and tear, which can be used as replacements. This sounds pretty dodgy to me. Anyway congratulations to England for, at the very last minute, preventing the first series win by an Australian team since 2001 while failing to prevent Australia retaining the Ashes

lol, even King Boy Pato wouldn't quite take that tone

(maybe he would)

(he's been very quiet for 3 Tests tho)

australia would have won if (lol) england weren't cheats or (more likely) the selectors finally got rid of Dave Warner

the first series win by an Australian team since 2001

... in England that is, of course.

Think the current arrangement- Enlgand getting bullyrammed down under, exciting close series here- suits everyone really

Which is good, cos I don't see it changing anytime soon

just saw the video of the "Boring!" heckler who annoyed Khawaja and Labuschagne as they walked up the stand. Was expecting it to be someone much younger, it's an old guy with a bald head and grey hair who obviously doesn't know much about test cricket!

nothing? absolutely nothing? you're losing your touch ilx

omg could be the rugby as well. day of high lol in prospect

if this doesn't bring KBP back nothing will

altho Aus have gotta sort themselves out first probably