The Cricket Thread

[RichA]

Always thought he was a bit hit and miss. Seems to be in good form at the moment but whenever I see him he gets smacked around the ground so not sure he is consistent enough for test cricket

That's true, but as a replacement for Stokes he's a decent fit for a Baz test team; a relief bowler who can produce a bit of magic on a good day and capable of battering a quick 30 at the end of an innings.
And he's on a winning streak. Very much on form in The Hundred.

 

[Neilds]

Jimmy thinking about prolonging his career by moving into white ball cricket. Bold move as his last T20 match was in 2014!

 

[HomerJSimpson]

That's true, but as a replacement for Stokes he's a decent fit for a Baz test team; a relief bowler who can produce a bit of magic on a good day and capable of battering a quick 30 at the end of an innings.
And he's on a winning streak. Very much on form in The Hundred.

Test bowling average of over 35. Is that good enough these days? https://www.espncricinfo.com/cricketers/sam-curran-662973/bowling-batting-stats

 

[RichA]

Test bowling average of over 35. Is that good enough these days? https://www.espncricinfo.com/cricketers/sam-curran-662973/bowling-batting-stats

No - not for a front line bowler. But it's a replacement for Stokes so he'd be there as an all-rounder.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

No - not for a front line bowler. But it's a replacement for Stokes so he'd be there as an all-rounder.

Stokes is a tad better https://www.espncricinfo.com/cricketers/ben-stokes-311158/bowling-batting-stats but I do accept as a short term option it's a possibility. Of course there could be an argument for giving new blood a go but who would be the choices?

 

[Mudball]

Sad news indeed >> Graham Thorpe 'took his own life', family confirms >>

Graham Thorpe 'took his own life', family confirms

"We are not ashamed of talking about it - there is nothing to hide and it is not a stigma," Thorpe's elder daughter Kitty says

www.espncricinfo.com

 

[patricks148]

Sad news indeed >> Graham Thorpe 'took his own life', family confirms >>

Graham Thorpe 'took his own life', family confirms

"We are not ashamed of talking about it - there is nothing to hide and it is not a stigma," Thorpe's elder daughter Kitty says

www.espncricinfo.com

a great shame what happened to Thorpe. he was still one of England's best players when he was left out of the test team. he probably had a few good years left in him as a player, was he injured at the time?

 

[venger]

a great shame what happened to Thorpe. he was still one of England's best players when he was left out of the test team. he probably had a few good years left in him as a player, was he injured at the time?

It was more to do with getting pietersen into the 2005 ashes team than anything else. Thorpe just happened to be the unfortunate scapegoat.

 

[D-S]

What a game in the 100 eliminator!

 

[D-S]

It might be unpopular to say so, but I’ve really enjoyed the Hundred this year. A great contest between bat and ball with it not just being a slog fest as many T20 comps have become.
A few tied matches, a super over, teams defending 3,4 or 5 runs in the last 5 balls to win.
Some great performances by England players in both in the Women’s and Men’s tournaments.
A great showcase for the Women’s game which is improving so fast year on year with big crowds full of youngsters both boys and girls. Maybe not for purists but certainly very positive for the future of the game.

 

[RichA]

It might be unpopular to say so, but I’ve really enjoyed the Hundred this year. A great contest between bat and ball with it not just being a slog fest as many T20 comps have become.
A few tied matches, a super over, teams defending 3,4 or 5 runs in the last 5 balls to win.
Some great performances by England players in both in the Women’s and Men’s tournaments.
A great showcase for the Women’s game which is improving so fast year on year with big crowds full of youngsters both boys and girls. Maybe not for purists but certainly very positive for the future of the game.

It's been terrific. I've watched most of it and the only boring one was the first game - Invincibles v Phoenix at The Oval. Irritatingly, that's the only one that I actually went to.
I'd love to see Sam Curran back in the test team under Bazball.

 

[Arthur Wedge]

Such a shame that the county one day cup was still going on whilst the money grab for the test grounds was happening

Final in 3 weeks , Somerset vs Glamorgan

Before that we have the proper T20 contest with the blast Q/F then finals day

 

[RichA]

Such a shame that the county one day cup was still going on whilst the money grab for the test grounds was happening

Final in 3 weeks , Somerset vs Glamorgan

Before that we have the proper T20 contest with the blast Q/F then finals day

An alternative and less reactionary view would be that The Hundred introduces masses of kids and non-cricketing people to the game and gives young pros a chance to play for their counties while more established players are away for a month.

 

[Arthur Wedge]

An alternative and less reactionary view would be that The Hundred introduces masses of kids and non-cricketing people to the game and gives young pros a chance to play for their counties while more established players are away for a month.

The T20 introduced masses of kids from all over the country as opposed to just test playing grounds - the T20 competition that was massive for counties with a great finals day in August which has now been moved to accommodate the money grab that is The Hundred

But it’s not like the ECB give a monkeys about cricket outside test grounds

 

[Neilds]

Agree, they could have made the T20 more franchise based with more overseas superstars instead of coming up with a format that no-one else plays and try to shoe horn it into an already packed calendar. Counties lose enough players to the national side without losing players to the Hundred as well - especially with a (so called) major competition on at the same time.

 

[Arthur Wedge]

Agree, they could have made the T20 more franchise based with more overseas superstars instead of coming up with a format that no-one else plays and try to shoe horn it into an already packed calendar. Counties lose enough players to the national side without losing players to the Hundred as well - especially with a (so called) major competition on at the same time.

They are desperate to grab the level of finances that the IPL generates but it’s never going to happen because it’s trampling all over the county game - the counties are as culpable by taking the ECB bribes

The T20 was one of the best around - it was about the drama and the sport , just not rich enough for some

 

[Neilds]

They are desperate to grab the level of finances that the IPL generates but it’s never going to happen because it’s trampling all over the county game - the counties are as culpable by taking the ECB bribes

The T20 was one of the best around - it was about the drama and the sport , just not rich enough for some

The owners of all ten of the IPL franchises are bidding for the next round of the Hundred so expect the Mumbai Indian Lightning and Rajasthan Invincible in the next edition

 

[Arthur Wedge]

The owners of all ten of the IPL franchises are bidding for the next round of the Hundred so expect the Mumbai Indian Lightning and Rajasthan Invincible in the next edition

Feeder league time

 

[D-S]

An alternative and less reactionary view would be that The Hundred introduces masses of kids and non-cricketing people to the game and gives young pros a chance to play for their counties while more established players are away for a month.

I agree, it was great to see the different demographic in the crowd. Not so much of a drunken sing-along that the Blast is at times.

 

[Neilds]

England have gone for the extra bowler to replace Stokes by bringing in Matt Potts. Given how little Stokes bowled in the WI matches, think they could have gone for a proper all rounder - just don't ask me who