The Cricket Thread

[HomerJSimpson]

Surrey holding out against Somerset. The BBC feed was full of Somerset fans bitching constantly about Surrey signing the Bangladeshi all-rounder for this game (because over half their team was on England call-ups). Yet all of them were totally ignoring the fact that the Taunton pitch had been completely fixed for a spin fest to suit their own team. Doing everything you can to win is obviously only OK for one team.

Wondering if they can get it done. Still need 130 to go and 7 wickets left

 

[Junior]

Banton scoring 40 odd without being able to walk was impressive. They put on 70 for the last wicket.

 

[Pathetic Shark]

Both teams had great 9th and 10th wicket partnerships. Watching the feed now. It's about to be all over in a draw. Surrey remain 24 points ahead with two games left.

 

[Pathetic Shark]

Just as they were about to shake hands, Foakes and then Sibley get caught at slip.

 

[Pathetic Shark]

Jeez this is unreal - it's like being dormie six with two putts to win the hole and now we're on the 18th. Seven down now. Livestream county cricket is pretty decent sometimes.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

7 down - game over

 

[Pathetic Shark]

Bloody yokels - and I live in the next county now.

 

[Grizzly]

What a brilliant day of cricket all round, with Surrey, Middlesex and Lancashire all losing!

Really pleased for Somerset; its all well and good accusing them of preparing a certain type of pitch but it did not, to me, look to be anywhere near the Ciderabad of old. It was good enough for 320 each in the first innings and even as it deteriorated, it was perfectly survivable, even on one leg. To my mind, Surrey lost a couple of wickets then bottled a perfectly makeable chase and tried to shut up shop.

As for Shakib, I don't blame anyone for being annoyed. Surrey had Cam Steel - who, lest we forget, was taking hatfuls of wickets early in the season - and chose not to barely bowl him. They could have played Amar Virdi, or one of their other prospects (the way Somerset did with 19 year old Archie Vaughan...) but instead, as they always do, resorted to their ECB-enhanced checkbook.

The right team, and the game itself, won!

 

[Arthur Wedge]

Surrey holding out against Somerset. The BBC feed was full of Somerset fans bitching constantly about Surrey signing the Bangladeshi all-rounder for this game (because over half their team was on England call-ups). Yet all of them were totally ignoring the fact that the Taunton pitch had been completely fixed for a spin fest to suit their own team. Doing everything you can to win is obviously only OK for one team.

Amazing how that pitch was fine for the first couple of days

 

[Arthur Wedge]

Banton scoring 40 odd without being able to walk was impressive. They put on 70 for the last wicket.

Superb innings - he has matured very well this season to be an excellent player in all forms

England continuing to ignore him is our gain

Great win but thing we wlll prob end up falling short again


Hopefully Banton is fit for the semi final and finals day

 

[Pathetic Shark]

The idea of producing a spin-friendly pitch is that it deteriorates until the end when it is unplayable. Funny, your previous alter-ego would surely have known that.

 

[Paperboy]

Looks like Somerset can't win, in the past the pitch was a road and not bowler friendly.
Now they maybe have a more even bat / bowler conditions, which then deteriorates and they can't win.
Always had a soft spot for them with Trescothick, Caddick and Hildreth - is he one of the best English batsmen to never get near the England setup?

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Looks like Somerset can't win, in the past the pitch was a road and not bowler friendly.
Now they maybe have a more even bat / bowler conditions, which then deteriorates and they can't win.
Always had a soft spot for them with Trescothick, Caddick and Hildreth - is he one of the best English batsmen to never get near the England setup?

That pitch was clearly set up for their bowling attack with the view it would turn significantly in the final innings. Wonder what they would have said had they lost the toss and had to bat last and deal with that turn

 

[Arthur Wedge]

Looks like Somerset can't win, in the past the pitch was a road and not bowler friendly.
Now they maybe have a more even bat / bowler conditions, which then deteriorates and they can't win.
Always had a soft spot for them with Trescothick, Caddick and Hildreth - is he one of the best English batsmen to never get near the England setup?

Do find it amusing

The pitch was good enough to last 4 days , for years counties have set pitches up to favour their bowlers and providing its fair then there is no issue

Surrey had the bowlers to cause damage but they didn’t bowl very well and a great stand by Tom B and Overton was massive , Surrey were comfortable for a while but some loose shots and good bowling did for them . Spending a fair bit of money to bring in a player for one match was quite amusing


As for Hildreth - will always be criminal that England never gave him a chance - it was the least he deserved, it’s the same with Abell , Gregory - both not getting a chance and it’s also prob going to happen to Banton , Lammonby Smead etc - but it’s good for us

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Do find it amusing

The pitch was good enough to last 4 days , for years counties have set pitches up to favour their bowlers and providing its fair then there is no issue

Surrey had the bowlers to cause damage but they didn’t bowl very well and a great stand by Tom B and Overton was massive , Surrey were comfortable for a while but some loose shots and good bowling did for them . Spending a fair bit of money to bring in a player for one match was quite amusing


As for Hildreth - will always be criminal that England never gave him a chance - it was the least he deserved, it’s the same with Abell , Gregory - both not getting a chance and it’s also prob going to happen to Banton , Lammonby Smead etc - but it’s good for us

I think had the toss gone the other way so would the result. Simple as that.

 

[Neilds]

Do people reckon that Somerset set up a pitch to cater for an 18 year old spinner with a couple of first class matches under his belt?

Got to love a good conspiracy theory

 

[Arthur Wedge]

Do people reckon that Somerset set up a pitch to cater for an 18 year old spinner with a couple of first class matches under his belt?

Got to love a good conspiracy theory

Would say it’s sour grapes but who knows

Vaughan JR looks like he may have a great career ahead of him

Got some great players coming through

George Thomas looks like the next one for England to ignore along with namesake Josh

James Rew and his young brother as well

Shame that Baker is leaving interesting to see how he goes

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Do people reckon that Somerset set up a pitch to cater for an 18 year old spinner with a couple of first class matches under his belt?

Got to love a good conspiracy theory

Not saying that. Just saying the toss proved vital for the way the pitch was set up to take maximum turn on the last day. Possibly why Surrey made their signing. The toss was always going to dictate the result.

 

[Grizzly]

Vaughan JR looks like he may have a great career ahead of him

I suspect he will return to his home county in due course.

 

[Grizzly]

The idea of producing a spin-friendly pitch is that it deteriorates until the end when it is unplayable. Funny, your previous alter-ego would surely have known that.

Ah come off it, that was not unplayable. The pitches that everyone complained about at Ciderabad - and quite rightly so - were the ones that deviated in all four directions from ball one a few years ago.