Cricket

[kaosmark2]

I've got tickets for 3rd and 4th day for the Headingley test against Sri Lanka. Really excited despite us being a bit crap.

[kaosmark2]

England snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. Again.

[Osama Jim Laden]

Dude.. 150-3.. Amazing how we collapsed, again!! Aussies bowled okay but it was only 220 ffs..

[lharris92]

poor batting, maybe if bopara hadn't gone then it could have been different. oh well onto the T20's

[lharris92]

bopara proving his worth there, if only the top order got a few more runs to give us a chance of winning it eh?

[kaosmark2]

bopara proving his worth there, if only the top order got a few more runs to give us a chance of winning it eh?

Bopara's only occasionally worth it.

Shit brand of cricket anyway.

[lharris92]

true, but recently most of them have only been occasionally worth it.

as for the brand of cricket, only caught the last 6 overs of our innings so didn't see how we fielded/bowled, but i know we dropped a few chances like always

[kaosmark2]

true, but recently most of them have only been occasionally worth it.

as for the brand of cricket, only caught the last 6 overs of our innings so didn't see how we fielded/bowled, but i know we dropped a few chances like always

No argument here.

I meant T20 rather than England. I think England need to play a more aggressive brand of cricket in all formats, but I'd rather watch a dour Test than a supposedly exciting T20. ODIs are somewhat interesting as batsmen still have to value their wickets and teams get bowled out, but T20 is just a slog contest. I've tried watching it a few times but 4s, 6s and wickets just aren't exciting where they're every over. It's not as meaningful. Football is the lowest scoring major sport in existence, but that's why it's so exciting, because goals matter so much.

[kaosmark2]

Flower's gone.

Damn right too. The Ashes is the culmination of 2 years of decline, horrendous in itself, but with hindsight it had been coming.

Edited January 31, 2014 by kaosmark2

[kaosmark2]

I would rather talk about his achievements to be frank... Which far out weight any criticism which may be due.

I think Flowers has done next to nothing wrong in his time. The only decline has been from some players losing form / personal issues / time to retire. Very little can be put at him door I feel.

He has been hugely successful and I wish him all the best.

I would of fought for him to continue.

I think he achieved brilliantly, the team he and Strauss built, culminating in an Ashes win away and a home thrashing of India was brilliant, but it's been in decline since then and hasn't been evolved well. I think we need a change.

[kaosmark2]

Fucks sake.

[kaosmark2]

It's utterly ridiculous. You shouldn't drop your best batsman just because they don't get on with some other players. It's management's job to make things harmonious, and he top scored for us over the series....

[lharris92]

agreed, really think they are going to regret making that decision.

[lharris92]

also, surely instead of them making the decision now, why not let the new coach - whoever that may be make the decision because if they come in and wanted pietersen playing, then they've had no say in this decision whatsoever.

morons

[kaosmark2]

Another sign pointing to Cook's failings as a captain:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cricket/26046932

I know there's a lack of other options, but surely, surely we need to get someone in with imagination, management capability, and the ability to examine a situation rather than follow a textbook formula for field placings?

[kaosmark2]

Pietersen for captain!!!!

I know it went badly, but I'm not convinced it'd be that much worse....

[Ed209]

Meanwhile Gooch still has a job....

He would have been first on my list to go

[kaosmark2]

Meanwhile Gooch still has a job....

He would have been first on my list to go

Appointed full-time batting coach after the shambles in the UAE.

Since then we've consistently underachieved with our batting.

[kaosmark2]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cricket/26106902

Be really easy for the players to trust Cook when they know that if they piss him off he'll try and get them dropped.

[pink_triangle]

I love it how the ecb release a statement explaining why he was released, then after I read the statement I am still none the wiser.

[lharris92]

don't know if anyone else is watching this ODI vs WI's but been quite interesting already.

we've used 6 bowlers already and there's 2 there who haven't been used. although saying that they are using it to prepare for the T-20 tournament coming up. what makes it even funnier was Root opened the bowling

[kaosmark2]

don't know if anyone else is watching this ODI vs WI's but been quite interesting already.

we've used 6 bowlers already and there's 2 there who haven't been used. although saying that they are using it to prepare for the T-20 tournament coming up. what makes it even funnier was Root opened the bowling

I've had it on in the background, weird as you say. Going well though.

[lharris92]

why haven't bopara or stokes bowled

[lharris92]

laughing at cook saying it took guts to sack pietersen...

[kaosmark2]

laughing at cook saying it took guts to sack pietersen...

Cook is a slimy little weasel more interested in his own position and own preferences than doing what is best for English cricket.