Cricket Banter

^^ This was a massive win for South Africa, & a great captain's knock of 96 not out from Elgar, who took some blows from a top India pace attack. With de Kock retired much will depend on Elgar, as the rebuilding process continues. The once fast & hostile Duanne Olivier is back after a Kolpak spell with Yorkshire, he is 10mph slower, but still taking wickets.

The Bangladesh win was an complete team performance, with the batting unit delivering 4 half-centuries in the top 6, the first innings lasted a mammoth 176.2 overs. The pace bowlers took 13 of the 20 wickets, which is a team high.

Williamson has to be the most esthetically pleasing batsman in this era. I have been lucky enough to watch many of his innings, during his spells as a Yorkshire's overseas player. This has been a long standing injury, & surgery is a last resort, as they have tried to give him periods of rest in the past to manage it.
Not only a talented batsman, but his temperament sets him apart.

(07-01-2022 14:12 )Boomerangutangangbang Wrote:  ^^ This was a massive win for South Africa, & a great captain's knock of 96 not out from Elgar, who took some blows from a top India pace attack. With de Kock retired much will depend on Elgar, as the rebuilding process continues. The once fast & hostile Duanne Olivier is back after a Kolpak spell with Yorkshire, he is 10mph slower, but still taking wickets.

The Bangladesh win was an complete team performance, with the batting unit delivering 4 half-centuries in the top 6, the first innings lasted a mammoth 176.2 overs. The pace bowlers took 13 of the 20 wickets, which is a team high.

Williamson has to be the most esthetically pleasing batsman in this era. I have been lucky enough to watch many of his innings, during his spells as a Yorkshire's overseas player. This has been a long standing injury, & surgery is a last resort, as they have tried to give him periods of rest in the past to manage it.
Not only a talented batsman, but his temperament sets him apart.

Agree with all those points!. It is a 'skill' that has largely gone out of the game thanks to ever poorer pitches (yes I do mean poorer) which have largely become batsman friendly way too much, that Elgar showed. The guts to stand up to the Indian attack, and be prepared to wear the 'blows' which inevitably followed as 'badges of honour', which deserves huge respect. Few are willing - or indeed - able to do so anymore it seems!

Bangladesh showed that they may have finally found a formula that suits them, and the personnel with no baggage to carry it forward. Lets hope so!!

I saw an extra cover drive and a forward defensive from K Williamson before he became a subject of interest to the wider public (can't quite remember when) and thought with the technical ability he showed, that he would be a 'player'. As i said, hope we get to see him for a good while longer

2nd Test New Zealand v Bangladesh Christchurch Day 1 Close
Bangladesh won the toss & elected to field
NZ 349-1 (90 overs) Young 54 Latham 186 no Conway 99 no

(09-01-2022 12:40 )Boomerangutangangbang Wrote:  2nd Test New Zealand v Bangladesh Christchurch Day 2 Close
Bangladesh won the toss & elected to field
NZ 521-6 dec (90 overs) Young 54 Latham 252 Conway 109 Young 54 Blundell 57 no Shoriful 79-2 Ebadot 2-143
BAN 126 (42.2 overs) Yasir Ali 55 Nurul Hasan 41 Boult 5-43 Southee 3-28 Jamieson 2-32

(10-01-2022 13:51 )Boomerangutangangbang Wrote:  

(09-01-2022 12:40 )Boomerangutangangbang Wrote:  2nd Test New Zealand v Bangladesh Christchurch Day 3 Close
Bangladesh won the toss & elected to field
NZ 521-6 dec (90 overs) Young 54 Latham 252 Conway 109 Young 54 Blundell 57 no Shoriful 79-2 Ebadot 2-143
BAN 126 (42.2 overs) Yasir Ali 55 Nurul Hasan 41 Boult 5-43 Southee 3-28 Jamieson 2-32
BAN 278 (f/o) 79.3 overs Das 102 Nurul Hasan 36 Jamieson 4-82 Wagner 3-77
New Zealand won by an innings & 117 runs

Ross Taylor signed off his Test Match & International career with the wicket that gave New Zealand victory over Bangladesh.

South Africa v India 2nd Test Cape Town Day 1 Tea
India won the toss & elected to bat
IND 223 (77.3 overs) Kohli 79 Pujara 43 Rabada 4-73 Jansen 3-55
NZ 17-1 (8 overs)

Back to earth with a bump for Bangladesh! Disappointing for true test match cricket fans, as a Tigers side that finally showed some consistancy in performance could only be a positive for the sport!! I thought that they finally had a template for the future?? hopefully that is still the case, but they need someone to work on their psychology, and mental frailties, as it is as much that as technical issues (as they proved in the first test) at play here I reckon.

Kudos to Virat Kohli for the way in which he stuck to the task today, despite being nowhere near his best!! Saw signs though, as his innings progressed, of the fluency of shot making that we have come to expect and admire! It was old school test match cricket from him against some outstanding bowling, and all the better for that! Suni got it right when he described it as an outstanding watch or words to that effect, and It was!! The ICC need to ensure that playing conditions are more like this at all times, so that innings such as that shown from Virat today are seen for the high skill - both technically, and mentally - it was!! This was connoissseur cricket for the knowledgeable fan. Wait though, for the 'purist' description to be used. That is the usual put down from those that don't understand cricket!

^^ The battle between Kohlii & Rabada was one of the best I've seen for a long time, compelling stuff, with Kohli resisting for long periods, before Rabada finally took his wicket.

South Africa v India 2nd Test Cape Town Day 2
IND 223 & 57-2 (17 over)
SA 210 (76.3 overs) Petersen 72 Bumrah 5-42 Shami 2-39 Yadav 2-64