Cricket Banter

(09-06-2023 17:02 )Boomerangutangangbang Wrote:  

(08-06-2023 13:59 )Boomerangutangangbang Wrote:  

(07-06-2023 12:05 )Boomerangutangangbang Wrote:  WTC Aus v IND The Oval Day 4 Close
Toss India
AUS 469 (121.3 overs) Head 163 Smith 121 Carey 48 Warner 43 Siraj 4-108 Thakur 2-83 Shami 2-122
IND 298 (69.4 overs) Rahane 89 Thakur 51 Jadeja 48 Cummins 3-83 Green 2-44 Boland 2-59 Starc 2-71
AUS 270-8 dec (84.3 overs) Carey 66 no Labuschagne 41 Starc 41 Smith 34 Jadeja 3-58 Shami 2-39 Yadev 2-54
India 164-3 (40 overs) Kohli 44 no Rohit 43
Target 444

(10-06-2023 13:27 )Boomerangutangangbang Wrote:  

(09-06-2023 17:02 )Boomerangutangangbang Wrote:  

(08-06-2023 13:59 )Boomerangutangangbang Wrote:  

(07-06-2023 12:05 )Boomerangutangangbang Wrote:  WTC Aus v IND The Oval Day 5
Toss India
AUS 469 (121.3 overs) Head 163 Smith 121 Carey 48 Warner 43 Siraj 4-108 Thakur 2-83 Shami 2-122
IND 298 (69.4 overs) Rahane 89 Thakur 51 Jadeja 48 Cummins 3-83 Green 2-44 Boland 2-59 Starc 2-71
AUS 270-8 dec (84.3 overs) Carey 66 no Labuschagne 41 Starc 41 Smith 34 Jadeja 3-58 Shami 2-39 Yadev 2-54
India 234 (63.3 overs) Kohli 49 Rahane 46 Rohit 43 Lyon 4-44 Boland 3-46 Starc 2-77
Australia won by 208 runs (Target 444)

The margin of victory looks considerable, but you could single out the partnership between Head & Smith (285) as the most significant difference.

(11-06-2023 12:16 )Boomerangutangangbang Wrote:  The margin of victory looks considerable, but you could single out the partnership between Head & Smith (285) as the most significant difference.

Together with India throwing wickets away at crucial times Booms! A great advert for the World Test Championship final overall. Test cricket as it should be!

I was pleased to hear the Indian response in the after match presser, when he said that actually each series means much less (albeit without performing throughout - no final appearance anyway) than the Final itself! Sadly from my perspective - P Cummins stayed 'on message' - with the 'it is the ashes 'like it or not' that defines him and the Aussie players (and England clearly) in terms of their careers! Congrats to Australia on becoming the latest World Test Champions!

^^ What you have to accept is that cricket more than any other sport is deeply bound by its history records & stats. The Ashes being the oldest & original rivalry in the game, by its nature will attract the most attention.
I suspect from where you're coming from, for large chunks of its history the contest has been very one-sided & often not much of a contest at all. But during the same period around the world there has been many other equally one-sided encounters.

The WTC Final is a one off Test, the Ashes is a proper series. The place in the schedule is far from ideal, I would expect a closer or different outcome had the Final come at the end of the Ashes. Off the back of the IPL did India no favours.

If the WTC worked on a 4-year cycle instead of 2, they could have a 3 or even a 5-match series. If it is to carry more importance than an Ashes series, at least give it equal billing.

(11-06-2023 21:27 )Boomerangutangangbang Wrote:  ^^ What you have to accept is that cricket more than any other sport is deeply bound by its history records & stats. The Ashes being the oldest & original rivalry in the game, by its nature will attract the most attention.
I suspect from where you're coming from, for large chunks of its history the contest has been very one-sided & often not much of a contest at all. But during the same period around the world there has been many other equally one-sided encounters.

The WTC Final is a one off Test, the Ashes is a proper series. The place in the schedule is far from ideal, I would expect a closer or different outcome had the Final come at the end of the Ashes. Off the back of the IPL did India no favours.

If the WTC worked on a 4-year cycle instead of 2, they could have a 3 or even a 5-match series. If it is to carry more importance than an Ashes series, at least give it equal billing.

That has been largely true Booms but no, that is not where my views stem from. All Nations have their history and individual series that relate to it more than others, but the Ashes (and it is a recent phenomenon) has taken on this 'it is everything' mantle, particularly among those who wouldn't even give cricket a second glance otherwise, and a media that has hijacked it!

I get what it means to the players given the history, but I - as a long standing Ashes watcher - actually see it as being cheapened by the hype (thankfully not as much this time around - for as long preceding it at least - unless I have made an unconscious effort to avoid it which I don't think I have). My only point is that if Aus/Eng players see their entire careers as being defined by the Ashes, when their is so much else to play for - (the WTC obviously - do England want to even win it??) that dilutes the purpose and standing of test cricket overall! As Brian Lara said 'it has got nothing to do with us', so to see one series between the same two nations treated as a de - facto World Championship, just leaves me wondering??

In the eighties, it was a real spectacle, and yes had a special place, but I don't recall it being referred to - or anticipated in - the Hyperbolic nature it has been in the last 20 years! I will still watch (unless it becomes a one dimensional bat - fest) of course!

Booms I meant to pose this question! Did it not have the feel of something special to you?? I have to say, It did to me, and the play lived up to that billing! If Australia give even more to the Ashes cause than the shift they put in here, I fear for England - I honestly do!

^^ Without question, the 2 best Test sides, which makes it special, shame Bumrah was missing, he would be the X-Factor bowler in the match & bring the contest closer. Australia got on top & stayed on top despite India's fight.
Preparation was not ideal from both sides, which took something away om the contest for me.

Australia blew an away series in 2019. I share your fears for England this time.

(12-06-2023 20:23 )Boomerangutangangbang Wrote:  ^^ Without question, the 2 best Test sides, which makes it special, shame Bumrah was missing, he would be the X-Factor bowler in the match & bring the contest closer. Australia got on top & stayed on top despite India's fight.
Preparation was not ideal from both sides, which took something away om the contest for me.

Australia blew an away series in 2019. I share your fears for England this time.

That is true, and it speaks to the need for the Final to be scheduled - as you indicated yourself - with clear daylight between it and another WTC campaign kicking off! To have the next WTC 2 year cycle begin 5 days after the final, and include one of the finalists (although that is a twist of fate to an extent) is nonsense!

I watched the latest edition of the wisden podcast btw, and they referred to how the ICC just stand back and let - particularly India, but the 'big three' overall - rule the sport, when they should be governing it. This includes the pressing issue that they majored on - over rates, and how much play in the final - with 5 perfect days - was lost! I recall the days - as Butch raised too - when play continued until the overs were bowled, no arguments! Fines or bans do not work, so we need to get back to that as an absolute requirement. Sadly, to achieve it, it will mean disbanding the ICC and replacing it. Then hold officials/umpires accountable for failing to enforce it!

Seems as good a place as any to mention the '23 world cup qualification tournamant in Zimbabwe!

Ireland's campaign to start with, is almost over before it has begun! An absolute shocker against Oman (Campher left on the sidelines??...stupidity). Now today, Ireland conspire to chuck it away again against Scotland! Campher did play today (showing real frustration at having been left out of the first game) and but for him, this would not have been a contest either!

Ireland could not have got off to a worse start, standing at 70 for 5 at one point (haven't seen the nature of the wickets that fell yet) before Campher and Dockrell dragged them to a reasonable - but average - total of 286! - cue the all to common bowling frailities!!

Scotland stood at 117 for 5 and the Irish boys looked to be on course to get the first points on the board. Although Scotland managed the Inns (that important skill again) extremely well overall, to first hang on to Irelands coat tails, and then get over the line, Ireland gave them a helping hand with bowling that - at this level - just doesn't cut it - missing line and length fundamentals - together with understanding when to bowl over/round and use the crease far too often (these are not novice bowlers), and allowing Scotland the 'room to play'!

All the credit in the world, however, goes to Michael Leask for an inns that was as good as you would see from the 'Senior' batters (stupid term) in 'top table' teams, together with McBride at the top of the order, and his main partner when the 'chips were down' Mark Watt!

So Ireland look as though (Sri Lanka next) they will be booking different plane tickets to everyone else later in the year, as they stand at a crossroads now with the future! The coach (head in hands at the end) certainly is aware of the enormity of the task he has to pick them up, and find something to hang his hat on going forward!

This tournament overall, is highlighting again, the worth of 50 over one day cricket at a time when some are questioning its' future! This match went one way then the other several times, like the Ashes Test did! Fantastic 6 days of cricket!