Cricket Banter

I def would love to see Jofra back bowling spearheading with Wood and if they have a good summer series against India, would be a huge confidence booster for the team for Down Under this winter.

Australia's Glen Maxwell has announced his retirement from ODI cricket.

WTC Final - Lords 11-15 June
Australia v South Africa- Close
Toss - South Africa elected to field
Australia 212 (56.4 overs) Smith 66 Webster 72 Carey 23 Rabada 5-51 Jansen 3-49
South Africa 43-4 (22 overs) Rickelton 16 Starc 2-10

(11-06-2025 09:26 )Boomerangutangangbang Wrote:  WTC Final - Day 2 Close
Australia v South Africa
Toss - South Africa elected to field
Australia 212 (56.4 overs) Smith 66 Webster 72 Carey 23 Rabada 5-51 Jansen 3-49
South Africa 138 (57.1overs) Bavuma 36 Bedingham 45 Starc 2-41 Cummins 6-28
Australia 144-8 (40 overs) Carey 43 Labuschagne 22 Rabada 3-43 Ngidi 3-35
Australia lead by 218 runs

I listened to an interview with Jimmy Anderson who was very dismissive of the World Test Championship, you could say he was quite grumpy, which is not at all like him.

The concept is a great idea, but the method reached to crown a champion team is flawed.
A true Championship would see every team playing all the other 8 teams over the 2 year cycle, arguable they should face each all teams home & away. Neither of these criteria have been met.
Furthermore some series are 1,2 or 3 matches, whereas others play 5 matches, which can be a disadvantage against stronger opposition.
With the finalists being decided on percentage of wins, playing less matches offers teams who do so less likely to incur losses & therefore protect their points percentage.

South Africa have played the equal lowest matches with only Bangladesh matching their 12. By comparison England have played 22. New Zealand have also profited similarly.

AUS V SA - WTC
Aus 76 - 7

27 Wicket have fallen in the two days and SA must be favourites

(12-06-2025 09:45 )Boomerangutangangbang Wrote:  

(11-06-2025 09:26 )Boomerangutangangbang Wrote:  WTC Final - Day 3 - Close
Australia v South Africa
Toss - South Africa elected to field
Australia 212 (56.4 overs) Smith 66 Webster 72 Carey 23 Rabada 5-51 Jansen 3-49
South Africa 138 (57.1overs) Bavuma 36 Bedingham 45 Starc 2-41 Cummins 6-28
Australia 207 (65 overs) Starc 58 no Carey 43 Labuschagne 22 Rabada 4-59 Ngidi 3-38
South Africa 213-2 (56 overs) Markram 102 no Bavuma 63 no Mulder 27 Starc 2-53
Target 282

After South Africa made the early breakthrough with Rabada removing Lyon, Australia have since extended their lead to beyond 250. With the quality of Australia's bowlers, what seems on the surface to be a relatively modest chase, it is looking like a monumental challenge. Tradition points to day 3 at Lords as the best for batting & the relative ease that Starc has shown in the first hour of the morning points to that.

As Bradley Walsh would say "The Chase is on " With a 282 target South Africa are at the limit as their team batting average is 291.55.

(13-06-2025 09:27 )Boomerangutangangbang Wrote:  

(12-06-2025 09:45 )Boomerangutangangbang Wrote:  

(11-06-2025 09:26 )Boomerangutangangbang Wrote:  WTC Final - Day 4 Session 1
Australia v South Africa
Toss - South Africa elected to field
Australia 212 (56.4 overs) Smith 66 Webster 72 Carey 23 Rabada 5-51 Jansen 3-49
South Africa 138 (57.1overs) Bavuma 36 Bedingham 45 Starc 2-41 Cummins 6-28
Australia 207 (65 overs) Starc 58 no Carey 43 Labuschagne 22 Rabada 4-59 Ngidi 3-38
South Africa 282-5 (83.4 overs) Markram 136 Bavuma 66 Mulder 27 Bedingham 21 no Starc 3-66
South Africa won by 5 wickets