Cricket chat

Cheers BD. Yeah I think I’d rather see a wicket like that than something too batter friendly. Watching quality bowlers toil away on flat decks is painful & harms the game I reckon. I love test cricket & it’s pretty rare to see a two day test, so if there’s the odd one, so be it :-)

Edit: Agreed Linez. That said Warner is fast running out of credits for past form IMO.

Cheers @rab. Yep agree,
@linez do you reckon that the T20 format of the game being so prevalent in the last 5-10 years has affected the way quality batsmen approach a test innings? That's kinda what it seems like out there...that batsmen forget that it's a 5 day test and you don't have to try to swing like a dunny door blowing in the wind for every single ball.

All good lads, only saw the last hour today. However, that covered 8 overs, 4 wickets, 35 runs, 19 of which were extras. Some poor batting no doubt but not normal. Under 2 days is a poor advertisement for the game of test cricket. The players reckon the pitch was an issue.
https://www.theage.com.au/sport/cricket/it-started-too-green-greats-ques...

Some interesting opinions there Blackers. Unsafe? Seen way more dangerous wickets in the past. For me personally, the death of test cricket won’t come about via green tops & the odd two day test but rather from the lifeless “concrete roads” where both sides make 500 plus which end up with a predictable boring draw. Having been a turf wicket curator in a previous life it’s certainly a tricky business preparing good wickets for the longer format. Unfortunately given it’s all about revenue at the highest level, these short test match anomalies are seriously frowned upon.

BD, yeah T-20 has had to have an impact given the money involved. I have the view though, that the honour of being a successful test cricketer with the history of the game in mind, outweighs the money.

And I might add, how good is Kerry O'Keefe

That second point you make is probably quite accurate @linez. Look at the West Indies. A career pathway in a bumbling cricket team or a career pathway in the lucrative NBA for a carribean athlete?
And i'm on ch7 commentary (thankfully it's one of two channels we get down here!) but skull is a legend. Good listening to the Ponting/Langer/Haydos and Blewett riffing on 7 though.

velocityjohnno wrote:

Got a hattrick in a primary school game, haha! I could legspin pretty well from early on.
This has to be one of the most thrilling sessions I have seen on test TV.

Was working in country Vic about 2003, stopped off for lunch at the cricket oval, it was Castelmaine vs Coleraine I think, saw 5 wickets fall in 20 mins, that was pretty epic

Congrats on the primary school hattrick VJ!! These things should never be overlooked!! On the topic of hattricks, here's a bit of classic footage of a Pete Siddle hattrick at the Gabba in the ashes. Some of the most electrifying footage you'll see from cricket. And to add to that, at a time when Warney is being highly celebrated and remembered, as he rightly should be, he's at it in classic Warney style in the commentary booth with Tubby Taylor. Just stumbled on this after the first day of play today, which by the way, was highly entertaining, if not a little dissappointing again by the South Africans. Apart from that partnership they really looked dismal. Should be an easy victory for Australia based on current match form, and great to see Davey Warner come out swinging like the little mad dog that he is!!
Here's the Peter Siddle Hattrick. Well worth 5 minutes of any cricket fans time. Enjoy

Playing indoor a couple of years ago, a mate came in as a fill-in, had knocked over a few schooies for his warm up.

Anyway, we’re playing one of the better teams in the comp and there’s two really arrogant fwits at the crease.

Our mate gets thrown the ball. He bowls absolute pies but his Over goes like this:
Wide - wide - wicket - wicket - wicket - wide

He’s dined out on that hat trick for years now.

bluediamond wrote:

velocityjohnno wrote:

Got a hattrick in a primary school game, haha! I could legspin pretty well from early on.
This has to be one of the most thrilling sessions I have seen on test TV.

Was working in country Vic about 2003, stopped off for lunch at the cricket oval, it was Castelmaine vs Coleraine I think, saw 5 wickets fall in 20 mins, that was pretty epic

Congrats on the primary school hattrick VJ!! These things should never be overlooked!! On the topic of hattricks, here's a bit of classic footage of a Pete Siddle hattrick at the Gabba in the ashes. Some of the most electrifying footage you'll see from cricket. And to add to that, at a time when Warney is being highly celebrated and remembered, as he rightly should be, he's at it in classic Warney style in the commentary booth with Tubby Taylor. Just stumbled on this after the first day of play today, which by the way, was highly entertaining, if not a little dissappointing again by the South Africans. Apart from that partnership they really looked dismal. Should be an easy victory for Australia based on current match form, and great to see Davey Warner come out swinging like the little mad dog that he is!!
Here's the Peter Siddle Hattrick. Well worth 5 minutes of any cricket fans time. Enjoy

How good was that BD! Really miss Warne in the commentary.

hahaha. Classic @etarip! Got his eye in when it mattered!
So good @Burleigh. yeah miss Warnie too. Was thinking this morning also how a generation have missed out on the Richies Benau, Bill Lawrie, Tony Gregg and Chappel brothers commentary that we all grew up listening to. And the good old channel 9 intro. They do a good job with it now, but those fellas were the sound of summer for most of us growing up.
Looking forward to a bit of day 2 action. Always feels like the real test begins on day 2.

bluediamond wrote:

hahaha. Classic @etarip! Got his eye in when it mattered!
So good @Burleigh. yeah miss Warnie too. Was thinking this morning also how a generation have missed out on the Richies Benau, Bill Lawrie, Tony Gregg and Chappel brothers commentary that we all grew up listening to. And the good old channel 9 intro. They do a good job with it now, but those fellas were the sound of summer for most of us growing up.
Looking forward to a bit of day 2 action. Always feels like the real test begins on day 2.

100% the sound of summer. I spend a lot of time watching test match cricket. Brings back so many memories.

Love him or not,great innings D. Warner.

Yeah, that era of commentary takes a lot of beating. Sounds of my summer childhood for sure. Love listening to the ABC coverage as well, and have always had it on in the car since I've had my license. Not sure it's my wife's favourite though..

So good to see Warner blitz it today @linez! Fark they basically had to carry the poor bugger off. What a legendary effort. Knew he'd come out snapping and fighting. Warrior.

Speaking of cricket memories, just watched the first episode of the A.B documentary... brilliant. I remember all of it.... what a legacy that was left from that period.
It's a hard choice, but of my all-time favourite players, I'd have to say A.B followed closely by Steve Waugh for the pure tenacity they displayed.

Great win by the Aussies. Im liking our current lineup. Good mix and alot of stabiliry in the order.

Patty Cummins just entered the Pantheon of Ashes folklore!
Worth staying up for.
Lyon too.
Yew!

southernraw wrote:

Patty Cummins just entered the Pantheon of Ashes folklore!
Worth staying up for.
Lyon too.
Yew!

Woke up to the news, was off due to rain when I hit the sack. Amazing result and I wholeheartedly agree with your assessment.
As a side note, can we let the whole “bazball” thing quietly disappear back into the marketing sewer it arose from. They are just playing aggressive and positive cricket, kinda like a few other teams have been playing for the last 30 odd years. I know it’s not how the English usually play but really, get a grip.

Just discovered Cricket Chat on swellnet of all places...
So excitied by the last five days and the outcome this morning

Off on fambily euro holidays on Monday and have jagged tickets to first day of second test at lords - how good. Gloating? You bet!

Thats unreal NDC. Have a great trip and hopefully you get to see a bit more classic Ashes cricket. The atmospheres at the games look next level!
Agreed Blackers. Didnt know what they were on about with the bazball thing but it was definitely overkill.
Great win by the Aussies and now off to work with 3 hours of sleep! haha.

Australia wins the test by 2 wickets I hear this morning!

Been away from it for a while and only just discovered the 'Bazball' way of playing tests, very interesting the philosophy behind it and the elimination of fear aspect, will have to learn more.

Interview with Ben Stokes - you can apply this fearless play/play your natural game aspect of it to your surfing, easily! He's very clued on to how the game is changing, to make the gameplay in Tests more like T20/100, to make the game more entertaining for fans, and more aspirational to young players; and he's aware of the big money today and the need for players to still play tests in an environment of optimising their earnings during a short career window. Smart man, and he's backed the philosophy with some remarkable performances.

https://www.theplayerstribune.com/posts/ben-stokes-england-cricket

What is Bazball?

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2023/jun/13/bazball-unpacked-england-t...

I'm reminded a bit of the Gilly 'go for it' test opening performances...

Funny stuff Wilhelm.
Another, suitably parochial, take on the whole thing.
https://www.theage.com.au/sport/cricket/nothing-touches-test-cricket-and...

blackers wrote:

Funny stuff Wilhelm.
Another, suitably parochial, take on the whole thing.
https://www.theage.com.au/sport/cricket/nothing-touches-test-cricket-and...

Great article.
That game last night was up there with the greatest sporting moments i've seen.
And there's just something about watching something so intense taking place on the other side of the planet in the wee hours of the morning.
Every single delivery had me on the edge of my seat, riding it with either Lyon or Cummins.
Test cricket shits on the other forms of the game.
And it also shits on the current WSL format.
Like the article noted, Shakespearean drama.
Both teams are full of titans of the sport that have spanned a generation. Huge names and huge presences.
Was awesome.

That's awesome SR. Agree on tests being the best.

NDC wrote:

Just discovered Cricket Chat on swellnet of all places...
So excitied by the last five days and the outcome this morning

Off on fambily euro holidays on Monday and have jagged tickets to first day of second test at lords - how good. Gloating? You bet!

NDC. Good on you, gloat, gloat as much as you like, enjoy the test match and your holiday with your family.

Have ever thought about why we send postcards ?

This is my take.

Basically, we send postcards because it’s a way of saying, fuck you, bad luck, I’m on holidays, you’re not, I am having fun, you’re not, bye for now.

For what other reasons do we send them ? Please enlighten me. AW

Not wanting to bang on about it, but this is a brilliant discussion on the whole bazball thing. From one of the best sports journos going. The nature of cults and group think can be applied widely as well. Enjoy your trip NDC.
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2023/jun/24/bazball-a-cult-of-bruised-...

Agree. Read that article during the week, when someone sent it to me. I’d not even heard of Bazball until that last test.

And then it was all I heard for 5 days. Bazball this and that. Until Australia won.

Great start from the Aussies....no collapse from now and it could be a good first innings to set the game up.

Test is intense!

Bairstow dismissal completely un-fucken-Australian.
I love it when we beat the Poms as much as anyone but this, and after sandpapergate, has me just about ready to pull up stumps on cricket. I'm not even sure Im gonna watch the next three tests now, just so disgusted. Fck.

Yep it looked pretty bad to me. Bairstow definitely hesitated and then walked off and if the umpire had called over then it's pretty poor on the aussies part. Why didn't they just withdraw the appeal? I know it was technically out but as Baz said not exactly in the spirit of the game. How's that footage of them walking through the MCC members in the long room. I can't imagine the English would have done that. Their press would have slaughtered them

No different to Starc's catch being given not out. Clearly caught well before going to ground.
The thing is, it is all within the rules of the game.

Carey catches and throws in one motion. Ball is in his hand for maybe 1.5sec. It’s actually idiocy from Bairstow. When you watch the (England preferred) footage of JB it looks clean cut. When you watch the whole thing it’s less so - there’s no pause for Carey to wait for JB to walk. He catches and throws. Then JB walks, then the ball hits the stumps. Guess which version the umpires watch!

I can see how there might be a view that this is not within the spirit of the game - and definitely doesn’t feel that way. The context of the Duckett / Starc catch being overturned the day before - ‘technically correct’ - plays a part. The Aussies felt robbed by that decision.

Also, Poms did the same thing to NZ batsman Colin de Grandhomme last year. Slightly different circumstances but same rule. And Brendan McCullum, former NZ wicketkeeper and the current England coach, did it during a match with Sri Lanka. And in 2009 against England!

So the Poms can spare me the sanctimony.
Not a great way to get up - and I think the captain should have withdrawn the appeal - but with all that in mind, it’s understandable that they didn’t.

A friendly reminder to all England supporters - Brendon McCullum attempted to do the exact same thing to Paul Collingwood back in 2009.

Funny how these things often come full circle 🤲🏽@wwos #TheAshes #9WWOS #ENGvsAUS pic.twitter.com/RiW9hynaSf

— Will Faulkner (@willzfaulk) July 2, 2023

Fantastic knock by Stokes to keep it interesting.
However, if you’re going to bowl every ball short on a day 5 pitch then you’re asking to get carted all over the park.

Stokes is an incredible cricketer. His focus and tenacity is impressive in those clutch innings.
Dropped on 114 by Smith, went on to make another 40 and put the fear of a Headingly reprise into the Aussies.

It’s a bad look but thems the rules. Almost bit them on the bum with Stokes’ response. Will make it interesting in Headingly, the crowd up there can be pretty intense.

2nd best underarm ever?

good on them. Sticking it to the Poms. Looks like they're up for all the backlash and embracing it. Great win.

haha, we did that all the time in backyard cricket. Technicalities in sport rules? ...running the clock at the end of a game.. making us watch the best waves go unridden because of priority bluffs.. tis what it is.

Pops wrote:

@etarip, yeah looked to me like the ball was already in midair before Bairstow left his crease - no pause from Carey, ball definitely not dead (also worth noting the ball is not dead until the bowlers-end ump believes both sides consider it to be dead). Likely pre-meditated too given Bairstow had been doing the same thing for at least the previous 3-4 balls.
I didn't like it; bit like a Mankad. But then again, it's professional sport so of course you'll do whatever is allowed within the laws to win, so not surprised by it.
On the flip side, bit rich for the poms to complain about Bairstow being out on a technicality but have no such complaints about the Starc "drop".

I find it perplexing and dumbfounding all the dialogue about this matter. It’s a clear cut ‘out’ . Simply, if Alex Carey was crouched behind and up close to the stumps, Bairstow would never have gone for a trundle. Totally the batsmen’s error. Just because Carey was way back behind the stumps and threw the ball at a guy walking out of his crease doesn’t make it ‘not’ in the Spirit of Cricket. The only thing NOT in the Spirit of Cricket was the physical handling and abuse by half cut overpriveliged MCC members in the Long Room who obviously had put way too much Campari in their Pimms drinks.
Spirit of Cricket , my arse, that disappeared when Packer came to town. AW.

“ …. It’s a clear cut ‘out’ . Simply, if Alex Carey was crouched behind and up close to the stumps, Bairstow would never have gone for a trundle. Totally the batsmen’s error. Just because Carey was way back behind the stumps and threw the ball at a guy walking out of his crease doesn’t make it ‘not’ in the spirit of cricket….”

100%

The outright hypocrisy coming out of the press and radio in England is childish to say the least.
Pat Cummins is copping it big time. For what ?

So, the day before when Starc caught Ben Duckett it was ruled that the laws of cricket are such. Accepted by Australian players, they must play to the Laws of The Game.

Yesterday, Australia is now being lambasted for not playing in the true Spirit of the Game , make up your fucking mind England, Australia played by the Laws of The Game and won. You cant have your ‘scones and cream’ and eat em as well. Such poor losers. I’m claiming BazBall is dead and we will win the ASHES. .AW

Could have been retracted i guess, last ball of the over, player not at an advantage by leaving the crease, coulda made the point and finished the game properly, meh... gideon haig's summery in the oz was perfect. 3 mcc members were suspended, due to their behavior as the aussies walked through the long-room (a fine ol' tradition) and the tweed jacket set sprayed them with sherry-tinged abuse..
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/cricket/ashes-2023-this-was-a-tes...
'puce-faced', haha, gideon's article also picked up by the uk times.

Bairstow tried it himself in the first innings of the same test with Labush, and in the first test against Warner.

The clips are out there. Someone should ask him, stokes and mccullum if that was in the spirit of the game.

It’s given them all someone else to blame / something else to distract from their loss, so there’s that.

Thought we had seen this before. Jonny Bairstow attempting to catch Marnus Labuschagne stepping out of his crease two days ago. #Ashes @wwos @9NewsAUS pic.twitter.com/U28fEvlEu8

— Sam Djodan (@samdjodan) July 2, 2023

Bairstow was out, this kind of dismissal was used many times in back yard cricket as kids and in school games. One thing I noticed was just before he walked up the pitch, he scuffed his foot behind the crease - this was exactly the signal we'd use to say 'crease leave' - only the rules state ball must be considered dead by both sides, so Carey was right, and very clever to stump him.

Was it 3 days of bouncers directed at the head/legside shoulder by both sides? Wondered if I was watching modern bodyline those times I got to watch. Also a joy to see Stokes go into full Viking mode, and equally so Pat Cummins excellent decision to put everyone on the rope and choke his run flow to overcome this.

Edit: MCC members acting like that! Trust I'll never see such stuff again.

Edit #2: saw Broad hit 8 times by my counting, apparently this test was the one with the most body hits ever. I bet the umpires will have words with the captains.

I think it's awesome how much the Poms have got their knickers in a knot over this.
You know we've really gotten under their skin this time, and really, that's all we could ever ask for.
Bonus if we win the tests!

I've not followed Australian cricket for many years due to the increasingly boorish and arrogant on field behaviour starting over 20 years ago.

Also, if you set your standards based on the actions of others, it then becomes a race to the bottom. It has been reported that things had improved under Cummings, but I still can't get overly interested. This incident has created headlines, so it's been hard to avoid.

It's worthy of note that Bairstow took evasive action and in doing so, did not offer a shot. Had Carey missed the ball and it had gone to the boundary, byes would not have been registered and nothing added to the score.

Dead Ball. Which is what I suspect Bairstow was thinking.

The question is "How or why did the ball become live again?"

In my opinion, Cummings could have enhanced his reputation and called Bairstow back, but in the words of Vince Lombardi, "Winning isn't everything, it's the only thing".

Sportsmanship is almost dead.