Anyone for cricket?

[MadAsHell 4,089]

How's this for an upcoming summer of cricket!

http://www.theage.com.au/sport/cricket/hectic-home-international-cricket-season-20140623-zsidi.html

And South Africa, India & England all out here, the three top drawing nations you can get, and to think this is all followed by the World Cup also is just making for an epic summer of cricket. First international of the summer a T20 v RSA on November 5 in Adelaide and the final international is the ODI World Cup final in Melbourne on March 29. FIve months worth thankyou very much!

A couple of things caught my eye. No Perth Test is a shame, would rathered ditch Brisbane myself, no ODI's outside the World Cup being played in Adelaide and Australia not playing any in Brisbane all made for curious reading.

[Cards13 9,117]

Hhahahahhahaahahaahaahaahaha

England lost to Sri Lanka, being Bowles out in the second last ball of the day!!! Our mate Jimmy Anderson after facing 20 overs and not scoring was the last wicket to fall.... Hahahah ah poor fella was in tears afterwards apparently.

[MadAsHell 4,089]

Hhahahahhahaahahaahaahaahaha

England lost to Sri Lanka, being Bowles out in the second last ball of the day!!! Our mate Jimmy Anderson after facing 20 overs and not scoring was the last wicket to fall.... Hahahah ah poor fella was in tears afterwards apparently.

Haha, oh I love schadenfreude. Couldn't happen to a nicer bunch of blokes.

Serves them right for their arrogance at their 3-0 victory last year when they thought all was still well despite the fact the series was much closer then the score line suggested. Cook's a great player, but he's far to conservative to be captain. They'd be better off bringing in someone like Morgan to bat in the middle order and be captain. He may not have the best first class record, but they need someone with some direction and positivity at the helm, let Cook worry about his batting.

[Cards13 9,117]

Fair old effort from Matthews as captain, 4/ in the first in guns them 160 in the Lankan 2nd dig. That is a captains test match.

[jazza 1,323]

West indies vs Enzed, one of the best series ive watched for quite awhile.

[Cards13 9,117]

Keeps getting better from the English with Strauss caught calling KP a c*** live on TV.

[Axis of Bob 10,465]

To be fair, KP really is.

[Whispering_Jack 28,102]

Mitch Marsh scored a double century for Australia A v India A yesterday combining with young wicket keeper Sam Whiteman (174) to help get their team out of trouble.

These blokes could be on the test scene in the not too distant future.

[jazza 1,323]

Maybe joining Ashton Agar?

[Ted Lasso 17,260]

Phil Hughes is a bit of a flop isn't he

[jazza 1,323]

Phil Hughes is a bit of a flop isn't he

Will carry the batting line up for years to come,along with AOAA.

[MadAsHell 4,089]

Poor old england can't take a trick at the moment. Cook copping it from all angles, Prior pulling out of the squad for surgery. Stokes, their shinning light from the ashes currently averaging 0.00 with the bat after three innings, Anderson facing suspension, still no specialist spinner. Oh and even better, the man most likely to be their next captain can't get a gig in the long form of the game!

Wouldn't know where to start with england myself, they're a few cans short of a 6 pack. Think they should stick with Cook as captain for now while the series is still alive, given they backed him into it.

[jazza 1,323]

Broad is dying for a go as captain{imo}.

Pujara and Rahine both look like they can handle most types of pitches.

[MadAsHell 4,089]

Broad is dying for a go as captain{imo}.

Pujara and Rahine both look like they can handle most types of pitches.

Agree that Broad could be an option, although making bowlers captain doesn't seem to be the done thing. Think Vettori or Pollock were the last ones?

Think they need to get Morgan into the XI now, given he's a good chance to eventually get the gig. Buttler coming in for Prior's a given, especiallg given Craig Keiswetter broke his eye socket recently who would have been the best replacement IMO. Daniel Briggs the left arm spinner should come in for Ali who's not quite a bowler, not quite a batsman. And the angry irish fast bowler Boyd Rankin should also come in for Plunkett to give them a bit of x factor with his pace and bounce.

XI for the 3rd Test should be:

A. Cook*

S. Robson

I. Bell

G. Ballance

J. Root

E. Morgan

+J. Buttler

S. Broad

D. Briggs

J. Anderson

B. Rankin

Stokes to be 12th man.

[gsmith12 491]

Not often I support the Poms, can't stand the Indians for many reasons, not the least being their domination of the game administratively, all because of the mighty dollar or is that rupee..

[Macca 16,174]

Not often I support the Poms, can't stand the Indians for many reasons, not the least being their domination of the game administratively, all because of the mighty dollar or is that rupee..

Could be that a number of the England players have been "spooked" (if you can believe the following story)

... England spooked both on and off the field as Ben Stokes and Stuart Broad struggle to sleep because of Langham Hotel's GHOSTS

‘During the Sri Lanka Test I had to move rooms,’ said fast bowler Stuart Broad.

‘It was so hot in the room I just couldn’t sleep. All of a sudden the taps in the bathroom came on for no reason. I turned the lights on and the taps turned themselves off. Then when I turned the lights off again the taps came on. It was very weird.

‘It really freaked me out.'

[gsmith12 491]

Nothing new about electric taps Stewie

[ijbfossil 77]

Indians slightly easier to stomach now that Harbhajan Singh and Ganguly gone.

Cook an easy target at the moment BUT - he is not yet 30 and only 700 odd runs short of being England's all time leading Test cricket run scorer.

[ijbfossil 77]

And see Cook got 95 - albeit after being dropped on 15.

[gsmith12 491]

Not the most likeable chap is Cook however I give him credit for his fighting knock of 95.

[ijbfossil 77]

Another Sth African blockathon - but Sri lankans had no Ryan Harris to finish them off.

Back to number 1 - fair enough - up to the Aussies to do something about that - won't be easy.

Interesting Sth Africa a very good sporting nation but rather irrelevant at the Comm Games - clearly not a high prority.

[gsmith12 491]

All the more reason to support the Poms and hope they take the sting out of the Indian batsmen before they visit our shores.

I reckon we will handle their attack but their batsmen are more than a handful for most.

[ijbfossil 77]

Bit tough for all the Pommy bashers (not that I am totally against that when it comes to cricket) at the minute.

The Poms in a very strong position going into the last day of the current Test.

See Cooky let his team mates take all the risks chasing quick runs in the the 2nd dig while he just accumulated and got his red ink. Still not 30 and closing in on being the highest scoring Pommy Test batsman of all time.

[ijbfossil 77]

Don't love the Poms when it comes to cricket BUT see all the ex captains - Botham, Gower, Hussain, Atherton and Co who were calling for Cook's head before the Second Test against the Indians are now back on board behind Cook after the win and Cook's runs. Moeen Ali 6 for in the second dig - as my son said - wait til he plays out here - none for 450 after two Tests - Warner and Clarke would have a picnic facing him.

[gsmith12 491]

Pom seamers skittling the Indians in the 3rd test, 4/8 at one stage, 5/63 at lunch.

Good to see, rock their confidence prior to visiting Oz.