45HG

Firstly, I'd just like to say that I enjoyed judging the different teams. I think it opened my eyes about a number of players after doing research etc. I decided that to judge, I may as well leave myself open to criticism about certain decisions (as with all judging) so I've judged each player, team and area of the ground separately. Many may disagree with my decisions, and some may be wrong. But I think overall it should have evened out. I think perhaps I was too lenient with my ratings, but they generally are pretty fair I think. Whilst I'm aware I have probably made some howlers, I think anyone would understand the difficulty of comparing so many different types of players that bring many different things to their teams - also perhaps appreciate putting yourself out there! It's fair to say I wrote an essay. So here goes:

Maybe not!

For no apparent reason, I thought I'd ask what other people's favourite moments of 2010 were. With not a great deal of thought (so don't get all, "omfg, howd uze 4get dis moment") here are some that spring to mind: Scully's goal against Brisbane capping off a great, unexpected thrashing. The last 5 minutes of the draw - wow! Jurrah's soccer goal against Hawthorn. One moment that oddly sticks in my mind was from the same game. It was early in the second, I was heading back to my seat from the Bullring (for one of my few cheekies during the season). I am greeted at the top of the stairs to see Aussie streaming down the wing, run to 40 odd and drill it. I don't think I've seen the members so crazy. I ran to my seat through a throng of screaming red and blue clad fans. Fantastic moment. Dunn's goal. The half split second I thought Petterd had that mark - it kills me to think of, but reminds me why we love this game. They're just a few, post any others that stick out in your mind. Depending on results, I may include a poll later.

That's why I included when he has come in in his innings' and the way the two teams have taken their wickets. Meanwhile in S.A., India are ruining a perfectly good test.

I think I've provided enough evidence to suggest otherwise, but that's just me. I don't think Haddin should lose out because his bowlers aren't good enough to get edges whilst Prior benefits from top class bowling for 4 and a half tests. You've pretty much just said he's taken more catches so he's been better. If that's all you'll say we should probably just leave it.

Ha. It certainly was his wicket.

OK. I've trawled through the cricinfo commentary from all 5 tests (yay for holidays) and have discovered this. Haddin has dropped two (one in Brisbane off Siddle and one in Adelaide in the first innings), he also had the one go between him and Watson... not sure if this is regarded as a drop though. Prior has dropped one (second innings at Adelaide, Hussey). I reckon you've made up your mind and there'll be no budging you, regardless of arguments. Do you give credit to Prior for his 3 catches today? Surely his catches alone don't push him ahead of Haddin's performances this summer (who now is looking pretty good, fighting it out on 27). I find it odd that two people who lament how rubbish our bowling is, while praising England's bowlers, also then give credit to their 'keeper for being the beneficiary of top bowling whilst ignoring Haddin's efforts. Oh well.

Sure was. Lazy running by both of them - was easily two there. This spell of bowling is perfectly summing up what I was talking about with Prior getting more opportunities!

I literally cannot see a way that you can look at those numbers and claim that Prior's had a better series with the bat. It's just not true that when he's had the chance he's made the runs. He's come in at 197, 98 and 94 for scores of 0, 12 and 10. Haddin coming in at similar scores (143, 156, 69, 66, 134 and 143) has made 136, 56, 53, 5, 55* and 6. The fact he's had to come in at those types of scores illustrates the extra pressure he has been under. Perhaps a he's got out a couple of times when he shouldn't have, but it'd be odd to ignore that with Prior. As for the keeping I've thought they were pretty even - I can't recall the drops but I won't doubt you. It'd be easier to keep to Bresnan, Anderson, Swann, Finn, Tremlett and Broad as opposed to Johnson, Hilfy, Beer and co. In the modern game I think a keeper's batting ability is more important than his 'keeping skills. That said, obviously they're still important. Haddin has 8 catchs and a stumping while Prior now has 19 catches. This series, Australia have taken 56 wickers. England have taken 83. That's a lot less opportunity. You'd be very hard pressed to say that the English bowlers haven't provided a much greater amount of edges than the Aussies bowlers. Of the 56 we've taken, 22 have been lbw or bowled (40%). Of their 83, only 21 have been lbw, bowled or runout (25%). I mean, in one innings in Melbourne Prior was able to get 6 catches!

Just to carry on with the Haddin vs. Prior debate. These are the scores they've come in on this series, and what they've done in them. 1st test Prior 5-197 (first ball duck) Haddin 5-143 (uncharacteristic 136 from 287) 2nd test Haddin 5-156 (56 from 95), 5-261 (12 from 21) Prior 5-568 (27 not out from 21) 3rd test Haddin 5-69 (53 from 80), 5-252 (7 from 10) Prior 5-98 (12 from 42), 6-94 (10 from 9) 4th test Haddin 5-66 (5 from 16), 5-134 (55 not out from 93) Prior 5-286 (85 from 119) 5th test (dead rubber) Haddin 4-143 (6 from 13) Prior 6-380 (118 from 130) I actually kind of find it laughable that you could say Prior has had a better series - all things considered. The two times Prior has registered 50, his team has been 188 ahead and 100 ahead - both times in the first innings, both times facing lacklustre (at best) bowling. Haddin's 4 times past 50 have each come when he has come in at 5 for less than 160 against pretty hostile bowling.

Haddin has had a better series than Prior IMO - if not through no fault of Prior's. I think it just gets to the stage where you get thrashed that everyone seems worse than they were. I also find it pretty hard to split Watson and Strauss for the series. Sure, Watson should've gone on - but it'd be hard to argue that Strauss had a more difficult time of batting. He faced a much weaker bowling attack and was supported by Cook in the white hottest of form with quality below him. Watson has had to deal with an injured partner, a kid coming in who has struggled to score a run. He's then got an injured captain in next and the incumbent who averaged about 18 this series. Watson has also had to bowl almost 80 overs in the series, nabbing 3 wickets.

Surely knowing we would win 5 premierships in a row would negate the need for an almanac!

Kallis is on 99. Would be the first time he's scored a century in both innings of a match at home. Freak! And there it is. 40th tonne, 8th at Newlands, 3rd of the series. He has almost 500 runs in the series! It's only 3 matches! It's only his 5th inning! He got run out at the non-strikers end and received a cracker in the second as well. Unreal.

If GSOAG means the Eagles game at the G this year, and I very much assume he does, then I completely agree. That was the worst we played this year, and I would love to see us ruthlessly slaughter them on a ground we don't particularly like. As an aside, I think it's funny that you can't spell slaughter without laughter. Also illustrates the joys of teaching - those words make competely different sounds!

3 of you people have been judged! (Cue scary music) This is taking me ages! Tough process and I'm thinking my judging will end up being the things judged - but that's fair enough it could just add to the fun!

You better be nice to me, I'm judging your team now! (RR's team took me over an hour!)

I don't particularly think that Kallioota feels disrepected, if so I apologize. However you also must understand that when going on an iphone and doing other things at the same time, it isn't always possible to provide reasoning straight away. I would have PM'd, but I think this information should be open so that other posters know Demonland's stance.

The moderating team, in respect to Jimmy, his family and the club as a whole, have decided that speculation about Jimmy's health should not be perpetuated on the forum. There are threads already that you can add your support for Jim to. However, speculation does nothing but needlessly upset those who read or hear it.

That's crazy talk!

Ah, but you forget that getting out lowers Tendulkar's average. It's now Kallis 56.91 and Tendulkar 56.89 Is 2 a handy lead? B)

Amazing test. India lead by 2 on first innings, S.A. 2-52 in their second (though the second wicket was the nightwatchman). I had Kallis for most 1st innings runs, Tendulkar for most first innings runs and Steyn for most wickets (woo). Hopefully there will be a result!

Hey guys, I'd be happy to judge if everyone's cool with that. The way I'd probably do it would be to give each player a score out of 10, then each section of the ground (backs, mids, forwards) a score out of 30 and then an overall "vibe" score out of 30. That would leave each team getting a score out of 300 with some reasoning. Does that sound cool?

From cricinfo: Reiterating a statistical speciality that won't be true for long - At the moment, Tendulkar and Kallis have the EXACT same Test average - 56.91.

Not sure. He's 36 so will probably retire soon and has scored just over half as many runs as wickets he's taken. Would have tossed him up, would rather have Sreesanth though.

Pfft. Wait until you see the unleashing of the 7th best Kiwi!