45HG

I disagree. You tried to make a generalization using one match as evidence, which within 24 hours was proved wrong. I fail to see how you popping up and singling me out when claiming we made a mistake is a more meaningful than my statistical analysis of a much larger sample range that highlighted the possible benefits of bowling first at the appropriate times - I didn't notice any reply of yours to that post, only the one on this page calling me out for my opinion on why you thought we'd lose.

Good man. Go vics

Whoops. That my friends is why you don't play I told you so games before a match is completed. Generally, it is very difficult to predict the outcome of a cricket match even halfway through it, so I can't understand how one can make a claim that it would be almost a foregone conclusion because of chosing to bowl. I provided a pretty detailed analysis of the possible benefits of bowling first to which you've only responded now in relation to a match that the Vics have now won.

Since New Year's day, there have been 41 managers moved on in the Leagues! Thats 41 of 92.

And after all those missed milestones that TU alluded to, two players in consecutive matches carry their bat. Take another bow Dan Vettori! His team in immense trouble, puts on 176 from 206 with McCullum (IMO a batsman who too frequently underperforms) and makes a century himself after promoting himself to 6.

Apparently they can't find him

Can't say I agree RR, I thought it was decent bowling but most of the shots were so unnecesary as to be laughable. He hardly bowled a ball that wouldve hit the stumps and should have been treated accordingly with patient batting. Yousuf's dismissal as a case in point

Iain O'Brian - 5-4-3-4 Wow. Pakis 5-51

I ain't no teacher...yet. Did you see the stats for fielding first a few pages back? Reckon you'd be interested in them.

...

Dude, I think you need to check when it was posted

Chris Gayle has carried his bat. Absolutely fantastic effort - for all the crap he's copped he deserves plaudits for the innings he has played in the second innings. Hopefully has learnt from this innings (and Chanderpaul) to put value on his wicket in future. Doing some quick calcs - it appears only the third time that Gayle has scored over 50 (41 times in total) and had less than 50% of his runs come from boundaries, with this innings yielding the least amount of runs from boundaries percentage wise. Chasing 330 in 82 overs - could be barnstorming

In 79 overs, Pakistan have scored 229. In 79 overs, Sehwag has scored 284

262 off 215. 1-406 off 70 overs. Why are Sri Lanka struggling to bat on these pitches, intimidated? I chose to believe that his first names are each one letter long. Sehwag has 54 balls to break his own record for the fastest triple ton stumps - 1-443 after 79 overs. Sehwag 284 off 239, has 39 balls to break his record

Indian series heats up....1/312 off 56 overs. Sewhag 184 not out off 162 balls. Wow. Since I wrote that, they have moved onto 1/330 from 57 overs, Sehwag 202 off 168 - yes, 18 off that over. Fastest double ton ever? (No, but still)

Seriously, I felt bad for Ireland after the result, but am decidedly over the whole thing now.

Did you see McGrath's 10-27 match figures in the first test? What a bowler

Hussey 174 off 183

I don't think we'll be calling for that Outrageously good finisher is Defoe. Surprised nothing has been said about the Henry situation. Emotion aside, I simply can't see how it can be called "cheating." Any foul would then have to be called cheating - it is not because if it it heinous enough it is given a card. If Henry's had been seend it would have been a card (yellow?). It is poor officiating and again highlights the need for tv replays. The restart in football takes about 1 minute - a video replay would take 8 seconds to watch and then the result radio'd through. It's too big a sport with often too much at stake for these decisions to be missed. What annoyed me about it, however, was that he celebrated the goal feverishly. I don't think that was right. He has now come out and said that he contemplated retirement. Phrased like that it makes it sound like it was years ago and he's really had to come to terms with it.

Statsguru - yum. Lucky I didn't have interned in my preteen years, I'd have been on that site all day every day. Vettori, what a cricketer - though I think he's been dropped...a few times

Here we are friends. Total matches played: 713. W: 332. L: 186. D: 193 Win percentage: 46.57 Matches Australia have fielded first in: M: 342. W: 152. L: 97. D: 91 T:1 Win percentage: 44.44 Matches Australia have won the toss and fielded first in: M: 76. W: 40. L: 20. D: 16. Win percentage: 52.63 You'll spit chips over this one I reckon. Matches Australia have won the toss and batted first: M: 281. W: 137. L: 71. D: 71. T: 1 Win percentage: 48.75 Yes, Australia's winning percentage is lower when winning the toss and electing to bat first than when we have elected to bowl. Furthermore, since 1990 Australia have elected to field 23 times for 17 wins, 3 losses and 3 draws for a win percentage of 74. Winning the toss and batting has yielded a win percentage of 56 in the same timeframe. Now I'm not saying that you should always bowl first (along the lines of the drink driving joke posted in another thread) but I think it's pretty clear that if a pitch seems suitable to bowl first it can be exploited to great effect - and possibly that pitches worth batting on first are far more likely to lead to draws. In the 2000s, winning the toss and batting has yielded us a 68% winning percentage (28 from 41), bowling first has resulted in wins 91% of the time (10 from 11)

Just finished watching the most OUTRAGEOUS display I've ever seen - and it was my team doing it! 9-1! Nine - One. And even their goal was from a handball. Defoe 3 in 6 minutes (fastest in premier league history), 5 for the match (sorry, 5 for the HALF), spurs 8 goals in the second half. There were 5 goals in 12 minutes, 6 in 18. Lennon 3 assists and a goal. WOOOOOOWW. Our biggest win in the top flight, the first time a team has hit 9 in 14 years, Wigan's worst league defeat,

A horrible mix up at the back has cost Bolton their momentum - keeper came out to take a long ball but Ricketts went back to head it to him, result: a 20 metre header into an empty net and a two nil Blackburn lead

I'm going in tomorrow - it's very relaxing.

Liverpool have certainly lost the plot since about midway through last season. Found this, similar to how the Dees have made me feel in the past - though perhaps a little extreme! Good for a laugh though.