[Frankie]

Been following that over here Baz. But basically this bloke is just an IPL franchise owner and his comments are just what he would like to see happen with cricket that would see the likes of him coining more money in. However it is still a worry that money will win over tradition. Apparently the 100 Competition (aka The 16.4) will revert to a T20 format this summer as it's been turning into a bit of a disaster. Supposedly it loses money, a number of players have pulled out and traditional cricket fans hate it. Personally I can't be arsed with it as the franchise teams mean absolutely nothing to me. Yet another massive fuck up by the ECB who have downgraded the Ashes so their 16.4 fuck up can dominate the summer cricket schedule. All this in a country where Test Match cricket makes more money than any other format. An Ashes series even more so.

[ferocious]

Refuse to watch the 100 better everyone do the same to help save the test format that’s the sole reason the ashes is being crammed into about 6 week June/July

[bazzap]

Nobody is more surprised than me that Australia won the 1st Test after the way England had played the previous 12 months and the first day of this match.


Many things went our way. The rather generous declaration, the Paki "bowled' on a no-ball, dropped catches etc. Like everyone else, I thought we were gone once Carey was out. Australia, despite their Test record, rarely chases down decent totals.


Obviously, a long way to go yet but, for now, it is time to get the popcorn out and read the comments on the BBC website. Always enthralling reading when England loses a Test match.


I haven't done much reading in the last 12 months

[ferocious]

Yeah Bazza could have been different we made a few costly errors and still think we are light on the bowling front with stokes and mcCullum demanding dead pitches

[Frankie]

It was a very exciting Test match. The declaration on the first day seems mad, but IMO it's just the way Stokes views things. Good total for Day 1 but lost a few wickets, so let's stick the Aussies in and see how they go. Might have worked, but a missed stumping and a no ball probably fucked it all up. Fine margins and I expect a lot more.

Hopefully the Headingley Test goes to Day 5 as could only get tickets for Day 4. Always amazes me watching England play at home and there are large gaps in the stands, when its practically impossible to legitimately buy tickets in advance for any England game.

[Frankie]

Another self inflicted defeat by England. No idea what some of the batsmen were thinking about. Trying to play at every single ball and getting out namely Crawley and Duckett in the Second Innings. Bairstow then decides to go walkabout and loses his wicket. Bit of sharp practice by Carey but WTF was Bairstow thinking about? Over the course of the two innings England conceded 74 runs in extras compared to Australia's 39 runs. So there's 35 of the 44 England were short. I think Australia are the better team but England are capable of beating them, but won't if they continue playing in this shambolic way.

[Frankie]

Went to Headingley for Day 4. Got lucky as if it hadn't pissed down for most of Day 3 there may not have been a Day 4 to watch. See if the link works of the winning runs.

https://photos.google.com/photo/AF1Q...KtkfV5ELcscFn7

Well I can see it let me know how it works for anybody else.

[bazzap]

Originally Posted by Frankie

Went to Headingley for Day 4. Got lucky as if it hadn't pissed down for most of Day 3 there may not have been a Day 4 to watch. See if the link works of the winning runs.

https://photos.google.com/photo/AF1Q...KtkfV5ELcscFn7

Well I can see it let me know how it works for anybody else.

I got a Google error







Maybe Australians are not allowed to see it

[ferocious]

Originally Posted by Frankie

Went to Headingley for Day 4. Got lucky as if it hadn't pissed down for most of Day 3 there may not have been a Day 4 to watch. See if the link works of the winning runs.

https://photos.google.com/photo/AF1Q...KtkfV5ELcscFn7

Well I can see it let me know how it works for anybody else.

Did you get tickets through ECB ?

[Frankie]

Originally Posted by ferocious

Did you get tickets through ECB ?

Mate bought the tickets through Yorkshire CCC. Same as buying them off ECB I would think. They were bought around November last year and there wasn't much choice left, so we ended up in the East Stand. Good view though. They were £80 each I think. Bumped into a lad I used to play cricket with and he went to the Lords Test. Had tickets in the Dennis Compton Upper at £180 each.