[bazzap]

Originally Posted by bazzap

What I don't understand is why Pakistan only bowled 75 overs. I thought 85 was the minimum in a day's play, weather permitting.

Turned out to be bad light. Same again on the 2nd day

[ferocious]

I know you can get punished for a dangerous pitch they should be punished for producing a terrible flat useless wicket surely they can do it this day and age
I turned it off today

[Frankie]

Originally Posted by ferocious

I know you can get punished for a dangerous pitch they should be punished for producing a terrible flat useless wicket surely they can do it this day and age
I turned it off today

After England's record breaking day yesterday, tuned in today hoping to see Pakistan lose early wickets. No chance of that happening, the wicket is an absolute road. Pakistan look set to score around 500 runs. Game set to just drift off into mediocrity which isn't what anyone wants to see. Don't suppose anything can be done about it but there's little point in preparing wickets that offer bowlers fuck all.

[Frankie]

Well that was a big surprise. Thought Stokes declaration was a bit generous and opened the door for a potential Pakistan victory. But the job got done in the end. Couldn't understand the hours of play. Sunsets around 4.30pm and even with the floodlights on its off for bad light and the end of a days play.

[bazzap]

Fancy watching a game of T20? You would be in heaven at the moment.

Most days kick off with the Super Smash in New Zealand. This rolls into the Big Bash in Australia. When that finishes, the Bangladesh Premier League kicks in followed by the SA20 in South Africa and finally, the International T20 series in the UAE. A few women's games are intertwined with that lot plus on weekends, many of these leagues play double-headers.

All on tv. I can watch them all on Sky Sports, BT Sports and ESPN+ out of the USA. The FHD pictures I get from the English channels are stunning. I use an IPTV provider based in the UK and Australia. The cost is 60 pounds a year for 2 people which I share with my mate Stumpy in Chiang Mai.


Total overload as far as I am concerned but it is the way cricket has gone. It's all about the money and being a product for tv. Players play for the highest bidder. Loyalty to any team (franchise?) must be near zero. I mean who really cares who wins? Just another tin cup for the mantle piece.


Still, I get to hear the dulcet tones of David Gower again so not all bad.


I am still old school and really only follow the Tests and first-class games. The rest are meaningless to me.

Won't be long before those arseholes Warner & Smith will be gone and I can go back to watching the Australian Test team again.


Look out for Aaron Hardie when he makes the Test team. Only a matter of time. Another fast bowler allrounder. Just as good as Cameron Green and another Western Australian. He scored 174 no in last year's Sheffield Shield final and also opens the bowling for WA. Currently wowing them in the Big Bash. He also plays for Surrey. Yes, he was born in Bournemouth but I won't hold that against him.


Hopefully he and Lance Morris are wearing the Baggy Green in the near future

[bazzap]

Originally Posted by bazzap

Look out for Aaron Hardie when he makes the Test team. Only a matter of time. Another fast bowler allrounder. Just as good as Cameron Green and another Western Australian. He scored 174 no in last year's Sheffield Shield final and also opens the bowling for WA. Currently wowing them in the Big Bash. He also plays for Surrey. Yes, he was born in Bournemouth but I won't hold that against him.


Hopefully he and Lance Morris are wearing the Baggy Green in the near future

I wrote that back in January this year. My man, Aaron Hardie, along with a couple of others, is about to play his first game for Australia tonight Thai time. Not Test cricket but a T20 in South Africa.


Gotta start somewhere.



From Cricinfo

Aaron Hardie

Mitchell Marsh, Cameron Green and now Aaron Hardie. Australia are being well served by allrounders from Western Australia. Hardie has pushed his claims strongly with red and white ball. Initially it was in four-day cricket where he caught the attention, hitting an unbeaten 174 in the 2021-22 Sheffield Shield final against Victoria to steer Western Australia to the title.

Although he struggled to quite hit those heights last summer, he struck a century for Australia A against New Zealand in April. However, he also had a breakout campaign in the BBL for Perth Scorchers where he was the tournament's leading run-scorer having found a new home at No. 3. His pace bowling is useful with a first-class average under 30.

A new-look Australian T20 side with many of the regulars either rested or injured.

Mitch Marsh is the captain!!

About time. Australia has finally started picking new players. Hopefully, they will perform on the bigger stage

[ferocious]

I was in the take away the other night and the Indian owner had the cricket on was T20 somewhere and I seen Cameron Bancroft at the crease first time I’d seen him since the ball tampering carry on

We’ve got one day series with SA starting Friday should catch a bit of it maybe all of the 2nd one

[Frankie]

Totally agree with you Baz about T20. There's competitions on worldwide and mercenaries concentrate on this format and play wherever for whoever as long as they're getting paid big bucks. If you can get a gig in the IPL then you're guaranteed others worldwide. Can't blame them really as sports pros usually chase the top dollar. It's especially easy on quick bowlers only having to bowl a maximum 4 overs per game. Of course it just reinforces the fact how much harder First Class and Test Match cricket is.

[bazzap]

The real cricket is back today. India vs Australia. Australia will be up against it. Not like playing the easy beats in Australian conditions like the last few months. When you have won only one Test series in India in the last 50-odd years, (in 2004?), you know you might be in a bit of bother.


A bit like winning an Ashes series in England which also hasn't happened since 2001.


England plays next week against the Kiwis in NZ so it will be wall-to-wall Test cricket from 0500'ish to around 1800 Thai time for a while though I still won't be watching when Smith or Warner is at the crease.


Every time their names get mentioned in articles on social media, the usual comments come up from both sides of the fence. It gets quite vicious at times. It doesn't matter if you are the Wisden Cricketer of the Decade, Alan Border medalist multiple times, Test or ODI player of the year or how much tv commentators say how good you are or if you cried like a baby on tv and said a hollow sorry, people will never forget the shame you brought to the Baggy Green and by extension, the Australian cricket public.


They will be stuck with it for the rest of their lives which is a good thing

[bazzap]

I'm sounding all bitter & twisted in my old age