Fitzy junior might get the call
Would be bouncers all over the gaff in that case, little fucker.
Well you can’t say the Aussie cricketers are afraid to use the big weapons. They must be mightily peeved. I presume it’s due to the ipl?
Nothing to do with the IPL. Cricket Australia want to end the revenue sharing deal that’s worked successfully for over two decades, where the players receive up to 25% of the broadcast revenue. It filters down (not like trickle down economics, this actually works) and ensures that not just test players, but state players are earning good money. But Cricket Australia want to end it and pay them from surplus, not gross revenue sharing. The players aren’t having any of it and in fairness have played this well and shown great solidarity to ensure as many as possibly benefit.
Cricket Australia on the other hand have played it very poorly, their chairman David Peever (an ex union busting head of Rio Tinto) trying to play hardball, but just looking foolish and very obstinate, in a unionist politician kind of way. The players want to mediate, but CA seem to have blinkers on.
The odd thing is that James Sutherland, the CEO of CA, doesn’t seem to be involved in the (lack of) negotiations. He’s well liked by the players and has good relations with the players association (a former cricketer himself, his last ever wicket was that of RT Ponting in a grade match).
Can’t see where this is going. There doesn’t seem to be much of ah sure it’ll be fine, there’s a bit of panic setting in now. CA try to paing the players as greedy bastards, but they’ve played this well and I think the players will win the day. They have the broadcasters asking awkward questions and as ever, sporting organisation will do what the broadcasters tell them to.
A tremendous captain’s innings by Joe Root as he ends the day unbeaten on 184. England 357-5 at the close on day 1.
Root is a special player
South Africa nailed on to level up the series at Trent Bridge.
Root cleaned bowled by Chris Morris. England 55-3.
England skittled for 133, a humiliating defeat.
Woeful. They can’t bat time.
England have roared back at the Oval.
Stumps on Day 3 after a rain interrupted day and its England 353 & 74/1 South Africa 175
A fifer for Toby Roland-Jones on debut.
4 wickets in his first 33 balls in test cricket. Pretty good introduction alright. England should win this one and go on to win the series.
Peace in our time. The dispute between Cricket Australia and the Australian Cricketers Association has ended with the players getting everything they wanted and in fact, a little bit more. A complete humiliation for CA and surely David Peevor has to resign. It’s a good deal and the female cricketers will get a much larger piece of the pie, with more money going to grassroots cricket (one of the biggest concerns of the players, the test players standing with their grade counterparts). Though not enough money is going into grassroots cricket, I can assure you of that considering how much I fork out to support our local club and the fundraising we have to engage in. So the Bangladesh tour and the limited overs tour of India go ahead and the Ashes are saved.
Very unfortunate for the Barmy Army and English travelling supporters who have been inconvenienced by all of this, but hopefully all is resolved for them now also.
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Thought they might pull out of Bangladesh
It was getting close to happening, but that really would have been a disaster. They have a tour of India coming up for limited overs as well (at least I think that’s what it is) and if they had pulled out of that, they’d be liable for millions to the BCCI, who recently tried to do the Windies for $50 mil.
A 3-1 series win for England to retain the Basil D’Oliveira Trophy over an injury depleted South Africa. Lots of problem areas for England though ahead of the Ashes. Jennings is not the answer as an opener so its back to square one there. Seemingly its something like 11 different opening partners Cook has had over the last 5 years. Middle order bar Root and Stokes a headache too. Too early to pass judgement on Westley and Malan but the suspicion would be that neither is up to it. Moeen Ali had a good series with both bat and ball but he’s still only a part time spin bowler. Bookies have Australia 4/6 to regain the Ashes, England 11/4, Draw 13/2. Its hard to quibble with those odds.
11 partners for a player who isn’t exactly scoring either. How long more will Root & the selectors persist with Cook?
Thought Bairstow had a fine Series too.
Graham Smith was asking why Stoneman isn’t getting a chance to open yet. Fact that he is 29 probably against him. Malan is another dasher, he won’t do. No doubt Root will have his mate Ballance back in at three with the usual result.
Cook is undroppable. He has earned that right.
Is Root going to want him hanging around if he’s giving his wicket away cheaply though?