Test Match Cricket

Sport
81

Sky Sports are reporting that Pietersen has resigned as Englad and Wales captain. BBC haven’t officially confirmed it but said both his position and that of Peter Moores are under threat and the rest of the players and coaching staff are split over who to support. I wonder if KP’s working his ticket so he can go and earn millions playing in the IPL and use this row as reason to leave the English and Welsh set up. I could be well wrong here as he has been very committed to their cause since defecting from South Africa.

In other news, Australia won the final test in Sydney late on the last day to avoid a whitewash.

82

Obviously the Board decided that Pietersen’s approach to the problem just wasn’t cricket. Moores is gone as well now. Strauss to be named as the new captain and Andy Flower the interim coach. Pietersen now free to go off and collect a shit load of money in India in April/May. He is even more popular in India now over his response to the Bombay terror attacks. And he can be recalled as a hero when England are in trouble in the Ashes. In fairness I just wonder how he would have got on as captain having never captained much before. Strauss was hard done by not to get the gig for the last Australia tour.

83

Shane Warne has played down suggestions he could become the next England cricket coach.

Following the sacking of Peter Moores on Wednesday, reports surfaced in Australia that Kevin Pietersen had approached Warne - a good friend from their playing days at Hampshire - while he was still captain to replace the England coach.

An article in Melbourne newspaper The Age suggested that Pietersen had contacted Warne in the past few weeks about taking on the coach’s role after his relationship with Moores had deteriorated to an irretrievable point.

Pietersen quit his post as England captain on Wednesday after his fall-out with Moores became public.

According to the report, Pietersen’s plan - surprising given Warne’s torment of England during his decorated career - was for the 39-year-old to take control of the team in time for the Ashes later this year.

Warne, however, insisted he would only ever examine the possibility of becoming England coach if he was made an offer that was impossible to refuse.

‘Let me say I am in no way, shape or form considering coaching England,’ he told Sydney newspaper The Daily Telegraph.

'I’m loving what I’m doing, especially the Channel 9 commentary, and there is no thought of coaching England or anyone else.

‘The only way I’d do that is through an offer so financially outrageous it would be impossible to refuse.’

While the leg-spinner admitted his former team-mate`s ego would be ‘dented a bit’ following the events of the past week, he expects him to bounce back quickly.

‘Kevin is a guy who likes the limelight, he likes to be the man,’ Warne added.

'He’s obviously got a pretty big ego as well, so that will be dented a bit. But he’s also got the ability, no matter what’s going on, to perform.

'One thing is for sure. England needs Kevin Pietersen. He’s their best player and one of the best players in the world and England needs him to perform.

'This situation will stir his emotions. He’ll be bitterly disappointed at the lack of support from the England Cricket Board and I’m sure this will drive him to become an even stronger player.

‘Come the Ashes, beware of Kevin Pietersen, because he could lift his game to another level.’

84

Was watching the 20/20 last night between South Africa and Australia and it’s a great version of the game. It’s difficult to be able to sit through a whole Test match or ODI but 20/20 is just constant entertainment. Duminy gave an absolute exhibition of batting for SA before being lbw-ed on 78. Only beginning to appreciate the skill in cricket but fook it you couldn’t help but to see Duminy’s talent last night.

Pissed off I didn’t make it to the SCG for the Test now.

85

[quote=“ClarkeyCat”]Was watching the 20/20 last night between South Africa and Australia and it’s a great version of the game. It’s difficult to be able to sit through a whole Test match or ODI but 20/20 is just constant entertainment. Duminy gave an absolute exhibition of batting for SA before being lbw-ed on 78. Only beginning to appreciate the skill in cricket but fook it you couldn’t help but to see Duminy’s talent last night.

Pissed off I didn’t make it to the SCG for the Test now.[/quote]

some cricket fans see 20/20 & even 1 day matches as an abomination

when does the Rugby League, A league & the GayFL start back up- might try catch my beloved Lions/Broncos/Roar in April

86

[quote=“north county corncrake”]some cricket fans see 20/20 & even 1 day matches as an abomination

when does the Rugby League, A league & the GayFL start back up- might try catch my beloved Lions/Broncos/Roar in April[/quote]

Not much of a traditionalist with regard to anything tbh.

A-League’s not over but is shi’it. Not sure when the Rugby League (silly sport) and AFL are back but will want to catch my beloved Swans again. Will become a North Queensland Fury fan if Robbie Fowler signs for them but I reckon he’ll hang up his boots at this stage.

87

The first line of the first post on this thread above.

Take your 20/20 bullshit elsewhere please ClarkeyCat.

88

[quote=“ClarkeyCat”]Not much of a traditionalist with regard to anything tbh.

A-League’s not over but is shi’it. Not sure when the Rugby League (silly sport) and AFL are back but will want to catch my beloved Swans again. Will become a North Queensland Fury fan if Robbie Fowler signs for them but I reckon he’ll hang up his boots at this stage.[/quote]

fair enough going to Sydney or melbourne or a big team but north queensland is the back of beyond & cant be that big of a club

89

[quote=“Bandage”]The first line of the first post on this thread above.

Take your 20/20 bullshit elsewhere please ClarkeyCat.[/quote]

Why bother predicting in the 2009 Predictions Thread that India will win the 20/20 WC if it’s a bastardised form of the sport? Hippocrite.

90

I’m not sure but I think they’re only joining the league next year. The football’s rubbish anyway. Couldn’t be arsed going to a game.

91

Eh, because I think they’ll win it. I never said I liked the format or intended watching it. Thick cunt.

92

Right that’s it, you’re not licking my Andy Murray autographed breasts. Hope you’re happy. You brought it on yourself mister.

P.S. Don’t really mean that, of course you can slurp my mannaries.

93

I’d watch 20/20 as a bit of entertainment, thats all, its piss take cricket compared to the real form of the game - test cricket. And I am more than happy to sit through 5 days of test cricket, especially the outstanding fare served up recently by Australia, South Africa, India and England.

The interesting thing about 20/20 is watching the new players being given a chance. Australia gave a debut last night to 22 David Warner, who hasn’t even played a first class game yet. He scored 89 off 43 balls, including 6 sixes. It was good to watch. And to see Shaun Tait back playing for Australia.

Duminy is an outstanding player as he showed in the test series, I’m actually surprised to see him do so well in the short game, as his test batting is very measured and controlled.

The one dayers start soon, which I’ll watch, but again, not too botheered with.

94

Not exactly relevant but I was looking for a cricket game for my PSP. I assumed there’d be an EA Sports type one that’s churned out every year. Seemingly not. There’s nothing in the shops and a quick search on play.com suggests nothing has been released since 2007 - what’s the story with that?

95

Not sure as I don’t play anything other than Football Manager. What was the 2007 release by the way? There used to be ‘Brian Lara Cricket’ and a few other ones anyway.

96

Yeah, the 2007s are Brian Lara but seems to have been discontinued since then. It’s annoying but I’ve just purchased God of War so it’ll keep me going for a while.

97

Matty Hayden has announced his retirement from test cricket. He’s been well short of runs this Australian summer and his decision doesn’t really come as a surprise. He’s got a great record but I never liked him because he’s a cunt.

98

went to the aussie/sa match the other night in melbourne , great night out.

99

West Indies have England and Wales in a lot of trouble at 94/4 on the opening day of the first test.

Strauss and Cook both failed, Bell got a start but didn’t cash in and Collingwood’s just gone.

Pietersen and Flintoff are at the crease now.

Owais Shah must be wondering what the fook he has to do to get a game.

100

Pietersen rescued England and Wales yesterday with an excellent 97 and they reached 236/5 at close of play. He’s getting a lot of stick for the way he got out - he launched the spinner for a six and successive fours and then tried to cream him out of the ground from the fourth ball of the over to bring up the ton but skied one for the 'keeper to take. He was out against South Africa last summer trying to bring up a century with similar flair and abandon and pundits and ex-players are annoyed that he wasn’t more cautious and circumspect. He’s brushed it off and said that’s the way he plays and will always play. It seems very much over the top to be criticising someone who scored 97 when the other top 5 batsmen all failed. Flintoff and Prior will be resuming early this afternoon on a pitch that’s already turning a lot.