Cricket thread just for Cerbera

Ahem.

Sorry.

Bollocks. Another 5 overs would've been nice. So would a cup of tea and a slice of cake.

2 run outs in a Test Innings is unforgivable really. However England need to look long and hard at the opener slot now. Strauss hasn't scored any runs when it counts for many series now. The West Indies in England in May don't really count, its runs against SA, Australia, Pakistan and India and he has failed series after series there.

SA are the best side at the moment, and not many of them will be going anywhere for a while except maybe Kallis who is 36 now. I cant see them losing to Australia or NZ this winter, Pakistan maybe their hardest series. On the other hand I cant see England winning in India so the gap at the top will get wider by the Ashes series next summer.

The squad for the Test series in India has just been announced. In a rare display of consistency and common sense, Kevin Pietersen isn't in the squad, but there's a call-up for Nick Compton - well deserved imho.

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Greenjock wrote:

Nick Compton of Somerset is in cracking form so far this season. He's scored 99 and 133 in the two County Championship matches played so far, and today is currently 92 not out against Nottinghamshire.

Last season he scored over 1000 runs in the County Championship, averaging over 50, but was overshadowed by Marcus Trescothick's amazing season. With Andrew Strauss struggling for form, Englands top order could do with a shake-up. Compton is a number 3 batsman really so I can't see him replacing Strauss, but if Ian Bell doesn't score runs early this season I would give him a go.

He's another South African born cricketer, but he has been in England for years now, and is the Grandson of none other than Dennis Compton.

I also think this is Somerset's year, as they have been knocking on the door in recent seasons, but the addition of Philander as their overseas player should be just what they need to win the title. I also think that they will do well in the one day competitions, especially the 20/20 which they won a couple of years ago and were runners up last year. For the 20/20 competition they have also recruited Chris Gayle who is probably the most explosive batsman in the world. They already have a brilliant batting line-up, although Trescothick hobbled off injured yesterday, but with Gayle, who's also a tidy spin bowler, they should win this year and I will be going to see a few games. Haven't been for a couple of years now but it's a cracking day out at Taunton drinking in the sun, and my suggestion for a out of season freak meet.

It took the selectors a while but they have now listened

I still think England will struggle without Pietersen and Strauss in India. I don't rate Morgan or Bairstow as Test batsmen so this is Nick Compton's big chance.

He's an extremely patient batsman which you need on the slow, turning wickets, so best of luck to him, but if I were a betting man I would be laying England big-time.

England play Afghanistan in their first 20/20 World Cup game tomorrow, and they just need to win to qualify for the super 8's.

They've won both of their warm-up matches against Pakistan and Australia, but haven't made big scores and of course they've left Kevin Pietersen out of the squad.

Sounds easy but Afghanistan are a rapidly improving team honestly, and they got to within 20 odd runs of India in the first group match, and at one stage looked like they could get very close to India's 159. It's also likely to be a pitch that suits slow bowling and that's where England can get bogged down and struggle to score quickly enough.

England should win obviously as reigning world champions, but it's only 20 overs and they can't treat it like a walkover.

Without Pietersen, or another really experienced big hitting lower order batsman, I can't see England defending the title and India will be extremely difficult to beat. They lost to Pakistan in a warm up match that they were cruising in, but come the tournament I think they will up their game.

New Zealand's Brendan McCullum showing how to play the so-called minnows. Just smashed 123 from 58 balls against Bangladesh.

He hit 11 fours and 7 sixes in the NZ total of 191 for 3.

England make 196-5 with Luke Wright left on 99no from 55 balls.

Craig Kieswetter, who is so frustrating as he can blast quick runs when he puts his mind to it, was out for 0 from 6 balls, after blocking like it was a test match instead of taking risks during the powerplay.

After some of the most comical fielding I've ever seen, England recover from a really stuttering start where they were 0-1 after 1 over and 15-1 after 4 overs, before they kicked on.

No balls, no balls from the free hit, catches taken onto the boundary which turned into a 6, dropped catches and plenty of boundaries from misfields helped England score plenty enough to win comfortably, and they have taken 3 quick wickets to leave Afghanistan on 15-3.

Very easy win for England. Having Afghan 8 down with very few on the board is there a frailty that they went on to more than double their score? Or of course it could just be a natural reaction to having the game won in the first few overs.

Pete1886 wrote:

Very easy win for England. Having Afghan 8 down with very few on the board is there a frailty that they went on to more than double their score? Or of course it could just be a natural reaction to having the game won in the first few overs.

I just think they took their foot off the gas when they had the game sewn up.

Even though Wright smashed 99, it wasn't a great innings by any means. I don't think he was really in control of a lot of his shots and there were a fair few agricultural strokes that could've gone anywhere. The Afghanistan's catching was pitiful and other teams would have taken his wicket much earlier.

Still they're definitely through to the super 8's now and the bowling was superb as usual.

England hammered by India today.

Their lowest t20 score ever of 80.

I have to say I totally expected it as they can't play decent spinners like Harbajan Singh, and they struggled against their part time spinners.

India will win the world cup in my opinion and England will struggle to make the semis.

Harbajan was outstanding, but the England batsmen queued up to give their wicket away. Only Kieswetter looked anything like comfortable, but even he was undone by spin. Very, very poor.

Greenjock wrote:

England hammered by India today.

Their lowest t20 score ever of 80.

I have to say I totally expected it as they can't play decent spinners like Harbajan Singh, and they struggled against their part time spinners.

India will win the world cup in my opinion and England will struggle to make the semis.

It was a clueless humiliation,no question about that.Thinking ahead a bit,not only has it exposed a major deficiency in technique as far as the 20/20 is concerned,it also brings a dread feeling for the test series in India later on.I bet groundsmen in all the Indian test playing cities wll have the scrubbing brushes out tomorrow-you can bet your life that there won't be many green tops prepared for the series.Mind you,that wasn't a bad wicket today,perhaps they won't even need to do any extra preparation.

Imagine England playing murali in Sri Lanka in tests with the current lineup?

It would be absolute carnage!

England employ mushtaq Ahmed as a coach at the moment, to teach the spinners and I guess to help the batsmen how to play spin. He's either having a laugh or is struggling to coach as well as he played. Either way his wage might as well be used for something useful like getting in some strippers to boost morale.

England lose to West Indies in first group game by about 16 runs.0-2 chasing 180 not the best of starts and England were always behind the rate in spite of Morgan blasting a quick 71.England have it all to do now,especially with Sri Lanka being the last match in their group.Not very optimistic but you never can tell,i suppose.

Greenskin wrote:

England lose to West Indies in first group game by about 16 runs.0-2 chasing 180 not the best of starts and England were always behind the rate in spite of Morgan blasting a quick 71.England have it all to do now,especially with Sri Lanka being the last match in their group.Not very optimistic but you never can tell,i suppose.

I can't see them winning a game to be honest. They just look clueless against spin or slow bowling, to the point that they don't even score singles or two's. That leaves them having to try the big shot after a few dot balls.

Kieswetter is totally out of his depth at the top of the order, and I still can't understand why England play him, Joss Buttler and Jonny Bairstow, when all 3 are wicket-keepers! It just seems daft to me. Even dafter is the fact that Matt Prior doesn't even get into the squad and he has improved leaps and bounds as a batsman over the last couple of years, and is a far better keeper than the other 3.

They could and should beat New Zealand, but you saw today that New Zealand are a good all round side without having any superstars.

Anything could happen but I think Sri Lanka, New Zealand, India and South Africa will be the semi-finalists and I strongly fancy India to win it.

Greenjock wrote:

Greenskin wrote:

England lose to West Indies in first group game by about 16 runs.0-2 chasing 180 not the best of starts and England were always behind the rate in spite of Morgan blasting a quick 71.England have it all to do now,especially with Sri Lanka being the last match in their group.Not very optimistic but you never can tell,i suppose.

I can't see them winning a game to be honest. They just look clueless against spin or slow bowling, to the point that they don't even score singles or two's. That leaves them having to try the big shot after a few dot balls.

Kieswetter is totally out of his depth at the top of the order, and I still can't understand why England play him, Joss Buttler and Jonny Bairstow, when all 3 are wicket-keepers! It just seems daft to me. Even dafter is the fact that Matt Prior doesn't even get into the squad and he has improved leaps and bounds as a batsman over the last couple of years, and is a far better keeper than the other 3.

They could and should beat New Zealand, but you saw today that New Zealand are a good all round side without having any superstars.

Anything could happen but I think Sri Lanka, New Zealand, India and South Africa will be the semi-finalists and I strongly fancy India to win it.

Watching Pakistan yesterday,they had a bloke called Nasir Jamshed who i think was the best young batsman i've seen for a very long time.Seemed to have an age in which to play the ball and beautiful timer,ruthless on anything just off line or length,one to watch.Pakistan could be a very good outside bet, they can turn anyone over on their day.

Greenjock wrote:

Greenskin wrote:

England lose to West Indies in first group game by about 16 runs.0-2 chasing 180 not the best of starts and England were always behind the rate in spite of Morgan blasting a quick 71.England have it all to do now,especially with Sri Lanka being the last match in their group.Not very optimistic but you never can tell,i suppose.

I can't see them winning a game to be honest. They just look clueless against spin or slow bowling, to the point that they don't even score singles or two's. That leaves them having to try the big shot after a few dot balls.

Kieswetter is totally out of his depth at the top of the order, and I still can't understand why England play him, Joss Buttler and Jonny Bairstow, when all 3 are wicket-keepers! It just seems daft to me. Even dafter is the fact that Matt Prior doesn't even get into the squad and he has improved leaps and bounds as a batsman over the last couple of years, and is a far better keeper than the other 3.

They could and should beat New Zealand, but you saw today that New Zealand are a good all round side without having any superstars.

Anything could happen but I think Sri Lanka, New Zealand, India and South Africa will be the semi-finalists and I strongly fancy India to win it.

Buttler's only a very occasional wicket-keeper, very much second in line to Kieswetter at Somerset. The player whose absence I just don't get is Ian Bell. he's one of the very few batsmen in world cricket who, to this amateur cricketer anyway, can play all three forms of the game - Test, One day and T20 - to the very highest level. He's a class act, and it's my view that England are missing him far more than they're missing the Pietermaritzburg Ego.

Andy_Symons wrote:

Greenjock wrote:

Greenskin wrote:

England lose to West Indies in first group game by about 16 runs.0-2 chasing 180 not the best of starts and England were always behind the rate in spite of Morgan blasting a quick 71.England have it all to do now,especially with Sri Lanka being the last match in their group.Not very optimistic but you never can tell,i suppose.

I can't see them winning a game to be honest. They just look clueless against spin or slow bowling, to the point that they don't even score singles or two's. That leaves them having to try the big shot after a few dot balls.

Kieswetter is totally out of his depth at the top of the order, and I still can't understand why England play him, Joss Buttler and Jonny Bairstow, when all 3 are wicket-keepers! It just seems daft to me. Even dafter is the fact that Matt Prior doesn't even get into the squad and he has improved leaps and bounds as a batsman over the last couple of years, and is a far better keeper than the other 3.

They could and should beat New Zealand, but you saw today that New Zealand are a good all round side without having any superstars.

Anything could happen but I think Sri Lanka, New Zealand, India and South Africa will be the semi-finalists and I strongly fancy India to win it.

Buttler's only a very occasional wicket-keeper, very much second in line to Kieswetter at Somerset. The player whose absence I just don't get is Ian Bell. he's one of the very few batsmen in world cricket who, to this amateur cricketer anyway, can play all three forms of the game - Test, One day and T20 - to the very highest level. He's a class act, and it's my view that England are missing him far more than they're missing the Pietermaritzburg Ego.

I know Buttler's too inexperienced to be the wicket-keeper, that's why it's strange that he's in the team now alongside Kieswetter and Bairstow.

England are short of an experienced batsman or two, Bell would be ideal and obviously England are missing Pietersen, who is probably the one person capable of taking any attack to pieces consistently that England could have, like Gayle for the West Indies, McCullum for New Zealand, Watson for Australia etc.

T20 is a completely different game to Test or One-Day cricket, but if you have one proper batsman consistently rotating the strike, taking quick singles and turning one's into two's, it eases the pressure on the other batsman who can then go for the big shots. A decent batsman like Bell could easily score at a run a ball without having to go for big shots, and the other end can be the big hitter.

England struggle in the power-play first 6 overs, where other teams hit boundaries and sixes at will. You only need to clear the infield for a guaranteed boundary, yet today England were 29-2 after 6 overs, compared with the Windies who had scored 50 odd. Then Bairstow looked lost and didn't seem to know what his role was and ended up scoring 18 off 29 balls, which left England with a massive task.

You need to keep taking singles if you're not able to get the boundaries, and England allowed far too many dot balls.

England's batting order seems rigid too, were I think you need a big hitter at one end and someone who can rotate the strike, play unorthodox shots and put the fielding side under pressure. England don't seem to change their batting order to suit the situation, they just come out to bat in the order the scorecard says.

Morgan and Hales were faced with having to score 12 an over for 10 overs, which is pretty easy to defend with half decent bowling, and all that takes against England is a few part time spinners. Morgan played a great innings but it was far too late. For me Buttler may as well have come in before Morgan with the aim of smacking it out of the ground, which he is well capable of. He came in for the last ball when England couldn't win. I don't understand why he's in the team if he's not going to get the chance to blast off.

When the Windies had Gayle only going for 6 or 7 an over, as opposed to Swann going for 9 and Patel going for 11, it needed someone to hit him out of the ground. Buttler should have been given the chance for me.

England only lost 4 wickets, so it was almost as if they were saving wickets early on, when they needed to accelerate. Not much point having decent batsmen left in the hutch when you're not scoring fast enough.

It's easy from here though, but England do frustrate the feck out of me sometimes.

South Africa mugged by Pakistan when they had done all the hard work, and India thrashed by Australia!

Maybe England do have a chance after all.

So England need to beat New Zealand this morning to have any chance of staying in the World Cup, NZ win the toss and bat.

England have to contain Brendan McCullum, who is the daddy of all big-hitters. He is the highest scorer in T20 internationals, and his 123 in the group stages is the highest individual score in a T20 international.

Briggs in for Patel for more spin options and Bresnan in for Dernbach, who is supposed to be our "death" bowler, but has been expensive.

Bresnan can also smash the ball around if given the chance so good move for me.

New Zealand have also lost their first Super 8 match so it really is a must win game for both sides.

England to just edge it for me, with Kieswetter well overdue a big score or he's reached the end of the line.

So that's England put out of their misery by Sri Lanka. Shocking selections from England sealed their fate. Replaceing Kieswetter with Bopara went the way everyone (except the selectors) expected - Bopara out for 1.

Sri Lanka could well go on and win the whole thing now.

Just desserts.England just didn't play well enough throughout the tournament to make an impact,outplayed today by a superior Sri Lanka team.England seemed to have a resigned look about them today,it certainly wasn't a Poulter type attitude on display out there.Very disappointing but the best two teams in the group qualified in the end,albeit by the skin of their teeth in the West Indies case.

Not good enough all round, although today was probably their best performance because Sri Lanka have been brilliant.

Malinga is always hard to score off and takes wickets and their batsmen don't get bogged down and find it hard to score. Today Finn and Swann got their dangermen fairly early and it looked like they would struggle to get over 150, but Dernbach and Patel allowed far too many runs near the end which cost England dear.

Samit Patel batted superbly with Morgan, who just let him take the strike, and then Swann who gave the Sri Lankan's a scare with his big hitting, but it was just too many after the early Malinga wickets.

Dernbach is useless, Kieswetter and Bopara are equally shit at the top level.

Big game tomorrow, India v S.Africa, which is basically winner goes through unless Pakistan do something miraculous against Australia.

Should be a cracker.

Greenjock wrote:

Not good enough all round, although today was probably their best performance because Sri Lanka have been brilliant.

Malinga is always hard to score off and takes wickets and their batsmen don't get bogged down and find it hard to score. Today Finn and Swann got their dangermen fairly early and it looked like they would struggle to get over 150, but Dernbach and Patel allowed far too many runs near the end which cost England dear.

Samit Patel batted superbly with Morgan, who just let him take the strike, and then Swann who gave the Sri Lankan's a scare with his big hitting, but it was just too many after the early Malinga wickets.

Dernbach is useless, Kieswetter and Bopara are equally shit at the top level.

Big game tomorrow, India v S.Africa, which is basically winner goes through unless Pakistan do something miraculous against Australia. Should be a cracker.

And they did.India couldn't do the biz against South Africa,despite winning the match.Very interesting line up in the semi's,still think that things are going Pakistan's way,but we shall see.