Cricket, lovely cricket

[Adam Went]

The trifecta, eh Phil?

Or you could bet on Ricky Ponting stepping down as Australian test and ODI captain.

Oh...wait....

Cheers,
Adam.

P.S. For the record, I think Ricky has been and is a brilliant captain and the best man for the job, he's just been unfortunate enough to be at the helm during the era of transition, where out greatest players over the past 10-15 years have retired. It's really sad that in 20 or 30 years time, he'll probably be remembered mainly as the first man for generations to captain his side to two Ashes defeats and a World Cup defeat. Hopefully he continues to bat at 3 and play on for a while yet, even if he isn't in charge.

[Phil Carter]

I'd put my money on a riot, before, during or after that game. Perhaps all three and do an accumulator.

best wishes

Phil

[Adam Went]

Not going to bet on Sachin Tendulkar taking 10-for then? Though knowing the vein of form he's in, it's quite possible.....maybe MS Dhoni to take the 10-for?

Cheers,
Adam.

[Robert]

Here's my tip on the India/Pakistan match :

In the third over, a bowler will run up reciting the works of William Shakespeare.

The 29th over will contain 15 balls.

A batsman will collapse with sunstroke one short of his century.

Two fielders will be fined for singing extracts from "Rigoletto."

I'm getting down to the bookmakers.

[Adam Went]

Welcome to the World Cup failure club, England. Nice seeing you here.

Well, I guess now there's nothing else to do but support New Zealand for the rest of the tournament!

Cheers,
Adam.

[Adam Went]

Ah, I presume Corey passed the message on to you then JD? In any case, very pleased to have you on board as well - welcome!

You Poms better start getting your team organised, we've already got a good portion of our international team! Let's hope you're more competent at it than your national cricket team.

Cheers,
Adam.

[Jdombrowski89]

CD:

A classic case of the more they get, the more they want, eh? Perhaps they should have a look at their multi-million dollar bank accounts and sponsorship deals, with all their luxuries of life, and the fact that they get all this for playing the sport they dreamed of playing as a child. Then consider the Average Joe working full time for $15 an hour whose only luxury might be coming to see these guys play and have a beer there.....really is very frustrating.

Unfortunately, cricket has gone a bit the same way in recent years, with cricketers preferring their more $$$$ based IPL contracts to playing for national or state teams. I can sympathise with wanting to use your talents to make as much dosh as possible while you have the ability to do it, but the line has to be drawn somewhere!

$7 for a beer? Heh. Try buying one at a nightclub down here....

Martin:

Welcome to the Twenty20 squad!
It really doesn't matter what ability (or lack of) you have as pretty much everyone involved is going to be in the same boat. If (hopefully when) this eventuates, it'll all be about just having a bit of fun and raising some money for a worthwhile charity....

As for your match against the Windies....good luck. The Windies are a bit Pakistan-esque in their inconsistency.

Cheers,
Adam.

Adam,

Heard about this lovely Cricket Fundraiser. Count me in, Mate.


Regards,
Justin

[Adam Went]

Goddammit, Windies!

Cheers,
Adam.

[Adam Went]

Martin:

I believe the theory behind it is that the minnow nations gain nothing from constantly being flogged by test playing nations, and having the unnecessary teams only adds to the length of the tournament. The second part is a valid point - however, in every WC I can remember at least, there have been upsets, and it's raised the interest of the game.

I'm going to play devil's advocate here and suggest that the ICC are concerned that with the drop in support for ODI cricket following the advent of Twenty20, and so rather than risk including teams who could potentially cause an upset win in future world cups and hence alienate more supporters of the "superior" nations" towards ODI cricket, they will instead axe them from future World Cup's altogether?

It will actually have the reverse effect and make it quite boring, IMHO....

Cheers,
Adam.

[martin wilson]

I dont understand the thinking behind that decision, is it that they consider there are too many mismatches under the current format?
Not so, as the minnow countries have had some good results,and its a numbers game, the more success they have,the greater the interest from youngsters wanting to play, therefore the greater talent pool to draw from.
Its maybe premature but I could see ODI's based on geographical zones like rugby does with the six nations, at the moment it would be England,Ireland and Holland and the touring team in a round robin tournament.
The advantage to the ECB would be something they appreciate, money,as it might guarantee full houses from resident and travelling supporters.
It has a bit more interest to me than a 7 match ODI series against the same team, although I confess there is some residual bitterness at losing the last one.
All the best.

[Adam Went]

Martin:

It absolutely does help the minnow nations. Some of the ones who were present in 2007 weren't present this time around, but Ireland really are a very good team. So are Bangladesh. Zimbabwe are decent as well. Even Kenya put up a good fight against us.

Which is why the ICC is making a blunder of epic proportions in not allowing these nations to participate in the 2015 world cup, limiting it instead to the 10 test playing nations....*yawn* boring. And frustrating for those lesser teams who have put in the hard yards.

Cheers,
Adam.

[martin wilson]

I will concede that the world cup has the potential for the development of cricket in some of the so called minnow countries.
Consider the success of Ireland and Bangladesh who beat some rubbish team whose name escapes me.
Some little lad,somewhere, might think 'I fancy a go at that' after seeing it on the news,and a world class cricketer is created that otherwise would have spent his time playing with the playstation.
I know this because of the Irish football team, when they beat Romania on penalties during the world cup, loads of kids were out there playing football (and taking penalties,pretending to be David O' Leary).
The Guardian newspaper over here in their Sunday sports section highlight some of footballs iniquities,usually about financial matters, I read recently that the amount of money raised for charity by the England football team is now over £1 million, it seems unbelievable but the amount of money Premiership footballers in total avoided tax on during the 2009/10 season was over £100 million!
Our Geoffrey to his credit has complained long and often about the way cricket is going regarding money, there were quite a few grumbles from the TMS team last year about ticket pricing, getting on for £100 to watch a days cricket.
It will be interesting to se what the take up is for this summers test series as we are now living in austerity Britain.
All the best.

[Adam Went]

CD:

A classic case of the more they get, the more they want, eh? Perhaps they should have a look at their multi-million dollar bank accounts and sponsorship deals, with all their luxuries of life, and the fact that they get all this for playing the sport they dreamed of playing as a child. Then consider the Average Joe working full time for $15 an hour whose only luxury might be coming to see these guys play and have a beer there.....really is very frustrating.

Unfortunately, cricket has gone a bit the same way in recent years, with cricketers preferring their more $$$$ based IPL contracts to playing for national or state teams. I can sympathise with wanting to use your talents to make as much dosh as possible while you have the ability to do it, but the line has to be drawn somewhere!

$7 for a beer? Heh. Try buying one at a nightclub down here....

Martin:

Welcome to the Twenty20 squad!
It really doesn't matter what ability (or lack of) you have as pretty much everyone involved is going to be in the same boat. If (hopefully when) this eventuates, it'll all be about just having a bit of fun and raising some money for a worthwhile charity....

As for your match against the Windies....good luck. The Windies are a bit Pakistan-esque in their inconsistency.

Cheers,
Adam.

[martin wilson]

I dunno whats going on with England, I'm off with the lurgy for a few days and now I find we have a must win against the Windies,how did that happen?
We do have form, when the world cup was held over here,with great razzle dazzle the official England World Cup song was released.
Trouble was we were already out of the tournament by that time.
I'm no use in a cricket match, I can bowl I suppose, but at no great pace and the only thiing the ball does through the air is get even slower with no real guarantee it will reach the batsman.
When I played indoor cricket the ump told me it was the first time he had to no ball based on length.
As for batting,cow corner stuff,and I cant see very well out of my left eye,so anything on leg I 'lose' just before pitching. 'Kin ow!
I am an enthusiastic fielder,diving around all over the place, but if the ball arrives at the same time as my dive it is largely put down to coincidence.
On the money issue, most of it can be explained by the fact that the people who are recieving it,really, really want it.
All the best.

[c.d.]

Yeah, Steve, there was no world series in baseball in 1994 because of a strike. In 1987, NFL players went on strike and the owners used scab players for a few games before the regular players gave in.

To go to an NFL stadium and watch a game you basically have to take out a loan. The prices are absolutely ridiculous.

While prices for baseball games are not nearly as bad, the prices for food and beer are exorbitant. $7 for a beer. Give me a break.

c.d.