Cricket World Cup 2015

[littlebabyjesus]

England doing their best to fuck it up against Scotland now. Moeen aside, they look totally devoid of the confidence to go for their shots. Bell was poor. Got out as soon as he started trying to accelerate after being far too slow. Morgan in now, and they all look twitchy as hell.

Majid Haq is the slowest bowler I've ever seen in an international.

 

[Signal 11]

This is turning out to be one of the best games of the WC so far. I was tempted to bet on Scotland before they started. Really wish I didn't have to be up for work. I usually support Scotland at football and England at cricket but have been very temped to switch both lately. Too many one day games? - no. Watching it online with two fingers stuck up to Murdoch - priceless. Still not sure what I want to see when I wake up, if I ever get to sleep tonight - just starting to hit me how much I've beed drinking while watching this

 

[Signal 11]

Noooooooooooooooooooooo! (my spelling and another wicket).

 

[Signal 11]

Got there in the end - Nice bowling from Finn (says a Broad fan)

Moeen "thank G*d for winning the game" (unless G*d == Moeen)

Worth watching the highlights for those who missed it.

/goes to b*d

 

[gabi]

Just for old times sake. The finest moment of the shittest world cup in history

 

[SpookyFrank]

Must be time to drop Ballance now surely? I think he'll do well as a test player but this format doesn't seem to be his thing.

But mostly I want to see Ravi get a knock. Hales in for Ian Bell at the top of the order as well.

 

[littlebabyjesus]

Must be time to drop Ballance now surely? I think he'll do well as a test player but this format doesn't seem to be his thing.

But mostly I want to see Ravi get a knock. Hales in for Ian Bell at the top of the order as well.

Yep, agreed on both. Bell looked totally devoid of confidence from what I saw last night. Scotland's bowlers are fringe county players, military medium pacers struggling to establish themselves at 1st class level. Plus the club cricketer Majid Haq. And they were nervous as hell in front of probably the biggest crowd of their careers. Yet he was scared to go after them.

 

[littlebabyjesus]

Looking forward to watching Afghanistan at some point. They have a 90mph man in their ranks. Amazing rise - they've only had a team since 2001.

 

[littlebabyjesus]

Little gripe about the commentators last night.

Not once, but twice, they felt compelled to say that Majid Haq was born in Scotland "but of Pakistani origin" [their 'but' here]. Well thankyou for clearing up, twice, why he is brown.

They didn't mention where in Scotland he was from, either, unlike others who were 'born in Aberdeen' or whatever. Sort yourselves out.

 

[gabi]

They do that regularly when talking about the likes of Dylan Hartley in the rugby, or the various south africans in the england cricket side. Of course those guys weren't actually born in the UK, but emigrated when quite young.

Was Haq born in Scotland? It really shouldn't matter though, you're right.

 

[SpookyFrank]

Little gripe about the commentators last night.

Not once, but twice, they felt compelled to say that Majid Haq was born in Scotland "but of Pakistani origin" [their 'but' here]. Well thankyou for clearing up, twice, why he is brown.

They didn't mention where in Scotland he was from, either, unlike others who were 'born in Aberdeen' or whatever. Sort yourselves out.

How many of the England team were actually born in England? Two, three? They never fucking mention that do they?

And would anyone really be unable to guess that a British bloke called Majid Haq might be from a Pakistani background?

 

[littlebabyjesus]

Was Haq born in Scotland?

Yes. They were trying to be friendly and informative and introduce us all to these unfamiliar faces. But for everyone else born in Scotland, it was 'born Aberdeen'. With him, it was born Scotland, 'but of Pakistani origin'.

 

[SpookyFrank]

Yes. They were trying to be friendly and informative and introduce us all to these unfamiliar faces. But for everyone else born in Scotland, it was 'born Aberdeen'. With him, it was born Scotland, 'but of Pakistani origin'.

I understand many of the South African team are actually of European descent.

Conversely, many of the West Indies players have African ancestry.

You might argue that the tasteful thing would be not to mention any of this, and to simply talk about the cricket instead. We can all see which country these people have chosen to represent, because it's written on their shirts.

 

[littlebabyjesus]

tbf not everyone on Sky is as shit. A while back, Bumble was discussing Moeen Ali and the subject of his origins came up. 'What, you mean Birmingham?' he said dryly, making the point.

 

[Mumbles274]

wow.. Chris Gayle!!!

 

[littlebabyjesus]

Another one-sided affair.

Meanwhile, don't bother turning up for the first test this year, folks. Half the NZ team will have just arrived in the country. Total farce thinking this can be a competitive match. NZ asked England to change the itinerary, but they refused. Some countries don't have the income to be able to pay players not to compete in the IPL. England, it would appear, don't give a flying fuck about that.

 

[gabi]

I wouldn't like to be a bowler in todays climate. It's absurd. I doubt I could even lift that bat Gayle was throwing around.

Afterwards the commentators were saying that this is the resurgence of the Windies. Er no, it's not. It was won by one man. Get him out and they're fucked.

 

[littlebabyjesus]

I wouldn't like to be a bowler in todays climate. It's absurd. I doubt I could even lift that bat Gayle was throwing around.

Afterwards the commentators were saying that this is the resurgence of the Windies. Er no, it's not. It was won by one man. Get him out and they're fucked.

And, um, it was Zimbabwe.

 

[littlebabyjesus]

Finally, a close match. Thank fuck for the associates!

 

[butchersapron]

A monumental batting performance from Georgie in very tense conditions and at a great strike rate - following on from his magnificent 8 over spell. Should have been man of the match rather than wilson.

 

[littlebabyjesus]

Watching Afghanistan for the first time. Hassan has something about him. I like Afghanistan - they've got a bit in the bowling, which is normally where the associates struggle.

 

[littlebabyjesus]

And Shapoor has an old-fashioned long run-up. Touch of the Bob Willis.

 

[gabi]

Sounds like it was a cracking match. So pleased for the Afghans. These 'associate' games are returning far more interesting results than the big boys.

 

[littlebabyjesus]

We should probably get rid of the test teams for the next WC.

 

[SpookyFrank]

Six people injured in Afghanistan due to muppets firing their guns in the air in celebration after beating Scotland.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cricket/31638468

While it's nice to people getting behind their team, especially in a country that's new to the sport, it would be nicer if they could find a way to celebrate that didn't involve guns. What's wrong with a nice traditional drunken punch-up eh?

 

[MrSki]

Fuck me! Aussies all out for 151!!!! New Zealand currently 35 without loss after 2.4 overs.

 

[treefrog]

Sitting watching NZ smash the Aussies in a bar in south Auckland. Enthusiastic crowd to say the least

 

[gabi]

Bugger. I thought I'd get to see a couple of hours of it by getting up at 7. It's already all over. Looks like an absolute classic too.

 

[Ted Striker]

Absolutely ridiculous game of Cricket. Watching it on the replay, still don't believe my eyes tbh!

Can't believe how it must have been for the Kiwi's. From elation to horror to the six finish. Still in shock tbh

 

[gabi]

At least tonight's game begins at 9 GMT so I might be able to actually watch a bit of it. I rarely wish I was back in NZ but maybe for the next 6 weeks or so.

Kane Williamson has nerves of steel. He's already captain in waiting and you can see why. Never panics, even when the run rate required hits 8 or so. Just patiently goes about his business.