A West Indies team that never played ODI cricket
The fourth and final instalment looks at some great West Indian players, most of whom would have been superstars in the ODI format. I…
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The fourth and final instalment looks at some great West Indian players, most of whom would have been superstars in the ODI format. I…
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I guess McDonald was telling the truth when he said he hadn’t given the head coaching job any thought. Way too busy knifing Langer.
'Don't do it at a pub': Vaughan lifts lid on Cummins' secret summit in days before Langer's downfall
Really interesting question, Ace.
Michael Atherton said Langer “bled green and gold, not the blue of England” and I think he’s right, as are you.
That said, IMO he’s a skillset that would be very useful to England cricket right now, at all levels, not just international/Test squads. I think that’s why Strauss likes him as an option.
Langer though must realise he’d be under a really intense microscope from all parties, most of whom would be expecting instant success. Does he need the grief that would come when England inevitably fall short, at least initially?
Then there’s the question of pride. Guys at his level are rightly proud of their achievements and I’m sure Langer’s pride has taken a huge hit with the events of the past few weeks. What better way to show CA than to take the England job and win the Ashes back.
I think he could do the job, but won’t for one reason; his family. They’ve copped plenty of pressure over the past 12 months, not intentionally but because of his job. I get the impression Langer is happy to take some of that pressure off, at least for the next 6 months, which is when the Poms will need to find a coach.
Can anyone tell me what's going on with English Test cricket?
I think selectors think Finch’s role as skipper more than makes up for his lack of runs. There’s also that justification that runs at this level are one good shot away. Not saying they’re right, just saying what I reckon they’re thinking.
Also not sure what difference it makes in this format how old you are. Brad Hogg was going well enough to play for Australia in his 40’s and the Saffers would happily have chosen AB de V for last years WC at 36
Finch in firing line as ageing Australian T20 side needs refresh before World Cup defence
don’t forget Mr Warner’s banned for life from any captaincy role
Finch in firing line as ageing Australian T20 side needs refresh before World Cup defence
Why? You can have all the supporting stats you like but if you don’t get enough numbers in the W column, you’re no chance to take out a premiership.
And by the way, my comment can be right or wrong but it can’t be “patently untrue”
Nerd’s Eye View: History weighing against Titans’ inexperienced spine
Outstanding piece of sportsmanship
WATCH: Nepalese wicketkeeper goes viral for amazing sportsmanship against Ireland
much would depend on what sort of pitches CA expects to get over there. Presumably they’d have someone doing some forward scouting.
I’m guessing too, Neser’s value with the bat would be in his favour. I know Abbott can also bat, but he’s not being doing much of that lately
Concerns for Australia after Michael Neser injury in domestic cricket
6 of one, half dozen of another Pierro. Pretty confident al would do a job if called on
Concerns for Australia after Michael Neser injury in domestic cricket
If players are going to be provoked constantly (and I presume this happens regularly to all past & present Storm players), I can totally understand why they’ve pushed back.
Granted some of the things they’ve done have been too publicly provocative, but I wonder if they’d have done that if the general public had let it go? And why keep on about it when probably Bellamy is the only person still around the traps at the Storm from that era.
It seems to me to be a case of tall poppy syndrome, just like the Roosters and the Politis sombrero. Pretty sad when these are the only things fans can find to criticise a Club
'They were always thinking about us and playing for us': Fans on supporting the Storm
As is usually the case, the most important stat hasn’t been mentioned in this piece. The Titans won 10 games last year and lost 14. That means they made the finals with a 42% winning record.
It makes no difference about where they finished in these other stat categories, if they can’t put more wins in the board this year. Sure a better spine might help them do that, but anything less than a 50:50 win/loss ratio could see the Titans going backwards as other teams improve.
Nerd’s Eye View: History weighing against Titans’ inexperienced spine
Always interesting to get the ladies perspective and these two seem very attuned to their Club. Like or hate the Storm, it would be foolish not to admire what they’ve achieved. Setting up in AFL dominated Melbourne and creating such a successful system is huge credit to them.
On the other hand I wish fans would give the Storm salary cap breaches a rest. Any time someone wants to rub them out, they talk about this issue.
Nobody talks about the Doggies being stripped of 37 competition points and fined half a million bucks. And what about the Eels in 2016? Their Board openly discussing ways to rort the salary cap and doing so, which resulted in fines of another million. How many other Clubs have done something similar, but not on the same scale? Nearly all, I’d suggest.
'They were always thinking about us and playing for us': Fans on supporting the Storm
“it appeared clear that the NRL All-Stars match benefited from the four-quarter structure.”
Really? What specific benefits?
Greater involvement by coaches? Surely that’s not what anyone wants in the NRL given it’s a game of 13 players and coaches already have way too much involvement?
The game is reset? Part of the skill of playing is getting players to make changes as the game is evolving. Why do they need to stop completely to do that? Surely there are already enough stoppages, eg after a try is scored, for coaches to hit the reset button?
Breaks between quarters? How does that improve the viewing experience? Just another excuse for more commercials and/or more inane remarks from commentators trying to find something smart to say.
Implementing rules changes? Vlandy’s has shown that can be done with the game as it currently stands so why the need for quarters?
I’m also wonder why, if 4 quarters is such a great idea, that a sport like soccer hasn’t picked up and run with it? Or Rugby? Clearly they see no benefit, so can’t see why would the NRL would want to make this change.
Does rugby league’s future lie in four 20-minute quarters?
Tough on Neser, given how hard he’s worked to play Tests. Touch wood, this is only a slight strain and he can still make the tour.
Concerns for Australia after Michael Neser injury in domestic cricket
Broad at least see’s himself as being dropped, but Strauss made it very clear that was not the case – though it may be after the public comments Broad made.
Totally agree about the keeper being a key member of the team which is why Foakes is such a good selection. IMO he’s the best gloveman in world cricket and could be a pretty useful lower order batsman if he can string some Tests together
Can anyone tell me what's going on with English Test cricket?
I think you could include a number 12 in your list, Rosie.
England cricket is way too much of a boys Club. I read a story in the past few months that talks about how marginalised cricket talent from Asian nations is, compared to white English born players. Something like 85% of the mens squads come from private schools and there’s some ridiculously low percentage of English-born Asian players in County cricket, completely out of proportion with the numbers of Asian heritage Britons.
I know why they’re not tapping into that talent pool. You only have to look at all the racism allegations to get a pretty good idea about that but they’re shooting themselves in the head because there has to be some serious talent they’re ignoring.
Can anyone tell me what's going on with English Test cricket?
There’s been a very clear explanation given by Strauss. Broad is coming to the end of his career, England needs to find replacements for he and Anderson, the West Indies tour is a starting point for that rebuilding process and Broad needs to be ready for the English summer because he’s still a key member of the English Test squad.
Broads comments hinge on one statement. He said he was notified of this decision in a “5 minute phone call”. He then claims he had no further contact, no chance to press his case for inclusion on the tour, etc.
If Strauss chose to produce evidence showing he spent considerably more time talking with Broad about this, then everything Broad has said is called into question and at the very least, makes him look like a child who hasn’t gotten what he wanted.
I don’t think Strauss will want to go down that path, after all, why antagonise a player he might need later in the year, but he might be forced to if Broad doesn’t leave this alone.
Can anyone tell me what's going on with English Test cricket?
but who still wants to play Tests?
Can anyone tell me what's going on with English Test cricket?
Pretty sure that’s not a team I’d want to be a part of.
NRL Bad Boys 17: Millions of dollars in talented stars banned from round one
It depends entirely on what it achieves. IMO it’s enormously high risk to openly criticise the people signing the cheques, especially if you use the court of public opinion to vent, which is all Broad’s doing.
Can anyone tell me what's going on with English Test cricket?
“I think in the medium future (ie 5 years) there will be a pushback against technology in sports around the world.”
I don’t that impression so keen to understand why you think this will be the case.
Does the NRL need the Bunker?
All of your suggestions make sense but the majority are based on long term planning, ie making changes to the County system would take at least 2 or 3 years then probably another year or two to bear fruit.
In the meanwhile, the MCC, the media and the public are all demanding instant results, which is what I think Strauss is trying to achieve now. Granted these changes, if they come off, will likely take more than 12 months to come good, but if the squad can show clear improvement, that will take pressure off and allow for more change, such as you’ve described.
Can anyone tell me what's going on with English Test cricket?
Makes it tough for the rest of us, doesn’t it?
Can anyone tell me what's going on with English Test cricket?
I wonder about the timing for Langer. He’s obviously taken a bit of a mental beating in recent weeks and I wonder if he wants to get into more stoushes by taking on this role?
Not saying he’s not up to it. If any coach in the game is mentally tough, IMO it has to be Langer, but as you say, does he want to move his family and have to put up with all and sundry putting everything he does under a real microscope?
Can anyone tell me what's going on with English Test cricket?
I think it will be a long road back Pater. The setup of the game in England appears inherently flawed, with all manner of issues to tackle.
Again, what can’t sit well with Strauss and others is this type of open dissent from a highly paid and well respected team member. He has every right to question his non-selection but doing it this way doesn’t help his cause, nor does it help the rebuilding process.
Can anyone tell me what's going on with English Test cricket?
Throw Sobers into that team and I reckon it’d beat the others more often than ot lost.
A West Indies team that never played ODI cricket