[cite]Posted By: Ormiston Addick[/cite]Anyone else see Tendulkar batting against Steyn last night?
THAT was Test Match cricket at its best, the best batsman in the world against the best fast bowler in the world, totally gripping stuff.
Tendulkar is unbelievable, the bloke has been playing Test Match cricket for 20 years, I saw him play at Lords in the Gooch 333 game.
Saw the highlights earlier. Tendulkar is unbelievable - an absolute genius. He shows no ill effects from that dip in form a couple of years ago. My God do I love watching Dale Steyn bowl though. Nothing like watching a bowler like that - Donald, McGrath, Holden, Ambrose, Steyn - all brilliant to watch.
Our batsmen get much more leeway than our bowlers. Finn was our top wicket taker, but the management thought he was tired so he was dropped. Colly's not scored runs for ages, he's beginning to drop lots of catches and so, move Bell up to 5 and bring in Morgan at 6.
[cite]Posted By: supaclive[/cite]His last ever test match for sure!
You reckon?
No doubt you were giving Cooky a bit of a bashing last summer.
I think he will take the decision to retire from Test cricket on a high with the one dayers and World Cup to play for. Otherwise he will be dropped because, as I've said previously, the Team has to evolve.
After all, we drop bowlers when they bowl well so if we can't drop a batsman who scores a total of 83 runs in a series and who averaged 26 in 2010 then when can we drop him?
[cite]Posted By: supaclive[/cite]His last ever test match for sure!
You reckon?
No doubt you were giving Cooky a bit of a bashing last summer.
I think he will take the decision to retire from Test cricket on a high with the one dayers and World Cup to play for. Otherwise he will be dropped because, as I've said previously, the Team has to evolve.
After all, we drop bowlers when they bowl well so if we can't drop a batsman who scores a total of 83 runs in a series and who averaged 26 in 2010 then when can we drop him?
Changing the subject slightly but staying with cricket, hearing Beefy go on about that "catch" earlier reminded me of when someone claimed a catch off him and he walked behind the stumps waving his bat in the air at them. Was it against Pakistan? And was it the wicket-keeper?
A very vivid memory from my youth that is. Was just looking for it on YouTube but no joy.
[cite]Posted By: Off_it[/cite]Changing the subject slightly but staying with cricket, hearing Beefy go on about that "catch" earlier reminded me of when someone claimed a catch off him and he walked behind the stumps waving his bat in the air at them. Was it against Pakistan? And was it the wicket-keeper?
A very vivid memory from my youth that is. Was just looking for it on YouTube but no joy.
Knowing Botham,that could of been in his back garden.
[cite]Posted By: Off_it[/cite]Changing the subject slightly but staying with cricket, hearing Beefy go on about that "catch" earlier reminded me of when someone claimed a catch off him and he walked behind the stumps waving his bat in the air at them. Was it against Pakistan? And was it the wicket-keeper?
A very vivid memory from my youth that is. Was just looking for it on YouTube but no joy.
Knowing Botham,that could of been in his back garden.
Now you couldn't possibly be suggesting that Beef is a teller of tall tales, could you? ;o)
[cite]Posted By: carly burn[/cite]Drop him fair enough.But saying it's his last ever test match is harsh on a good english servant.
The issue is his age and the fact that we need to integrate younger players when the side, as a whole, is playing well. The Aussies used to do this but the issue with them was the fact that all their top players got old at the same time and all bar one or two retired within a couple of years. Apart from Hussey not one of their batsmen have performed and they don't have a spin bowler worthy of Divison 1 of the County Championship let alone the Ashes.
As I've said already I think he will retire gracefully from Test cricket and save himself for the one day stuff.
Colly will be 35 in May and realistically only has a few years left as a pro, and clearly can't cut it at Test level any more. He's had one decent score in this series - of 42 and otherwise has failed to get past 20.
There are several players lining up behind him - Morgan, Lyth, Hildreth, Bopara who are more likely to score runs.
Hopefully Colly will retire himself and take matters into his own hands rather than be retired. At least these days old test players can go into the retirement home known as the IPL.
[cite]Posted By: BlackForestReds[/cite]Colly will be 35 in May and realistically only has a few years left as a pro, and clearly can't cut it at Test level any more. He's had one decent score in this series - of 42 and otherwise has failed to get past 20.
There are several players lining up behind him - Morgan, Lyth, Hildreth, Bopara who are more likely to score runs.
Hopefully Colly will retire himself and take matters into his own hands rather than be retired. At least these days old test players can go into the retirement home known as the IPL.
I did think about Colly and the IPL but I'm not actually sure, with all the talent out there, that any Team would actually bid for him.
Joking aren't you? He played last year and had a great season - for Delhi Daredevils.
The IPL is made for someone like him, four overs of medium pace, he's a great fielder and can bat well in limited overs. He's still captain of England's T20 team and for good reason.
Colly did well in the IPL last year. He'll do a job in the World Cup. This is his last Test.
Why haven't we dropped him earlier? Well it's not the way the England set up works these days. An experienced player would not be dropped mid-series and certainly not on tour. It's the Aussie way and we have tried to emulate them. Make your changes inbetween series'.
As they say, a good snooker player chalks his cue before playing his shot, not after......
I'd still go for Bopara at 6 instead of Morgan, we'll miss Colly's overs.
[cite]Posted By: BlackForestReds[/cite]Joking aren't you? He played last year and had a great season - for Delhi Daredevils.
The IPL is made for someone like him, four overs of medium pace, he's a great fielder and can bat well in limited overs. He's still captain of England's T20 team and for good reason.
Colly's T20 record last year for England was 11 Innings at an average of just over 10 and a top score of only 21. He might get a contract but I don't think he should bank on it.
Comments
Make your last Test one to remember.
THAT was Test Match cricket at its best, the best batsman in the world against the best fast bowler in the world, totally gripping stuff.
Tendulkar is unbelievable, the bloke has been playing Test Match cricket for 20 years, I saw him play at Lords in the Gooch 333 game.
I hope he gets some runs.
As opposed to what - a "fake edge"?
And is a bit like a footballer having "genuine pace"?
I'm waffling - but they started it!
Since all Australian cricketers must have a nickname that is related to their surname, I'm going with "Duff".
You reckon?
No doubt you were giving Cooky a bit of a bashing last summer.
The best teams are ruthless.
I think he will take the decision to retire from Test cricket on a high with the one dayers and World Cup to play for. Otherwise he will be dropped because, as I've said previously, the Team has to evolve.
After all, we drop bowlers when they bowl well so if we can't drop a batsman who scores a total of 83 runs in a series and who averaged 26 in 2010 then when can we drop him?
What he said
A very vivid memory from my youth that is. Was just looking for it on YouTube but no joy.
Knowing Botham,that could of been in his back garden.
The issue is his age and the fact that we need to integrate younger players when the side, as a whole, is playing well. The Aussies used to do this but the issue with them was the fact that all their top players got old at the same time and all bar one or two retired within a couple of years. Apart from Hussey not one of their batsmen have performed and they don't have a spin bowler worthy of Divison 1 of the County Championship let alone the Ashes.
As I've said already I think he will retire gracefully from Test cricket and save himself for the one day stuff.
There are several players lining up behind him - Morgan, Lyth, Hildreth, Bopara who are more likely to score runs.
Hopefully Colly will retire himself and take matters into his own hands rather than be retired. At least these days old test players can go into the retirement home known as the IPL.
I did think about Colly and the IPL but I'm not actually sure, with all the talent out there, that any Team would actually bid for him.
The IPL is made for someone like him, four overs of medium pace, he's a great fielder and can bat well in limited overs. He's still captain of England's T20 team and for good reason.
Why haven't we dropped him earlier? Well it's not the way the England set up works these days. An experienced player would not be dropped mid-series and certainly not on tour. It's the Aussie way and we have tried to emulate them. Make your changes inbetween series'.
As they say, a good snooker player chalks his cue before playing his shot, not after......
I'd still go for Bopara at 6 instead of Morgan, we'll miss Colly's overs.
Colly's T20 record last year for England was 11 Innings at an average of just over 10 and a top score of only 21. He might get a contract but I don't think he should bank on it.