Good plans by bowlers or bad plans by batsmen? Banton out the same way twice in a row and Moeen almost out four times in five with the same mode of dismissal
England will play Afghanistan in the semi-final of the U19 WC on Wednesday following their opponents sensational win against Sri Lanka today
Afghanistan crawled to 134 all out off 47.1 overs. In reply, Sri Lanka were 43-7 at one point but managed to get themselves to 112 before the next wicket fell. The 9th wicket was lost with them still needing 16 but the last pair managed to get them to 130 before one of the remaining batsmen ran himself out. That was Sri Lanka's fourth run out in losing by 4 runs with exactly 4 overs to spare!
We certainly can't count our chickens but it would be extremely disappointing if we couldn't beat this Afghanistan side - they beat Papua New Guinea and Zimbabwe (lost to Pakistan) to get into the QFs - we would then meet one from Pakistan, Australia, India or Bangladesh in the final on Saturday week.
Just to clarify - England's U19 semi against Afghanistan is on Tuesday starting at 1.00pm
On a brighter note, that marvellous attempt by Fabian Allen mid air took me back to me fielding in the late '70s on the boundary edge when I distinctly remember regularly doing a triple somersault in an attempt to complete similar catches. Though I don't recall my whites ever getting grass stains on them. My memory might be failing in that respect but I suppose that I must have just completed a gymnastic style two feet "stick" type landing on each and every occasion.
On a brighter note, that marvellous attempt by Fabian Allen mid air took me back to me fielding in the late '70s on the boundary edge when I distinctly remember regularly doing a triple somersault in an attempt to complete similar catches. Though I don't recall my whites ever getting grass stains on them. My memory might be failing in that respect but I suppose that I must have just completed a gymnastic style two feet "stick" type landing on each and every occasion.
They don't do it like we used to do they!
9 out of 10 for trying to cheer us up, AA.
But I'd already put my boot through the Samsung.....
If this series was designed to give us a clearer idea of our best T20 side then I'm really not sure it has helped. Topley has been generally good but too many of the others have flattered to deceive with probably half a dozen producing one very good performances. Yes we have the likes of Buttler, Bairstow, Stokes, Malan and Morgan to return but I have severe doubts about the capabilities of at least two of those.
And of course we have to find those death bowlers. Here's hoping Archer is fit soon enough.
I hate Jason Holder. Tall, good looking, eloquent, great cricketer. Everything I'm not. Oh and it's the only time my wife is interested in watching the cricket is when he's playing!
I hate Jason Holder. Tall, good looking, eloquent, great cricketer. Everything I'm not. Oh and it's the only time my wife is interested in watching the cricket is when he's playing!
I still think that there's something wrong when someone of his height is a Derek Pringle medium pacer, rather than a Joel Garner or Curtley Ambrose style fast bowler!
Great to see Sir Garfield Sobers there and supporting his boys at the age of 85. He recently expressed his dismay at Barbados becoming a Republic as he said he misses the discussions he used to have with the Queen. Here's hoping that they get to meet at least once more if only to have a chat about their mutual love of racehorses.
Moeen Ali referred to it it in his after match speech and Tom Curran has just said that it's been known for a while that England aren't very good when pitches aren't so good. There is a reason for that. It's because when things are tough, those with the right technique will find gaps and rotate the strike until the opportunity to hit a boundary comes about.
Moeen Ali referred to it it in his after match speech and Tom Curran has just said that it's been known for a while that England aren't very good when pitches aren't so good. There is a reason for that. It's because when things are tough, those with the right technique will find gaps and rotate the strike until the opportunity to hit a boundary comes about.
Have I mentioned this before?
Root should open with Buttler in t20s IMO. His bowling would be useful too.
Comments
180 to win
86-3 off 10.1
Need 94 off 59
Kemar Roach sounds just like John Barnes
They don't do it like we used to do they!
But I'd already put my boot through the Samsung.....
And of course we have to find those death bowlers. Here's hoping Archer is fit soon enough.
Have I mentioned this before?