Cricket World Cup

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what it says in the thread title...

― xyzzzz__, Tuesday, 13 March 2007 09:27 (nineteen years ago)

Australia. Obv.

― SeekAltRoute, Tuesday, 13 March 2007 09:40 (nineteen years ago)

Bbbut Jonathan Agnew says it's "the most open and unpredictable World Cup for years"!

― ledge, Tuesday, 13 March 2007 09:42 (nineteen years ago)

South Africa or Australia if they pull their fingers out. West Indies could've been dark horses but I suspect the pressure may be too much for them.
England have no hope. (unless the openers take the pressure off KP and Freddie and the bowlers finally come good).
So no hope then.

― Brigadier Lethbridge-Pfunkboy, Tuesday, 13 March 2007 09:51 (nineteen years ago)

Could be any one of the top eight. Realistically most likely one from Aus, SA, India. It is the most open one for years. Pakistan look worth a punt at 12-1, depending on which Pakistan turns up.

― Matt, Tuesday, 13 March 2007 09:58 (nineteen years ago)

Certainly wouldn't rule out India either.

― Brigadier Lethbridge-Pfunkboy, Tuesday, 13 March 2007 10:00 (nineteen years ago)

Oh and come on Scotland!!

― Brigadier Lethbridge-Pfunkboy, Tuesday, 13 March 2007 10:01 (nineteen years ago)

the smart bet would be on sri lanka

― unfished business, Tuesday, 13 March 2007 10:02 (nineteen years ago)

I think I prefer India. Past Vaas and Lurali SL's back-up bowling isn't as scary, and they don't have a death bowler (Vaas is almost always used straight through at the start, like Lewis for England he's too hittable at the end). SA are the form side but their spinning resources are scarce, and I think the winner will need a decent spinner, though Australia may be able to overcome this through the sheer strength of their batting. India look good in every department (with the odd question mark over the fielding). Munaf Patel has it in him to be the star of the tournament, Agarkar seems to have worked out how to play ODI's, Kumble is the competitions pre-eminent spinner (after Murali, obv), Dhoni provides the requisite fireworks and then, of course, there's Sachin.

― Matt, Tuesday, 13 March 2007 10:07 (nineteen years ago)

lasith malinga will shine, mark my words.

sri lanka are an outside bet, but they have an exceptionally strong one-day outfit and I just get that feeling about them. India will be up there too, of course, but their fast-bowling attack ain't nearly so hot as you're making out. Agarkar picks up no more than two or three wickets a game on a good day, and Patel is still pretty inconsistent.

SA has the best bowling-attack, even without a spinner (and G. Smith isn't a bad one-day option at all).

― unfished business, Tuesday, 13 March 2007 10:20 (nineteen years ago)

pakistan should win today but you NEVER KNOW with either team. Should be a thriller.

― unfished business, Tuesday, 13 March 2007 12:25 (nineteen years ago)

if there's one batsman in world cricket I wouldn't have called to play that shot, it would have been Corey Collymore...

― unfished business, Tuesday, 13 March 2007 18:10 (nineteen years ago)

I take your point about Malinga. I do rate Patel, though. And I'm not trying to make India's pace attack out to be anything greater than it is, my point was more that theirs is a competent attack, and they have more all-round strength, they bat deep and have a varied attack.

[G. Smith isn't a bad one day option[/i]

14 wickets in 104 matches at an average of 57 doth not a world cup winning off-spinner make, though admittedly with Ntini and Pollock playing it may not matter that much.

― Matt, Tuesday, 13 March 2007 20:37 (nineteen years ago)

[i]depending on which Pakistan turns up. [/]

and today it was the rubbish one

― Matt, Tuesday, 13 March 2007 23:04 (nineteen years ago)

there was never this much trouble with < >

― Matt, Tuesday, 13 March 2007 23:07 (nineteen years ago)

i repeat: corey collymore needs to take up baseball NOW

― unfished business, Tuesday, 13 March 2007 23:16 (nineteen years ago)

West Indies take their first game! Handsomely! I'm officially excited bout this World Cup.

― paulhw, Wednesday, 14 March 2007 01:12 (nineteen years ago)

wow@brad hogg

― unfished business, Wednesday, 14 March 2007 17:39 (nineteen years ago)

England need a bowler like Collymore, he never gets hit for many runs in one-day matches, doesn't take many wickets mind you. In the highlights, Inzi didn't look interested, not that he's ever that dynamic, it was a strange batting performance from Pakistan.

Oh, and does the BBC have to use horrible cheesy musak in it's highlights show??

― jel --, Wednesday, 14 March 2007 18:48 (nineteen years ago)

The BBC's TV cricket coverage all winter has been just awful, so probably.

― Matt, Wednesday, 14 March 2007 23:27 (nineteen years ago)

Australia 200+ run victory. That'll learn those Scots.

― SeekAltRoute, Wednesday, 14 March 2007 23:35 (nineteen years ago)

ok, so i'm just a Canadian, I know a tiny amount about cricket. And, yes, I know that our team is not expected to do much. And I'm fine with losing to Kenya, sounds like the better team won. But it seems like this was a bit much: "Extras 2nb 18w 1b 2lb 5pen 28".

so what happened? Clearly the Canadian bowlers couldn't keep the ball anywhere near where it ought to be. What's the 5 runs penalty about? Not that it would've made a difference.

By the way, the world cup's not carried on anything except a custom paid TV package over here. Pretty annoying, especially when the so-called sports channels carry non-stop poker games ferrchristsakes, all day long. There's definitely enough of an audience for cricket here to beat out card games. whine compain grouch.

― pauls00, Thursday, 15 March 2007 02:06 (nineteen years ago)

Most commonly five penalty runs are awarded if the fielding side discards a helmet and the ball hits it. You also get penalty runs awarded if the fielding side tamper with the ball or the pitch. I think there's something about runs being awarded against a batting side if they attempt to run short, as well.

― Matt, Thursday, 15 March 2007 08:04 (nineteen years ago)

what a fucking game, i watched the last 10 overs with my jaw hanging ever and ever lower as each side took it in turn to choke more and more spectacularly (and hilariously) until the apex, perhaps, of cricket itself, the penultimate ball, which featured the bowler choking by bowling a half-tracker, the batsman choking by trying to slog-sweep it and edging it to short third man, short third man choking by dropping it, the batsmen choking by trying to run each other out, and then the fielder choking by throwing to the wrong end. The only fitting resolution was when the batsman fell through the stumps upon making his ground. And then the game ended a tie. AWESOME.

― unfished business, Friday, 16 March 2007 01:19 (nineteen years ago)

http://www.livesportson.tv/index2.asp

for anyone who can't get the cricket: good quality stream of UK coverage for US$15/match. this has been my lifeline since leaving England - for the footie and the rugby as well.

i'm bricking it about the NZ match. Things have gone badly awry when you're bricking it about playing NZ at cricket.

― Roberto Spiralli, Friday, 16 March 2007 03:59 (nineteen years ago)

LJ entirely correct, that Ireland game was stupendous entertainment. I do feel sorry for Zim though. I remember when they used to be half decent.

― Matt, Friday, 16 March 2007 08:00 (nineteen years ago)

As to this afternoon's game, I'm trying to be sanguine about it. England are that bloody unpredictable at the moment that there's no mileage in even attempting to imagine what will happen.

― Matt, Friday, 16 March 2007 08:01 (nineteen years ago)

I dont get the lack of belief in England. Did you lose a few games recently? To win the one day series in Aussie after the Ashes debacle was bloody great stuff and with Pietersen back Id be backing myself a bit more.

NZ will never win many games with our bowling, but if one of the middle order fire , look out.
Oram will be the go to man but fat boy McMillian is likewise in rare touch. Go NZ!

― Kiwi, Friday, 16 March 2007 08:39 (nineteen years ago)

I know that on our day we're capable of slaughtering anybody. It's not so much a lack of belief, more an acknowledgement that there's never been a team like England for shooting itself in the foot.

NZ have two of my favourite bowlers in Vettori and Bond, and I reckon your back-up bowlers are pretty good at restricting runs. If England's top order can avoid getting too bogged down it should be a rare old game.

― Matt, Friday, 16 March 2007 10:46 (nineteen years ago)

I am hoping to follow the game on this

3d web cricket

― Mezza, Friday, 16 March 2007 13:11 (nineteen years ago)

NZ will never win many games with our bowling

The name's Bond...Shane Bond. I honestly think he's as good as any fast bowler in ODI cricket. Maybe the attack is a bit patchy after that, but there's enough cause for concern.

We are trained from youth in England that hope is something that gets shattered like fine crystal. I prefer the sturdy tupperware of resigned pessimism.

I've read a few pundits say that sloggers like Oram, Pietersen, Kemp, etc will suffer because of the surfaces. I'm interested to see how that pans out, especially as the totals have been reasonably healthy so far.

― Roberto Spiralli, Friday, 16 March 2007 13:33 (nineteen years ago)

I wouldn't class Pietersen as a slogger, he's a world class batsman who happens to be able to twat the ball approx 3 miles. I'd quite like to see Kemp come a cropper, though.

― Matt, Friday, 16 March 2007 13:35 (nineteen years ago)

Wow, england actually made it through 50 overs.

― Ed, Friday, 16 March 2007 17:41 (nineteen years ago)

New Zealand 23-3!

― jel --, Friday, 16 March 2007 18:36 (nineteen years ago)

Could do with another wicket to be going on with though. NZ bat very deep.

― Matt, Friday, 16 March 2007 18:37 (nineteen years ago)

6 sixes in an over from Gibbs for SA!!!

― jel --, Friday, 16 March 2007 19:06 (nineteen years ago)

353-3 in FORTY overs for SA!!!

― unfished business, Friday, 16 March 2007 19:15 (nineteen years ago)

i never ever say the word 'shambles' except when I'm watching England play cricket.

to be fair, that match was about three people: Styris, Oram and Bond. we didn't play well but the tie was decided by their huge performances.

shambles...

― Roberto Spiralli, Friday, 16 March 2007 21:30 (nineteen years ago)

Hurray!Resigned pessimism reigns! Ive learnt my lesson, I really thought England would surprise in this tournament. Good to see Bond performing I still wouldnt want to see our bowling attack under real pressure but batting second weve got the confidence to chase anything and 210 was never going to be enough.

― Kiwi, Friday, 16 March 2007 21:47 (nineteen years ago)

God it was shoddy. Well done to NZ though.

Ireland take a wicket, Pakistan 7/1!

― Matt, Saturday, 17 March 2007 14:39 (nineteen years ago)

And Bangladesh are making a monkey of my india suspicions so far...India 40/3. Blimey.

― Matt, Saturday, 17 March 2007 14:52 (nineteen years ago)

Mind you, I always like to see Bangladesh do well. I've had a soft spot for them ever since they Did Australia

― Matt, Saturday, 17 March 2007 14:57 (nineteen years ago)

Pakistan 23/2!!

― Noodle Vague, Saturday, 17 March 2007 15:00 (nineteen years ago)

make that 68/5!!!

― unfished business, Saturday, 17 March 2007 16:08 (nineteen years ago)

OMG it's st. patrick's day and ireland could be about to beat Pakistan at cricket AND win the Six Nations...

wow

― unfished business, Saturday, 17 March 2007 16:13 (nineteen years ago)

w
t
f

― Roberto Spiralli, Saturday, 17 March 2007 16:25 (nineteen years ago)

75/6. Astonishing.

― Matt, Saturday, 17 March 2007 16:29 (nineteen years ago)

And India 159/7, two massive upsets in the making?

― Matt, Saturday, 17 March 2007 16:35 (nineteen years ago)

Maybe, but Ireland and Bangladesh could both get skittled :(

― jel --, Saturday, 17 March 2007 16:42 (nineteen years ago)

They could. Bangladesh will think their total gettable. Even though Pakistan are deeply in the mire they still have plenty of overs left and if Akmal stays in they'll set Ireland too high a target.

― Matt, Saturday, 17 March 2007 16:46 (nineteen years ago)

"If".

Pakistan 109/8

― Noodle Vague, Saturday, 17 March 2007 17:06 (nineteen years ago)

I think someone is gonna get sacked!

― jel --, Saturday, 17 March 2007 17:10 (nineteen years ago)

I think someone's been to the bookies.

― Noodle Vague, Saturday, 17 March 2007 17:13 (nineteen years ago)

Ireland lose an early wicket :(

― Noodle Vague, Saturday, 17 March 2007 19:13 (nineteen years ago)

St Patrick's Day Massacre

― SeekAltRoute, Saturday, 17 March 2007 19:20 (nineteen years ago)

Bangla are cruising against India so far. 30 overs to get 100, plenty of wickets to spare.

― Roberto Spiralli, Saturday, 17 March 2007 19:23 (nineteen years ago)

the manner in which the six nations was snatched away cruelly at the last leads me to believe that the same will alas be true of this match :-(

bangladesh are going to win, however :-D

― unfished business, Saturday, 17 March 2007 20:10 (nineteen years ago)

Dunno, Ireland seem to be cruising along quite nicely at the moment. [/kissofdeath]

― Noodle Vague, Saturday, 17 March 2007 20:11 (nineteen years ago)

Bangladesh with the win, then. Is it thinkable that they finish top 2 in the group?

― Noodle Vague, Saturday, 17 March 2007 21:17 (nineteen years ago)

well, it just clicked with me that Pakistan lost their opening game, and Ireland drew, so if Ireland win this, Pakistan are out and they're probably through. TEE HEE.

― Roberto Spiralli, Saturday, 17 March 2007 21:21 (nineteen years ago)

I think Ireland win on Duckworth Lewis is there's no further play today- can anyone confirm this?

― Neil S, Saturday, 17 March 2007 21:25 (nineteen years ago)

India need to beat Sri Lanka, assuming Bangladesh beat Bermuda, to stay in. Of course, that's also assuming Sri Lanka beat Bangladesh. That India vs Sri Lanka match could be the game of the tournament, and if India win, chances are that'll leave three teams tied on 2 wins each.

― Roberto Spiralli, Saturday, 17 March 2007 21:33 (nineteen years ago)

Just confirmed on Cricinfo...

― Neil S, Saturday, 17 March 2007 21:33 (nineteen years ago)

sweeeeeeet

― Roberto Spiralli, Saturday, 17 March 2007 21:40 (nineteen years ago)

...but they're back on...

not many needed to win but I can see this going horribly wrong.

― unfished business, Saturday, 17 March 2007 21:59 (nineteen years ago)

OMIGOD

Niall O'Brien smacks a six to leave them with 20 to win - and then gets stumped next ball.

― Noodle Vague, Saturday, 17 March 2007 22:19 (nineteen years ago)

They're in trouble now. I fear you're gonna be right, Louis.

― Noodle Vague, Saturday, 17 March 2007 22:26 (nineteen years ago)

I think they'll pull it off- 18 needed, 3 wickets in hand, loads of overs. Maybe the kiss of death, but we'll see...

― Neil S, Saturday, 17 March 2007 22:36 (nineteen years ago)

can barely watch cricinfo

― unfished business, Saturday, 17 March 2007 22:38 (nineteen years ago)

There's commentary on 5 Live Extra.

― Noodle Vague, Saturday, 17 March 2007 22:43 (nineteen years ago)

i'm watching a film so radio is off

― unfished business, Saturday, 17 March 2007 22:50 (nineteen years ago)

radio is on, 3 needed

― unfished business, Saturday, 17 March 2007 22:54 (nineteen years ago)

My Mother-in-law is about to become a cricket expert, I think.

― Noodle Vague, Saturday, 17 March 2007 22:55 (nineteen years ago)

this will more than make up for france's last-minute steal...

― unfished business, Saturday, 17 March 2007 22:57 (nineteen years ago)

6! Game Over!!!

― Noodle Vague, Saturday, 17 March 2007 23:00 (nineteen years ago)

get in!!!

― unfished business, Saturday, 17 March 2007 23:01 (nineteen years ago)

And a six to win it! Yay!

― Neil S, Saturday, 17 March 2007 23:02 (nineteen years ago)

Right, definitely staying up for the highlights later...

― Neil S, Saturday, 17 March 2007 23:03 (nineteen years ago)

I think it's safe to say that no Irish players will be penalised for going clubbing tonight.

― Noodle Vague, Saturday, 17 March 2007 23:03 (nineteen years ago)

That'll be one hell of a party, I should think,

― Neil S, Saturday, 17 March 2007 23:05 (nineteen years ago)

I left for work this evening praying for upsets, I got back from work with no knowledge of the scores, watched the highlights and shouted my throat clean out of my body. What an astonishing and excellent day's play.

― Matt, Sunday, 18 March 2007 01:41 (nineteen years ago)

Not a good day to be Greg Chappell then.

― SeekAltRoute, Sunday, 18 March 2007 03:15 (nineteen years ago)

This competition is really shaping up nicely, the highlights were really incredible. I'm thinking that thought Bob Woolmer would become England coach in 3 months :-) but I see that he is thinking of giving up coaching at international level.

― xyzzzz__, Sunday, 18 March 2007 09:28 (nineteen years ago)

Flintoff dropped for breach of team discipline.

"He was omitted for a breach of team discipline after allegedly getting into difficulties on a pedalo."

― jel --, Sunday, 18 March 2007 13:17 (nineteen years ago)

I wouldn't bet against a Canadian victory.

Now England aren't so great again, at least it'll be easier to get tickets for test matches without having to go through the ballot process.

― jel --, Sunday, 18 March 2007 13:20 (nineteen years ago)

Andrew Flintoff has been dropped by England as they take on Canada in a must-win World Cup match in group C.

He was omitted for breaching discipline rules after allegedly leading others in a late-night drinking session.

Canada won the toss and sent England in to bat with Ravi Bopara coming in to play in place of Flintoff to earn his second cap in one-day internationals.

Flintoff was dropped for disciplinary reasons, but other England players who were fined were named in the side.

― Brigadier Lethbridge-Pfunkboy, Sunday, 18 March 2007 13:24 (nineteen years ago)

Something about being rescued from a capsising pedalo at 4am isn't it?

― Chewshabadoo, Sunday, 18 March 2007 13:34 (nineteen years ago)

Not sure but it does involve a Pedalo according to Aggers blog.

― Brigadier Lethbridge-Pfunkboy, Sunday, 18 March 2007 13:46 (nineteen years ago)

I wouldn't be surprised if he was sent home actually.

― Brigadier Lethbridge-Pfunkboy, Sunday, 18 March 2007 13:56 (nineteen years ago)

I think Freddie is being sent home.

― Brigadier Lethbridge-Pfunkboy, Sunday, 18 March 2007 14:51 (nineteen years ago)

Aggers said "The fact that Vaughan didn't just say Flintoff has been dropped and said there would be more news later suggests there is more dramatic news to come."

― Brigadier Lethbridge-Pfunkboy, Sunday, 18 March 2007 14:54 (nineteen years ago)

even if he hasn't been producing the goods with the bat, our bowling attack would look pretty miserable without Flintoff. you can't know what's been going on behind the scenes, and I'm sure they wouldn't send him home if he hadn't done something to really warrant it, but it'd suck some pretty mighty balls if he went.

― Roberto Spiralli, Sunday, 18 March 2007 15:23 (nineteen years ago)

God England are shite aren't they? They're playing like it's a test match. If a couple of wickets fell there could be a collapse and a total humiliation. If Freddie goes home then the rest might join them pretty soon.
When are they going to realise that you need to get off to a fast start when the fields are in?

England have no hope of winning the world cup.

― Brigadier Lethbridge-Pfunkboy, Sunday, 18 March 2007 15:38 (nineteen years ago)

161-4. Useless bastards.

― Brigadier Lethbridge-Pfunkboy, Sunday, 18 March 2007 15:52 (nineteen years ago)

Freddie might as well wait on the rest of his team mates and get the same plane home now.

― Brigadier Lethbridge-Pfunkboy, Sunday, 18 March 2007 15:54 (nineteen years ago)

Andrew Flintoff has been sacked as England vice-captain and banned for the must-win game against Canada for breaching team discipline.

He was reprimanded amid reports he fell off a pedalo and got into difficulties in the water in the early hours of Saturday, after England lost.

Funny how that appeared just as england lost 4 wickets, Change of mind about sending him home?

― Brigadier Lethbridge-Pfunkboy, Sunday, 18 March 2007 16:05 (nineteen years ago)

Colly has raised Englands game. 242-5 now. 3 overs left. Colly still there on 50.

― Brigadier Lethbridge-Pfunkboy, Sunday, 18 March 2007 16:32 (nineteen years ago)

279-6 well done Colly and Nixon. Prob the min score England would've wanted.

― Brigadier Lethbridge-Pfunkboy, Sunday, 18 March 2007 16:49 (nineteen years ago)

I guess, but surely to god even England can keep the Canadians below 200.

― Noodle Vague, Sunday, 18 March 2007 16:57 (nineteen years ago)

You'd hope.

Aus and SA's scores against the Netherlands rather put this into context, though.

― Matt, Sunday, 18 March 2007 17:16 (nineteen years ago)

Yeah, but those guys are interested in winning the tournament rather than getting pissed and topping up their suntans.

― Noodle Vague, Sunday, 18 March 2007 17:18 (nineteen years ago)

I dunno, I kinda have more respect for the players who were involved in the shenanigans. Cricket is one of the last sporting bastions of taking part, and having a nice day out, no one likes people who win all the time. Don't send Freddie home!!

― jel --, Sunday, 18 March 2007 17:48 (nineteen years ago)

Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer is taken to hospital after being found unconscious in his Jamaica hotel room.

NEVER try to go drink-for-drink with Freddie. i hope he's ok.

― Roberto Spiralli, Sunday, 18 March 2007 17:51 (nineteen years ago)

Blimey! This world cup is dramatic. Best wishes Bob!

― jel --, Sunday, 18 March 2007 17:54 (nineteen years ago)

Woolmer, 58, was discovered lying on the floor of his room, with vomit around him, at 10.45am and was taken by ambulance to hospital at 11.50am. Police also attended his room. "We have taken Bob Woolmer to the hospital and he is in the emergency ward," Pakistan team media manager Pervez Mir told AFP.

At 14.30 local time, Woolmer was still unconscious.

― Roberto Spiralli, Sunday, 18 March 2007 17:56 (nineteen years ago)

He has died. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/other_international/pakistan/6464831.stm
RIP

― Brigadier Lethbridge-Pfunkboy, Sunday, 18 March 2007 18:24 (nineteen years ago)

:(

That is terrible. RIP Bob.

― jel --, Sunday, 18 March 2007 18:26 (nineteen years ago)

shit. i wonder if it was a heart attack.

― Roberto Spiralli, Sunday, 18 March 2007 18:27 (nineteen years ago)

RIP

― Noodle Vague, Sunday, 18 March 2007 18:27 (nineteen years ago)

The cricket goes on, as Woolmer would have wanted it to, but it doesn't feel right somehow. Woolmer was a true cricket lover. He could talk for hours on the game. Not everyone agree with everything he said, but he was always compelling to listen to and honest with it. His press conferences were always a model of honesty, and I remember being blown away when he gave me two hours of his time two days after the Oval Test was abandoned. Most coaches would have told me where to go. Woolmer invited me to the team hotel and we chatted away like old friends, even though I hardly knew the guy. He was a proper human being and we shall miss him.

from the Guardian OBO

― Roberto Spiralli, Sunday, 18 March 2007 18:29 (nineteen years ago)

:-(

― xyzzzz__, Monday, 19 March 2007 10:13 (nineteen years ago)

RIP indeed, very sad. Glad to see all the tributes have focussed on his enormous contributions to the game, rather than Pakistan's ignominious exit.

― Neil S, Monday, 19 March 2007 12:55 (nineteen years ago)

So, India are hammering a hapless Bermuda, and the Windies are doing well against Zimbabwe. There doesn't look like much of a chance for an upset today!

― Neil S, Monday, 19 March 2007 16:28 (nineteen years ago)

India 413/5. Poor old Bermuda.

Good to see Zim's middle order putting up a fight.

― Matt, Monday, 19 March 2007 17:29 (nineteen years ago)

wish I'd been able to watch the India innings. by all accounts there was some magnificient, stand-clearing slogs. i saw at one point that Sehwag had 44 - 2 singles, a pair and 10 4s. goodnight Bermuda.

Zimbabwe, on the other hand, have a shot against WI, with a reasonable total. However, after the disappointment of his full 10 overs of mediocre bowling, I expect Mr Gayle with be champing at the bit to do some damage. So he'll be out for 3, then...

― Roberto Spiralli, Monday, 19 March 2007 18:59 (nineteen years ago)

congratulations to the Windies on producing what is so far THE most boring ODI innings of all time. i hope Gayle and Chanderpaul bat at 3 an over all the way through the 50 and then awake to the terrifying realisation of what they've inflicted upon us all.

― Roberto Spiralli, Monday, 19 March 2007 19:43 (nineteen years ago)

followed by a 5, a 6 and an 18 off the last 3 overs. i'mtaking credit for them. i'm an excellent man-manager and motivator.

― Roberto Spiralli, Monday, 19 March 2007 19:49 (nineteen years ago)

[Removed Illegal Link] reports the BBC.

― Brigadier Lethbridge-Pfunkboy, Wednesday, 21 March 2007 03:49 (nineteen years ago)

bah
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/6473645.stm

Bob Woolmer's death being treated as suspicious

The death of Pakistan cricket coach Bob Woolmer is being treated as suspicious, a Jamaican police spokesman has said.

Mark Shields said there was sufficient information to continue a full investigation into the death.

The Pakistan team are now discussing whether to pull out of their World Cup match with Zimbabwe, a spokesman said.

Woolmer died on Sunday, aged 58, after collapsing at the team hotel in Jamaica, a few hours after Pakistan's surprise defeat by Ireland.

Mr Shields, deputy commissioner of the Jamaican police constabulary, said the death was being treated as suspicious.

He read a brief statement which said police now had "sufficient information to continue a full investigation into the death of Mr Woolmer, which we are now treating as suspicious."

Earlier, he said that the body could not be released until the pathologist had completed his examination.

When the investigation is completed, his body will be taken back to his home in Cape Town, South Africa, accompanied by team trainer Murray Stevenson.

Pakistan Cricket Board spokesman Pervez Mir told a news conference that further investigations were being carried out by a toxicologist and a histologist (scientist who examines body tissue).

Mr Shields said: "I know that the scientists are treating it with the utmost urgency in order that we can hopefully repatriate the body to his family as soon as possible.

"I just know they are working as quickly as possible to provide the information that we need. I hope it's today but it could be tomorrow."

― Brigadier Lethbridge-Pfunkboy, Wednesday, 21 March 2007 03:51 (nineteen years ago)

According to Cricinfo they're considering murder as a possibility due to marks around his neck.

― Matt, Wednesday, 21 March 2007 09:48 (nineteen years ago)

Yep. This is going to get ugly.

― SeekAltRoute, Wednesday, 21 March 2007 10:21 (nineteen years ago)

Times of India is going slightly further:

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Pakistan_coach_Bob_Woolmer_was_murdered/articleshow/1785989.cms

― Guilty_Boksen, Wednesday, 21 March 2007 11:21 (nineteen years ago)

Murdered by a betting syndicte, eh? Good grief. It smacks of what happened to that poor Columbian footballer who scored the own goal, if it's true at all.

― Roberto Spiralli, Wednesday, 21 March 2007 12:30 (nineteen years ago)

Bloody hell. It's just not cricket.

― Matt, Wednesday, 21 March 2007 12:35 (nineteen years ago)

Scotland are shite but they're dancing in Haarlem:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/6476459.stm

― Tom D., Thursday, 22 March 2007 16:19 (nineteen years ago)

Bowler O M R W
W F Stelling 8.0 3 12 3

I hope the formatting doesn't ruin that. Either way, that's some bowling!

― The Wayward Johnny B, Thursday, 22 March 2007 16:53 (nineteen years ago)

New Zealand are bringing the pain against Canada.

― Neil S, Thursday, 22 March 2007 16:54 (nineteen years ago)

Argh. I'm all for having the associate's compete, but with the size of these grounds and bat technology being what it is the game is weighted far too far in favour of batsmen, the smaller nations suffer heavily as a result.

― Matt, Thursday, 22 March 2007 16:57 (nineteen years ago)

New Zealand are bringing the pain against Canada

And putting England's limp performance into perspective

― Tom D., Thursday, 22 March 2007 16:59 (nineteen years ago)

We just don't have batsmen who can destroy a bowling attack. KP excepted.

All the other major Test nations have AT LEAST 4 each.

― unfished business, Thursday, 22 March 2007 17:01 (nineteen years ago)

Flintoff might be able to, if you could keep him off the ale

― Tom D., Thursday, 22 March 2007 17:02 (nineteen years ago)

When was the last time Flintoff would consistently take attacks apart? I believe it was around 2004. His batting has completely regressed since then.

― unfished business, Thursday, 22 March 2007 17:03 (nineteen years ago)

52 off of 21 balls for McCullum, with 5 sixes. Not bad!

― Neil S, Thursday, 22 March 2007 17:10 (nineteen years ago)

2005 wasn't a bad year for Flintoff either!

― Neil S, Thursday, 22 March 2007 17:11 (nineteen years ago)

Can anyone explain what use Dalrymple is?

― Tom D., Thursday, 22 March 2007 17:11 (nineteen years ago)

nitpicking :-P

― unfished business, Thursday, 22 March 2007 17:11 (nineteen years ago)

haha best xpost ever

― unfished business, Thursday, 22 March 2007 17:12 (nineteen years ago)

He's the new Ian Austin/ Adam Hollioake/ Dermot Reeve/ Gavin Hamilton bits and peices "all-rounder" who isn't actually any good at any of the 3 disciplines. It's a fine English tradition!

― Neil S, Thursday, 22 March 2007 17:14 (nineteen years ago)

Ian Austin? I have completely forgotten who that is/was!

― Tom D., Thursday, 22 March 2007 17:15 (nineteen years ago)

Fat bloke, played for Lancashire for an eternity, probably won 100 one day caps for England.

― Neil S, Thursday, 22 March 2007 17:16 (nineteen years ago)

The fat bit rings a bell.

.... that's a very odd sentence

― Tom D., Thursday, 22 March 2007 17:18 (nineteen years ago)

He was a stalwart at Lancashire, but chucked down some tasty pies for opposition to feast upon at international level, I'm afraid.

― Neil S, Thursday, 22 March 2007 17:22 (nineteen years ago)

Andrew Symonds is not guaranteed to play in the game against South Africa on Saturday, which he has targeted since tearing his right biceps in February. Despite a strong recovery that is ahead of schedule, there are doubts he will be ready for the final Group A game at St Kitts.

hmmm, I don't know if he'll really make much of a difference. He can be a bit hot and cold.

Also, who else fuggin HATES Brad Hogg? I've always despised how bouyant he seems on the field. He's easily the most uncool player in the Australian team. And the Australian team is very uncool.

― Drooone, Thursday, 22 March 2007 22:30 (nineteen years ago)

symonds is of invaluable worth in the field!

― unfished business, Thursday, 22 March 2007 22:35 (nineteen years ago)

Yep, "professional fielder".

― Drooone, Thursday, 22 March 2007 22:41 (nineteen years ago)

RIP Bob Woolmer

:-(

― Steve Shasta, Thursday, 22 March 2007 23:06 (nineteen years ago)

I'm sort of wanting to start a thread about the Bob Woolmer thing because I'm not terribly interested in cricket, but I'm interested in this story and its implications whether or not it turns out to be foul play. The fact that it's even an option is fascinating and creepy.

― ailsa, Thursday, 22 March 2007 23:10 (nineteen years ago)

it's all very sad, and in fact the whole affair has given me bitter, unwanted thoughts towards international cricket in general.

― unfished business, Thursday, 22 March 2007 23:11 (nineteen years ago)

The only reason I haven't started a thread is because no-one else has, which has led me to think I may as well lurk around here without actually contributing to the actual cricket talk since it would seem that anyone interested is actually interested in cricket too.

― ailsa, Thursday, 22 March 2007 23:16 (nineteen years ago)

Duly noted, I will not infer a fondness for cricket from any Woolmer talk on your part, Ailsa :) The whole thing is shocking and horrible, obv. But I'm trying to reserve judgement until anyone actually has the faintest idea what actually happened. The Star's "Mafia" headline today was just fucking wrong.

― Matt, Thursday, 22 March 2007 23:19 (nineteen years ago)

It's very sad and bizarre. His family seem convinced he died of natual causes. What's the deal though? Were they over there with him? I thought the widow was still in South Africa.

― Drooone, Thursday, 22 March 2007 23:21 (nineteen years ago)

The wife's been talking about murder, or not ruling it out at any rate. Several British papers are reporting it as murder on tomorrow's front pages, presumably having spies in the pathology department. Speculation on the news (ITN) that he was about to blow the whistle on match-fixing.

― ailsa, Thursday, 22 March 2007 23:24 (nineteen years ago)

Good god. I'm obviously out of the loop.

― Drooone, Thursday, 22 March 2007 23:29 (nineteen years ago)

OMFG I've just seen the live press conference...

...and IT WAS MURDER.

this, ladies and gentlemen, is where shit starts.

― unfished business, Thursday, 22 March 2007 23:42 (nineteen years ago)

OK, bloody hell. Is it a stupid thing to ask if there's a possibility that he was just sort of randomly murdered rather than as part of some big corrupt cricket-related thing?

― ailsa, Thursday, 22 March 2007 23:50 (nineteen years ago)

If it is murder, then a new thread might be a good idea as obviously it's a huge story beyond cricket now. And this thread should be just about the world cup.

― Brigadier Lethbridge-Pfunkboy, Thursday, 22 March 2007 23:51 (nineteen years ago)

What press conference? I haven't seen it? I haven't seen a news program since beardy took Sky News off our digital.

― Brigadier Lethbridge-Pfunkboy, Thursday, 22 March 2007 23:52 (nineteen years ago)

He may have been. It would have taken an extremely powerful man to kill him like that, so the suspicion is that more than one person may have been involved, suggesting an organised attack. Press conference still going on SSN.

― unfished business, Thursday, 22 March 2007 23:53 (nineteen years ago)

ok started a new thread

http://www.ilxor.com:8080/ILX/ThreadSelectedControllerServlet?boardid=40&threadid=52869#unread

― Brigadier Lethbridge-Pfunkboy, Thursday, 22 March 2007 23:54 (nineteen years ago)

the following message will feature both unbridled self-pity and my fantasy cricket team and as such is insufferably lame and should be skipped over without hesitation, but shit i need somewhere to vent.

WAAAAH! i've been betrayed! betrayed by a painstakingly assembled international selection of ne'erdowells and ne'erhavedoneverywells, pitiful, useless fuckwads to a man. my batsmen have been miserable, or else too far down the order to even get a look in against the associates, and my bowlers have outright refused to take wickets. giving away less than 2 runs an over might seem brilliant on paper, but it does fuck all for me if you aren't taking wickets, you slack wristed morons. even the Australian and the Kiwi in our league are ahead of me, and they're from Australia and New Zealand respectively, fercrissakes. hat do they know about cricket that we didn't teach 'em, eh? god, i renounce thee! I RENOUNCE THEE! and you, Shaun Pollock.

― Roberto Spiralli, Friday, 23 March 2007 12:06 (nineteen years ago)

i've got a feeling India are in for a battering here, and an early flight home to boot. solid start from the SL openers. in fact, i think SL are looking in good shape in general. i'm going to adopt them as my second team - hey, after tomorrow they might be my first team.

― Roberto Spiralli, Friday, 23 March 2007 14:07 (nineteen years ago)

2 balls later they lose a wicket - that's how good i am!

― Roberto Spiralli, Friday, 23 March 2007 14:11 (nineteen years ago)

It's shaping up to be a cracker, actually. India'll fancy that target. SL will feel they've got plenty to defend.

― Matt, Friday, 23 March 2007 17:24 (nineteen years ago)

SL have the better bowlers and fielders, India have the better batsmen. it was always going to be about this innings.

― Roberto Spiralli, Friday, 23 March 2007 17:29 (nineteen years ago)

I would posit that SL's is the second-best bowling attack in the tournament after SA's. And not by much, either.

― unfished business, Friday, 23 March 2007 17:30 (nineteen years ago)

44-3, Tendulkar out for zip. Dravid and Sehwag have to put on 100 or it's game over, i reckon.

the world cup will be a strange old beast without India or Pakistan.

― Roberto Spiralli, Friday, 23 March 2007 18:56 (nineteen years ago)

Dear oh dear. Greg Chappell had better make sure he locks his door tonight... [/insensitive]

― unfished business, Friday, 23 March 2007 19:45 (nineteen years ago)

112/6

It's over, chaps!

― unfished business, Friday, 23 March 2007 19:59 (nineteen years ago)

[Removed Illegal Link]

― gatinhaaa, Friday, 23 March 2007 20:01 (nineteen years ago)

That was quick. Come to a demonstration! I'm trying to persuade you now.

― gatinhaaa, Friday, 23 March 2007 20:02 (nineteen years ago)

dravid going like a train here

― unfished business, Friday, 23 March 2007 20:18 (nineteen years ago)

like the aberystwyth funicular railway

― unfished business, Friday, 23 March 2007 20:19 (nineteen years ago)

HAHA INDIA, A NATION OF MILLIONS AND YOUR LAST HOPES REST IN THE AMPLE BOSOM OF DWAYNE LEVEROCK

― unfished business, Friday, 23 March 2007 21:03 (nineteen years ago)

I've rarely been so pleased to get it completely wrong. The ICC will be shitting themselves.

― Matt, Saturday, 24 March 2007 12:41 (nineteen years ago)

I should have followed my mouth and actually stuck some cash on SL. They look shite-hot.

― unfished business, Saturday, 24 March 2007 12:44 (nineteen years ago)

They are looking good, best odds on them are 5/1 with Stan James, incidentally. I was surprised by how dreadful India were, though. Jagmohan Dalmiya, can you hear me?

The super eights are going to be weird.

― Matt, Saturday, 24 March 2007 12:52 (nineteen years ago)

Dravid was at a loss to explain why a team featuring Virender Sehwag, Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, Mahendra Dhoni and himself could not score more than 185.

no shit.

― Roberto Spiralli, Saturday, 24 March 2007 13:34 (nineteen years ago)

James Loathsome with some of his usual melodramatic, sanctimonious pap in today's Independent, explaining why the tournament should now be cancelled. The man is unbelievable.

― unfished business, Saturday, 24 March 2007 13:50 (nineteen years ago)

Shaun Pollock is getting fucked up by Hayden and Gilchrist. the Aussies are stepping it up.

― Roberto Spiralli, Saturday, 24 March 2007 13:52 (nineteen years ago)

This is gonna be one of those 400 to chase matches, eh?

― Noodle Vague, Saturday, 24 March 2007 14:04 (nineteen years ago)

May I just say two things: fuck not being able to watch this match here in Canada, and thank god for cricinfo and its live scoreboard.

Oh, and also, I am publicly declaring my faith that SA will rein Aus in.

― surfer_stone_rosa, Saturday, 24 March 2007 14:21 (nineteen years ago)

i'm worried if i switch over from this game to the England game too quickly, i'll get the bends from the sudden change in quality.

84 off 11, 6 of those from supposedly the world's best ODI bowler.

― Roberto Spiralli, Saturday, 24 March 2007 14:22 (nineteen years ago)

Pollock finished 10/0/83/0. v interested to see what the SA batsmen make of this pitch.

Athers just revealed that he was forced into child labour at the age of 7 by a local cricket side in N Yorks, changing the 'tins'. i assume there will be some kind of investiagtion into this scandal.

― Roberto Spiralli, Saturday, 24 March 2007 18:04 (nineteen years ago)

378 looks very getable. lol.

― Noodle Vague, Saturday, 24 March 2007 18:51 (nineteen years ago)

if this wicket is easy enought that de Villiers, easy playing the worst cricket of his career, can shoot to 62, then it really is on. there's some big ol' hitters in that middle order.

― Roberto Spiralli, Saturday, 24 March 2007 18:56 (nineteen years ago)

At 113/0 after 15 overs, 378 isn't looking like nearly enough. Damn these West Indian postage stamp sized grounds!

― SeekAltRoute, Saturday, 24 March 2007 18:56 (nineteen years ago)

Sri Lanka's bowling attack may in fact be the very best at this WC! Aus and SA's not exactly coping with this pitch too well so far...

― unfished business, Saturday, 24 March 2007 19:12 (nineteen years ago)

Jeez, it's a long-range run-out. Without that I'd almost have fancied those two to have knocked 'em off all on their own...

― unfished business, Saturday, 24 March 2007 19:23 (nineteen years ago)

Kallis is a useless twunt. REPEAT AFTER ME...

― unfished business, Saturday, 24 March 2007 19:54 (nineteen years ago)

Australia easily in the end - the 'boks just fell in a heap once Smith retired. So much for the great "grudge match".

With a +2 into the next stage, Australia are looking pretty much tourny winners.

― SeekAltRoute, Sunday, 25 March 2007 04:14 (nineteen years ago)

I like Sri Lanka tho. Muri has got intent.

― Noodle Vague, Sunday, 25 March 2007 11:03 (nineteen years ago)

sad as I am to admit it, on the evidence shown thus far no one in this tournament has got anything like the runs in them that Australia have, and that's with Hussey still playing like toilet. but cricket doesn't always run to form, and SL have a bowling attack that could cause a major upset and SA will really really want to meet Australia again after the Super 8.

my prediction for the top 4:
1. Aus
2. SL
3. SA
4. NZ

i think that England will exceed all expectations by beating the Windies to the 5th spot, but the 2 extra points NZ are carrying in with do for our chances.

― Roberto Spiralli, Sunday, 25 March 2007 13:23 (nineteen years ago)

xxpost:
"Kallis is a useless twunt"
"Kallis is a useless twunt"
"Kallis is a useless twunt"
ad infinitum

pfft.

― surfer_stone_rosa, Sunday, 25 March 2007 13:45 (nineteen years ago)

OMFG

37/3 chasing 95 from 21 overs...

WEATHER GODS IN INDIAN BOOKMAKER BUNG SCAM

― unfished business, Sunday, 25 March 2007 21:06 (nineteen years ago)

Admin cool bowler,
Where can I watch in US, please?

― James Redd and the Blecchs, Sunday, 25 March 2007 21:18 (nineteen years ago)

hmm, this could have been a LOT closer if this partnership had been broken early.

― unfished business, Sunday, 25 March 2007 21:50 (nineteen years ago)

So am I right that neither India or Pakistan make the final 8? This sets up some of the next stage as v. easy games (Ireland, Bangladesh). I guess the final for will be Aust., Sth Africa, Sri Lanka, NZ. OK, maybe England.

― paulhw, Sunday, 25 March 2007 23:44 (nineteen years ago)

But NZ having those pts carried over against England will hurt England a lot.
Same goes for SA with Aus taking those pts over from their group stage. I would still expect SA to make the semi's though.
If England don't win a few early super 8 games then they could lose the lot. They REALLY need to get on a run

― Brigadier Lethbridge-Pfunkboy, Monday, 26 March 2007 00:22 (nineteen years ago)

It's got to be Australia, WI, NZ and Sri Lanka for the semis. I think SA will choke, again! Can't see England making it.

― Neil S, Monday, 26 March 2007 10:34 (nineteen years ago)

England realistically have to win 6/7 games to progress. 5 possibly but it would be v tight.

― Matt, Monday, 26 March 2007 12:11 (nineteen years ago)

won't happen.

― Brigadier Lethbridge-Pfunkboy, Monday, 26 March 2007 12:12 (nineteen years ago)

I wouldn't have thought so.

― Matt, Monday, 26 March 2007 12:15 (nineteen years ago)

A good start against Ireland would at least give them a chance to gain some momentum, which is what it's all about now. That's a good fixture to start the Super 8s with, I think.

― Neil S, Monday, 26 March 2007 12:17 (nineteen years ago)

They still won't get through though!

― Neil S, Monday, 26 March 2007 12:33 (nineteen years ago)

So, predictions for today's match? My heart says West Indies, my head says Australia. If it's a slow seamer there's hope, though.

― Neil S, Tuesday, 27 March 2007 10:13 (nineteen years ago)

Everything says Australia, sadly.

― Mark C, Tuesday, 27 March 2007 10:24 (nineteen years ago)

are WI really playing 3 times in 6 days? that seems poorly managed scheduling. Aus, NZ then SL. if they get 'the treatment' from Aus, they could totally lose all 3 of them and be shafted before most everyone else has really got going.

― Roberto Spiralli, Tuesday, 27 March 2007 12:45 (nineteen years ago)

Yeah, that's a really tough schedule!

― Neil S, Tuesday, 27 March 2007 12:46 (nineteen years ago)

Tomorrow's SA v SL match should be interesting- that's a must-win for SA.

― Neil S, Tuesday, 27 March 2007 12:50 (nineteen years ago)

Stop Hayden, down with that sort of thing, etc.

― xyzzzz__, Wednesday, 28 March 2007 12:11 (nineteen years ago)

so Windies now playing 4 days out of 6. CONSPIRACY! ever wondered why cricketers wear WHITE?!

― Roberto Spiralli, Wednesday, 28 March 2007 12:44 (nineteen years ago)

well, it's something of a massacre so far. poor old Windies. poor old every team that isn't Australia.

elsewhere, SA have started with intent, and may be showing the Sri Lankans up for the paper tigers that their critics suggest they are. paper tigers, not tamil tigers.

― Roberto Spiralli, Wednesday, 28 March 2007 14:41 (nineteen years ago)

SA vs SL: 1 to tie and 2 to win. Only one wicket. 12 balls remaining. AARGH!

― surfer_stone_rosa, Wednesday, 28 March 2007 21:12 (nineteen years ago)

Oh, thank God, a four. Going to have a lie-down now.

― surfer_stone_rosa, Wednesday, 28 March 2007 21:13 (nineteen years ago)

Australia - who can stop them?

― SeekAltRoute, Wednesday, 28 March 2007 22:17 (nineteen years ago)

Not a great start for England, hmm.

― Ste, Friday, 30 March 2007 14:01 (nineteen years ago)

anyone know what the hell the Guardian commentary is all about :

Nasser's not happy: "I dunno who's bowling, I dunno what run-rate it is ... What did I say? I said we had no fruit machine. No: not interested." Not even a regal shot from Pietersen, timing Langford-Smith's first ball through midwicket for four, can cheer him up. "Have you thought about plugging Relentless to the ECB?" eurekas Adam White. "It might be just the thing to get the English team out of the doldrums. Drinking Relentless, instead of relentless drinking (and insipid cricket)."

― Ste, Friday, 30 March 2007 14:28 (nineteen years ago)

Nasser was clearly audible in the background having a moan, and did indeed complain about there not being a fruit machine. It was the highlight of the game so far.

― Roberto Spiralli, Friday, 30 March 2007 14:31 (nineteen years ago)

i think i also heard him call Marcel Desailly a "fucking lazy, thick nigger", but i can't be sure.

― Roberto Spiralli, Friday, 30 March 2007 14:33 (nineteen years ago)

66-2

england in a better stride now with (dare i say it) Pietersen finding form.

― Ste, Friday, 30 March 2007 14:34 (nineteen years ago)

Bell out now. 92-3.

― Brigadier Lethbridge-Pfunkboy, Friday, 30 March 2007 15:15 (nineteen years ago)

the commentators seem concerned about the projected total for England, but the ball is doing plenty and I think Ireland will go fairly cheaply.

― Roberto Spiralli, Friday, 30 March 2007 15:31 (nineteen years ago)

KP out

― Brigadier Lethbridge-Pfunkboy, Friday, 30 March 2007 15:32 (nineteen years ago)

bugger

― Ste, Friday, 30 March 2007 15:34 (nineteen years ago)

We might need a new urn.

― Noodle Vague, Friday, 30 March 2007 15:37 (nineteen years ago)

It's up to Colly and Freddie now.

― Brigadier Lethbridge-Pfunkboy, Friday, 30 March 2007 15:38 (nineteen years ago)

Oh, in that case we ~~might~~ need a new urn.

― Noodle Vague, Friday, 30 March 2007 15:39 (nineteen years ago)

I thought we were meant to be better than them?

― secondhandnews, Friday, 30 March 2007 15:48 (nineteen years ago)

Whatever gave you that impression?

― ledge, Friday, 30 March 2007 15:49 (nineteen years ago)

I'd still be surprised if England lost, but this is such a dull, functional performance so far. A bold statement it is not (apart from stating "There's no way we'll win the world cup in a million years"). I'm starting to fret about the Bangladesh game.

― Matt, Friday, 30 March 2007 16:04 (nineteen years ago)

we're trying not to peak too early. and succeeding with some verve, too.

― Roberto Spiralli, Friday, 30 March 2007 16:07 (nineteen years ago)

That was a great catch and celebration off Collingwood..... by the spectator in the stand!

― Brigadier Lethbridge-Pfunkboy, Friday, 30 March 2007 16:53 (nineteen years ago)

great konock, Collingwood. he deserved the ton, though.

― Roberto Spiralli, Friday, 30 March 2007 17:11 (nineteen years ago)

He did.
Lets hope the bowlers can hit form at least.

― Brigadier Lethbridge-Pfunkboy, Friday, 30 March 2007 17:18 (nineteen years ago)

they really need to take all 10 wickets.

― Roberto Spiralli, Friday, 30 March 2007 17:20 (nineteen years ago)

interesting talk on the Sky coverage about the England top 3 not firing. i've thought about this before, but in the one day game these days I'd have thought it would be a good idea to have two traditional, more careful openers, and then go stright into Pietersen at 3 (like Ponting for Aus), Collingwood, Flintoff, - guys who can take better advantage of the powerplays - and then stick in one of the top 3 at 6, to anchor whoever is left out of those three and to act as a bulwark against a collapse.

― Roberto Spiralli, Friday, 30 March 2007 17:45 (nineteen years ago)

so, that wasn't quite as bad as some of the reports are making it out to be. Ireland have been playing well and played well again, so talk of how England should have racked up 400 and skittled them for double figures is arse. the batsmen showed that they can do a job; there is clearly something that needs to be altered there, but I don't think it's much, and if the right change is made the batting line up could be very competitive
the bowling/fielding performance was decent in a careful, mechanical way, and my only real criticism would be that it wasn't very ambitious re driving the net run rate up, which they surely need to do to have any hope of stealing in through the back door. the field was set in a non-aggressivem cautious way throughout that eventually forced Ireland's hand and caused wickets to fall fairly easily late on. that was evidentally the way they wanted it and it worked like a charm, so I'm not concerned that it wasn't more 'spectacular'. there was a wobble when Mahmood and Anderson came back on and were shite for a couple of overs each, but i guess there were just over-eager and mayeb a bit tired - the conditions did show, with the movement in the outfield looking a little laboured at times, too.
i think Vaughan and the coaching staff have cobbled together a side that won't be embarrassed by the smaller sides, so I think the Bangladesh game will go ok, and that platform is decent enough that if a couple of players put in a big performance, we could nick a win against the good sides. with a huge great sack of luck in the games beforehand, that last game against the Windies could be a decider between whether England progress or go home.

that's what I'd like to happen, anyway. i'm pretty sure it'll be a dead rubber by then.

― Roberto Spiralli, Friday, 30 March 2007 22:23 (nineteen years ago)

so, at the risk of angering the gods of fate, this isn't going too bad so far. another wicket in the next couple of overs and i'd go as far as to call it a good start.

― Roberto Spiralli, Wednesday, 4 April 2007 14:33 (nineteen years ago)

Anderson is bowling well, but no Plunkett? Out of favour due to pedalo-related crimes?

― Neil S, Wednesday, 4 April 2007 14:35 (nineteen years ago)

i guess Plunkett was kind of expensive in the opening games. and Mahmood has played ok, albeit against Kenya and Ireland.

― Roberto Spiralli, Wednesday, 4 April 2007 14:40 (nineteen years ago)

Plunkett can actually swing it, though, unlike Mahmood. I guess sticking with your players can be considered a virtue, but not in all circumstances imo.

― Neil S, Wednesday, 4 April 2007 14:45 (nineteen years ago)

"Mahmood is back into the attack. Just seen a young Englishwoman lose her footing in the pool and disappear beneath the waves. Some chap was desperately trying to hold her up - stick with her, big man, there could be cheap runs later."

When did BBC ball-by-ball text commentary become modestly funny?

― caek, Wednesday, 4 April 2007 14:52 (nineteen years ago)

yay

― Ste, Wednesday, 4 April 2007 14:57 (nineteen years ago)

They've been aping the Guardian obo coverage for a while now. I find it mildly irksome!

Obviously after my Mahmood complaints he goes and takes 2 wickets!

― Neil S, Wednesday, 4 April 2007 14:58 (nineteen years ago)

Mahmood has a great cricket brain, according to Nasser, so maybe that's why he's been picked. and that was a great delivery for his 2nd wicket, so maybe Nasser's onto something.

― Roberto Spiralli, Wednesday, 4 April 2007 14:58 (nineteen years ago)

Monty into the attack, come on Monty!

― Neil S, Wednesday, 4 April 2007 15:19 (nineteen years ago)

run rate's staying at or about 4, so it's very finely poised. everything hinges on when SL choose to accelerate and how the England bowlers react when they do.

― Roberto Spiralli, Wednesday, 4 April 2007 15:23 (nineteen years ago)

as i type, Jayawardene decides now is the time to hit the ball.

― Roberto Spiralli, Wednesday, 4 April 2007 15:25 (nineteen years ago)

why is Vaughan still bowling?

England need to take a wicket.

― Roberto Spiralli, Wednesday, 4 April 2007 15:44 (nineteen years ago)

Bring back Flintoff!

― Neil S, Wednesday, 4 April 2007 15:59 (nineteen years ago)

good shout!

― Roberto Spiralli, Wednesday, 4 April 2007 16:02 (nineteen years ago)

HUGE wicket.

― Roberto Spiralli, Wednesday, 4 April 2007 16:17 (nineteen years ago)

Restricting the Sri Lankans to 250 or less should be the aim here...

― Neil S, Wednesday, 4 April 2007 16:24 (nineteen years ago)

Another good wicket there!

― Neil S, Wednesday, 4 April 2007 16:33 (nineteen years ago)

i don't know if i'm more surprised by Sri Lanka or by England.

― Roberto Spiralli, Wednesday, 4 April 2007 16:56 (nineteen years ago)

Collingwood has gone, we're sorta collapsing just when it ws looking gd.

Man Utd and Chelsea have equalized in their 1st leg matches so this is getting worse..

― xyzzzz__, Wednesday, 4 April 2007 20:13 (nineteen years ago)

Oh ok Roma are back in the lead but Man U still have an away goal bah!

― xyzzzz__, Wednesday, 4 April 2007 20:14 (nineteen years ago)

it all went wrong with Bell's wacky dismissal. this will finish with England needing 36 off the last over.

― Roberto Spiralli, Wednesday, 4 April 2007 20:48 (nineteen years ago)

2 overs left and eng could sneak it!!

― xyzzzz__, Wednesday, 4 April 2007 21:14 (nineteen years ago)

nah Nixon is gone ho ho sorry I ws entertaining myself with wild thoughts there..

― xyzzzz__, Wednesday, 4 April 2007 21:18 (nineteen years ago)

down to the last ball...

― toby, Wednesday, 4 April 2007 21:27 (nineteen years ago)

:-(

― toby, Wednesday, 4 April 2007 21:28 (nineteen years ago)

Watching those last 4 overs was brutal. I'm sure Fernando pulled a little gamesmanship when he failed to release that last ball first time. Cheating git.

Can we please drop Joyce now please? Mahmood too, prob'ly.

― Noodle Vague, Thursday, 5 April 2007 07:12 (nineteen years ago)

I reckon Mahmood'll stay in, his cunning mixture of slow full tosses and loopy long-hops fooled the Sri Lankans no end. Joyce must go. Nixon to open (probably a silly idea, but something different needs to happen in the top order, and rather him than Pietersen or Fred), Strauss at six.

That game was agonising, last night. But now I've had a chance to sleep on it, it was one hell of a game. So England now need to win every single game to be sure of going through, oh well, it's only the aussies next.

Anderson bowled extremely well, I thought. I was astonished he didn't get a wicket.

― Matt, Thursday, 5 April 2007 07:21 (nineteen years ago)

I know it's simplistic but if it hadn't been for the four or five extras Mahmood gave away in his last over...

― Noodle Vague, Thursday, 5 April 2007 07:24 (nineteen years ago)

Mahmood's radar is a bit of a worry, I agree. I'd bring back Plunkett for the next one purely because he did so well against the Aussies last time out. That's always the thing with these tight games though, you look at it and think things like Monty you tosser, if only you'd saved that four in the eleventh over...which isn't entirely fair, of course.

― Matt, Thursday, 5 April 2007 07:27 (nineteen years ago)

Saw the highlights last night, edge of seat stuff. Vaughan was unfortunate I think? Looked like it might have been not out. Bell was either unfortunate or daft, would like to see it again.

― ledge, Thursday, 5 April 2007 09:01 (nineteen years ago)

A guy on the TMS boards yesterday was coming back from the pub at lunchtime and passed a street called Vaughan Court, so went to the bookies and put money on him being caught out for a duck.

Based on Vaughan's form, I can't believe he got particularly long odds.

― aldo, Thursday, 5 April 2007 09:12 (nineteen years ago)

i couldn't help thinking about Mahmood's last over and his silly extras as the match went down to the last few balls. he was obviously trying to finish them off, and his captain should give him a slap for it, although i wouldn't be all that surprised if it was captain's orders. but he did take a couple of excellent wickets earlier on, one of which set the match up for England, and he bowled effectively throughout. he definitely should by kept in.

the person i really blame is Malinga, with his stupid fucking hair and his illegal action.

― Roberto Spiralli, Thursday, 5 April 2007 12:51 (nineteen years ago)

controversial

― ledge, Thursday, 5 April 2007 12:55 (nineteen years ago)

http://www.hindu.com/2005/12/19/images/2005121907841801.jpg

that's not how we were taught to bowl at my school.

― Roberto Spiralli, Thursday, 5 April 2007 13:00 (nineteen years ago)

I sort of agree - one of the advantages of chucking is that the ball starts off lower so not only does it have to travel slightly less distance, but it'll bounce less and skid more. Malinga doesn't chuck, as far as I can tell, but still benefits in this way.

But if it's not against the rules, good luck to him. Especially against Australia :)

― Mark C, Thursday, 5 April 2007 13:03 (nineteen years ago)

http://www.theage.com.au/ffximage/2007/03/29/wbCRICKETmalinga_narrowweb__300x416,0.jpg

"i don't know if this is possible, but can you make it look like i had a full head of beautiful golden curls that caught fire and mostly burned off"

― Roberto Spiralli, Thursday, 5 April 2007 13:04 (nineteen years ago)

you get a lot more shoulder in if you throw to the side, too, so you can whip it in with more force. i get that you can give leeway to spinners, but i don't see how a pacer can get away with it. if the batsman has to ask the umpire at the non-paying end to remove his hat so he can see the ball come out of the bowlers hand, something is wrong.

― Roberto Spiralli, Thursday, 5 April 2007 13:07 (nineteen years ago)

it's not illegal though, cos it's still a straight arm innit. also i like watching unusual actions, they make things more fun. see also, peter crouch, that baseball guy who does the sliders etcetc

― CarsmileSteve, Thursday, 5 April 2007 13:18 (nineteen years ago)

I wuz having this argument in the pub last night. For me his action's perfectly legal, but more to the point is he keeps his line when the going gets tough.

― Noodle Vague, Friday, 6 April 2007 11:21 (nineteen years ago)

there was much to enjoy about today's game. t particularly liked the part where Bangladesh humbled South Africa. the cricket part.

― Roberto Spiralli, Saturday, 7 April 2007 21:55 (nineteen years ago)

I've had a huge soft spot for Bangladesh for years, can't wait for the highlights.

― Matt, Saturday, 7 April 2007 21:58 (nineteen years ago)

same here!

― xyzzzz__, Saturday, 7 April 2007 22:22 (nineteen years ago)

I watched them take a horrible battering in the lords test a couple of years ago, the grief they were getting from the crowd made me feel quite defensive for them. I got into a lively debate with my neighbour over precisely why his cry of "haven't you got a curry house to open up" was perhaps not quite the thing.

― Matt, Saturday, 7 April 2007 22:38 (nineteen years ago)

So, this is it for England- just about do or die time (although Bangladesh winning yesterday makes it not quite so drastic).

Thoughts on Strauss' return? I think its probably a good move- he can't really score much more slowly than Joyce!

― Neil S, Sunday, 8 April 2007 13:19 (nineteen years ago)

He didn't have much time to score more slowly than Joyce, what with throwing his wicket away. Again.

Michael Vaughan. What is he for?

― aldo, Sunday, 8 April 2007 14:56 (nineteen years ago)

ABSOLUTELY NOTHING SAY IT AGAIN

― Mark C, Sunday, 8 April 2007 15:25 (nineteen years ago)

as much fun as this is right now, whatever score England total on this easiest of wickets there's always the nagging suspicion that Australia will match it in 40 overs.

― Roberto Spiralli, Sunday, 8 April 2007 15:31 (nineteen years ago)

And 250 is looking a long way off now.

― Neil S, Sunday, 8 April 2007 16:35 (nineteen years ago)

247. Still not enough, bar a miracle.

― Noodle Vague, Sunday, 8 April 2007 17:17 (nineteen years ago)

Pietersen was more interested in getting singles to make sure he made a 100 than pushing the score along. That's not what was needed KP.
Aussies will walk this. They would've scored 300+ batting 1st, with ease.

England's only hope is to get the top 3 out early, and even then 247 shouldn't be enough.

― Brigadier Lethbridge-Pfunkboy, Sunday, 8 April 2007 17:20 (nineteen years ago)

ah well..

― xyzzzz__, Sunday, 8 April 2007 21:15 (nineteen years ago)

Tres made a double century today. How we could've done with him mentally fit enough to play. I really hope he can come back well.

― Brigadier Lethbridge-Pfunkboy, Sunday, 8 April 2007 22:08 (nineteen years ago)

it's a knockout competiton for these two sides from here on in, Sanjay.

― Roberto Spiralli, Wednesday, 11 April 2007 13:35 (nineteen years ago)

a wicket for england already, hurrah

― Ste, Wednesday, 11 April 2007 13:39 (nineteen years ago)

Saj gets the wickets.

― Roberto Spiralli, Wednesday, 11 April 2007 13:41 (nineteen years ago)

o Michael you lucky boy!

― Roberto Spiralli, Wednesday, 11 April 2007 13:59 (nineteen years ago)

3 wickets now, bangladesh on 26

― Ste, Wednesday, 11 April 2007 14:10 (nineteen years ago)

Indians in the crowd, let me hear you say "How the fuck..."

― Roberto Spiralli, Wednesday, 11 April 2007 14:26 (nineteen years ago)

bliiiimey

― Ste, Wednesday, 11 April 2007 14:39 (nineteen years ago)

England need to wrap this up now, no more lower-order long-handling please!

― Neil S, Wednesday, 11 April 2007 16:20 (nineteen years ago)

And as if on cue, another wicket for Monty!

― Neil S, Wednesday, 11 April 2007 16:24 (nineteen years ago)

uh oh, freddie out, tms boys still worried that england could mess it up...

― CarsmileSteve, Wednesday, 11 April 2007 19:25 (nineteen years ago)

double uh oh, bopara out too...

― CarsmileSteve, Wednesday, 11 April 2007 19:27 (nineteen years ago)

COCK

― Roberto Spiralli, Wednesday, 11 April 2007 19:28 (nineteen years ago)

(aside: roberto, i've never quite worked out who you are since The Change, even though i'm sure you are proper old skool innit ;))

― CarsmileSteve, Wednesday, 11 April 2007 19:37 (nineteen years ago)

i've been around for a long old time, in one guise or another, but i've rarely had as much time on my hands as i have of late.

i enjoyed the thrill of riding the narrow line between victory and honourable defeat against Sri Lanka, even though England lost, but this sinking feeling of riding between victory and embarrassing failure is much more familiar.

― Roberto Spiralli, Wednesday, 11 April 2007 19:53 (nineteen years ago)

this is tortuous, three maidens...

― CarsmileSteve, Wednesday, 11 April 2007 20:07 (nineteen years ago)

4 byes to level. that was the only kind of boundary on the cards.

― Roberto Spiralli, Wednesday, 11 April 2007 20:11 (nineteen years ago)

Poor stuff. But noone will care if England make it. But man we don't look like beating anybody!
Colly and Nixon save us again.

― Brigadier Lethbridge-Pfunkboy, Wednesday, 11 April 2007 20:13 (nineteen years ago)

Can't anyone just pick up singles? It's a simple part of the game.
Mind you i'd imagine against SA, we will need to score a LOT. Smith & Kallis could destroy England.

― Brigadier Lethbridge-Pfunkboy, Wednesday, 11 April 2007 20:16 (nineteen years ago)

England play better against the better teams, remember. before losing courageously in the last over.

against SA i think England will benefit from having played a match on this wicket. i can see the nightmare scenario - beating SA confidentally, then falling over against the West Indies and going home.

― Roberto Spiralli, Wednesday, 11 April 2007 20:28 (nineteen years ago)

More likely failure against SA and a meaningless victory over the Windies, I fear.

― Noodle Vague, Wednesday, 11 April 2007 20:50 (nineteen years ago)

just so I'm sure, do we need to win both our games to go through now? Or will we manage with just a single victory over SA?

If our Wins/Losses are the same as SA's (and perhaps Bangs') how do they work out the better team?

― Ste, Monday, 16 April 2007 10:52 (nineteen years ago)

Run rate comes into it. A win against SA should be enough, unless the Windies turn it round in the final match and dish out a hammering.

― aldo, Monday, 16 April 2007 11:11 (nineteen years ago)

from the Guardian commentary

"Is it worth the four runs boys? Big risk here!" chirps Gilchrist, trying to goad Silva into going big against Hogg. He does, sweeping handsomely over square leg, and it was. In fact it was worth so much more than four runs because, for 12 whole seconds, it shut Gilchrist up.

― Ste, Monday, 16 April 2007 15:21 (nineteen years ago)

it looks like Sri Lanka have been copping from England's play book. dear oh dear. when Jayawardene and Silva had got themselves nicely in and accelerating i thought they might really be putting something together, but they'll be lucky if they get much past 200 now. if Australia coast this entire tournament without dropping a single game i'm gonna be pissed.

― Roberto Spiralli, Monday, 16 April 2007 16:40 (nineteen years ago)

so far so painful to watch. i want to believe!

― Roberto Spiralli, Tuesday, 17 April 2007 13:56 (nineteen years ago)

Yeah, that "building a base" tactic seems actually to be scoring at 1 an over!

― Neil S, Tuesday, 17 April 2007 13:58 (nineteen years ago)

Fuck, Bell out

― Tom D., Tuesday, 17 April 2007 14:01 (nineteen years ago)

what is the value of starting slowly if it's a given you're going to lose a batsman before your total breaks into double figures? more pressure on Pietersen and the overworked middle order when they get in.

― Roberto Spiralli, Tuesday, 17 April 2007 14:03 (nineteen years ago)

vaughans pulled his socks up

― Ste, Tuesday, 17 April 2007 14:16 (nineteen years ago)

And then let them (and us) down again

― Tom D., Tuesday, 17 April 2007 14:25 (nineteen years ago)

Vaughan, what is he good for.

― aldo, Tuesday, 17 April 2007 14:28 (nineteen years ago)

fucking hells sake.

― Ste, Tuesday, 17 April 2007 14:31 (nineteen years ago)

* counting the minutes till Strauss is out *

― Tom D., Tuesday, 17 April 2007 14:33 (nineteen years ago)

I suspect you won't need to take your socks off.

― aldo, Tuesday, 17 April 2007 14:33 (nineteen years ago)

balls.

― Roberto Spiralli, Tuesday, 17 April 2007 14:45 (nineteen years ago)

kp gone

― Ste, Tuesday, 17 April 2007 14:47 (nineteen years ago)

Strauss has to carry the batting now. brilliant. i wish i believed he had it in him.

― Roberto Spiralli, Tuesday, 17 April 2007 14:48 (nineteen years ago)

I just want them to lose now. They don't deserve to win.

― ledge, Tuesday, 17 April 2007 14:56 (nineteen years ago)

Yes, but who would want South Africa to win any game?

― Tom D., Tuesday, 17 April 2007 14:57 (nineteen years ago)

Ok, here's hoping SA put in an even more woeful performance than we do.

― ledge, Tuesday, 17 April 2007 14:58 (nineteen years ago)

Beefy with his big rosy specs on, clutching at straws: "you know, if you bowl right 180 could be a good total out there"

― Roberto Spiralli, Tuesday, 17 April 2007 15:15 (nineteen years ago)

Has he been at the vino or what?

― Tom D., Tuesday, 17 April 2007 15:21 (nineteen years ago)

England could do with a 70ish of 50 balls from Freddie here. No spinners to confuse him either...

― Neil S, Tuesday, 17 April 2007 16:01 (nineteen years ago)

so so embarrassing

― Roberto Spiralli, Tuesday, 17 April 2007 16:10 (nineteen years ago)

Yes, not good. I'll be glad to see them go out, tbh.

― Neil S, Tuesday, 17 April 2007 16:13 (nineteen years ago)

i'll be glad to have my days back. this is turning me into a depressive recluse.

― Roberto Spiralli, Tuesday, 17 April 2007 16:15 (nineteen years ago)

Shit shit shit, you're fucking shit England!!!!!!!!

― Tom D., Tuesday, 17 April 2007 16:16 (nineteen years ago)

You've been saving that up, haven't you.

― aldo, Tuesday, 17 April 2007 16:18 (nineteen years ago)

Hall now on a hat-trick. I was going to go and watch this after work, but I'm not sure I can face it now.

― Neil S, Tuesday, 17 April 2007 16:21 (nineteen years ago)

Panesar has got a nie steady 2 off the 27 balls he has faced. i wonder if it would be worth trying him as an opener.

― Roberto Spiralli, Tuesday, 17 April 2007 16:51 (nineteen years ago)

154 is actually a flattering total.

if the top 4 all go before SA reach 50, it'll be anyone's game.

― Roberto Spiralli, Tuesday, 17 April 2007 17:11 (nineteen years ago)

jesus, i've been in the US embassy cut off from electronic communications all afternoon, so i've just come back to see this score. fucking pathetic.

― toby, Tuesday, 17 April 2007 17:31 (nineteen years ago)

6th over: SA 54-0
Vaughan turns to Flintoff like a drowning man grasping desperately at a passing pedalo. Smith licks his lips and drives him straight down the ground for four, before both AB and Badger Nixon miss a vicious in-cutter. Four byes, and Flintoff stares skywards. At the same stage, England had scored seven.

― aldo, Tuesday, 17 April 2007 18:19 (nineteen years ago)

http://www.copticchurch.org/Picture10%20copy.jpg

― Roberto Spiralli, Tuesday, 17 April 2007 18:23 (nineteen years ago)

http://www.freewebtown.com/storex/mackay.GIF

― Roberto Spiralli, Tuesday, 17 April 2007 18:52 (nineteen years ago)

rolf

― ledge, Tuesday, 17 April 2007 18:56 (nineteen years ago)

Yes, but who would want South Africa to win any game?

:-)

― surfer_stone_rosa, Tuesday, 17 April 2007 19:02 (nineteen years ago)

http://news.bbc.co.uk/olmedia/1855000/images/_1859936_cuddles150.jpg

― Roberto Spiralli, Tuesday, 17 April 2007 19:15 (nineteen years ago)

http://static.flickr.com/106/273171867_8e7a807b5d.jpg

― Roberto Spiralli, Tuesday, 17 April 2007 19:18 (nineteen years ago)

Dare I say it, but at least Scotland posted 186 and took 3 wickets before South Africa won.

― aldo, Tuesday, 17 April 2007 19:20 (nineteen years ago)

just like in the footie WC eng die slowly..

― xyzzzz__, Tuesday, 17 April 2007 19:20 (nineteen years ago)

http://www.spacedog.biz/images/pierimages/pier2.jpg

― Roberto Spiralli, Tuesday, 17 April 2007 19:21 (nineteen years ago)

Smith nearly made a century!

― onimo, Tuesday, 17 April 2007 19:21 (nineteen years ago)

ignominious

― Roberto Spiralli, Tuesday, 17 April 2007 19:21 (nineteen years ago)

I can't believe they got booed, though! That's a bit harsh...

― surfer_stone_rosa, Tuesday, 17 April 2007 19:22 (nineteen years ago)

but fair

― ledge, Tuesday, 17 April 2007 19:23 (nineteen years ago)

if you ain't gonna boo that shit, whatcha gonna boo?

― Roberto Spiralli, Tuesday, 17 April 2007 19:25 (nineteen years ago)

Kell surp

― Noodle Vague, Tuesday, 17 April 2007 22:22 (nineteen years ago)

Aggers reckons Collingwood should be 1 day captain as there's no chance of him being test captain so he wont step on his shoes.
Before Vaughan got injured and also before the ashes people wanted Vaughan to stick to test cricket only. Hopefully a new coach will come in and implement just that.

Lets hope tres can come back fit and well. We really need him.
Can anyone turn KP into a team player?

― Brigadier Lethbridge-Pfunkboy, Tuesday, 17 April 2007 22:42 (nineteen years ago)

I don't think Pietersen's credentials as a team player are a big issue here.

Despite the huge improvements in England's Test side over the last 10 years, the 1-day team have never seemed to improve. We dropped lucky against a presumably knackered/not arsed/had a big punt Aussie side at the start of the year. This tournament has been business as usual.

― Noodle Vague, Tuesday, 17 April 2007 22:48 (nineteen years ago)

Time for a change in management then. Fletcher should do the honourable thing and resign, that way the issue doesn't drag on and on over the summer.
He's been great for english cricket but his time has come to make way.
Who should be next coach though? Tom Moody?

― Brigadier Lethbridge-Pfunkboy, Tuesday, 17 April 2007 23:14 (nineteen years ago)

Captain Michael Vaughan says he will not retire from one-day cricket despite seeing England exit the World Cup after a nine-wicket loss to South Africa.

But he accepts that both he and coach Duncan Fletcher could lose their jobs.

He said: "I'm an honest guy who says my position is hugely in doubt due to my batting. But I still believe I'm a very good captain - I'm not retiring."

Vaughan also defended Fletcher, saying he was an "outstanding coach" who still had a "tremendous amount to offer".

Vaughan, 32, has scored just 130 runs in nine innings at the World Cup and has yet to score a one-day century.

And under his leadership, England have beaten just one Test side in the Caribbean - Bangladesh.

That statistic reflects badly not just on Vaughan but Fletcher, too.

― Brigadier Lethbridge-Pfunkboy, Tuesday, 17 April 2007 23:33 (nineteen years ago)

Willis and Botham let loose here http://www.cricket365.com/story/0,18305,6575_2071251,00.html

― Brigadier Lethbridge-Pfunkboy, Tuesday, 17 April 2007 23:37 (nineteen years ago)

Poor Ireland.

― aldo, Wednesday, 18 April 2007 15:09 (nineteen years ago)

yeah this is pretty bad

― Ste, Wednesday, 18 April 2007 15:19 (nineteen years ago)

Ouch, harsh. 5 ducks in the innings thus far. Their long campaign must be catching up with them.

― Neil S, Wednesday, 18 April 2007 15:21 (nineteen years ago)

have they just hit two sixes in a row ?

― Ste, Wednesday, 18 April 2007 15:25 (nineteen years ago)

oh, it wasn't it was a six and then runs/wide and a four

― Ste, Wednesday, 18 April 2007 15:28 (nineteen years ago)

all out for 77, crumbs.

― Ste, Wednesday, 18 April 2007 15:40 (nineteen years ago)

Apparently Britishers, Sven-Göran Eriksson is at a loose end!

A-HAW!

― SeekAltRoute, Thursday, 19 April 2007 09:57 (nineteen years ago)

Fletcher to resign on Saturday.

Tom Moody for the job?

― Brigadier Lethbridge-Pfunkboy, Thursday, 19 April 2007 12:52 (nineteen years ago)

There was talk of Peter Moores, the assistant coach, being in the running. Moody would be a good pick though.

― Neil S, Thursday, 19 April 2007 12:55 (nineteen years ago)

I'm looking forward to a major Scolari type cock-up here

― Tom D., Thursday, 19 April 2007 12:56 (nineteen years ago)

I want Tom Moody.

Anyway Brian Lara is to retire :(

― Brigadier Lethbridge-Pfunkboy, Thursday, 19 April 2007 23:49 (nineteen years ago)

I hoped we would get to see him one last time.

― Brigadier Lethbridge-Pfunkboy, Thursday, 19 April 2007 23:50 (nineteen years ago)

O THE FURIOUS ENVY!

247 off just 38 overs and counting, 6 wickets still in hand. mesmerising, thrilling batting. England didn't even play like this against Canada, and Australia are pulling it off effortlessly against a fellow semi-finalist.

it's not fair. i want my ball back.

― Roberto Spiralli, Friday, 20 April 2007 16:30 (nineteen years ago)

Australia - who will stop them now?

Even Mr Cricket, who, by any standard (except the English first team's) has had an ordinary tournament has started making runs.

― SeekAltRoute, Saturday, 21 April 2007 04:41 (nineteen years ago)

This is exciting. KP 100. 32 needed from 23 balls. 301 the target. Nixon is there too.

― Brigadier Lethbridge-Pfunkboy, Saturday, 21 April 2007 21:22 (nineteen years ago)

KP is out.

― Brigadier Lethbridge-Pfunkboy, Saturday, 21 April 2007 21:24 (nineteen years ago)

12 from 12 balls needed with 2 wickets left. Nixon is playing a blinder.

― Brigadier Lethbridge-Pfunkboy, Saturday, 21 April 2007 21:38 (nineteen years ago)

Nixon is out. 3 runs needed off 4 balls. W Indies need 1 wkt.

Broad and Anderson left.

― Brigadier Lethbridge-Pfunkboy, Saturday, 21 April 2007 21:48 (nineteen years ago)

England win with one ball left! Stuart Broad the hero on the 2nd last ball!

Lara loses his last match.

― Brigadier Lethbridge-Pfunkboy, Saturday, 21 April 2007 21:54 (nineteen years ago)

CHAMPIONS!

― Roberto Spiralli, Saturday, 21 April 2007 21:57 (nineteen years ago)

if you ain't gonna boo that shit, whatcha gonna boo?

South Africa 27/5 vs Australia, that's what.

― surfer_stone_rosa, Wednesday, 25 April 2007 14:21 (nineteen years ago)

this is some fucked up shit alright. sympathies, dude.

― Roberto Spiralli, Wednesday, 25 April 2007 14:22 (nineteen years ago)

Ha ha, South Africa are getting mollicated

― Tom D., Wednesday, 25 April 2007 14:37 (nineteen years ago)

Come on Herschelle!

― Neil S, Wednesday, 25 April 2007 14:42 (nineteen years ago)

Just 50, Herschelle -- hang on, we implore you. At least it now looks like they'll beat their lowest-so-far ODI total: 69

More lowest World Cup totals ... Poor Canada!!

Thanks for the sympathies, Roberto!

― surfer_stone_rosa, Wednesday, 25 April 2007 14:57 (nineteen years ago)

3 hours to go. Pizza - check. Beers - check.

Let's go Aussie!

― SeekAltRoute, Saturday, 28 April 2007 10:48 (nineteen years ago)

Really hoping Murali stops them tomorrow :-)

― xyzzzz__, Saturday, 28 April 2007 10:50 (nineteen years ago)

― estela, Saturday, 28 April 2007 11:01 (nineteen years ago)

Is that what happened with the Ashes after eng won it in 2005?

― xyzzzz__, Saturday, 28 April 2007 11:12 (nineteen years ago)

i don't remember, so probably yes.

― estela, Saturday, 28 April 2007 12:54 (nineteen years ago)

it always happens if nz wins something, 'oh that! fancy caring about that.'

― estela, Saturday, 28 April 2007 12:57 (nineteen years ago)

if sri lanka wins the world cup won't be mentioned here in australia afterwards, that's what happened with the rugby world cup, after years of hearing about 'the world champion wallabies' england won and suddenly the world cup was a funny little tournament not worth talking about.

agreed.

After Ponting's aggro towards Jawawardene (sic?) and Ponting's whole thing about slacking off and just having a beer whilst the South Africans prepared or whatevs, I just think it's Australia's time to lose.

― Drooone, Saturday, 28 April 2007 13:02 (nineteen years ago)

yes it is. also john howard will be really glum if they lose, he cares about cricket more than anything.

― estela, Saturday, 28 April 2007 13:35 (nineteen years ago)

And Australia wins!

― SeekAltRoute, Saturday, 28 April 2007 23:21 (nineteen years ago)

But what a farcical ending! Playing the World Cup final at a venue with no floodlights? Well done, ICC. Sri Lanka have every right to be peeved with having to complete their innings in the dark. Literally.

If the ICC had a brain between them, they would've taken advantage of the second day and played 50 overs per side in (hopefully) fine weather. A poorly managed ending to a poorly organised tournament.

― SeekAltRoute, Saturday, 28 April 2007 23:28 (nineteen years ago)

not being able to see ponting's smirk in the darkness is one consolation for sri lanka.

― estela, Saturday, 28 April 2007 23:46 (nineteen years ago)

Oh, I think they'll have more important things on their minds, don't you?

― SeekAltRoute, Sunday, 29 April 2007 03:53 (nineteen years ago)

Never mind the WC or the one-day game, you have to wonder where can West Indies cricket go on from here...extortionate ticket prices, half-empty grounds, little atmosphere (banning of music and flags wtf!!). That's all before you factor in the Windies poor showing (although you could say that every side bar Sri Lanka and Australia had a VERY poor tournament).

― xyzzzz__, Sunday, 29 April 2007 08:07 (nineteen years ago)

New Zealand and Ireland can come away pretty pleased i think.

― Ed, Sunday, 29 April 2007 09:14 (nineteen years ago)

the average house price in the Uk has risen by 4k over the duration of the World cup according to R5 this morning. I think Malinga may have been my favourite player of the tournament, if only for his wtf action.

― Porkpie, Sunday, 29 April 2007 09:20 (nineteen years ago)

"Is that what happened with the Ashes after eng won it in 2005?"

Emphatically, no.

As evidenced by the record crowds at every Test match when the rematch happened this summer.

― Fred Nerk, Sunday, 29 April 2007 09:33 (nineteen years ago)

"I think Malinga may have been my favourite player of the tournament, if only for his wtf action."

And the hair!

― xyzzzz__, Sunday, 29 April 2007 09:41 (nineteen years ago)

"New Zealand and Ireland can come away pretty pleased i think."

Agree on Ireland. However NZ were in the semis for the 4th or 5th time, they must be disappointed in not making it to the final?

― xyzzzz__, Sunday, 29 April 2007 09:44 (nineteen years ago)

My Bangladeshi colleague was pretty much delighted with just getting into the super 8, he was expecting to get battered in every match I think

― Porkpie, Sunday, 29 April 2007 09:54 (nineteen years ago)

"Is that what happened with the Ashes after eng won it in 2005?"

Emphatically, no.

As evidenced by the record crowds at every Test match when the rematch happened this summer.

-- Fred Nerk, Sunday, 29 April 2007 09:33 (1 hour ago)

turning up in droves to win the trophy back isn't the same as giving england their dues during the whole preceding year while they held it!
(though to be honest i don't follow cricket too much so it's possible they did.)

― estela, Sunday, 29 April 2007 11:41 (nineteen years ago)

At the time of Ashes 2005, most people in Australia thought England's win was a much-needed shot in the arm to a concept which had been looking increasingly tired over the last few series. The games got saturation coverage in our media, and when the series was over, at about 4am local time, Melbourne's best-selling tabloid rushed out a special souvenir edition.

The prevailing view was that Andrew Flintoff, in particular, had shown himself to be an outstanding player and Pietersen was a player with a great future. Flint's and KP's mugs was used extensively to promote the Australian series.

Besides that I'm not sure what you could have wanted.

― Fred Nerk, Sunday, 29 April 2007 23:49 (nineteen years ago)

three years pass...

you savages haven't even bumped this thread yet wtf

― acoleuthic, Wednesday, 23 February 2011 01:00 (fifteen years ago)

glad to see you posting LJ, nakh just told me yesterday you were in NZ

― Algerian Goalkeeper, Wednesday, 23 February 2011 01:04 (fifteen years ago)

I am. extremely infrequent posting on ILX but some shit's gotta be said. the new mogwai album is one of their best btw

― acoleuthic, Wednesday, 23 February 2011 01:05 (fifteen years ago)

The Netherlands were looking good, those English got very lucky!

― "People in Ireland are walking on Eire." (King Boy Pato), Wednesday, 23 February 2011 06:19 (fifteen years ago)

tbf almost anyone could bat a century against the English bowling attack

― "People in Ireland are walking on Eire." (King Boy Pato), Wednesday, 23 February 2011 06:20 (fifteen years ago)

glenn mitchell on england vs netherlands:

“It’s almost like England against England, with so many South Africans in the Dutch team.”

― edgar allen EPO (haitch), Wednesday, 23 February 2011 06:33 (fifteen years ago)

low blow

― "People in Ireland are walking on Eire." (King Boy Pato), Wednesday, 23 February 2011 07:46 (fifteen years ago)

oh my

― caek, Sunday, 27 February 2011 16:56 (fifteen years ago)

oh man!

― caek, Sunday, 27 February 2011 16:57 (fifteen years ago)

is anyone on this? you should be if not!

― caek, Sunday, 27 February 2011 17:02 (fifteen years ago)

omg

― jabba hands, Sunday, 27 February 2011 17:02 (fifteen years ago)

they needed like 35 from the last 15 balls

now 2 from 1

― caek, Sunday, 27 February 2011 17:03 (fifteen years ago)

a draw!

― caek, Sunday, 27 February 2011 17:04 (fifteen years ago)

a tie! holy shit...incredible game

― jabba hands, Sunday, 27 February 2011 17:04 (fifteen years ago)

it was

― Algerian Goalkeeper, Sunday, 27 February 2011 17:13 (fifteen years ago)

Yeah, you don't want teams like in Ireland in the World Cup.

― The Filth and The North Queensland Fury (King Boy Pato), Wednesday, 2 March 2011 19:59 (fifteen years ago)

:) :) :) :) :)

― The Filth and The North Queensland Fury (King Boy Pato), Wednesday, 2 March 2011 19:59 (fifteen years ago)

Bizarre news reporting here - lots of people who know nothing about cricket, trying to explain to lots of others who know less. RTE sports corr - a Gah head - was on the phone to BBC NI guy, during the last over, trying to get him to explain the rudiments of the game, as the game was won - BBC guy, to his credit, ignored him and ranted joyously. That beating England is a good thing is a given, but not understanding how, or why, is confusing the masses.

Test status now! (maybe it could go into the programme for govt.?)

― I'm Street but I Know my Roots (sonofstan), Wednesday, 2 March 2011 20:08 (fifteen years ago)

LOL England. To be sure.

― Tony Abbott : shit happening (SeekAltRoute), Wednesday, 2 March 2011 20:21 (fifteen years ago)

This is amazing and I don't care about cricket at all!

(I do know how it works though)

― oigwheoiqng4g (seandalai), Wednesday, 2 March 2011 20:30 (fifteen years ago)

vague interest in cricket which mates tried to enhance a lot when i worked on a sports show. watched the game today. great entertainment, a wonderful win for the lads. hilarious internet comments all over friends facebooks about this...

― I see what this is (Local Garda), Wednesday, 2 March 2011 22:47 (fifteen years ago)

so weird, for irish readers, that the last three irish batsmen were called johnston, mooney, and o'brien.

― I see what this is (Local Garda), Wednesday, 2 March 2011 22:47 (fifteen years ago)

....and England were toast! (sorry....)

― I'm Street but I Know my Roots (sonofstan), Wednesday, 2 March 2011 22:54 (fifteen years ago)

http://www.adventurebranding.ie/Admin/images_upload/thumb_image_795.jpg

― I see what this is (Local Garda), Wednesday, 2 March 2011 22:56 (fifteen years ago)

well.

― acoleuthic, Wednesday, 2 March 2011 23:29 (fifteen years ago)

awesome result for cricket diversity

― acoleuthic, Wednesday, 2 March 2011 23:29 (fifteen years ago)

And...?

― The Filth and The North Queensland Fury (King Boy Pato), Wednesday, 2 March 2011 23:32 (fifteen years ago)

and everyone who isn't english

am supporting the black caps instead though and that's going REALLY well

fml lol

― acoleuthic, Wednesday, 2 March 2011 23:37 (fifteen years ago)

i got the ride out of it so i'm happy enough lads

― Achillean Heel (darraghmac), Wednesday, 2 March 2011 23:37 (fifteen years ago)

am supporting the black caps instead though

out of the frying pan and into the fire, son

― The Filth and The North Queensland Fury (King Boy Pato), Wednesday, 2 March 2011 23:41 (fifteen years ago)

Are any of you playing the cricinfo fantasy game/is there an ILX league for this?

Also kind of amazed by Canada's bowling performance/Pakistan's somewhat lacklustre batting performance atm

― salsa shark, Thursday, 3 March 2011 11:21 (fifteen years ago)

i got the ride out of it so i'm happy enough lads

well played

― I see what this is (Local Garda), Thursday, 3 March 2011 11:23 (fifteen years ago)

Victory for conviviality

― Tom D (Tom D.), Thursday, 3 March 2011 11:27 (fifteen years ago)

stage is set for afridi and razzaq to do some damage in that pak/can game

― jabba hands, Thursday, 3 March 2011 11:47 (fifteen years ago)

what england can do, pakistan can do better

― acoleuthic, Thursday, 3 March 2011 12:11 (fifteen years ago)

having said that they will probably bowl canada out for 50 now

― acoleuthic, Thursday, 3 March 2011 12:12 (fifteen years ago)

ffs

― jabba hands, Thursday, 3 March 2011 12:13 (fifteen years ago)

stage is set for umar gul to do some damage

― jabba hands, Thursday, 3 March 2011 12:15 (fifteen years ago)

It's Pakistan, they can lose against anyone! They do it so well!

― The Filth and The North Queensland Fury (King Boy Pato), Thursday, 3 March 2011 12:24 (fifteen years ago)

And so profitably too

― Tom D (Tom D.), Thursday, 3 March 2011 12:28 (fifteen years ago)

http://www.espncricinfo.com/icc_cricket_worldcup2011/content/current/story/504279.html

headlines with implicit jokes I have seen

today's cricket has been...shit. fortunately I haven't watched any of it.

― acoleuthic, Friday, 4 March 2011 13:58 (fifteen years ago)

WHO'S READY

― WD-40 (acoleuthic), Thursday, 17 March 2011 08:51 (fifteen years ago)

wtf is trott up to

― WD-40 (acoleuthic), Thursday, 17 March 2011 09:48 (fifteen years ago)

Wright's looking very useful. As a pessimistic Windies fan, i have a feeling England will win this, despite the collapse.

― Ha ha ha ha. Jack my swag. (ShariVari), Thursday, 17 March 2011 12:02 (fifteen years ago)

wright has talent but is also as thick as two short planks

― WD-40 (acoleuthic), Thursday, 17 March 2011 12:09 (fifteen years ago)

What the did Andre Russell just do? I was fiddling with a spreadsheet and then just heard Bumble and Ian Bishop scolding him but without saying what he'd done. Help the departing batsman on his way?

― I lolled at the Great Saucepan (GamalielRatsey), Thursday, 17 March 2011 12:28 (fifteen years ago)

am listening to Foetus quite loudly so can only hear the commentary in snatches. it would appear that he has taken four wickets against England bowling little dibbly fast-mediums. which is clearly fucking plagiarism.

― WD-40 (acoleuthic), Thursday, 17 March 2011 12:30 (fifteen years ago)

That recent Foetus album? I liked that.

Found out -

For the second time in the innings, Andre Russell dummies the batsman. He steams in, pretends to have lost his run up, starts to slow down – but then delivers the ball. That's not on and somebody needs to have a word.

― I lolled at the Great Saucepan (GamalielRatsey), Thursday, 17 March 2011 12:30 (fifteen years ago)

am listening to Foetus quite loudly so can only hear the commentary in snatches

Priorities, my boy, priorities

― Tom D (Tom D.), Thursday, 17 March 2011 12:31 (fifteen years ago)

35th over - Eng 163-6
Wright smashes England's first boundary since the 21st over (first for 82 balls in fact), helping a loose delivery from Russell through the covers for four, before threading a more gentle shot to the cover sweeper for one. Tredwell is off the mark as he smacks a two past point, before clipping a single off his hip. Then there's a bizarre last delivery when Russell makes as if he's going to stop in his run-up, stuttering as he passes the umpire - but then carries on and sends one down outside off stump.
48 overs - Eng 241-9
Chris Tremlett is England's last man, and their tactics must be wrong if he's having to bat in a powerplay, although he can clear the ropes on occasions. Once more, as in the 35th over, Russell stutters in his run-up as he passes the umpire (a bit like the way John Aldridge used to take penalties) but goes through with the delivery, thankfully Tremlett stands tall and punches a single to long-off. Bresnan adds a single, Tremlett keeps the strike, can they survive the last 12 balls?

why dont the umpires no ball him? blatant gamesmanship.

― Algerian Goalkeeper, Thursday, 17 March 2011 12:32 (fifteen years ago)

anyway england knocked out do you think?

― Algerian Goalkeeper, Thursday, 17 March 2011 12:33 (fifteen years ago)

Not good enough, so not bothered

― Tom D (Tom D.), Thursday, 17 March 2011 12:34 (fifteen years ago)

felt that way about the Bangladesh game, wd've been disappointed if England had won - simply didn't deserve to.

― I lolled at the Great Saucepan (GamalielRatsey), Thursday, 17 March 2011 12:53 (fifteen years ago)

put us out of our misery, Chris Gayle

― Neil S, Thursday, 17 March 2011 13:29 (fifteen years ago)

Windies shd piss this so I've no doubt they'll go from 190-odd for 3 to 220 all out.

― The north-east's Number 2 children's party magician (Noodle Vague), Thursday, 17 March 2011 13:32 (fifteen years ago)

LOL Windies

― Tom D (Tom D.), Thursday, 17 March 2011 14:41 (fifteen years ago)

pollard will blast them to victory

― Algerian Goalkeeper, Thursday, 17 March 2011 14:43 (fifteen years ago)

reckon windies are going to pull this off

― American Fear of Pranksterism (Ed), Thursday, 17 March 2011 15:56 (fifteen years ago)

absurd boundary laws. Was watching some old world cup footage, where the crowd were running onto the pitch and throwing the ball back before it had reached the boundary.

― I lolled at the Great Saucepan (GamalielRatsey), Thursday, 17 March 2011 15:57 (fifteen years ago)

reckon windies are going to pull this off

Uh huh. LOL England.

― Tom D (Tom D.), Thursday, 17 March 2011 15:58 (fifteen years ago)

Oh... hello...

― Tom D (Tom D.), Thursday, 17 March 2011 16:25 (fifteen years ago)

exciting stuff again

― Algerian Goalkeeper, Thursday, 17 March 2011 16:30 (fifteen years ago)

so the agony will be prolonged...

― Neil S, Thursday, 17 March 2011 16:30 (fifteen years ago)

Can Devendra Banhart bat I wonder?

― Tom D (Tom D.), Thursday, 17 March 2011 16:31 (fifteen years ago)

lol called it

― The north-east's Number 2 children's party magician (Noodle Vague), Thursday, 17 March 2011 16:31 (fifteen years ago)

well well

― Algerian Goalkeeper, Thursday, 17 March 2011 16:32 (fifteen years ago)

you cant accuse england games of being boring so far

― Algerian Goalkeeper, Thursday, 17 March 2011 16:34 (fifteen years ago)

~~LOL England~~
~~LOL Windies~~
~~LOL England~~
LOL Windies

― Tom D (Tom D.), Thursday, 17 March 2011 16:34 (fifteen years ago)

2 masters of the collapse going head to head

― The north-east's Number 2 children's party magician (Noodle Vague), Thursday, 17 March 2011 16:36 (fifteen years ago)

WWF Cricket World Cup

― Tom D (Tom D.), Thursday, 17 March 2011 16:37 (fifteen years ago)

I'm now calling SA to lose to Bangladesh and WI to beat India, meaning England still go out.

― Neil S, Thursday, 17 March 2011 16:38 (fifteen years ago)

when england/windies/south africa are involved no game is done & dusted.

Bet Bangladesh win at home and knock england out

― Algerian Goalkeeper, Thursday, 17 March 2011 16:39 (fifteen years ago)

hah xp btw

― Algerian Goalkeeper, Thursday, 17 March 2011 16:39 (fifteen years ago)

one year passes...

I want this to start sooner than 2015
cricket is dope imo

― he bit me (it felt like a diss) (m bison), Tuesday, 12 June 2012 20:28 (thirteen years ago)

otm. there's the world twenty20 later this year, of course..

― jabba hands, Tuesday, 12 June 2012 23:00 (thirteen years ago)

glad we got some USA in the brotherhood

how did you discover cricket? or was your family always into it? and what are your opinions on Test vs one-day or Twenty20 cricket (you only have to wait a few months before there's a World Cup in the latter!)

other Americans are welcome to chip in even they are just DJP and his pollyannas

haha my 1 post for the week and it's xposted after a 2.5-hour gap. fortunately I have one in reserve from last week. you lucky sods

― once a week is ample, Tuesday, 12 June 2012 23:02 (thirteen years ago)

my attention addled brain sez t20 because I have never actually sit down and watched full matches, only super long YouTube highlights.

I think my first exposure to cricket was lagaan maybe? I also downloaded some cricket game apps and I was like...this is like baseball except u can score all the time so I don't hate it

then I went to YouTube and I was like THIS IS COOL and YUVRAJ SINGH IS KINDA HANDSOME I MEAN KINDA AWESOME

also it is cool that basically every former subject of the British empire gets to womp on England in this sport

― he bit me (it felt like a diss) (m bison), Wednesday, 13 June 2012 00:09 (thirteen years ago)

I'm a low-level India-phile, too, I think that helps

― he bit me (it felt like a diss) (m bison), Wednesday, 13 June 2012 00:11 (thirteen years ago)

if i ever went to india, watching some cricket would be pretty high on my list of things to do

― jabba hands, Wednesday, 13 June 2012 13:50 (thirteen years ago)

six years pass...

You can redeem Emirates miles for tickets to the forthcoming World Cup.

https://www.headforpoints.com/2019/05/22/tickets-for-all-the-icc-cricket-world-cup-games-available-for-emirates-skywards-miles/

This is quite useful if you have points left over that you're never actually going to redeem for any flights. Picked up a ticket for Pakistan vs Bangladesh on the 5th of July at Lords.

― ShariVari, Thursday, 23 May 2019 13:50 (seven years ago)

that is sweet and all but my estimate of how many other ilxors both like cricket and have leftover emirates airmiles is somewhat comparable to the number of games i expect zimbabwe to win at this world cup

― imago, Thursday, 23 May 2019 14:16 (seven years ago)

nonetheless, this is your Big Happy Gloating Week (Fortnight?) after all, so I'll allow it

― imago, Thursday, 23 May 2019 14:17 (seven years ago)

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