The Cricket Thread

Second seven-fer by a debutant in a day. Just ridiculous stuff. Best sport in the world.

Stunning. Difficult to separate Pope and Hartley for PotM but, given it was his debut, how his first innings started and that he has outbowled India's trio of spinners, I'd go Hartley.

Drumstick wrote:
Rex Kramer wrote:Australia will still win that match.

Also correct.
Rex Kramer wrote:Innings defeat on the cards for England here, probably before close of play tomorrow.

And correct again. On a roll!

It's amazing how correct this looked and how wrong it was.

I'm glad my reverse-mockers worked!

Hartley had great figures, but it was Pope who was responsible for transforming the match so I can understand him getting man of the match.

Starting to get some murmurings over the last couple of days about whether the switch hit/reverse sweep should be legal or not. Some Indians not happy about it apparently. :lol:

https://www.news.com.au/sport/cricket/e ... e2a9133625

I don't think any of the current Indian team players have officially spoken out against it though, so I imagine this is just noise and won't actually go anywhere.

Sounds like a lot of sour grapes, perfectly valid shot that comes with its own risks in attempting to use

I don' even think there's actual sour grapes is there? It's a whole article off the back of an argument between Pietersen and Harsha Bhogle on whether they should be legal.

I haven't even seen Indian fans moaning about it other than the fact they had no answer for it, and the disappointment in their lack of response.

Imrahil wrote:Starting to get some murmurings over the last couple of days about whether the switch hit/reverse sweep should be legal or not. Some Indians not happy about it apparently.

https://www.news.com.au/sport/cricket/e ... e2a9133625

I don't think any of the current Indian team players have officially spoken out against it though, so I imagine this is just noise and won't actually go anywhere.

The issue has been debated countless times previously with calls for bowlers to have the option of switching which side of the stumps they bowl from — or even changing hand — while batsmen have the same options up the other end.

It has also been pointed out that the reverse sweep protects batsmen from facing LBW dismissals for deliveries that pitch outside leg stump.

“It’s 3:25 local time and I’m off downstairs because your talking rubbish,” Pietersen told Bhogle on air.

Pietersen wasn’t backing down on Twitter.

Bhogle responded: “Absolute nonsense! If you want to switch hit allow a bowler to bowl with both hands. Because something is difficult, it doesn’t make it acceptable.

“The bowler has to inform the umpire if he wants to bowl left handed, the batsman must have the same condition. May the debate continue.”

Seem like fair comments from Bhogle to be honest. I’m also not sure English cricket fans have much of a leg to stand on when it comes to recent moaning about the opposition playing within the laws of the game!

Most of the Indian players will play this shot in limited overs tournaments like the IPL and I saw Rohit play it several times in the fourth innings; England experienced similar troubles in suppressing it. I strongly doubt any of the noise will be coming from the players.

The MCC are pretty reticent to ban or outlaw any type of ingenuity so there's zero chance the shot will be prohibited. If anything, there could (should?) be a change to give more freedom to the bowler (i.e. being able to change arm without informing the umpire) but again I don't see it.

Cuttooth wrote:I’m also not sure English cricket fans have much of a leg to stand on when it comes to recent moaning about the opposition playing within the laws of the game!

Are reverse sweeps in the spirit of cricket though?

Wow, I thought England's selection for the first test was brave but going with Bashir as the replacement for Leach with Anderson replacing Wood is a hell of a statement of confidence in his abilities. Fingers crossed this doesn't go badly wrong as either him or Ahmed is going to have to bowl a lot of overs.

I think, considering the results under the Bazball regime, it's probably time to trust that the Key/Baz/Ben triumvirate know what they're doing, as unintuitive as it seems.

Either that or they're getting very lucky.

Meanwhile elsewhere in India, Durham run amok: https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/eng ... -scorecard

No overs yet from Ahmed, is he carrying an injury?

I was just about to ask, why include him in the team if you're not going to bowl him until *checks live text* the 60th over?!

Foakes did very well to take the Shreyas catch.

Such a bizarre decision by Stokes, given he's bowled quite tightly since finally being tossed the ball.

Loving Jimmy's hair. :lol:

I'd assume that England have already been batted out of the Test. That's what I'd assume.

(shrugs)

Hahahahaha of course I was wrong. I'm thinking this is actually pretty creditable.

Now watch England be 220 all out in 50 overs.

This one is definitely in the balance but you really don't want India getting more than 400. That's a decent days bowling performance by England, particularly the two young spinners. Bashir must be absolutely beaming after getting Rohit as his first wicket.

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