Cricket

[HH81]

England 209-0 against Pakistan.

After 32 overs of a test match. Some going.

[HUTCHYHIBBY]

Just finished watching the highlights, you've got to say it's nothing short of ridiculous - 506-4 at close of play. It's never safe to judge a pitch until both sides have bowled but, it's highly doubtful England will bowl as poorly as Pakistan.

[davy67 +]

This has been pretty turgid stuff, not a lot of help for the bowlers, those late wickets have maybe given England a little glimmer of hope. If the they can clean up the tail quickly wil there be enough time to bowl Pakistan out again though ?

[HH81]

England 78 ahead after 1st innings.

Time to smash it about and set up a chance.

[davy67 +]

This match is starting to get interesting , I guess Pakistan will shut the shutters now and take no risks
25-2 and one on the injury list

[HUTCHYHIBBY]

A good victory in the end for England.

[DaveF]

Sydney Thunder score the lowest ever total in a T20 match. 15 all out in 5.5 overs 😮

Yes, they lost.

[helenm]

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Sorry if already posted, but this deserves a thread, or possibly a whole forum, to itself:

https://twitter.com/SkyCricket/statu...58272348274690

It is just wonderful .. i didnt see this before

[Mibbes Aye]

Some great cricket going on just now, it has to be said. I’ve been enjoying watching Babar be Babar for Pakistan against the Kiwis, he really is such a delight to watch when he shines.

Not much trumps the Boxing Day Test though, so it is a sleep-deprived Mibbes at the moment. First up it has to be said that SAF are just not there this series. Something hasn’t fallen into place. There is still talent - a bowler like Ramada walks into most Test sides - but not solidity. I wonder how much they miss QDK. He was in the top two or three red-ball glovesmen in the world,and he scored runs.

For the Aussies, Cam Green managed to get himself in contention for man of the match in Melbourne even though he will miss half of it! He is starting to motor IMO and I am really looking forward to seeing him play Ashes cricket. The injuries in the bowling line-up do offer the potential of Australia going with two spinners in Sydney. They rarely do that, even when they had the very capable Stuart MacGill available as Warnie’s backfill. There are as couple of names in the hat if they do go with two though and it may give a clue as to the direction of travel, post-Lyon.

As for their batting, there was a sense of redemption with Warner and his magnificent double ton in gruelling conditions. Alongside that we had the very likeable Alex Carey grabbing his first Test hundred - I guess that makes it a ‘demption’ . Great achievement nonetheless and we face an interesting finale in this match between a demoralised SAF and walking wounded Australia.

Just the small matter of a home game against the league leaders to deal with first.......

[davy67 +]

Rishabh Pant: India wicketkeeper in hospital after car crash https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/64124242

lucky laddie to be alive after that

[HUTCHYHIBBY]

England doing their best to throw this first ODI away after getting themselves into a very commanding position v South Africa.

[HUTCHYHIBBY]

1 wicket left 🙈

[HUTCHYHIBBY]

South Africa win by 27 runs. 🤔

[HUTCHYHIBBY]

England having a 'mare in this series, 2-0 down and 5-2 after 3 overs in the 3rd match.

[HUTCHYHIBBY]

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England having a 'mare in this series, 2-0 down and 5-2 after 3 overs in the 3rd match.

14-3, dearie me! 🙈

[HUTCHYHIBBY]

England now 313-4 from 46.2 overs, amazing stuff! 👏

[HUTCHYHIBBY]

313-5

[HUTCHYHIBBY]

315-6, Buttler out for 131.

[HUTCHYHIBBY]

326-7

[HUTCHYHIBBY]

346-7 from 50 overs!

[HUTCHYHIBBY]

SA 274-6 from 39 overs.

[HUTCHYHIBBY]

278-7 from 39.4 overs, Klaasen out for 80, interesting stuff!

[HUTCHYHIBBY]

England win by 59 runs, 6 wickets for Archer.

[Lancs Harp]

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England having a 'mare in this series, 2-0 down and 5-2 after 3 overs in the 3rd match.

Not having a mare mate its the way England play. Very exciting and very positive but every now and then will come unstuck. England will win far more matches than they lose playing as they do and will put the fear of God into many opposing teams.

[HUTCHYHIBBY]

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Not having a mare mate its the way England play. Very exciting and very positive but every now and then will come unstuck. England will win far more matches than they lose playing as they do and will put the fear of God into many opposing teams.

It was a shocking start to the innings, obviously can't argue with the final outcome.

[Mibbes Aye]

One of the Test series I really look forward to is when India host Australia. It's thrown up so much drama over the years, especially in the days when it was a real slugfest between the Indian middle order battaing against that wonderful Aussie bowling unit of McGrath, Gillespie, Warne etc.

When Australia were at their most magisterial under Steve Waugh, going to India was the biggest challenge. Despite the Indian pitches suiting spin, even the legendary Shane Warne found it tricky and his bowling average there was easily worse than playing anywhere else, even in the Caribbean.

So, two days into the first Test at Nagpur where do we stand? Advantage firmly India so far. They were convincing with the ball, and only Labuschagne, and Smith got in, but ultimately failed to build meaningful runs. A useful cameo from Alex Careymade the picture slightly better, or less worse to be more accurate. The plaudits went to Jadeja with 5-47 and eight maidens from 22 overs but none of the Indian bowlers failed really.

With a low first-innings total from Australia, India went to work. They started brightly, getting runs on the board and then Australian debutant Todd Murphy started finding his spot. As per usual with the Aussies, Murphy was identified a long time ago and has progressed along their well-established development trajectory. It's fair to say he was maybe even fast-tracked on the fast track! And there he is, not long-turned 22, having taken five first-innings wickets on debut, including the likes of Pujara and Kohli. That's some achievement.

It's early days, very early days. Players, bowlers, spinners have had equally outstanding debuts and maybe played one more Test before fading into obscurity pr onto the answer sheet of a random cricket quiz. It was nice to see Murphy succeed though. He has shown he has the smarts and the ability to adapt his style for the sub-continent - dropping the overspin he would use in Victoria, for the high side spin more suited to India.

The only problem with this Test series is the timing and the coverage. A typical day's play runs from 4am to lunchtime here. BT Sports are showing it but they also had evening scheduled slots for highlights which aren't happening - the last two nights they showed a programme about La Ligue and then one about Daniel Levy!

Anyways, I have found an Indian radio station doing commentary in English and Hindi. The English broadcast has some former players from both camps and also the great Jim Maxwell. But also some really raucous adverts, which doesn't make for a half-asleep pleasurable experience at five in the morning!

[HUTCHYHIBBY]

Fantastic display of batting from Root and Brook who began their partnership with the score at 21-3 and ended the day on 315-3. Two more contrasting innings you'll struggle to see but, both equally effective in their own right. Brook in particular is on fire in his current run of form.

[Mibbes Aye]

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Fantastic display of batting from Root and Brook who began their partnership with the score at 21-3 and ended the day on 315-3. Two more contrasting innings you'll struggle to see but, both equally effective in their own right. Brook in particular is on fire in his current run of form.

This tour has been the first time I've had a good look at Harry Brook and he is a delight to watch with the bat. Some of his strokeplay was just sumptious and England must be very happy at the start he's made to his Test career. I'm looking forward to seeing how he picks things up this evening.

At the same time this is a ragged NZ side, on a poor run. But it's still Test experience for Brook and sets up the prospect of a tantalising summer, with the Ashes in England.

Australia haven't had their woes to seek in India, it's always been the least happy of their hunting grounds. English pitches will suit them far better though and Cam Green seems to have cemented his place as a bowling batsman, or maybe a batting bowler. This makes a massive difference to the Australian attac, giving them two pairs of quicks, as well as Lyon, as well as the jobbing spin of Smith and Labuschagne. Big questions for both sides remain around the top order though.

Back to the Bay of Plenty and Kane Williamson needs a mere 33 runs to become New Zealand's leading run-scorer in Test cricket. I hope to see that, he's been a marvellous player for a long time and also sems to be held in massively high regard around the cricket world.

[Mibbes Aye]

Kane Williamson edges to the keeper, off Anderson's bowling and is out with a meagre four runs to show for it. NZ will be batting again though, a reasonably good chance it will be today so Kano's rarget is now 29!

[Mibbes Aye]

Thrilling finish to the Test with NZ winning by one run. What a five days!

Nearly 1,400 runs, 40 wickets, 15 sessions and Kane Williamson becoming the highest Test run-scorer in NZ history, by means of a century. And Harry Brook making a big statement that must fill every Enfland fan's heart with hope of glories to come.

It was a fantastic few closing overs but there were talking points across the entire match. Excellent Test cricket.