The Cricket Thread

**nigel-harps1954** · 29/11/2013, 2:54 PM

Rotten boll0cks. Never seen anything as hateful in all the time I've watched cricket. Super innings by Johnston.

A good first over though for UAE. Ireland need to pick up two or three wickets early to slow down the early run rate.

**nigel-harps1954** · 29/11/2013, 3:41 PM

Just on that, a bit of rough justice for O'Brien to catch the ball to see Rafiq out!

**bennocelt** · 29/11/2013, 4:12 PM

Originally Posted by nigel-harps1954

Just on that, a bit of rough justice for O'Brien to catch the ball to see Rafiq out!

But I think it was the next guy? Anyway karma is a birch, ha

**nigel-harps1954** · 30/11/2013, 1:19 PM

http://cricfree.tv/star-sports-live-stream-online.php

Stream of the final here.

**culloty82** · 12/12/2013, 8:36 PM

Barring an almighty batting run tomorrow, hard to see the Afghans reeling in Ireland's 346-run lead from 136/5 - of course, they still have to win every tournament before they get a regular schedule of visits from Test nations (two a year will only bring them on so far).

**swinfordfc** · 13/12/2013, 3:48 PM

Congrats Ireland - well done on a great year of cricket for ye - thanks green 23 for a great career as well!

**Stuttgart88** · 22/12/2013, 3:07 PM

I just spent the afternoon watching SA vs India, 5th day of the first test. SA were chasing 458 to win, which would have been a test cricket record chased if successful.

The match was drawn with SA 8 runs short and 3 wickets in hand. But it left a bad taste in my mouth: after SA lost De Plessis (who was in great batting form - he'd been in for 6 hours) to a run out with 3 overs left and 16 runs required to win SA just batted everything for a dot ball in order to ensure the draw. The crowd booed every shot.

In one sense you could see why they did it but I'm just staggered that with a world record within reach they took the cautious option. As if in protest Philander (great name!) hit a 6 off the last ball to show that they could have done it if they'd had the balls. Light was becoming a factor but with the field set out on the boundary, conceding catches would have been hard to do and every ball was wide of off stump.

Weird and disappointing ending to a compelling game.

**OwlsFan** · 27/12/2013, 9:18 AM

Yes I too spent the afternoon watching that but wasn't it Steyn who hit the 6 ? I couldn't believe that they didn't go for the world record and I suspect they will always regret that. Perhaps they might win the series but so what? That will soon be forgotten. 16 off the last 3 overs. Was not a huge ask. Thought I was about to witness history in the making

**Stuttgart88** · 27/12/2013, 6:21 PM

Yes, it was indeed Steyn.

Jeepers, even Anderson and Panesar got something like 12 for the last wicket facing Johnson last night. 16 with 3 left even if the light was bad was definitely having a shot at. It rained today in Durban so the series will probably be a complete damp squib and forgotten forever. But if SA had cahsed down 458...

England finally had a good day with the ball. Sets it up for an interesting second innings.

**Stuttgart88** · 05/01/2014, 3:13 PM

So, it looks like Sir Beefy Botham was right: a 5-0 whitewash

What an extraordinarily one-sided series.

I see Rankin took a wicket today. How many other Irish test wicket takers have there been?

**ForzaForth** · 05/01/2014, 3:24 PM

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...laying_nations

Link to Irish-born Test cricketers here. Feel sorry for Boyd - destined to be a one Test only player.

**Stuttgart88** · 06/01/2014, 12:46 PM

Did Ed Joyce never play in a test?

Of the list in that wiki link only two have taken a test wicket: Horan for Australia and Poore for South Africa.

**nigel-harps1954** · 06/01/2014, 3:36 PM

Made test squads but never actually played far as I know.

**ForzaForth** · 06/01/2014, 9:16 PM

Ed Joyce's Wikipedia article confirms Nigel-Harp's view above that he didn't play Test cricket. Martin McCague is also listed under N. Ireland in the link above. Born in Larne and got dog's abuse when he played a few tests for England and picked up a handful of wickets after having grown up in Australia

**Gather round** · 10/01/2014, 6:21 AM

Ed Joyce was on the 2006/07 tour. England lost that one 5-0 too, so he really should have got a game.

I wouldn't be surprised if Rankin got another game or two. All the other fringe bowlers were rubbish as well, Broad and Anderson have to be rested occasionally, the young quicks can't get games in the English championship to give them experience.

**Stuttgart88** · 17/01/2014, 10:27 AM

What a one day game at the GABA! Morgan got 106 for England who set Australia a target of 301. They were struggling from the early stages and were looking doomed at 244-9. Then James Faulkner too a grip and scored 60-something including a bundle of huge 6s and Australia won with 3 balls to spare.

Joe Root nearly took an unbelievable catch to win it, catching Faulkner one-handed on the boundary and, having had both feet on the ground, went over the ropes and it was a 6 instead.

I think if both feet are on the ground inside the rope and the ball is firmly in hand then it should be a catch, but rules are rules I suppose.