Thread: Cricket scores around the world

Yeah I heard about your preparations.... was pleased with what Cricket Australia had planned for you...

More like what the BCCI had planned for us. They are the ones running cricket these days...

England v Australia, 3rd Investec Test, Old Trafford, 5th day
Kimber: Still reasons for Clarke to smile
Jarrod Kimber at Old Trafford
August 05, 2013




Michael Clarke is a man with a smile. Whether it's standing beside his wife on her wedding horse, in his tight underwear on a billboard or as he makes an iconic innings at his home ground, he lights up a picture. In real life, he seems to smile even more. He very rarely looks angry, or upset. He's composed, calm and happy.

None of those descriptions could be used as he barked and pleaded with Marais Erasmus to stay on the ground at the end of the fourth day at Old Trafford. Clarke had carried his team on day one and two. His bowlers had backed him up on day three. On day four they had put themselves in a position to win the Test. Clarke knew it as much as England did. All they needed was time. But when time was taken from Clarke, he exploded.

Clarke knew coming off the field that he couldn't regain the Ashes, and that Cricket Australia's #returntheurn hashtag would have discarded. It was a culmination of poor preparation, random cricket logic and a team that wasn't as good as the opposition. Australia were always going to lose this Ashes. A victory in this Test wouldn't change that. It would have prolonged it.

But just by winning this Test they could have proved something to themselves. That they could win a Test against England. That the incompetence of Lord's and the streakiness of Trent Bridge were only part of their story. That they could compete and beat England when it mattered. And they did everything they could to do it.

Chris Rogers ' first innings was the sort of knock that not even Rogers would have expected to play at Test level. It surprised England as well, while setting the scene for Australia. He drove the ball like an eager teenager, not a crusty old opener. He scored freely against a quality attack. He handled Graeme Swann well. As a 34-year-old you only get so many chances, and he may not have cemented his spot, but he will get at least all five of this Ashes based on an innings of that quality.

The second innings situation was perfect for David Warner . No matter where he batted in the order, the need to score quickly and not have all the fielders up couldn't have been more perfect for him. His 41 was not a massive total, or one that will rock your world, but he did his job, looked comfortable doing so and looked like the David Warner Australia want him to be. With the press, Barmy Army and Aussie Fanatics he played with his new pantomime villain status. To use the lexicon, he is definitely a positive to be taken.

Steven Smith is a rough batsman. On skill and technique he is not in Australia's best six. On fight and confidence, he might be. He is a perfect flawed batsman for a flawed team. He scores quickly, believes in himself, and when he plays spin it's hard to believe he is really Australian. His wickets at Lord's were handy and his fielding is going to live with us forever on Youtube highlight reels. If this team was better, they wouldn't need him. He should have got a hundred in the first innings at Old Trafford. And a proper Test batsman would have converted it. Or at least got out in a nicer way. But as a No. 6, or even a seven, he is the sort of junkyard dog cricketer a team like the current Australia can really use.



It some ways, Brad Haddin is not needed by Australia. His selection in this team was more about team bonding and attitude. Something that Warner's punch and Arthur's sacking fixed much quicker. His first innings hitting was exactly what Australia needed. Haddin saves his best cricket for the Ashes, and in two innings he has shown good form and timely runs. His wicketkeeping is not going to get any better - keepers' hands and knees don't get better - and Mitchell Starc is not an easy man to keep too. Or on some occasions, even reach. But he's in form, and clearly is desperate to stay in this team. If nothing else, he'll force Matthew Wade to improve.

Ryan Harris ' spell this morning proved yet again that he is one of the best Test bowlers on the planet. He's quick enough to hurry anyone. He's smart enough to out-think quality players. And he does enough with the ball beat anyone. At his best he's a carnivorous force that will stalk you until you are head. At his worst, he is injured. There is little Australia can do about that. When he is fit, he should be given the new ball and the best medical treatment they can afford.

Merv Hughes was a decent Test-quality bowler who helped keep the flame alive between Lillee and McGrath. Hughes' job was mostly to try hard, bowl the dog spells, bounce out batsmen on flat tracks and use the conditions when they suited him.

Peter Siddle also averages 28 and takes four wickets a match. In almost every Test he is used in a different way. He's bowled with the new ball, come on third change, and will bowl into the wind or with it. But no matter what you do with Siddle, he tries very hard, hits the pitch very hard and makes you beat him. It's hard to hate a man who went to Euro Disney between series and gave up bacon and steak to be a better player.

Starc is capable of amazing feats with the ball, and even the bat. Playing him is a chance that Australia sometimes likes to take. Shane Watson 's comeback at the top of the order might already be over. He also only has one wicket. But his bowling has been very handy, and he deserves more. No cricketer in this series has the ability to improve more than Watson. Usman Khawaja doesn't look a Test No. 3 right now, but it's hard to believe a man who bats with that much time can't make runs at this level.

Nathan Lyon is not Graeme Swann. One is a fridge that cools things, and the other an American style fridge freezer that will give you water and ice on demand. Everyone wants the bigger fridge, but life doesn't work that way. Lyon bowls good dipping offspin outside off stump spun well toward the stumps. But Swann's straight ball is far more devious. Swann gets more spin. Swann is smarter. Swann is a top fielder and a handy slogger. In some ways, the difference between the two teams is summed up in the spinners. Lyon tries hard; Swann has 19 wickets in this series.

Every player in this team has something holding them back including age, consistency, injury and skill. Clarke is their best cricketer. But his back is a problem. When he fiddles with his back, takes a pain pill, or does a stretch, there is little smiling. And while he might have lost the anger he had when screaming at Erasmus, that won't be replaced with smiles knowing they have already lost their chance to retain the Ashes.

This team is not perfect, and it's not going to be for a while. But they came into this Test as gruesome victims on a hotel bathroom floor, and they outplayed a better opposition for the entire Test. It's not a win, but it is something to smile about.


Kimber: Still reasons for Clarke to smile

Ashes 2013: ICC to discuss DRS with England and Australia


A senior International Cricket Council official is to meet counterparts from England and Australia to discuss recent Decision Review System controversies.

Several incidents over the use of technology have occurred in the Ashes.

Hot Spot, which uses infra-red images to detect whether batsmen have nicked the ball, has been heavily criticised.

England wicketkeeper Matt Prior told the Daily Telegraph: "I am not sure we trust Hot Spot any more. There are so many edges it has missed."

ICC general manager Geoff Allardice will meet England and Australia in Durham ahead of the fourth Ashes Test, which begins on Friday.

Hot Spot inventor Warren Brennan, who is believed to have held talks with Allardice, is due to give a statement on Wednesday.

"It makes it hard to decide what to review," Prior added.

"I know by the feel of the ball hitting the glove if there has been an edge. Cooky [England captain Alastair Cook] and I look at each other and say "he hit it" but then we worry if Hot Spot is going to show up a mark. It leaves you wondering what you review and what you do not review."

During the current series, which England lead 2-0, both the hosts and Australia have sought explanations from the ICC over the DRS system, which allows each team two unsuccessful referrals per innings.

In the first Test at Trent Bridge, England batsman Jonathan Trott was initially given not out by on-field umpire Aleem Dar but after a review from Australia the decision was overturned by television umpire Marais Erasmus, although it later became evident that key pictures were not available.

The ICC admitted it was one of "three uncorrected errors" during the match.

And, in the Old Trafford Test, Australia batsman Usman Khawaja reviewed a caught behind decision from on-field umpire Tony Hill, but despite Hot Spot technology appearing to back the left-hander's view that he had not touched the ball, television umpire Kumar Dharmasena upheld the verdict.

Former England captain Michael Atherton, writing in The Times, said: "Given that Hot Spot is clearly unable to pick up many fine edges, how much credence does the third umpire ascribe to it? Hot Spot is doing a perfectly good DRS system more harm than good."

Well that's why nothing showed on hotspot when KP edged it! Twatson probably reviewed because he hit it, and nothing showed!!

Wonder if anybody will be found guilty and punished .......?


Australia and England face claims of DRS cheating


Cricketers beat HotSpot with silicone tape

The Australian and English teams may have worked out a way to fool cricket's much maligned umpire decision review system. Courtesy Nine News.




Australia and England are reportedly under investigation by the ICC over allegations their batsmen are using silicone tape on their bats to beat the decision review system.


In the latest umpiring controversy this series, concerns were raised after Kevin Pietersen's dismissal in the final innings of the third Test where the batsman unsuccessfully tried to have a decision overturned by the video umpire.
The attempt failed despite the infrared Hot Spot technology not recording an edge, though sound detectors picked up a clear noise as the ball passed the bat.
Sent packing: Peter Siddle of Australia sends Englishman Kevin Pietersen a message. Photo: Getty Images


Channel Nine has reported the ICC sent its director of cricket operations, Geoff Allardice, to Durham this week to meet both sides in an effort to clarify confusion over DRS, which has marred the series.


Australian captain Michael Clarke said he had no knowledge of his player using the tape.


‘‘If that’s the case, then we’re talking about cheating and I can guarantee there is not one person in the Australian change room that will cheat,’’ Clarke said.


Controversial: Kevin Pietersen leaves the field after his contentious dismissal on the final day of the third Test in Manchester. Photo: AFP


‘‘That’s not the way we play cricket.
‘‘It’s hard for me to talk for other players but I’ve never heard any conversation about that in the Australian change room and I can guarantee you my bat manufacturer [doesn’t do that]. I didn’t know there was such a thing you could do to hide nicking the ball on Hot Spot.’’


The 32-year-old said all batsmen used coverings on their bats but he’s never heard of anything to suggest there’s a way of lessening the impact of HotSpot.
‘‘I’ve used fibreglass facing on my bats since I got my first bat from Slazenger when I was 12,’’ he said.


‘‘I used a fibreglass face on the bat because we couldn’t afford two or three or five or 10 cricket bats.


‘‘Because modern bats are pressed and are soft, you put a cover on it to protect the bat and make it last longer.


‘‘A lot of players use that since I’ve been playing cricket. I didn’t know there was such a thing you could do to hide nicking the ball on HotSpot. I wouldn’t think it would make any difference. I’ve never heard of anyone doing it.’’


There have been suggestions in the past that players apply substances such as Vaseline on the edges of their bat in a bid to avoid any edges being detected by Hot Spot.


How it works
* Silicone tape contains a thin layer of adhesive gel that fuses with the surface of an object - such as a cricket bat.
* By attaching transparent silicone tape to the edge of a bat's blade, the outer willow surface of the bat would become much more smooth.
* The ''heat'' identified by an infrared camera like Hotspot is generated by friction. The ball strikes the bat at speed and grates along the surface of the wood.
* In theory, a bat treated with silicone tape would have a much smoother surface area than a standard bat, so less friction would be generated by a snick, and therefore less heat would be detected.
With AAP




Read more: Australia and England face claims of DRS cheating

KP responds and denies he is using silicon tape:

"Horrible journalism yet again! My name brought up in hotspot crisis suggesting I use silicon to prevent nicks showing! Such hurtful lies"

- KP 7 August 2013

Originally Posted by Wally Dorian Raffles

Courtesy Nine News.

Blimey! Whinging Aussies. Who'd have thunk it?!?!

^the claim is aimed at both teams Bob - supposed to give the 3rd umpires an excuse for their howlers. No need to get your nickers in a knot

Also, KP and Khawaja's dismissals were chalk and cheese. Peiterson was out - Khawaja was not out by a mile. Shirley you can't be serious.

It may just be BS, but players have been known in the past to put vaseline on their bat edges too.

Originally Posted by Bobcock

Shame if it's used and an edge onto the pads is missed eh?

Errmm..... I think it supposed to be put on the outside edge of the bat, Bob

Originally Posted by Marmite the Dog

Originally Posted by Wally Dorian Raffles

Courtesy Nine News.

Blimey! Whinging Aussies. Who'd have thunk it?!?!

Read the article Marmers - it's aimed at both sides.

And what's with Monty? Not very Islamgland type behavior from him..

Monty Panesar: England cricketer 'urinated on bouncers'

Monty Panesar has taken 164 Test wickets for England


England cricket star Monty Panesar has been fined by police after being caught urinating on nightclub bouncers in Brighton, the BBC understands.
The spin bowler, who plays for Sussex County Cricket Club, was fined for being drunk and disorderly outside the Shooshh club early on Monday morning.
Sussex Police said a 31-year-old man had received a fixed penalty notice for being drunk and disorderly.
Sussex County Cricket Club said it was investigating the incident.
It said in a statement: "Sussex County Cricket Club can confirm that an incident took place involving Monty Panesar in the early hours of Monday August 5.
Ashes retained "The matter is under full investigation and the club will make no further comment at this stage."
The incident took place outside the Shooshh club in King's Road Arches, Brighton
A spokesman for the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) said the incident was a matter for Panesar's club and the ECB would not be commenting on it.
It is the second drink-related incident involving Ashes players this summer.
In June, Australian batsman David Warner was reprimanded for striking England opener Joe Root in the face during a night out in Birmingham.
Warner missed the first two Ashes Tests against England, but featured in the drawn Test at Old Trafford.
Panesar was part of the 14-man England squad that retained the Ashes at Old Trafford on Monday but did not play in the match.
The left-arm bowler, who has taken 164 Test wickets for England, has not been included in the squad for the next Ashes Test at Durham, which starts on Friday.

Originally Posted by Wally Dorian Raffles

Not very Islamgland type behavior from him..

But very Sikhish.

^ Ahh. My bad..... thought he was of Pakistan origin...... it's hard to tell with English people these days...

Yes, the Sikhs like to party.

No one ever got caught off an inside edge.....

And you don't think it's odd that the two pictures in the article are both of Pietersen?

No of course you don't..... Australian media would never have an underhand dig at anyone.... model citizens like the rest of the nation..... well except for those that are considered non Australian Australians......

ICC is denying an investigation. But everyone tapes their bats, FFS.

More talk from the creator of hot spot on cricinfo . He says they have done tests and tape does stop nicks from showing. He doesn't accuse players of doing it but says it IS a way to cheat the system.

4th test starting soon. This pitch will suit our pace bowlers more than the 5th test, so we really need to win this one to restore some pride.

Originally Posted by Wally Dorian Raffles

so we really need to win this one to restore some pride.

I couldn't be any prouder of them, after their dominance over the Poms in the 3d test.

Originally Posted by peaches

Originally Posted by Wally Dorian Raffles

so we really need to win this one to restore some pride.

I couldn't be any prouder of them, after their dominance over the Poms in the 3d test.

You're easily pleased or are your standards that low at the moment?

What a stand up guy Monty is.Pissed on the bouncers then ran away.When they caught up with him he cried for help.

He must be British....

Originally Posted by Marmite the Dog

You're easily pleased or are your standards that low at the moment?

Like I said, I was proud of their gutsy performance in the 3rd test, see what happens
in the 4th & 5th tests, and then later in the year, down under.

Originally Posted by Little Chuchok

What a stand up guy Monty is.Pissed on the bouncers then ran away.When they caught up with him he cried for help.

He must be British....

Apparently he was kicked out of the club for molesting girls.

According to Boycott he is "a bit thick"

Originally Posted by peaches

Originally Posted by Marmite the Dog

You're easily pleased or are your standards that low at the moment?

Like I said, I was proud of their gutsy performance in the 3rd test, see what happens
in the 4th & 5th tests, and then later in the year, down under.

England have only dominated one test. One could have been anybodies. And one we dominated.

But until we start winning, the poms are going to rub our noses in it. It's pay back time, and they want us to hurt.

If we can win this one - and the next; we will not only have pride, but the momentum and psychological edge over them down under - where we still have a very good record of winning.

Jackson Bird has replaced Starc - he has a name like a rock star; let's hope he can be a star for us.