Thread: Cricket scores around the world

Originally Posted by cyrille

" The stats, even in the Ashes, say that he picked up a lot of lower-order wickets.''

Not very clearly put admittedly (he is south african after all) but he seems to be referring specifically to the ashes series just gone.

i think the stats show that he was an equal opportunity wicket taker...though it was a little quicker and more spectacular in the lower order and thus more memorable.

point is he took 8 top order wickets in the first test.

not a shabby haul by anyones standards.

there was a stat that came up in the 4th test (Ithink) that I posted about his average in the series, top v lower oder batsmen, and it was a stunning difference, doesn't matter though, that was then and this is now.

Originally Posted by Bobcock

point is he took 8 top order wickets in the first test.

agree.

that is the point.

Originally Posted by Necron99

Call me cynical, but whenever I see amazing things in Indian or Paki matches I tend to think of the odds.....

You're not being cynical in the slightest. Realistic is the word you're looking for. Fact.

Lot of pressure on the Indians to win this game, they were going well, doesn't seem that suspicious to me....

Originally Posted by Necron99

Call me cynical, but whenever I see amazing things in Indian or Paki matches I tend to think of the odds....

Nothing cynical about that at all...one just has to look at the facts...and MS Dhoni has recently been implicated in fixing hasn't he?

Originally Posted by Bobcock

Lot of pressure on the Indians to win this game, they were going well, doesn't seem that suspicious to me....

Their fielding has turned to shite...for example the ball JUST missing the hand in an athletic attempt...but being a loyal kiwi I just have to say it is the brilliance of the kiwi batting.

MJ's ashes:

1-5 – top order – 14 wickets
6-7 – middle order – 8 wickets
8-9 – bowlers who can bat a bit – 9 wickets
10-11 – bunnies – 6 wickets

Originally Posted by Necron99

That's a lot of very selective quoting of Smith who gave MJ his dues several times.
Bit of a beat up headline too.

Post match Clarke said she declared because he saw after two overs that the pitch was actually dangerous to bat on.

Watch the full video on the CA website.

Each time he is asked about Johnson he starts referring to the pitch. Suppose he didn't watch the Adelaide test.

As willy says, he's prolly saying this stuff to keep up team moral, and put the focus on himself. Not sure if it's the best thing for him to be saying though. Mitch will be even more fired up to prove him wrong in the next one.

Atleast Cook was gracious enough to admit they were simply outplayed.

I agree. Dhoni makes so much money and has had such a great career, he would have to be sick in the head to get involved in fixing. Way too much to lose, and nothing to gain.

Have to admit, i do have concerns about fixing in sub con cricket though. Where there's smoke ....

Originally Posted by Bobcock

point is he took 8 top order wickets in the first test.

not a shabby haul by anyones .

And 10 of his 12 against the saffers were top order.

he also said...

At the presentation....

Graeme Smith. "It's very disappointing. We've been out-played from word go. Probably one of the most disappointing four days as we've had as a team. We need to reflect, train hard and perform much better. It seemed to one of those games; bowlers picking up niggles, food poisoning. At 100 for 4 we were pretty happy. But credit Mitchell Johnson"

""There's no doubt he was the difference. He is in form and he is hot at the moment We need to find a way to curb that and put him under pressure," Smith said. "He was able to extract every bit of life and uncertainty out of this wicket.""

and

Despite that, Smith brushed off suggestion Johnson had planted a seed of doubt in the South Africans minds. "I doubt there is much mental scarring. We've lost a game of cricket and we've been beaten comprehensively. It's important that we move away now."


That seems fair. You can hardly expect him to be running around saying they are terrified, and perhaps they aren't.....

Still number one and two tests to play. Media beat up about nothing.

Originally Posted by Little Chuchok

Originally Posted by Bruce Bayliss

Originally Posted by Necron99

Call me cynical, but whenever I see amazing things in Indian or Paki matches I tend to think of the odds....

Nothing cynical about that at all...one just has to look at the facts...and MS Dhoni has recently been implicated in fixing hasn't he?

He's one of the wealthiest players in the game, why he would resort to that is mind blowing.

Implicated...or falsely accused . Who knows. No facts yet at all.just accusations....

Can never have too much money. Billions is wagered on cricket in India alone. Maybe some of that money is his?

Originally Posted by Necron99

Can never have too much money.

It isn't all about money...these match fixers have some canny schemes

...not to do with making money?

Originally Posted by Necron99

he also said...

At the presentation....

Graeme Smith. "It's very disappointing. We've been out-played from word go. Probably one of the most disappointing four days as we've had as a team. We need to reflect, train hard and perform much better. It seemed to one of those games; bowlers picking up niggles, food poisoning. At 100 for 4 we were pretty happy. But credit Mitchell Johnson"

""There's no doubt he was the difference. He is in form and he is hot at the moment We need to find a way to curb that and put him under pressure," Smith said. "He was able to extract every bit of life and uncertainty out of this wicket.""

and

Despite that, Smith brushed off suggestion Johnson had planted a seed of doubt in the South Africans minds. "I doubt there is much mental scarring. We've lost a game of cricket and we've been beaten comprehensively. It's important that we move away now."


That seems fair. You can hardly expect him to be running around saying they are terrified, and perhaps they aren't.....

Still number one and two tests to play. Media beat up about nothing.

Here's Smith's interview:

igloo Cricket Australia

And Here's Mitch's:

igloo Cricket Australia

Both politely humble really. Mitch is quick to say "NO" when asked if he thought the saffers were scared. Also credits the wicket.

Smith does give credit to MJ. But does go on about the pitch playing a big part. But as you say - what was he supposed to say?

Not that they've had much time, but the curators at the next venue must be wondering what kind of pitch they should have ready. Preparing a pitch for pace bowling could backfire ( again ) and they don't have a decent spinner. A lot will depend upon the toss, but hopefully if Smith wins it, he will make the wrong choice again

Originally Posted by cyrille

but wasn't smith's point that mj's bowling figures had lately been improved because he'd been skittling out england's spineless lower order?

Or maybe he bowled superbly and deserved the wickets?

Johnson's form of late has been amazing and has set the cricketing world alight.

McCullum first New Zealander to score Test 300
Published: 18 Feb 2014 at 06.49

Brendon McCullum became the latest member of the elite 300 club and the first New Zealander to reach the triple Test century landmark Tuesday in a heroic match-saving innings against India.

Skipper McCullum passed the previous New Zealand record innings of 299, set by Martin Crowe 23 years ago, when he cut Zaheer Khan for four at Wellington's Basin Reserve nearly an hour into the final day of the second Test.

Two balls later, with the echoes of the standing ovation still on his mind, he was out for 302, caught behind off Khan.

McCullum's marathon innings rescued New Zealand after they were staring down the barrel of defeat at 94-5 in their second innings and needing 246 to make India bat again.

Along the way, he featured in a world record sixth-wicket stand of 352 with BJ Watling and became only the second New Zealander to score three career double centuries behind Stephen Fleming.

McCullum, who resumed the day on 281, batted for just under 13 hours when he reached his 300, in a knock that included 32 fours and four sixes.

New Zealand were then 625-6, holding a lead of 379 which leaves India little chance of levelling the two-Test series after New Zealand won the first Test by 40 runs.

Only 24 cricketers have broken the 300 barrier, four of them twice -- including West Indian Brian Lara who holds the world record for the highest Test innings of 400.

New Zealand then went through a dark year without a Test success until this summer when McCullum has led them to a 2-0 series win over the West Indies and now the brink of a 1-0 series victory over India.

It is only the second time New Zealand has won three consecutive Tests.

pussy

Captain of New Zealand Brendon McCullum walks from the field after being caught out for 302 runs during day 5 of the 2nd International Test cricket match between New Zealand and India in Wellington at the Basin Reserve on February 18, 2014

Originally Posted by Loy Toy

Originally Posted by cyrille

but wasn't smith's point that mj's bowling figures had lately been improved because he'd been skittling out england's spineless lower order?

Or maybe he bowled superbly and deserved the wickets?

Johnson's form of late has been amazing and has set the cricketing world alight.

He certainly did deserve the success and he certainly is setting the world alight and good on him, crickets lacked a few characters in recent years since fatso bowed out.

As I said Smith should be concentrating on the fact that he destroyed his teams top order not somebody elses tail end..... and in truth, I'm sure he is, frankly on the whole talking to the media is a waste of fucking time.......

And didn't McCullum do well, when I was watching the KeeWees were seriously under the cosh and less than a hundred for 5...... and he knocks off a triple ton.

Monumwntal effort and one that will deservedly go down in the rich history of great batting performances in test cricket.

Fuck I'm in a good mood today.