The cricket thread (incorporating the Ashes)

[Fionn MacCool]

I think some of the Ireland cricketers should of been playing on the other side for The Lions ! Size of them.

Just wondering now whether Donncha O'Callaghan could handle a cricket bat. It's a slightly scary image.

Paul O'Connell fairs rather well with a hurl

when I said other side I meant other side as in sky sports 2 or whatever channel they were playing on last night !

hahahah yeah the thought of that.. well funny and dare I say, scary !

on a different note, has setanta gone bust?

No but they're not accepting any new subscriptions for now. They could very well end up that way though.

[MissWalshy]

Surely they want subscriptions then .. subscriptions equally more of the paper stuff??

[firehazard]

Surely they want subscriptions then .. subscriptions equally more of the paper stuff??

Setanta have been close to going bust this week. They've been given a bit more time to try to come up with a financial rescue package, but no idea whether they will pull it off. They've stopped taking new subscriptions, basically because they can't guarantee that the service will continue. And I suppose one would have to be a tad mad to sign up with them in the current situation...

Back to the cricket, another valiant attempt by Ireland today, but they were undone by the way NZ sped off at the start of their innings. But they've done well to get this far anyway.

[Welshie]

Still feel a Wales 11 could do quite well............................Well done Ireland.
Cheers
Aled

[firehazard]

Still feel a Wales 11 could do quite well............................

If only they could ever get Simon Jones fit again...

[firehazard]

Goodbye Michael Vaughan.
Time to rest your wonky knee.
See you on Sky Sports?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/8122839.stm

[Mark_Wafc]

For me, one of the best England skippers of the modern era.

[moose]

For me, one of the best England skippers of the modern era.

Listening to Dickie Bird this morning he thinks he should have perservered with Yorkshire for another month and he reckons he would have been in with a shout for the latter test matches.

[firehazard]

Michael Vaughan on Michael Vaughan:
"Two weeks ago, I was in the garden with my little lad Archie. He bowled a ball which hit a weed and knocked my off stump out of the ground - and when a three-year-old's bowling you out, it's time to move over."
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/8122839.stm

Matthew Hoggard on Michael Vaughan:
"Before I crack on with my eulogy to Michael Vaughan, there is one thing I've got to get off my chest: he ain't a Yorkshire lad, he's from fricking Lancashire!"
http://www.cricinfo.com/magazine/conten ... 10909.html

[Mark_Wafc]

As i type 58-1.

[MissWalshy]

Didn't realise you were a cricket fan, Mark !

I've only got into the game this year - well got in I mean .. just starting to understand some of the rules. I like the rivaly of the Ashes.





HELLO !!!

[Mark_Wafc]

Love it. Watch Lancs quite a bit when time allows during the summer.

Gutted there is no test at Old Trafford this time round

97-3 at Lunch. Not the best start.

Why on earth it's being played in Wales is anyone's guess.

First test of an Ashes series should be at Lords. End of story.

[firehazard]

First test of an Ashes series should be at Lords. End of story.

Well actually, traditionally, going back over the years, it is the 2nd test of test series in England that's been played at Lords. Last Ashes series it was the first one, but that was in fact a departure from tradition.

I agree it's a real shame there's no Old Trafford test this series, it doesn't seem right at all. If Australia were playing at home, they wouldn't have arranged to play on unfamiliar grounds. It comes down to money in the end where the E(&W)CB are concerned.

But the Cardiff ground does look good, and it's good for the local supporters. Enjoy your day there, Aled!

[firehazard]

336-7 at the end of the first day is just about honours even, though the two late wickets have probably just tipped it in Australia's favour. This morning will be crucial. If the England tail could manage to work their way up to 400, that would be ok. A lot hangs on Stuart Broad.

Too many batsmen got themselves out yesterday. Including another entry in the list of stupid Pietersen dismissals. But it was a good day's cricket. My work is going to suffer over the next few weeks.

[Mark_Wafc]

Hmmm, i thought the Australian's just about shaded it yeserday with those 2 late wickets. I thought we went too negative to early. Nightwatchman in with an hour or so to go; kind of puts the message out that we want the day over.

I know i shouldn't, and if he was still about i'd be moaning like hell, but i miss Shane Warne! The entertainment value is not half as good as the previous few series; Warne is a legend!