The cricket thread (incorporating the Ashes)

[firehazard]

Well, it'll have to be third time lucky on T20 finals day next year for Essex.

Disappointing to lose in the semi, but at least Middlesex beat Kent Kolpaks in the final, so it was the right result in the end.

Glamorgan have the pleasure of beginning a Championship match at Barren Park, Southend-on-Sea today, Aled. I shan't be there for this one (too far/too much work/too many other things going on).

[Welshie]

Unlucky in the T20 firehazard.
Well firehazard, lady luck shone our way with a good away win against Essex, however normal service resumed this morning , 53 for 5 againist Middlesex!
Cheers
Aled

[firehazard]

Thought Glamorgan came back well to gain that win at Southend, after being 139 all out on the first day. Aided by a spectacular Essex second-innings collapse. And Garons Park wicket is basically not up to first-class standard. Basically we are not bad at the one-day stuff, but not good at the longer form of the game. And with Ravi Bopara called up for England, the batting looks very thin indeed. Well done, Glamorgan, though.

[Welshie]

Congratulations Essesx on a great FP trophy win. My apologies for not writing this sooner firehazard but i've been away. Not a bad vistory against us either.,
Cheers
Aled

[firehazard]

Cheers, Aled. The FPT final was a great day, and it was especially good to beat Kent Kolpaks.

I missed the Glam match on Sunday (I was at Colchester earlier in the festival week). We're not bad at the one-day stuff this season, but still pretty poor at the four-day game.

[firehazard]

Promotion from Pro40 Div 2 for Essex after an excellent win against Kent on Saturday...

and Glammy are in the play-offs so with a chance of promotion too. Good luck, Aled, hope you can do it.

[Welshie]

Cheers Firehazard.
Something to play for yes! If we could get a win out our remaining matches i'd say we've had a reasonable season, certainly better than last year.
Essex however well you must be chuffed.
Cheers
Aled

[firehazard]

Essex however well you must be chuffed.

Cheers, yes... it was all a bit of gloom and doom at the beginning of the season (a bit like it was for Glammy, I guess), and I don't think many people expected much of them this year. A trophy and the Div 2 title are beyond expectations. Grayson's done a good job as coach in pulling the team together. I'd like them to be seriously better at the 4-day stuff, but it's a young team with time to learn and improve.

[firehazard]

So England (England & Wales Cricket Board XI, Aled) start their tour of India...
given what India just did to Australia in their test series, I suspect they will get a hiding.

[Welshie]

Must say i agree with you Firehazard is it me or does there seem to be a bit of doom and gloom around the international game in CBE&W at the moment??
To answer your question regarding a pre tour match for England why not play a Wales 11 next summer it was certainly a great day on the beer for us fans between 02 and 04.
Cheers
Aled

[firehazard]

...does there seem to be a bit of doom and gloom around the international game in CBE&W at the moment??

I think there's a bit of doom and gloom around the international game in Oz, after what happened in India... Though I have a strange feeling that the Aussies will look a lot more powerful next summer.

But yeah, I think you're right. I think there's a lot of unease about the future of the game (especially the test game) in the face of the rise of T20, and especially in the light of the financial power of India. And I think there's a lot of worry about where some of the international players' priorities are going to lie with the riches on offer in the IPL being waved in front of them. I also think there's a bit of guilt about the E(&W)CB having sold their souls to Stanford.

To answer your question regarding a pre tour match for England why not play a Wales 11 next summer it was certainly a great day on the beer for us fans between 02 and 04.

Good idea. Could play Ireland too, make a tournament out of it. Trouble is, I think they want someone to play a couple of tests against...

[soulfinger]

I got up early today to watch the one dayer. India's batting was completely brilliant. Fortunately I had to go to work as Englands batting collapse - sorry I mean innings - started.

[firehazard]

I got up early today to watch the one dayer. India's batting was completely brilliant. Fortunately I had to go to work as Englands batting collapse - sorry I mean innings - started.

After what India did to the Australians, I'd feared what they would do to England... It'll take a lot for England to get themselves back into this tour.

[firehazard]

It's time to resurrect the cricket thread to commemorate the Netherlands' stunning defeat of England in the opening game of the World T20. Sheer class: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket ... 082343.stm

Since then, England have managed to beat Pakistan, which means that the crunch match in that group is now the Netherlands vs Pakistan. If the Netherlands put in a good performance against a Pakistan side that didn't seem to want to be there yesterday, they can qualify for the next round. Which would be the best cricketing achievement in their history, I guess. Go the Netherlands!

[Welshie]

Well done Netherlands on a great result for them.
Scotland had their chance against NZ but were well beaten against SA. Ireland have a chance to do something today so lets keep an eye out.
Glamorgan struggling as usuall!
Cheers
Aled