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Cricket... the game, not the insect

 
 
 
T20 World Cup is on-going. Pakistan handled India very well for its first World Cup (of any kind?) victory over India. Australia did a marvelous job of wasting an hour of my morning, slowly parading to their chase target, instead of just getting it over with. Afghanistan, which apparently the Taliban is letting play, dismantled Scotland by 130 runs. Ireland's Paul Stirling (John Kruk of Cricket, at least that is how I see him... minus tobacco) shrugged and said Ireland would have only lost by 100, had they qualified, of which they didn't due to poor batting form of Stirling and Sinclair. Sri Lanka is possibly a force to contend with. During the qualifier to make the 12 and in their first match in the tournament proper, they have been strongest in the middle and late. They always seem to give up wickets early, and then form a partnership and drive home.
 
West Indies fail to win their opener against South Africa. It wasn't as much the West Indies team, but Lendl Simmons who went 16 from 35. Evin Lewis did well in the partnership, but their totals were not impressing! Simmons was very expensive at a strike rate of less than 50% with a duration of effectively 6 overs. 80 to 100% strike rate and the West Indies might win that game.

Pakistan made a statement by following up their victory over India with a defeat of New Zealand.
 
England and Pakistan are about set for the semi's, leaving a pair of openings left. Australia looks a little more promising than South Africa as the Aussies play the unimpressive Windies while SA take on England.

Meanwhile in Group 2 with Pakistan on a mission, India has a couple gimmes remaining, but that'll put them at 3-2. The Kiwis have matches against Namibia (easy) and Afghanistan (much tougher). They win both and they go to Semis. So Afghanistan and New Zealand will be playing for that 2nd spot, possibly three teams tied on points and going to the NRR. India will see their NRR grow a bit and they know it has to grow, so they might not fancy a slow chase.

On current form, England v Pakistan seems like a reasonable final, but nothing is in stone yet.
 
Well, the T20 World Cup is ready for the Semis... and thanks to the Pandemic, we also have the ICC 2022 T20 World Cup qualifications at the same time. The US played Belize. Wanna talk one-sided? The US won with a 12+ NRR. They completed the chase in less than 5 overs, which was impressive because they got 69 in 26 balls. Yipes!

The US then beat Panama... taking nearly 10 overs to finish things. The US plays Bermuda next. I'd imagine the US would lose to St. Kitts and Nevis if it weren't part of the West Indies group. So the Americas suck at Cricket and the US and Canada... yeah... it's that bad (Canada went 234-3 against Belize), will likely be making it to the larger qualification round where the US and Canada will play the role of Belize.

Meanwhile, in the T20 World Cup, New Zealand dispatched Afghanistan to clinch the semi-final spot, making India have to take the slow boat home. Rashid Khan didn't have the magic against the Kiwis, and while not trashed, he was giving up 1's instead of getting dots. New Zealand, England, Pakistan, and Australia represent the final four teams in the tournament Bilby lovingly references as "an utter disgrace". South Africa finished 4-1 and won't move on. India were a big disappointment. As were the West Indies, who seemed to be impacted by the incredible age of their players... with commentators asking whether it was a good idea to have Gayle on the team when he needed a rocking chair and walker. The team is so old, that so many retired at the end of this tournament, they are now called the What's Left Indies.

England will face the Kiwis in a rematch of the ODI world cup final and Pakistan will battle against Australia in a rematch of the... last time they played. The winners will faceoff for T20 glory.
 
Okay, okay, okay.... I know what everyone is talking about... the end of the US v Canada 2022 T20 World Cup qualifier.

It was an interesting match of the giants of Western Hemisphere cricket (outside of island nations). Canada did okay batting. Got up to 142. The US goes to bat, and their top duo is out after just two overs. Canada is looking good. Good partnerships form though, Canada strikes them with time. So Canada is comfortable, except this is T20 cricket where runs fall from the sky in the last couple of overs.

The US is picking up maximums and boundaries like they are blades of grass, but with such a hole, they are down by 13 with the final over to go. Canada holding with a wide, wicket, and a dot for one run. US needs 12. The US get 1 and 2 on the next two, with two more balls. A maximum puts them behind by 2. Final ball!



The bowl, the hit, goes right to the keeper, he runs for the wickets. Touches them. Canada have beaten the US! Unbelievable! Yeah... except... when he touched the wickets, the runner had already made it. It wasn't a run out. And the runner kept running as the wicket keeper and the rest of Canada were celebrating like they won the Canada Cup in the 1980s. The US bowler Kahn stopped running, but his teammate tells him to keep going. Canada doesn't wise up to all of this until a second run has been scored. Had the wicket keeper just stayed at the wickets, no second run.

Which is theory does bring up the question of sportsmanship, that cricket is supposed to have. The officials say they don't give a fuck, count the two runs. US hits 22 in the Super Over and win.
 
Tigers! said:
Now for the antipodean final Aust. vs. NZ
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Two obscure Southern Hemisphere island nations in the T20 world cup final. I know Bilby enjoyed every minute of it in his secret shrine to T20 cricket. It was tough to see Pakistan lose, they had a great tournament. What is noteworthy is I was thinking with Afridi having one more over to bowl, the Aussies had only one over to make it happen instead of two. And then they pound Afridi for all they are worth.
 
Jimmy Higgins said:
Tigers! said:
Now for the antipodean final Aust. vs. NZ
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Two obscure Southern Hemisphere island nations in the T20 world cup final. I know Bilby enjoyed every minute of it in his secret shrine to T20 cricket. It was tough to see Pakistan lose, they had a great tournament. What is noteworthy is I was thinking with Afridi having one more over to bowl, the Aussies had only one over to make it happen instead of two. And then they pound Afridi for all they are worth.
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No need to be unkind to 2 obscure South Hemisphere nations.
Many years ago a comedy show in Australia finished with "As long as we beat NZ". Carn the Aussies.
 
Former Penal Colony wins T20 World Cup. I got home late and only caught the chase. The outcome seemed little in doubt about 7 or 8 overs in. Unless the Kiwis pulled Wickets from their rear, it was done. Those stupid percentage win stats showed likewise. Next up T20 India v New Zeeland for whatever reason. The Ashes are the next big thing and start in December. Before that, Sri Lanka and West Indies have a test series.
 
Tigers! said:
Jimmy
The 1st ashes Test between Australia & England starts tomorrow,. Ready for it?
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It'll be huge. It'll be great to see Stokes back. I ponder how much his two unworldly performances (ODI World Cup and Ashes) has played with his head. England have been a mess recently, relying nearly exclusively on their captain's bat. Aussies should win.

Saw the Black Caps backed up Patel's historic 10 wicket performance by letting him bowl again that day.
 
bilby said:
Finally my skills and talent have been recognised, and I have been asked to play a pivotal role in the First Ashes Test, starting tomorrow at the Gabba.

I shall be driving a shuttle bus to and from the stadium from the Eight Mile Plains Park & Ride.
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You should get a bat signed by the team. Enjoy the game.
 
atrib said:
bilby said:
Finally my skills and talent have been recognised, and I have been asked to play a pivotal role in the First Ashes Test, starting tomorrow at the Gabba.

I shall be driving a shuttle bus to and from the stadium from the Eight Mile Plains Park & Ride.
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You should get a bat signed by the team. Enjoy the game.
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I'm pretty certain bilby isn't picking up a squad at the Park & Ride. ;)
 
Jimmy Higgins said:
atrib said:
bilby said:
Finally my skills and talent have been recognised, and I have been asked to play a pivotal role in the First Ashes Test, starting tomorrow at the Gabba.

I shall be driving a shuttle bus to and from the stadium from the Eight Mile Plains Park & Ride.
Click to expand...
You should get a bat signed by the team. Enjoy the game.
Click to expand...
I'm pretty certain bilby isn't picking up a squad at the Park & Ride. ;)
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Aah, my bad. Maybe next time.
 
England had a relatively weak opening in the first ODI against Australia in The Ashes competition. A first ball wicket took out Roy Burns right at the start. In fact, England conceded three wickets after scoring only 11 runs. To make matters worse, Jack Leach out scored their captain Joe Root (taken out for duck), which is definitely a canary in the coal mine. Stokes never got going... in fact only one partnership started up (Buttler and His Holiness Pope Francis) but was snuffed out by the Aussie bowlers.

All in all, 147 isn't a great haul for an ODI, but it isn't the en.... wait.... what was that? This is a Test? You mean England was bowled out in 50 overs?! Well... ... ...fuck.

England did finish the day very strongly, not giving up a single run to the Aussies. Joe Root faced a lot of criticism adding a Meteorologist to the lineup, but it paid off. Three more days of that and England should get a much deserved draw. :D
 
Jimmy Higgins said:
England had a relatively weak opening in the first ODI against Australia in The Ashes competition. A first ball wicket took out Roy Burns right at the start. In fact, England conceded three wickets after scoring only 11 runs. To make matters worse, Jack Leach out scored their captain Joe Root (taken out for duck), which is definitely a canary in the coal mine. Stokes never got going... in fact only one partnership started up (Buttler and His Holiness Pope Francis) but was snuffed out by the Aussie bowlers.

All in all, 147 isn't a great haul for an ODI, but it isn't the en.... wait.... what was that? This is a Test? You mean England was bowled out in 50 overs?! Well... ... ...fuck.

England did finish the day very strongly, not giving up a single run to the Aussies. Joe Root faced a lot of criticism adding a Meteorologist to the lineup, but it paid off. Three more days of that and England should get a much deserved draw. :D
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I very much hope it goes until Sunday, because I am rostered on (at double time) to do the shuttle buses.

The weather forecast is fine until more storms on Sunday, so that's not encouraging for me or for England.
 
Well, it didn't finish like Bilby was hoping, but certain he appreciated the way it finished. Nearly a victory by an innings. England bats are just unreliable. Root and Malan made something great happen, but other than that, it seemed easy pickings for the Australia. Cricket is fickle, and England could win by an Innings in the second test. Weird stuff happens like that in Cricket. Or the Aussies could sweep.

As a side note, these games a bit easier to follow not in Australia. I mean technically I can watch at home, with the starts at 7 or 8 PM local, but I prefer Europe time zones.
 
Jimmy Higgins said:
Well, it didn't finish like Bilby was hoping, but certain he appreciated the way it finished. Nearly a victory by an innings. England bats are just unreliable. Root and Malan made something great happen, but other than that, it seemed easy pickings for the Australia. Cricket is fickle, and England could win by an Innings in the second test. Weird stuff happens like that in Cricket. Or the Aussies could sweep.

As a side note, these games a bit easier to follow not in Australia. I mean technically I can watch at home, with the starts at 7 or 8 PM local, but I prefer Europe time zones.
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Yeah, I missed out on my Sunday overtime.

Never mind, there are a big crop of Public Holidays coming up, with Christmas, Boxing Day and New Year's Day all falling on the weekend, making a total of six days paid at 250% - and Sunday 26th they are running a Saturday service (while Saturday 25th, Monday 27th and Tuesday 28th are all Sunday services; Go figure).

Surely I will pick up some hours in all that.

The MCG test traditionally starts on Boxing Day. The Melbourne wicket should be kinder to the English batsmen - or at least more like the wickets they are used to playing on.
 
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