Cricket Thread

Oh, and Scotland missing out on the WC... they were in firm control until those last 3-4 overs when Netherlands blew them away to pip them to qualify via run rates.

 

Catching up with Tms highlights on radio, cook just said the ball wood took starc with hit the stumps and went for 6….That’s quick.

 

What a catch from Smith. The Aussies are really getting under England’s skin.

 

Stokes doing Stokes-ball again, has given his team a fighting chance here. Still bowled out 26 short of the Aus 1st Inning, the damage could've been so, so much worse.

 

This has only just gone through the half way point on day 2. Mad.

 

This series will end up a whitewash

 

Labuschagne has been poor throughout. Another easy wicket given away there.

 

17 pages since 2015 - there’s hope yet.

 

If you build it, they shall come…..

 

This game could be over tomorrow. Weather changing so who knows. Test cricket now is not what I was brought up with, I blame covid.

 

Looked through the first two pages of this thread from 2015, and found these quotes. Had to chuckle.

 

Women’s ashes seems to be going mad like the men’s. Think the last 2 games are sell outs as well, hopefully boosting women’s cricket even more.

 

The WAshes has been pretty great so far. The test was terrific and really could've gone either way. The first T20 Australia won with 1 ball to spare, and England have won the next 2, and now have woin the first ODI. That makes the series level with 2 games to play. Australia only have to win 1 of these games to keep the Ashes, while England need to win both to win.

Considering this Australian team had only lost 2 games in total against all opposition since 2017 until this series, shows just how competitive England have become and stepped up. Have to say that the emphasis, attention and development of the women's domestic game, the introduction of the Hundred & the WIPL, seen the rise of young talents in just the last couple of years, including the rise of teenagers Alice Capsey, Lauren Bell, Issy Wong & Lauren Filer to name a few.

 

With what the English women did to promote the game of football after winning the euros, maybe it can be the same in the cricket now they are competing. Women’s sports just need that injection of cash that success brings, it can only be good for the other British countries and Ireland. Once stadiums start selling out sponsors start sniffing around, and the sport can only progress and get better imho.

 

Yeah, they really missed a trick and failed to capitalize after England won the World Cup in 2017 against India. Some players I think held on a bit too long, but even still that all said, can't argue the success and wider attention that competitions like the Hundred and last year's Commonwealth Games has done to get the women's game the attention, by virtue of the fact that it's been live coverage on BBC TV etc, and not just through subscription services, has really helped raise awareness and given the players a platform in drawing crowds and in front of the cameras etc. It has seen the numbers of professionals rise, which in turn has seen the standards rise as this generation of girls are getting the time to practice and play and improve, rather than trying to find some kind of balance between playing and still trying to make ends meet with working other FT jobs etc.

 

Another brilliant game today, this one with the Australian women winning by 3 runs and retaining the wASHES.

All came down to the last ball. Nat Sciver-Brunt on 109*, needing a 6 to win (Eng chasing a record 283), 4 to push to extra over, and fell short hitting just a 2. Great drama!

This has been a phenom series with 1 game still to be played, but considering Australia had lost just 1 game since 2017 in all competitions before this series, for England to win the last 3 games, and the 2 games Australia have won have been down to the last ball or two. Add to all of those, the Test could've gone either way also, with both sides well in it before that last day of Ash Gardner magic proving the difference, but just great drama all the way through and both sides deserve so much praise, especially England, for making this series so competitive.

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Dipped in and out, had no choice sadly today.This series has just got to improve the women’s game with more investment taz, build it and they shall come lol.

 

By the way like I said before, sell outs last few games in the series can’t but help the next generation to be inspired. Cricket clubs are dying locally because it’s not in schools no more, maybe who knows this could save the game with another 50% of the population being encouraged to play.

 

Totally enjoyed the women’s match yesterday and also today at Manchester, what a day. 50 runs tomorrow could be massive for Australia imho.

 

Never heard of them before, but I have been listening to these Aussie lads over the series, ripping the * only as Aussies can lol.
https://open.spotify.com/show/1ph1B...source=embed_player_p&utm_medium=desktop&nd=1