Cricket Thread

Australia v Sri Lanka begins in about an hour

 

This is serious * and fair dues to the board.


Azeem Rafiq: Yorkshire suspended from hosting England matches

Last updated on Less than a minute agoLess than a minute ago.From the section Cricket


Yorkshire have been suspended from hosting England matches following the fallout from the club's investigation into racism allegations made by former player Azeem Rafiq.

The investigation found former spinner Rafiq had been a victim of "racial harassment and bullying" - but the club said it would take no action.

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) says the ban will last until the club has "clearly demonstrated that it can meet the standards expected".

Yorkshire's Gary Ballance, who has admitted using racist language towards ex-team-mate Rafiq, has been suspended indefinitely from England selection.

More to follow.

• Yorkshire board calls meeting to discuss racism allegations
• Ballance "regrets" using racist language towards Rafiq

 

Both semis were a much better watch than the final . Can’t wee Aus loosing this now

 

Shame that the tournament turned into a game of “who can win the toss”. Teams batting second won an extraordinary % of games, especially the games starting in the afternoon/evening. I think both Pakistan and NZ would have beaten Australia had they won the toss. If they host it there again I think they should get games played earlier before the lights are needed. The dew has been a massive factor.

 

100% Totally agree with this.

And think every cricket fan around the world feels exactly the same about this, and feel like it has really cheapened the tournament to a degree.

It is not usually this way in this format, but where they are playing apparently it gets really damp the later it gets into the night, which gives the batting side a massive advantage, as the bowlers have troubles gripping the ball and effects the field also.

The afternoon games were more evenly contested, and really for the Semi-Finals and Finals once they realized that this was how this was going to be there is no reason why the ICC didn't switch these fixtures to being afternoon games instead of at night, especially as it was for TV purposes around the world anyhow. The decision to stick with this has ruined the spectacle and the blame for this is entirely on the ICC.

 

I was waiting in the bookies ready to put a big lump on NZ if they won the toss.. didn’t happen unfortunately

 

First day of the First Test of the Ashes.

Looking forward to this...

Strange selection decision by England to leave out both Anderson & Broad though. Not just because their 2 best bowlers, and yeah, Anderson was ruled out yesterday anyhow, but to not go in with at least one of them as the conditions would seem to suit them, if there are interuptions from the weather expected and Australia is stacked with left handed bats...

England win the toss and bat.

C'mon Aussie, C'mon, C'mon! Intae the Poms!

 

Australia XI: Warner, Harris, Labuschagne, Smith, Head, Green, Carey (wk), Cummins (c), Starc, Lyon, Hazlewood.

England XI: Burns, Hameed, Malan, Root (c), Stokes, Pope, Buttler (wk), Woakes, Robinson, Wood, Leach.

 

Burns gone first ball of the series. That was ugly.

He's never an opening batsman.

 

Actually, he is probably the best that they've had in a long time, since the likes of Strauss, Trescothick & of course Cook. Which really doesn't say much about all the other muppets that they've tried.

England 4/28 I think they were when Stokes was out. The whole top order skittled.

 

Can we end this thread now…….

 

Definitely says more about the other dross than Burns, who just seems to make bad decisions all the time. I'm far from an expert, however.

Went to bed when Root fell, seems like it was the right call!

 

The Poms 147 all out. Not a great start to the series for them, but the Aussies will be stoked.

Pat Cummins celebrates his first day as Australian captain by taking 5/38

 

Poms doing a bit better in the 2nd dig, two down but still 160-odd behind Australia, largely thanks to Head's 152 off 140-odd balls, brought up the 100 off 85 balls, 3rd fastest in Ashes history.

Burns has had a 'mare of a test, complete with a first ball duck, (was also given in the second inning without scoring, but successfully reviewed it) and went for 13 in the 2nd anyhow, plus a couple of dropped catches in the field.

 

Australia captain Pat Cummins will NOT play in Adelaide after being deemed a close contact of someone who tested positive for Covid-19.

Steve Smith, who was stripped of the captaincy a few yeards ago now, for his part in the ball tampering controversy, will lead the side in his place.

No surprises with the teams. The two forced changes Australia making, with Neser (debut) & Richardson in, with Hazlewood (rib) & Cummins (covid close contact) out.

England unsurprizingly given the pink ball, day/night test, choose to go into this with all pace & swing attack, meaning Leach is out & Wood being rested ahead of 3rd test, where they will need his genuine out and out pace in Melbourne, and Anderson & Broad come into the side.

Aust win toss and going to bat.

 

The Poms in deep, deep sh...

Australia continued to pile on the runs, declaring 9/473, and are in complete control, in reply England are 2 down for not many.

Big day tomorrow for Root esp, and will need others also, if the Poms are going to have any sort of chance.

 

No Mercy Taz !!!!

 

Can I just repeat, can we please close this thread down

 

Just to say... 2-0, 3 to play.

The Poms put up a good fight on the last day - well, some of them did - but it was always likely to end this way, and the margin of defeat was the only thing that would be changed, and for the Poms to lose by 275 runs, that's a caning, especially coming off a 9 wicket loss.

Match was lost a few days ago really, when too few England batsman put their hands up against an Aussie attack that was missing two of its most potent weapons, one of whom is the captain - while the Pommie bowlers were pitching too short too often and not threatening the stumps or the edge. The selections from England have also not been that clever either, so Root & Siverwood have to take their share of the flack for that as well. They were told repeatedly to play a spinner on a pitch that offered plenty of assistance, and still went in with an attack of 5 right arm medium pacers, so there was somethign very same-ish about the attack.

Series heads to Melbourne for the Boxing Day Test.

 

What while England are getting Smashed