RickMcD 2,869 Report post Posted January 28, 2012 Great to see Monty back and bowling beautifully. 6-62. Many cricket fans among us? I think I know of at least one. 0 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
saintnextlifetime 5,771 Report post Posted January 28, 2012 I liked Monty best , when he ran the Flying Circus. . 4 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
braidmeister 101 Report post Posted January 28, 2012 Great to see Monty back and bowling beautifully. 6-62. Many cricket fans among us? I think I know of at least one. It's been a fine return with the ball. He'll surely retain his place for the final test. 0 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Naughtius maximus 134 Report post Posted January 28, 2012 When i saw the thread title i thought someone was looking for sponsorship for climbing the Alps ?? 0 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
billyg 5,837 Report post Posted January 28, 2012 It's been a fine return with the ball. He'll surely retain his place for the final test. Final test is academic now anyway ! 0 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
HamiltonBud 40 Report post Posted January 28, 2012 Good to see Monty back and doing well. Hope the saints hit ICT for 6 this afternoon 0 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
windae cleaner 4,094 Report post Posted January 28, 2012 Pity like the rest of his team mates he canny bat 72 all out 0 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RickMcD 2,869 Report post Posted January 29, 2012 Pity like the rest of his team mates he canny bat 72 all out Boy, you're right. Don't expect Monty to score runs but the top order batsmen played like numpties. Rheman's 6-25 even put Monty's figures in the shade. 0 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bud the Baker 8,802 Report post Posted January 30, 2012 There was always going to be a bit of needle in this series - Hair-gate & spot fixing. Then given Pakistan's inability to play at home and general mediocre performances over the lastcouple of years England were strong favourites for this series. It's hard not to think England didn't underestimate Pakistan. Even with poor batting performances in the warm-up games the general feeling (including mine) was that it would be all right on the night. For a few years before winning The Ashes down under England's batting line-up was labelled fragile and despite being strong (on paper) down to Swann at No. 9 they've been exposed again. Nice to see auld enemies like Javed Miandad & Abdul Qadir getting their digs in against England. At the top level it's always been a game for people with strong personalities. 0 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RickMcD 2,869 Report post Posted January 30, 2012 There was always going to be a bit of needle in this series - Hair-gate & spot fixing. Then given Pakistan's inability to play at home and general mediocre performances over the lastcouple of years England were strong favourites for this series. It's hard not to think England didn't underestimate Pakistan. Even with poor batting performances in the warm-up games the general feeling (including mine) was that it would be all right on the night. For a few years before winning The Ashes down under England's batting line-up was labelled fragile and despite being strong (on paper) down to Swann at No. 9 they've been exposed again. Nice to see auld enemies like Javed Miandad & Abdul Qadir getting their digs in against England. At the top level it's always been a game for people with strong personalities. Yes England that it was going to be a piece of cake and Pakistan were raring to go. I expected England to do a lot better in the second test and it looked they had them. Pakistan bowled well but the England total was an embarrasment. After the first test I was waiting for some comment on Ajmal's action. England can be bad losers too but I'm glad they didn't go down that route. 0 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bud the Baker 8,802 Report post Posted January 30, 2012 After the first test I was waiting for some comment on Ajmal's action. England can be bad losers too but I'm glad they didn't go down that route. “Our job is to deal with whatever bowler bowls, and the ICC’s job is to police the game. I’ve got my own private views, and talking about them isn’t going to help the situation.” Andy Flower becomes the first to hint at unhappiness, Jan 21 “The ICC have got their job to do and we fully trust they’ll be able to do it.” Jonathan Trott suggests the governing body might like to get involved, Jan 21 “It’s not up to us. It’s up to the ICC to take care of the off-the-field stuff.” Matt Prior reiterates England’s concerns, Jan 22 AFAIK England haven't officially complained but they're certainly dropping hints. 0 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RickMcD 2,869 Report post Posted January 30, 2012 AFAIK England haven't officially complained but they're certainly dropping hints. I had realised there was a bit going on. I just get the feeling that the ICC will never come out again and ban anyone for chucking. I don't know if Ajmal was but it does look odd. If you only complain after you get beat it looks bad. Muralitharan took stick for years but then got OK'd. I saw a thing on TV a year or so ago when they spoke about his action and I felt than even then although the contributors were saying he was fine, they still seemed to have reservations. I remember too that after discussing him they switched to looking at Warne with the comment 'Now here's a guy where there is no problem.' It seems a pity for he was such a nice guy but I think that even in fifty years time if his name is mentioned as the greatest bowler of all time that element of doubt will stick. Another really unfortunate aspect is that so often there are overtones of racial bias which I think are unfounded. It's crossed my mind that what cricketing nations could look at is finding kids with strangely bent arm or wrist joints and teach them to bowl. 0 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bud the Baker 8,802 Report post Posted February 7, 2012 3-0 whitewash! England admitting they were underprepared for the series. More confusion over Ajmal's bowling action. Perhaps more interestingly hints that Monty might be first choice if England were to pick one specialist spinner for the forthcoming Sri Lanka series although I don't see it myself! England (118) are only one point ahead of South Africa (117) in the test rankings now. Who knows if they'll still be No.1 when the South Africans come in the summer. Not that I want to belittle Sri Lanka but South Africa in the summer should be a helluva series! 0 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SGG 125 Report post Posted February 7, 2012 England now being found out as the poor batting side that they are! Fed up listening to how good Cook is in England, well as he gets near the sub continent he shows his true from. Loved very ball of the downfall of the number 1 side in the world! Watch the Aussies return 0 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
St. Sid 3,503 Report post Posted February 7, 2012 SGG and a cricket fan....could it be? 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
braidmeister 101 Report post Posted February 8, 2012 England now being found out as the poor batting side that they are! Fed up listening to how good Cook is in England, well as he gets near the sub continent he shows his true from. Loved very ball of the downfall of the number 1 side in the world! Watch the Aussies return Cook has scored over 6000 runs at nearly 50 and has scored 19 test hundreds. No fluke I'd say. He performed well in the sub-continant last time. Every batsman has a bad series 0 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RickMcD 2,869 Report post Posted February 8, 2012 Cook has scored over 6000 runs at nearly 50 and has scored 19 test hundreds. No fluke I'd say. He performed well in the sub-continant last time. Every batsman has a bad series Cook had a bad run a year or two back but recovered. He seems to get out too often to balls he shouldn't go near. I remember after he had scored a couple of centuries they were already talking about him being the next England captain. Seemed a bit premature to me. Having said that do you recall the FEC story about Athers? They got that right on both counts. I wish they could always play with two spinners but you usually need a genuine all rounder to get away with that. One of the reasons Swan got picked ahead of Monty was the fact that Swan could bat a bit. Not scoring very well now though. 0 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bud the Baker 8,802 Report post Posted February 8, 2012 Cook - like a few others he seems to have swollen his batting average over the last two years while England have been dominant (1504 runs at an average of 94 in the 12 tests prior to this series), although I suppose cashing in against weaker opposition is inevitable and has always been a feature of a good batsmen. Like many others I have suspicions about how his technique stands up in pressure situations. Undoubtedly FEC! 0 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
braidmeister 101 Report post Posted February 8, 2012 Cook - like a few others he seems to have swollen his batting average over the last two years while England have been dominant (1504 runs at an average of 94 in the 12 tests prior to this series), although I suppose cashing in against weaker opposition is inevitable and has always been a feature of a good batsmen. Like many others I have suspicions about how his technique stands up in pressure situations. Undoubtedly FEC! 19 test tons including 294 against India and 235 against Austrailia. Hardly weaker opposition. 0 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Howard Hughes in BlueSuedeShoes 2,890 Report post Posted February 8, 2012 I'd just like to take this opportunity to say I have no interest in cricket whatsoever. 2 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bud the Baker 8,802 Report post Posted February 8, 2012 (edited) 19 test tons including 294 against India and 235 against Austrailia. Hardly weaker opposition. I would class Australia's 2010/11 Ashes squad as average and India are on the slide, they've just been whitewashed in Australia, where the Australian batsmen scored plenty. I see him as a player who cashes in when the going's easy and struggle to remember many occasions when he's scored in adversity. Edited February 8, 2012 by Bud the Baker 0 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bud the Baker 8,802 Report post Posted March 29, 2012 19 test tons including 294 against India and 235 against Austrailia. Hardly weaker opposition. I see him as a player who cashes in when the going's easy and struggle to remember many occasions when he's scored in adversity. 0 & 14 in England's latest defeat. 0 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
HamiltonBud 40 Report post Posted March 29, 2012 Very poor performance from England in a game they should have won. Time for fresh faces 0 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
saint in exile 2,275 Report post Posted March 29, 2012 Am I the only one who doesn't care? England + Cricket - FFS! 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bud the Baker 8,802 Report post Posted April 4, 2012 Monty dropped for all-rounder Samit Patel for the Second Test. Sri Lanka First Innings 275 Cook batting even as I speak! 0 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
