Official Cricket Articles Thread

[Sanguinarius]

Re: Poms tell Panesar he must become the full Monty.

was this a problem for pieterson when he dropped about 7 catches in a row?

seriously, if the CB go back to arguabley the worst bowler to take 150 test wickets they are deluded. very very poor

Monty is going to be a gun

 

[wagstaff]

Re: Poms tell Panesar he must become the full Monty.

Surely Fletcher can't be serious?

In another article I read that Fletcher said let's see how Monty bowls on a greentop before making a proper judgement. Somehow I doubt Giles' record on greentops is that flash (as would be the case with the majority of spinners).

It seems that Fletcher has Giles' 50 at the Oval etched in his memory from last year's series which helped seal the Ashes as a reason why he should be in the side. Perhaps someone should remind him of Giles' bowling on the final day of the Old Trafford Test last year - if he'd bowled half-decently then the Ashes wouldn't have required winning at the Oval.

 

[Romeo]

Re: Poms tell Panesar he must become the full Monty.

Harmison - get off Monty's back

Manchester - England paceman Steve Harmison pleaded with fans to give Sikh spinner Monty Panesar a break after the two combined to bowl Pakistan out for just 119 on the first day of the second Test.

Harmison grabbed six wickets while left-arm spinner Panesar chipped in with three but the Durham seamer believes Panesar, the first Sikh to play for England, gets a raw deal from the crowds.
Panesar has become something of a cult hero with fans often cheering him every time he touches the ball in the field, as if surprised he hadn't fumbled.
"It sometimes upsets me a lot that people have a go at Monty. The ball goes to him in the field and the crowd laugh and cheer and this that and the other," Harmison said.
"Monty is a very good left-arm spinner. He's a number 11 batsman and the guy works so hard on his fielding, it's ridiculous.
"He's different, he looks different, everything about him is different. But he is a great member of our team.
"Every time he goes on the field, he's getting better with his batting, his bowling and his fielding. He looks the part for England."
Panesar, who achieved both sharp turn and control on the opening day of the second Test at Old Trafford, struck fourth ball on his way to a fine haul of three for 21 in 7.4 overs. "Monty bowled an exceptional spell. He kept the men on strike for me to attack and when you get that it's nice because you haven't got work anybody over - you've done it from the previous over," Harmison explained.

 

[usalion]

Re: Poms tell Panesar he must become the full Monty.

Monty looks like a very good addition to the English side- as a bowler, he certainly adds more danger to an attack that has been bereft of true spin for quite some time. Give hiom time, and he might develop into a very nice test bowler with a permanent spot.

He is not picked for his batting, but he has shown a little skill with the willow- he sure isn't a bunny going up there, and bowlers who think he is may be very surprised. If he can average ten or so with the bat, I reckon the Poms will be well pleased.

Fielding? OK, he has been the butt of jokes from fans and even commentators- but as somebody pointed out, this CAN be worked on- plenty of ground ball practice (in baseball terminology) for the lad.

It seems Fletcher has his favs- in this case Giles (or even Dalrymple)- but as Monty continues to take wickets, the likelihood of those guys getting a run depends on the need with spin twins.

 

[year of the roo]

Re: Poms tell Panesar he must become the full Monty.

Fletcher definitely seems to have more of a say in things than Buchanan does for Australia. I'm not exactly sure that is a good thing either as he seems to have no real clue. Neither does Buchanan, but he isn't given much responsibility, so it doesn't affect the side much.

 

[Romeo]

Re: Poms tell Panesar he must become the full Monty.

Rod Marsh says he has one of the best actions for decades and thinks he could be a surprise packet in the Ashes series.

 

[Browney2006]

Re: Poms tell Panesar he must become the full Monty.

Rod Marsh says he has one of the best actions for decades and thinks he could be a surprise packet in the Ashes series.

Agreed, his action is near perfect, perfect left arm off spinners action.

 

[Power21]

Re: Jayawardene - Murali greatest ever!

Does anybody else hate Romeo?

Anyway, Tom Moody is doing a good job.

 

[Aritro]

Re: Poms tell Panesar he must become the full Monty.

Fletcher definitely seems to have more of a say in things than Buchanan does for Australia. I'm not exactly sure that is a good thing either as he seems to have no real clue.

Fletcher's record speaks for itself I would have thought.

He's in the wrong on this one though.

 

[Romeo]

Liillee backs Freddie plan for club cricket in Perth and JL to remain as opener

Lillee backs Flintoff plan


Former Australian Test great Dennis Lillee has backed moves to entice English all-rounder Andrew Flintoff to play club cricket in Western Australia ahead of this year's Ashes series.
Flintoff has been ruled out for the rest of the northern summer with an ankle injury and there are plans to give him and other English players some match practice in Australia in the run-up to the Ashes Tests.
Lillee, who is now the President of the West Australian Cricket Association, said it was a fantastic idea.
"You have our guys go over there [to England] and play in county cricket and learn," he said.
"If they feel like they'd like to come over here and get a bit of practice and learn about the conditions before the series, good luck to them, we've done it before."
Lillee also backed Western Australian batsman Justin Langer to keep his opening spot opposite Matthew Hayden for this summer's Tests.
New South Wales opener Phil Jaques has been staking a claim to the position but Langer hit back recently with a triple century for his English county club Somerset.
"Great move by him to go over there and make a big score in England," Lillee said.
"It throws your name right in front of the selectors again. Look, I think he's got to start, and from there it's his form. Like anyone."

 

[Cooldude]

Re: Liillee backs Freddie plan for club cricket in Perth and JL to remain as opener

Jaques should be doing middle order, at 4 or something, hell, even bat him at 6, which should suit a natural aggressive strokemaker like him

Mike Hussey opens for his state, most openers can bat anywhere, and Jaques is clearly our best "reserve" batsman

If he doesn't play because JL's opening, then there's something wrong

 

[Squizza]

Re: Liillee backs Freddie plan for club cricket in Perth and JL to remain as opener

Jaques should be doing middle order, at 4 or something, hell, even bat him at 6, which should suit a natural aggressive strokemaker like him

Mike Hussey opens for his state, most openers can bat anywhere, and Jaques is clearly our best "reserve" batsman

If he doesn't play because JL's opening, then there's something wrong

Last year Jaques was batting at 4 for Yorkshire I think.

 

[Cooldude]

Re: Liillee backs Freddie plan for club cricket in Perth and JL to remain as opener

Good, bat him at 4 and drop Martyn back down at 6 (Where he played best for Aus)

 

[The Passenger]

Re: Poms tell Panesar he must become the full Monty.

So what's Giles'?

the Australian players nickname for him is "smash me miles"

honestly, Giles is a decent bat for a tailender. solid fielder, and would be a decent bowler if he was a part timer.

I'd pick Panesar over him any day. I don't particularly rate Panesar that highly but he at least turns the ball.

 

[Hanis]

Re: Jayawardene - Murali greatest ever!

It is common knowledge that the majority of Muralis 645 wickets have been taken in Sri Lanka - 59.5% in fact - 384 wickets whereas Warney has a more even spread of wickets taken all over the world

Murali - 645 wickets - 384 at home - 261 abroad

Warney - 685 wickets - 296 at home - 389 abroad

Sri Lanka specially prepare spinning wickets - fat chance of that happening in Australia

Murali is undoubtedly a great bowler however given the choice i think i would still choose Mr Warne over him

Remember it took Murali 64 overs to obtain those second innings wickets it is not as if he totally dominated them.

 

[Dipper]

Re: Liillee backs Freddie plan for club cricket in Perth and JL to remain as opener

Good, bat him at 4 and drop Martyn back down at 6 (Where he played best for Aus)

Are you gonna go back to 6 bats, 4 bowlers for the Ashes do you think?

Will it be Clarke with McGrath & Lee?

What about if you pick MacGill for Adelaide & Sydney, will you drop a batsman or drop one of the quicks or drop a batsman & a quick & play Watson or Symonds as well.

 

[Romeo]

Zimbabwe could return to test cricket in 6 months

Telford Vice

Harare - Zimbabwe could return to Test cricket in six months, International Cricket Council (ICC) chief executive Malcolm Speed said on Tuesday.
"Ultimately it will be a decision of the ICC board but there will be an evaluation first," Speed told a media conference in Harare when he asked when Zimbabwe might resume playing Test matches.
Speed added that Zimbabwe could return in six, 12 or 18 months.
The Zimbabwe government took control of cricket in January and one of the first decisions taken was to withdraw the national team from the Test arena.
The chairperson of Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC), Peter Chingoka, was non-committal when asked when Zimbabwe might play their next Test. "We are still aiming at next year. We don't have an exact date yet," Chingoka told the media conference.

 

[pluga_4]

Re: Zimbabwe could return to test cricket in 6 months

they are due to return to test cricket in january 2007.

their first test assignment is a home series versus australia in june/july, so being against australia there's a fair chance it won't go ahead.

i was kinda looking forward for a 1st or 2nd wicket partnership of 625

 

[Browney2006]

Re: Zimbabwe could return to test cricket in 6 months

What would the point be? Are any of the problems fixed or is it just going to be the same rubbish and dangerous playing grounds for the players again? Might as well give it as much time as it needs.

 

[Romeo]

Re: Liillee backs Freddie plan for club cricket in Perth and JL to remain as opener

Interesting in today's Age he also commented on Tait and Mitch Johnson as being the future of Australia's fast bowling. Not sure I agree re. the former.

 

[Cooldude]

Re: Liillee backs Freddie plan for club cricket in Perth and JL to remain as opener

Are you gonna go back to 6 bats, 4 bowlers for the Ashes do you think?

Will it be Clarke with McGrath & Lee?

What about if you pick MacGill for Adelaide & Sydney, will you drop a batsman or drop one of the quicks or drop a batsman & a quick & play Watson or Symonds as well.

It will be 6 bats and 4 bowlers again, although Watson might play as a batting allrounder to allow us to play Macgill (Whom I reckon should play half the Tests)

Clarke shouldn't be picked. McGrath would be very risky as he's not fully fit, but coz he's Glenn McGrath you gotta pick him. It's more the third seamer you gotta be worried about, is it gonna be Stuart Clark or Dizzy. Dizzy's not what he used to be, that's obvious. Don't exactly trust Stuart Clark either. Third seamer's gotta do their job especially with McGrath not fit.

We ain't exactly going smooth sailing ourselves, we have quite a few passengers. Apart from Hussey and Ponting, our batting's a mess. If England can hit form and with a bit of luck with injuries, they can give us a shake.

 

[Runandhyde]

Re: Liillee backs Freddie plan for club cricket in Perth and JL to remain as opener

Watson will be plaing this ashes, i'd put my house on it. Jaques desevres a spot, possibly at Marto's expense. Selectors now more than ever need to consider the future. So many players over 30 in the team we need to focus on blooding youth. That said we need to absolutly CAIN england to shut them up over last years mishap.
Loosing to england is like loosing to Collingwood. Worst possible team to loose to because the majority of their supporters are a bunch of degenerates!

 

[Grimwood]

Re: Liillee backs Freddie plan for club cricket in Perth and JL to remain as opener

I keep forgetting that Nathan Bracken exists. Where does he feature in the pecking order these days?

 

[Cooldude]

Re: Liillee backs Freddie plan for club cricket in Perth and JL to remain as opener

That piece of **** Bracken? Got dropped for the South African tour and is basically a fair way behind

 

[Romeo]

Giles cautious re. offers to play club cricket in Australia

Giles surprised by offers from Australian clubs
Cricinfo staff
August 2, 2006

'They [Australia] have not been overly friendly in helping us out for past Ashes campaigns' - Giles © Getty Images

Ashley Giles, the England spinner, is cautious about accepting invitations from Australian grade clubs, saying that it is rather unusual for Australia to extend such offers to their rivals before an Ashes series.
The England Cricket Board (ECB) had earlier requested Australian-based clubs to give England's injury-hit players some much needed match practice ahead of the tour and the responses have been prompt and positive. Andrew Flintoff, Simon Jones and Giles, three key players of the 2005 Ashes, are fighting to prove their fitness before the touring squad is announced by the end of summer. Giles, recovering from a hip injury, has been out of competitive cricket since December.
"I think this whole thing has blown out a bit," Giles told the Sydney Morning Herald. "They [Australia] have not been overly friendly in helping us out for past Ashes campaigns. If there is an opportunity to play there, great, but we could go to South Africa, too."
Dennis Lillee invited the players to participate in Western Australia's grade competition, while New South Wales, South Australia and Victoria too made similar offers to the ECB.
Giles was unfazed by the success of fellow left-arm spinner Monty Panesar, and hinted at the possibility of bowling in tandem with him against the Australians, should he be picked.
"Generally, England has gone into matches with only one spinner, but playing two would certainly be on the cards if the conditions were right," he said. "Monty and quite a lot of the young batsmen have come along brilliantly this summer, which is great for English cricket."