Cricket

[dave birch]

So, according to you, Pietersen is no different to me in "transferring' allegiance to another country, except, he did it for money; I did it because I enjoyed living here.

John, Id suggest that you stick to writing about Maggie Thatcher (see Thenodrogs sig) and how Dwight Yorke was going to be the saviour of BRFC, and taking murdoch's 30 pieces of silver.

[pg]

And which of your mediocre lot are better than Broad ? Tremlett has been injured (yet again) but is back in the squad for Durham.

Thanks for the advice. BTW England are 2-0 up and have retained the Ashes

Broad has 201 wickets at 31. In the current series he's got 6 wickets at 52. Siddle has 166 wickets at 28 and has 16 at 21 for the series. A good test bowler has to have an average under 30. Over 30 and you're a journeyman.

Pietersen may be an egotistic @#/? but so was Shane Warne. A good team can use the talents of mercurial narcissistic match-winners. Cricket isn't like football. You don't have to have 11 mindless drones because one player can win a game, a series or a World Cup single-handedly.

[Blue n White Rover]

And which of your mediocre lot are better than Broad ? Tremlett has been injured (yet again) but is back in the squad for Durham.

Thanks for the advice. BTW England are 2-0 up and have retained the Ashes

In the current series, Siddle, Harris, Starc and Pattinson who all have more wickets than Broad. He has an average of 52, and from all the full time bowlers, only Finn has a worse average.

In the Test Bowling Rankings, Siddle is ahead of Swann and Anderson, arguably your 2 best bowlers. Broad is currently 14th, behind both Siddle and Harris.

Blimey Jim, you were having a go at Theno for not knowing sweet FA about cricket, you seem equally clueless.

[jim mk2]

In the current series, Siddle, Harris, Starc and Pattinson who all have more wickets than Broad. He has an average of 52, and from all the full time bowlers, only Finn has a worse average.

In the Test Bowling Rankings, Siddle is ahead of Swann and Anderson, arguably your 2 best bowlers. Broad is currently 14th, behind both Siddle and Harris.

Broad's average is around 30 I think but averages don't always tell the true story: Broad's a good strike bowler for England, he hits the deck hard and gets bounce, and offers something different from Anderson's swing and Bresnan's accuracy. I would rather have Broad than any of the opposition bowlers.

They made their choice because they weren't good enough for South Africa/India. I didn't make my choice based on which team was better at the time. I supported India because my parents did. Same reason I support Blackburn Rovers.

Big difference.

Strauss and Co made their choice because they have lived here since childhood and teens, not on which was the better side. You chose India instead of England because of your parents, which is fair enough. But that doesn't give you the excuse to slag England off at every opportunity; in fact, after India England ought to be your second team.

The selection policies were absolutely the right thing to do in post apartheid SA. So I am traitor am I because I don't like the current England cricket team, despite the fact that I have lived here all my life and paid tax ever since I left school many years ago (two things you could not accuse Pietersen of doing in SA). I call Pietersen a mercenary because he left Notts for Hants for more money, then the way he treated Hants towards the end of his time their was disgusting. He wanted to quit limited over international's so he could go around the world making more money playing T20 until the ECB called his bluff. He is a big cheerleader for the IPL what was it he said the 'English were jealous of it'. All those things plus plenty more are why he is a mercenary.

Of course you're not a traitor, certainly not in the dave birch class.

I don't care for the England football team and its players very much but I always want the team to do well and would never support an opposing country. The question is why you would celebrate Pietersen's dismissal when it was clearly detrimental to England in a game we were trying to save. Unless of course you wanted England to lose, in which case you are a traitor like Lord Haw-Haw of the Outback.

[Blue n White Rover]

Broad's average is around 30 I think but averages don't always tell the true story: Broad's a good strike bowler for England, he hits the deck hard and gets bounce, and offers something different from Anderson's swing and Bresnan's accuracy. I would rather have Broad than any of the opposition bowlers.

Strauss and Co made their choice because they have lived here since childhood and teens, not on which was the better side. You chose India instead of England because of your parents, which is fair enough. But that doesn't give you the excuse to slag England off at every opportunity; in fact, after India England ought to be your second team.

Strauss would never have got into the South African side, nor Pietersen at the time, hence they chose the easier option of England.

If you would have Broad instead of Siddle, then you need to give your head a wobble.

[jim mk2]

To repeat, Strauss has British parents and has lived here on and off since he was 6. His natural country of choice was England. Pietersen has stated his reasons for not wanting to play for SA but you know better obviously.

Don't rate Siddle at all but I don't take much notice of the opposition to be honest. I prefer to focus on Broad's qualities.

Edited August 6, 2013 by jim mk2

[somersetrover]

Don't rate Siddle at all but I don't take much notice of the opposition to be honest. I prefer to focus on Broad's qualities.

How can you watch the game properly without taking notice of the opposition. Are you really saying that when Viv Richards was batting against England or Joel Garner was bowling you did not take much notice because they were the opposition. Your not much of a cricket fan if that is the case.

As for Siddle much better bowler than Broad i've never have rated Broad he just bowls short rubbish, Onions and Finn are much better bowlers.

[jim mk2]

How can you watch the game properly without taking notice of the opposition. Are you really saying that when Viv Richards was batting against England or Joel Garner was bowling you did not take much notice because they were the opposition. Your not much of a cricket fan if that is the case.

As for Siddle much better bowler than Broad i've never have rated Broad he just bowls short rubbish, Onions and Finn are much better bowlers.

Same as watching Rovers - I focus mainly on our players and how they are performing. The likes of Richards and Garner were different - real world stars who I'd actually pay money to watch. As for mediocre performers from the former colonies I couldn't care less.

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

I don't think Norman Tebbit made a strong point on whatever he was talking about. I'm English my parents and grandparents are English, I have lived in England all my life but I don't support the English cricket team because I don't like them. So am I not 'British'?

I of course would disagree I don't particularly like either team in this series but I do like cricket so from a cricketing perspective it is better to have the series still up for grabs, instead now we have two meaningless games left.

Read your history, although looking at your signature you probably have a rather distorted view of history.

The next two Tests aren't meaningless at all, we get to beat the Keans twice more with a bit of luck !

[thenodrog]

Read your history, although looking at your signature you probably have a rather distorted view of history.

Nope.... that 'distorted view on history' is reserved for the very enthusiastic originator of that report on Mrs Thatchers victory. Very well known to us all if I may say so!

[thenodrog]

I stopped reading as soon I read "Conservative politician". No time to read what a scumbag party politician has to say.

A closed and empty mind is never good. I wonder if as many ignore his words as have chosen to put you on ignore on here?

[neekoy]

Same as watching Rovers - I focus mainly on our players and how they are performing. The likes of Richards and Garner were different - real world stars who I'd actually pay money to watch. As for mediocre performers from the former colonies I couldn't care less.

Importance ranking:Minor

I wonder if this applies to everything you write? By the looks of above, yes, nailed it.

[Blue n White Rover]

A closed and empty mind is never good. I wonder if as many ignore his words as have chosen to put you on ignore on here?

The same approach the party took when it came to Hillsborough, yet you continue to back them.

Jim, with regards to not watching the opposition. How did you rate Lara when he annihilated you to reach a record breaking 400*? Or was that just poor bowling?

You cannot compare football to cricket. Completely different sport and both played at a completely different pace. If you are not paying attention to the opposition, then as somersetrover said, you're not a proper fan of the game.

[dave birch]

Wouldn't bother B&WR, he's a champagne socialist.

Do as I say, not as I do, that's his mantra.

He can't comprehend that others, from overseas, can be as good if not better.

How can you not appreciate the talents of the like of Lara, Tendulkar, Warne and Murili and those other very talented cricketers from the "former colonies"?

[jim mk2]

The same approach the party took when it came to Hillsborough, yet you continue to back them.

Jim, with regards to not watching the opposition. How did you rate Lara when he annihilated you to reach a record breaking 400*? Or was that just poor bowling?

You cannot compare football to cricket. Completely different sport and both played at a completely different pace. If you are not paying attention to the opposition, then as somersetrover said, you're not a proper fan of the game.

Funny you should mention Lara because I was in Antigua for the match in 1994 when he scored his 375 - and I watched it with a mixture of horror and fascination ! Like Tendulkar, Lara was a beautiful player to watch, technically very correct unlike Richards who played around his front pad alot and relied on his speed of eye to hit the ball.

I love watching batsmen's different techniques, and also bowlers too, but when it comes to Rovers and England I only want us to win which is why I am always watching our players intently and not the opposition so much. Does that make me a proper fan of the game - I think it does. BTW how did you feel by the way when Sri Lanka were pulversing India for 952 in 1997 ?

I understand your support of India but fail to see why you should not support England as your second team against countries other than India - after all, you live and work here. Failure to do so would make you as contemptible as Lord Haw-Haw above, and I think you're capable of showing more class than the likes of him.

[dave birch]

How things change in the blink of an eye.

[Mike E]

Funny you should mention Lara because I was in Antigua for the match in 1994 when he scored his 375 - and I watched it with a mixture of horror and fascination ! Like Tendulkar, Lara was a beautiful player to watch, technically very correct unlike Richards who played around his front pad alot and relied on his speed of eye to hit the ball.

I love watching batsmen's different techniques, and also bowlers too, but when it comes to Rovers and England I only want us to win which is why I am always watching our players intently and not the opposition so much. Does that make me a proper fan of the game - I think it does. BTW how did you feel by the way when Sri Lanka were pulversing India for 952 in 1997 ?

I understand your support of India but fail to see why you should not support England as your second team against countries other than India - after all, you live and work here. Failure to do so would make you as contemptible as Lord Haw-Haw above, and I think you're capable of showing more class than the likes of him.

What difference does that make? In footy, do you continue to support England while they play a guy who sees fit to shoot people at training? Esp' given your stance on gun ownership.

That's hypocrisy far beyond simply choosing to support a different team.

[dave birch]

LOL, we're back to Lord Haw Haw, and trying to appeal to the "your second team" scenario.

Bloody pathetic, that's what you are.

What a simpleton, just keep taking the 30 pieces, John. Rupert will be pleased.

[Blue n White Rover]

Funny you should mention Lara because I was in Antigua for the match in 1994 when he scored his 375 - and I watched it with a mixture of horror and fascination ! Like Tendulkar, Lara was a beautiful player to watch, technically very correct unlike Richards who played around his front pad alot and relied on his speed of eye to hit the ball.

I love watching batsmen's different techniques, and also bowlers too, but when it comes to Rovers and England I only want us to win which is why I am always watching our players intently and not the opposition so much. Does that make me a proper fan of the game - I think it does. BTW how did you feel by the way when Sri Lanka were pulversing India for 952 in 1997 ?

I understand your support of India but fail to see why you should not support England as your second team against countries other than India - after all, you live and work here. Failure to do so would make you as contemptible as Lord Haw-Haw above, and I think you're capable of showing more class than the likes of him.

I don't do "second teams". I support India and that is it. I have no obligation to give any support to England, and I do not wish to either. Maybe I would be inclined to support them if they had the correct morals and ethics, however a team full of cheats and hypocrites just doesn't do it for me.

Reading the news today, it seems that one of your players Panesar, has been urinating on bouncers. These are the kind of morons that the ECB wish to give central contracts to.

The 952 was not painful at all. In fact I still remember the fantastic innings from Jayasuriya. Over 300+ if I remember correctly. The match ended in a draw, therefore not disappointed at all. Talking about painful, how did it feel watching Stuart Broad getting smashed all around the ground for 6 sixes from Yuvraj? Surely nothing can be more humiliating than that?

[Blue n White Rover]

More reports coming out in today's news that Pietersen has been cheating. Reports claim that he has been using special silicone tape around his bat so that HotSpot cannot detect any contact.

Would not surprise me at all. After all, he is surrounded by cheats.

[dave birch]

Can't agree there B&WR.

What would happen if he knicked it onto his pad and it wasn't picked up, and he was given LBW!

This is a typical beat up from Aussie tabloid TV. They're fishing for something that isn't there, IMO.

[Hanks]

More reports coming out in today's news that Pietersen has been cheating. Reports claim that he has been using special silicone tape around his bat so that HotSpot cannot detect any contact.

Would not surprise me at all. After all, he is surrounded by cheats.

From the reports I have read it says players from both sides were involved, although they have only named Pietersen. Its not the first time Skullduggery has been allegedly used. The Indians where pioneers of it

http://www.cricbuzz.com/cricket-news/43333/hotspot-manufacturer-accuses-india-of-cheating

Edited August 7, 2013 by hanks

[somersetrover]

Can't agree there B&WR.

What would happen if he knicked it onto his pad and it wasn't picked up, and he was given LBW!

This is a typical beat up from Aussie tabloid TV. They're fishing for something that isn't there, IMO.

Perhaps he only has it covering the outside edge.

From the reports I have read it says players from both sides were involved, although they have only named Pietersen. Its not the first time Skullduggery has been allegedly used. The Indians where pioneers of it

http://www.cricbuzz.com/cricket-news/43333/hotspot-manufacturer-accuses-india-of-cheating

Complete rubbish from the obnoxious Michael Vaughn. Laxman was a gentleman on and of the field, he would never have stooped to that level, whereas with Pietersen nothing would surprise me.

Edited August 7, 2013 by somersetrover

[Ozz]

Hope the actual cricket hurries up and starts...

[jim mk2]

I don't do "second teams". I support India and that is it. I have no obligation to give any support to England, and I do not wish to either. Maybe I would be inclined to support them if they had the correct morals and ethics, however a team full of cheats and hypocrites just doesn't do it for me.

Reading the news today, it seems that one of your players Panesar, has been urinating on bouncers. These are the kind of morons that the ECB wish to give central contracts to.

The 952 was not painful at all. In fact I still remember the fantastic innings from Jayasuriya. Over 300+ if I remember correctly. The match ended in a draw, therefore not disappointed at all. Talking about painful, how did it feel watching Stuart Broad getting smashed all around the ground for 6 sixes from Yuvraj? Surely nothing can be more humiliating than that?

If you want to have a discussion about morals and ethics, and cheats and hypocrites in connection with the India team, I'm more than happy to oblige.