Still worried about creativity from this team, only goals from open play being Lingards strike, and Lanes deflection.

Other than that very pleased to be going into the Belgium game qualified, and almost in a position of being able to pick the side of the draw we prefer.

Hopefully get a lead early on, and then keep attacking. Panama are no great shakes, so if they come forward trying to score goals it should leave opportunities for us.

Importantly though, 3 points is enough, and deal with Belgium accordingly afterwards. As for Germany or Brazil in quarter finals, tough games, but Germany susceptible to pace.

Does that count as an innings defeat for the Aussies?

England scrape home by just the 242 runs.

1 hour ago, Husky said:

What a disappointing end.

Australia bowling brilliantly now, lol.

Guess the point I walk in from work and get to watch 4 overs. 

The future has to be one short-form game and Test cricket. At present the short form is T20, as it fits tv and spectator schedules better. I think the t20 could be expanded to a 25 or 30 over game (esp if you give a max time per ball). There has to be acceptance that they are 2 different games as such, and only a few can be good at both.

4 minutes ago, JacknOry said:

To put things into perspective, we omitted Jack Wilshere and France omitted Lacazette, Martial and Payet.

 

And chose N'Zonzi who some of our fans where stupid enough to welcome being sold.

Poor squad choices I feel, overloaded with defenders when we look like our weakness will be creativity going forward. 

Is Shelvey or Wilshere as much a risk as Ruben-Cheek? I'd say less risky, albeit both are not ideal.

I can't see as bigger a disaster as under Woy but even then I hope we don't need anything going into Belgium game.

No sympathy from me, they would have carried on if not caught. Plus if it is sandpaper they where using, then that suggests a much bigger and longer thought out plan. They where caught within 1/2 hour of a former player asking the cameraman to look out for it, again suggests this has been going on for a long time. Also strange that it's restricted to these three batsmen, who didn't even tell the bowlers - again I don't buy that. 

As one whit on twitter said, I feel sorry for Mitchell Strarc who must be devastated to suddenly find out he isn't this generations Wasim Akram.

So Lehman stays, Warner, Smith and Bancroft go - decisions on bans later....

According to reports some of the Aussie team asked the management for Warner to be removed from the team hotel, after he was told.

Fanne de Viliers claims credit for asking the camera team to watch out for ball tampering - indicates he thinks this has been going on for at least this of, and thinks Lehman must know it's happening.

On 25/03/2018 at 11:54, matt83 said:

This ko last night is as conclusive as I’ve ever seen. 

So much blood around the head when he landed after the KO, I honestly thought he was dead. 

Surprised the ref didn' come in a bit earlier, the guy hadn' thrown a punch for 2 rounds, and was barely keeping many out either.

29 minutes ago, chaddyrovers said:

I think the ICC rules can only give 1 game ban. 

But expect cricket Australia will give a longer ban and the public are demanding strong action for those involved. 

Who will be Australia captain after Smith and Warner wont be. Cant see Paine being it. Maybe Lyon or Shaun Marsh

If the ICC deem deliberate ball tampering as a level 2 offence, then they need to re-draft their rules. If match fixing is a serious issue above the 4 designated levels of conduct, then systematic ball tampering in a manner to try to effect the outcome of a test, should be closely behind. 

5 hours ago, matt83 said:

ICC give smith a one match ban. Presumably limited by what they can do with a level 2 offence. 

Over to cricket Australia to hand down a suitable punishment. Hopefully they will otherwise will get tarred with the same brush. 

One game ban? That's just pathetic. 

Re the Aussies, absolute disgraceful. 

Smith needs to say who the 'leaders' who took the decision are. The ICC need to take firm action here. 

Just turned on the NZ test, there is literally 200 people max in the stadium - the vast majority of them the barmy army.

Is there a reason why?

6 hours ago, oldjamfan1 said:

Scotland have bowled West Indies out for 198 in the world cup qualifier. Let's see whether their batters have the bottle to back their bowlers up. Would be quite a scalp for the jocks (though WI could still qualify, depending on other results).

Lost on Duckworth Lewis by 5 runs after rain.

Congrats to Ireland though, superb defensive performance today.

10 hours ago, matt83 said:

I’m not that bothered by bonus points if encourages attacking rugby. Although I’m not entirely sure it does as England demonstrated in Paris when knew needed 4 tries before ko and still were happy going for 3 pts. Plus it certainly doesn’t work in England’s favour when every team has their World Cup final vs us. Scotland, for eg, went through brick walls vs England then rolled over vs Ireland.

You’re right with away games. This year ironically should have been England’s (English arrogance coming in a bit here considering 2/3 defeats and already lost it) but with the state of France theoretically 3 easier away games then two home games. The flip side of that coin is next year Italy/Scotland/France at home and wales/Ireland away that’s a tough ask biennially.

To develop the game I’d defo look at 2 6 nations type leagues. Make them feel more part of the bigger picture. Rugby seems to be on the up in Georgia. I would love an away day in tbilisi. They get some decent crowds, have dominated the European b champions league thing over the last decade and have credible wins over likes of Fiji, Tonga, Samoa. However, the problem remains I don’t think they’ve ever beaten a decent rugby nation. Nor are likely to on a consistent basis. 

So if there was a promotion/relegation into 6 nations it would just be Italy and Georgia swapping places and occasionally Romania getting up for one year. 

The promotion / relegation thing though at least stops the closed shop effect. Yes it may be that some teams swap places regularly, but it helps develop those teams playing regularly against the bigger nations. 

The bonus point is a problem for me, a yellow card / dodgy referee call can have a massive difference in a game. 

To balance the home / away thing, why not introduce a 7th place, played via a cup competition for the developing Euro countries.

Love the six nations, but does it need spicing up a bit?

In my opinion they need to drop the bonus points, it takes away the chances of having last day dramas.id sooner see head to head scores taking precedent above you scoring 3 tries at Murrayfield, and me getting 4 vs them at Twickers.

Also how about a top two play-off in a grand final, or having home and away games each season - which can give you years that are easier than others (e.g Wales theoretically could one year play away in Italy and Scotland, the next away in England, France and Ireland)?   

To develop the game, there should also be a home and away play-off for the 6th position side vs the growing teams in Georgia, Germany, Spain etc...

On 18/01/2018 at 16:37, chaddyrovers said:

We have to agree to disagree. Stokes stood up for 2 men being attacked. Im pleased he didnt just stand there and do nothing.

I think England were influence by us getting beat in Oz. Also Bayliss, Root and Strauss probably wanted him back him. 

Also Stokes might have took the ECB to court over a restriction of trade as he is innocent until found guilty. 

I will be surprise he is found guilty aswell. 

There's a difference between doing nothing, and pummelling the guy though Chaddy. I'm glad he didn't allow it to go unchallenged, but he took it far too far. I'd be amazed if he gets off, what kind of example would that set to other drunken brawlers?

There's a decent case for leniency, and that' why I think it will be a fine and community service - neither of which will bother Stokes. 

It will be interesting if the soldier considers a private prosecution for damages though.

14 hours ago, chaddyrovers said:

Stokes should have been playing in the Ashes. 

I reckon he will be found not guilty when it comes to court. 

I don't, the video shows he's guilty.

The punishment will be a fine and community service though, and everyone will just get on with things again.

It makes no sense to me he was left out of the Ashes, but now he's been charged its ok to play? The ECB have not exactly covered themselves in glory with those decisions- sounds like they need an actual policy in future.

On 11/01/2018 at 09:24, AllRoverAsia said:

The will be looking at who and how to prosecute..OR... how not to......

If it goes to court any decent brief will get Ben off or at worst a light non custodial.

His side have the 2 lads as their star witnesses, the fact that the 'others' started their banter inside a bar and continued it outside when Ben, Alex and their new 2 pals were on their way to do some more clubbing.

The fact is that one of the 'others' was armed is crucial.

The guy he punched was a soldier too.

1 hour ago, Tyrone Shoelaces said:

Why couldn't he be out there from the start then ? The ECB is a joke.

We should have taken him anyway, theres no way he wouldnt have travelled if he was an Aussie. 

39 minutes ago, chaddyrovers said:

True but we had pace and bounce in Tremlett and Finn. 

But Anderson was younger and quicker..wasnt he bowling around 90mph back then?

@Baz and @matt83 can I asked what you squad or starting line up would be for the New Zealand test series?

Yes we had quickies in as well, but the main bowlers where Anderson and Swann, and Tremlett was dropped as he was expensive - despite taking wickets.

Against NZ, I'd say try some new blood. We desperately need a first change bowler who can come in, not leak runs, and pick up wickets. If the selectors think that's Curran, then give him the series. Batsmen, honestly don't know, but give them a few innings to prove themselves. 

NZ are a decent test side, but nothing really to fear as far as I can see, so its a definite opportunity to bring in players now. I'd look at possibly resting Jimmy if / once the series is won, on the basis of giving opportunity to others.

13 minutes ago, chaddyrovers said:

No player has been given 2 or 3 games unless its injuries apart from Westley..

Flintoff had the pace but the line and length. But not at the start of his international career. 

Pace is needed in Australia. Vaughan, Botham, Willis and Warne all said this before the series started. 

 

When we won in 2011 in Australia, our squad included the likes of Bresnan, and our leading wicket takers where Anderson and Swann.

Hearing Joe Root hospitalised with dehydration.