Just looking at Virat’s form since 2019 and it doesn’t make for good reading. Since that year he’s averaged 19, 28, 22 and 26 with 2023 being the exception when he averaged 55. His career average has now dipped below 48, which would have been inconceivable eight years ago..
The first ODI between Australia and Pakistan is about to get going at the G. The hosts win the toss and Mr Cummins invites the visitors to have first dibs with the bat. I was tempted to go but there will be zero atmosphere, nothing worse than bouncing off the walls at an empty MCG. Plus I think the Aussies will murder them..
Pakistan all out for a smidge over 200 with 20 balls not needed by the eight (yes, eight) bowlers used by Australia. looking forward to seeing how Jake Fraser-McGurk plays in the 50 over format. Will he pace himself or go T20 Fraser berserk from the off?
Pretty ordinary end to the third ODI with the Windies winning by eight wickets for the second time in the series. Couple of decent knocks by the England players after the nightmare start which they never recovered from because 260 odd was never going to be enough. Still, young players blooded, lessons learned and we'll have a stronger squad for the T20 games with Jos hopefully coming back.
He bowled angry and fast because of the argument and I don't think Jordan Cox even smelt the delivery that got him out in that over, glancing his glove at 148kph/92mph..
Apparently India don't want to travel to Pakistan for the Champions trophy? How will this be resolved as surely they won't pull out but not be allowed to play at home either. Well played to Phil Salt and Jacob Bethall - good innings to lead to the win.
It's disgusting that BCCI is placing money over principles, as always. We shouldn't be playing Pakistan. Period. Every month we are losing soldiers in Kashmir & Jammu due to cross border terrorism, where terrorists are infiltrating through the porous forest borders that are difficult to monitor. This is where I hugely admire England or Australia when it comes to Russia, Zimbabwe or even recently Afghanistan. They simply refuse to play. & it's not like we need the money. BCCI is the ****ing richest cricket board on the planet. I have zero love for Pakistan, but even then I can say it's unfair to them. But more importantly, it's unfair to the other teams who will be expected to travel between UAE & Pakistan because BCCI can't let go the money. Every criticism that the BCCI receives on this is justified. Hell I think it isn't enough. The right think to do for India is boycott this. Let Pakistan host it & let others participate. But BCCI are greedy ****ers.
Very pleasing after the two terrible ODI games, Jos really is invaluable to this side isn't he? Some of the shots he played in this innings shouldn't be possible with a ball coming at speed but he seems to have so much time. Thrilled for Jacob as well, there are big things ahead for this fella..
The cricket board of Pakistan has confirmed that India will not travel next February for what was a meaningless and is now even more so Champions trophy. If India feel justified in making this decision then I say **** it, let them. If England or anyone else was to play against Israel in any sport I'd feel mightily disappointed.
Assuming we end up with the same sort of hybrid tournament, was there much criticism of the BCCI in India over the decision to play in the Asia Cup last year? I'm not inclined to cut them much slack but, while I appreciate you're a lot closer to the situation than I am, I could understand it if there was a view within the board that a precedent had been set in this area, particularly if the Indian government is only telling them not to travel to Pakistan rather than not to play them at all. Not only that but given the ECB chief executive is on record as saying the broadcast rights "aren't there" if the Champions Trophy goes ahead without India or Pakistan, it's clear the BCCI aren't the only organisation looking at the bottom line of this issue. As much as the present situation appears to have been eminently foreseeable, it feels to me like there are two main reasons why we are where we are now. One is the lack of a sufficiently powerful global governing body for cricket. The likes of FIFA and the IOC can afford to carry on without Russia or Belarus in its events but there's no way the ICC can host a tournament without the eyes of its biggest markets being upon it. But this also feels suspiciously like a case of sport being asked to do politicians' work for them. We can't claim any moral high ground in this respect. It was quite obvious that the UK government of the day didn't want the England team to go to Zimbabwe during the 2003 World Cup but left it to players to make the decision rather than doing something itself. At least, going on the reports I've read, the Indian government has given some sort of instruction even if they could potentially go further.
@Norfolk Mariner Yes, unfortunately a precedent has been set with the way Asia Cup was conducted. I have also come to learn in the past few days, that everyone wants this pie to be as bigger as it can, & will therefore be okay to travel between countries instead of risking us not being part of the tournament.
On another note, I have the day off tomorrow and Victoria are playing at home against WA at the G in the one day cup, $10 to get in, bargain..
A couple of weeks ago this happened against Tasmania. They went from 52-2 to 53 all out with eight wickets falling for one run - and that was a wide. WA have won this competition for the last four years so this was about as big as a shock as you can get in Australian cricket, that and David Warner not being a **** of course..
Haven't bothered going, typical Melbourne weather, it's been 24-26 degrees and sunny the last few days and the weather today is shite..
England take an unassailable (I love that word) lead in the five match tip and run series, winning the first three games with their B or C team. Good to see competition for places when the full squad is available, not so good to see is how poor the West Indies have been. Their fielding in this match was shoddy, which isn't as good a word as unassailable but is just as descriptive..
