So, when's the next Test cricket?

Couldn't be arsed looking it up. Anyone know?

England West Indies, mid May

Cheers, t. Are the Yarps in England this Pom summer too?

Aye, in July.

1st English test starts on the 17th of May, in fact. Would be ironic if Gayle makes his return to test cricket in England.

Looks like more late nights to get my Test fix.

tricycle wrote:Aye, in July.

1st English test starts on the 17th of May, in fact. Would be ironic if Gayle makes his return to test cricket in England.

I don't think Gayle is in the squad.

taipan wrote:

tricycle wrote:Aye, in July.

1st English test starts on the 17th of May, in fact. Would be ironic if Gayle makes his return to test cricket in England.

I don't think Gayle is in the squad.

He's here for the important stuff - the ODIs

taipan wrote:I don't think Gayle is in the squad.

Oh yes, awful memory.

tricycle wrote:Aye, in July.

1st English test starts on the 17th of May, in fact. Would be ironic if Gayle makes his return to test cricket in England.

Cheers again, t.

Big Dog wrote:Looks like more late nights to get my Test fix.

I love the cricket from England. Reminds me of the grouse Aus winter of 1989.

Really looking forward to our cricketing summer. Our batsmen should have a tough, tough time in all 6 Tests, so am looking forward to see how they shape up. And also looking forward to seeing how the Windies and South Africans are really shaping up in what should be their toughest test.

Eng v SAf (1 v 2) should be cracking.

Aye, as long as both teams show enough fight, which they should but you never know.

Still pissed off at it only being 3 tests to be honest. Eng V Saf should be 5, 4 is just about acceptable but 3 is a disgrace. I don't care how many times it's been mentioned, it's f*cking ridic.

Brass Monkey wrote:Really looking forward to our cricketing summer.

Just any semblance of summer, after the never ending rains of April, since the "drought" was announced, would be fine.

Incidentally, the incessant pissing down hasn't slowed the drought. Wrong kind of rain, apparently. Not wet enough. Not landing in the right places - our reservoirs being famously housed deep underground in massive bomb shelters.

vilkrang wrote:Still pissed off at it only being 3 tests to be honest. Eng V Saf should be 5, 4 is just about acceptable but 3 is a disgrace. I don't care how many times it's been mentioned, it's f*cking ridic.

I still don't know why. Just some murmurs about the Olympics, but no specifics as to why a game of cricket can't be played during those seventeen days of steroid-addled dicking around.

If the IOC is anything like frigging FIFA, you are not allowed to have any major sporting events in that period. We had to get special permission to host a rugby test during the football WC.

tricycle wrote:England West Indies, mid May

Starts 17 May at HQ (weather permitting):

International Calendar 2012

probs my two fave England opponents.

The rain sounds absolutely shoite. All I get from back home is 'still raining.' poor y'all.

I had thought it would rain all through the Olympics, so I hope this isn't a year-long deluge.

I can remember there was a longer break between the 3rd and 4th Tests against the Windies in 1966 to accommodate the Football WC Final (the only time it's been played in England and the only time England have won it) although there were still 5 Tests that summer. I suppose ECB defenders would argue there are 6 this summer, despite the Olympics, due to the early start, although still 1 down on the normal 7.

I didn't pay much attention to the football then as I had just become enthralled by Test cricket - D'Oliveira's debut, "Uncle Tom" Graveney's return, the year of 3 England captains (later to be trumped by 1988 when there were 4), Closey's consolation victory at The Oval all against the might of Sobers' West Indians who seemed, until the last Test, unbeatable. No, the football held no attractions for me then as the Olympics will neither.

Allan D wrote:to accommodate the Football WC Final (the only time it's been played in England and the only time England have won it)

Never! Whatta revelation.

The things you can find out on Wikipedia.

I thought Jossy's Giants won it that year. I was way off.

Dello wrote:The things you can find out on Wikipedia.

I thought Jossy's Giants won it that year. I was way off.

Indeed. It is an obscure fact not known outside England (not even the UK) and to those under 50.

I got a bit giddy and had to have a lie down.

The last London Olympics coincided with the visit of the Invincibles. However I have never read any account of the cricket authorities taking any account of the Games or it affecting interest in what was then still the premier summer activity although the absence of a widespread TV audience may have played a part.

vilkrang wrote:Still pissed off at it only being 3 tests to be honest. Eng V Saf should be 5, 4 is just about acceptable but 3 is a disgrace. I don't care how many times it's been mentioned, it's f*cking ridic.

Aye vilks, a disgrace.