West Indies v England, 1st Test, Kingston, Feb 4-8

I'd bat Prior above Freddie, but still think it's the responsibility of the top five to make most of the runs. It's probably an ego thing with Flintoff wanting to bat in the top six, he justified it for a couple of years and has rediscovered some form recently but it's fair to say he wouldn't hold down a Test place as a batsman (though probably would in the ODI/T20 side). But the order of 6 and 7 is immaterial really, the specialists have to perform and they are not doing so right now.

JKLever wrote:pair of mugs... get your money on the maroon boys.
3.8 on betfair. Today is a collapse waiting to happen...

Pure genius that man.

PlanetPakistan wrote:Hope this makes the W indians mad and they bowl England out for 46....

They failed. By 5.

Nice Work WIFAN and JKLever


Quality Predictions fellas.

Dello wrote:They can shove their MBEs up their arses.

The only MBE-er who has maintained his standard of cricket since the 05 Ashes is Pietersen.

Everyone else has gone to shit.

Pretty sure there've been a few Aussies make similar observations before, Jay.

Australia was 5/18 against the Windies during our series there so their seamers can be destructive on their day but teams should have a resolve to recover and not get bowled out for 51.

I am still laughing. This makes coping with plus 40 degree heat that much easier.

Dello wrote:I hadn't noticed before that Ian Bell was Adidas Man these days: bat, gloves, pads, boots - team kit manufacturer.



Is it possible that he's a sponsor's pick?

Don't give Whorace ideas.

beamer wrote:I'd bat Prior above Freddie, but still think it's the responsibility of the top five to make most of the runs. It's probably an ego thing with Flintoff wanting to bat in the top six, he justified it for a couple of years and has rediscovered some form recently but it's fair to say he wouldn't hold down a Test place as a batsman (though probably would in the ODI/T20 side). But the order of 6 and 7 is immaterial really, the specialists have to perform and they are not doing so right now.

But Prior is supposed to be a specialist. A batsman who keeps. England should start treating him as such and giving him the responsibility to make big scores.

Flintoff's a bowler who bats. He thinks it's the other way around but it's about time someone told him a few home truths. He's a seven, at the most - especially when you consider guys like Daniel Vettori are coming in at eight for NZ.

At least England has some million dollar men in its lineup.

Dello wrote:F*cking England - totally taking the edge off my laughing at Australia buzz.

Nice of you to admit it Jay. Of course, I'm absolutely PMSL at the moment. At least we fell over in Tests lasting into the fifth day, against a side regarded as (then) numkber one contenders...

Demelza wrote:I've just pushed him out of 10th position, so hopefully, he's having a long Sunday morning lie in.

Must admit I was hoping that words 7 onwards of that post were going to be 'a 20th storey window'.

OP Tipping wrote:I didn't see the match, just looked at the score cards. Can you sum up what happened in the 2nd innings?

OP, I didn't see it either. But it seems the England players forgot to take their bats, pads, gloves, and helmets to the ground, and had to defend the bowling with no equipment.

I didn't see the match, just looked at the score cards. Can you sum up what happened in the 2nd innings?

I'll PM you a link OP.

OP Tipping wrote:I didn't see the match, just looked at the score cards. Can you sum up what happened in the 2nd innings?

Read the Dickinfo match Bulletin. Sums it up pretty well.

What happened?

An England brainfart. We usually throw one in every series.

Red wrote:...Interesting how many here still describe KP has the world's best batsman, on the Offsiders program this morning on our ABC, (Gideon Haigh etc) a few of the scribes traced England's woes in this match back to his shot to get out on 97. They thought it was self-indulgent batting and set the tone for the rest of their first innings and maybe what happened for the rest of the match. They believe he is selfish and not a team player. You also might consider whether the dressingroom upheavals, i.e. the divisions surrounding the KP captaincy withdrawal etc. have had any role in determining team morale and the subsequent flow on to team performances. Even though the West Indies has improved as a unit and is not a pushover, England should not be bowled out for 51 in the third innings of a match against them.

I cannot believe that anyone can blame KP for what happened. His get out shot at 97 was responsible for England's collapse? Dressing room upheavals of his creation were sufficient to demoralize them enough for this loss?

This is the classic syndrome of idiot commentators and guppy minded insiders blaming the only guy who was successful, who showed some ability and grit. Funny thing about group dynamics, how the failures and the experts always seem to band together to pull down the one performer.

How about the rest of the idiots? Maybe they should have also have had the balls to play irresponsible shots at 97. Or 47 even.

And if the girls in the dressing room collapsed like they did today because of loss of morale created by one man, I suggest they try another line of work.

Dello wrote:...........Ian Bell might save himself with a hundred on what is rumoured to be a flat-deck for the second Test. But would that even be enough, for a guy who is averaging 19 for his last 12 innings - six Tests, four of them lost by England. Can any side afford to carry players who seldom deliver, yet still retain the ambition to win matches?

You think Bell will play the second Test, Dello?

Farkin Fox have highlights of today's play in the WI v Eng Test scheduled from 1.00 pm. Instead, the farkin Paris-Dakar rally or some similar sh!te is on.

Qunts. I was looking forward to having a bit of a grin.

skully wrote:
Qunts. I was looking forward to having a bit of a grin.

Qunt

JKLever wrote:

skully wrote:
Qunts. I was looking forward to having a bit of a grin.

Qunt

furriner wrote:

Red wrote:...Interesting how many here still describe KP has the world's best batsman, on the Offsiders program this morning on our ABC, (Gideon Haigh etc) a few of the scribes traced England's woes in this match back to his shot to get out on 97. They thought it was self-indulgent batting and set the tone for the rest of their first innings and maybe what happened for the rest of the match. They believe he is selfish and not a team player. You also might consider whether the dressingroom upheavals, i.e. the divisions surrounding the KP captaincy withdrawal etc. have had any role in determining team morale and the subsequent flow on to team performances. Even though the West Indies has improved as a unit and is not a pushover, England should not be bowled out for 51 in the third innings of a match against them.

I cannot believe that anyone can blame KP for what happened.

Well, Red's obviously looking to move on from Clarke and Smith. Or is a bag of hot air.

Hehe, all is forgiven at Fox. The Highlights have just started.

furriner wrote:I cannot believe that anyone can blame KP for what happened. His get out shot at 97 was responsible for England's collapse? Dressing room upheavals of his creation were sufficient to demoralize them enough for this loss?

This is the classic syndrome of idiot commentators and guppy minded insiders blaming the only guy who was successful, who showed some ability and grit. Funny thing about group dynamics, how the failures and the experts always seem to band together to pull down the one performer.

How about the rest of the idiots? Maybe they should have also have had the balls to play irresponsible shots at 97. Or 47 even.

And if the girls in the dressing room collapsed like they did today because of loss of morale created by one man, I suggest they try another line of work.

... 9-10, and breathe.

Zat wrote:

furriner wrote:

Red wrote:...Interesting how many here still describe KP has the world's best batsman, on the Offsiders program this morning on our ABC, (Gideon Haigh etc) a few of the scribes traced England's woes in this match back to his shot to get out on 97. They thought it was self-indulgent batting and set the tone for the rest of their first innings and maybe what happened for the rest of the match. They believe he is selfish and not a team player. You also might consider whether the dressingroom upheavals, i.e. the divisions surrounding the KP captaincy withdrawal etc. have had any role in determining team morale and the subsequent flow on to team performances. Even though the West Indies has improved as a unit and is not a pushover, England should not be bowled out for 51 in the third innings of a match against them.

I cannot believe that anyone can blame KP for what happened.

Well, Red's obviously looking to move on from Clarke and Smith. Or is a bag of hot air.

I like KP, was just repeating what I thought was an interesting take on events.