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The Pavel Florin Supporters Club and Cricket Thread


Devon Malcolm

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Aye he always struggled in Asia - especially in India. According to his book (I think), Sachin had been batting all day and in his frustration Warne bounced him. Sachin upper cut him for four passed slip. Warne was then given the idea to try and use it every now and again after that, I think by Sachin himself.

It's on YouTube.

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Has he ever talked in length about why he struggled in India? I don't really remember hearing him discuss it. I always assumed it was because there wasn't as much bounce in India and also because he didn't get the amount of drift he tended to get in other parts of the world. But having never bowled a leg break in my life, I'm just spitballing really.

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Not really.

He gets a pass for his first tour in 92, just a young leggie learning his trade. They then toured again in 98, and that would be the last tour before his major shoulder or finger operation (I forget which). This was the tour with the aforementioned bouncer and had Tendulkar probably at his peak and Warne struggling with injury.

'01 and '04 are difficult to justify though. He did write that he had a mental problem bowling to them picked up from previous tours- particularly Sachin and to a lesser extent Laxman. That Indian batting line up was amazing though, those two mentioned plus Dravid and Ganguly - all the while bowling on pitches that tend to be a little dead.

So in conclusion God knows. Probably a combination of everything. The best batting line up in the world on their home patch, coupled with two previous bad tours all add up.

Regarding drift - that isn't generally governed by the atmosphere, it all depends on how much spin you impart on the ball. The more spin, the more drift. Unless its blowing a gale obviously.

 

 

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That's a good point, actually Warne was talking about that during this test match and that's exactly what he said. Never used to get any bloody drift on my offies though and I used to give them a good tweak.

You're right about that Indian batting line-up as well, nobody really got on top of them on their own patch during that period. Aside from Shaun Udal, obviously.

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Hicky took a Four for  in India, just saying. 

 

Anyway, the greatest sport writing and books are about Cricket. What's everyone's favourite? Mine's anything by Simon Hughes, Steve Waugh's Autobio, or the ultimate in cricket reading - Penguins Stopped Play by Harry Thompson. 

Edited by PowerButchi
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David Shepherd's autobiography was a lovely read. Lots of stuff about his playing career, not just his umpiring. Seemed like the nicest, funniest man in the sport.

Edited by Devon Malcolm
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Have you read Trott's yet? I knew he was struggling, but fuck me, he was going Super Tresco. The modern travelling game is taking it's wickets mentally of several people. Sorry to mention HICK again, but I'd be super interested to read how he felt from 93-95. The intensity and isolation at the crease in cricket is something far and away from pretty much any other sport. You're an individual, and to be great individually, but you've a team to look after. I get stressed just thinking about it, god knows how the players managed to keep a publicly level head. Especially when John Emburey's 55no in 93 at Edgbaston (How's this for an Attack? Emburey. Such [Who to be fair had a great series, tres underrated], Martin Bicknell, and Mark fucking Illot with No All Rounder. Check the figures, horrible reading - http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/63613.html) would get tabloid front page news, as would Gatting being Gatting earlier in the series (fat, shit, and Warne's bunny)...

Some light watching for tomorrow. HOWZAT! Kerry Packer's War. It's about the formation of World Series Cricket and players finally getting proper money. It was made by Channel 9 after Packer's death in 2013 or so, so it's harsh on the boards of the nations (rightly so 90% of the time, but still), and "Tony Greig" looks like Bombhead off Hollyoaks but it kills 3 hours. Good watch. Count how many people you've seen on Neighbours or Home and Away in the 90s.

 

http://icefilms.ws/show/howzat-kerry-packers-war/season/1/episode/1

http://icefilms.ws/show/howzat-kerry-packers-war/season/1/episode/2

 

 

Edited by PowerButchi
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DOUBLE POST BUT I AM A LAW UNTO MYSELF

 

With Sky Sports going to 10 channels next week including a specialist Cricket channel, are we likely to get any of the County Championship? I'd hope so, too long off our screens. Also, this winter, is the first Ashes not covered by SKY since 2005 as BT have it. I'd not be adverse to them showing the Channel 9 Coverage as I love Chappelli, but the only thing I haven't missed from the Channel 4 Coverage (Benaud will always be missed massively), is Mark Nicholas and he's some kind of (non)Thinking Woman's Crumpet on Channel 9's coverage as the Gower.

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On the cricketing book front, the book barn I frequent has shit loads of them, all priced at £1. I've got several Wisden's from there at that price.

I'd always recommend searching for Bob Appleyard's biography from a few years back. Almost died and basically lost the use of one of his lungs, then a year or so later travelled to Australia and won the Ashes in the early 50's. A wonderful tale and one of my favourite ever cricket books.

I've also never found better bog-reading (bar Viz) than 'Opening Up', by Geoffrey Boycott. It was released shortly after Packer and is basically 300 pages of him saying that every other player going is shit. Top drawer. 

Christopher Martin-Jenkins 'Spirit of Cricket' is also excellent. A collection of old stories, news articles, poetry and more about the best game going. 

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9 hours ago, PowerButchi said:

Have you read Trott's yet? I knew he was struggling, but fuck me, he was going Super Tresco. The modern travelling game is taking it's wickets mentally of several people. Sorry to mention HICK again, but I'd be super interested to read how he felt from 93-95. The intensity and isolation at the crease in cricket is something far and away from pretty much any other sport. You're an individual, and to be great individually, but you've a team to look after. I get stressed just thinking about it, god knows how the players managed to keep a publicly level head. Especially when John Emburey's 55no in 93 at Edgbaston (How's this for an Attack? Emburey. Such [Who to be fair had a great series, tres underrated], Martin Bicknell, and Mark fucking Illot with No All Rounder. Check the figures, horrible reading - http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/63613.html) would get tabloid front page news, as would Gatting being Gatting earlier in the series (fat, shit, and Warne's bunny)...

Some light watching for tomorrow. HOWZAT! Kerry Packer's War. It's about the formation of World Series Cricket and players finally getting proper money. It was made by Channel 9 after Packer's death in 2013 or so, so it's harsh on the boards of the nations (rightly so 90% of the time, but still), and "Tony Greig" looks like Bombhead off Hollyoaks but it kills 3 hours. Good watch. Count how many people you've seen on Neighbours or Home and Away in the 90s.

 

http://icefilms.ws/show/howzat-kerry-packers-war/season/1/episode/1

http://icefilms.ws/show/howzat-kerry-packers-war/season/1/episode/2

 

 

Anyone know a way I can download these video's to watch offline? I've got a plane ride tomorrow and this will pass the time brilliantly...

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7 hours ago, Gus Mears said:

 

I've also never found better bog-reading (bar Viz) than 'Opening Up', by Geoffrey Boycott. It was released shortly after Packer and is basically 300 pages of him saying that every other player going is shit. Top drawer. 

 

That Boycott book is a beauty. The pictures are good too, him all dressed up in his black pads.

Out of the recent lot, Trescothick's and Pietersen's are pretty good. The first chapter of Trescothick's describe how he was sat in departures for Somerset's pre-season tour to Dubai or something and he just broke down. Floods of tears. Just amazing how life can get to you. 

He also talks about forum favourite Angus Fraser turning his career around. Fraser had presented Trescothick with Young Cricketer of the Year or something in the early 90s. Four or five years later they met again in a Second XI game - Trescothick on the way up, Fraser on the way down. Well Big Gus basically abused the rather rotund Tresco for a full day whilst he scored a double ton, calling him all the fat jokes under the sun - Angus getting more and more would up whilst getting smashed round the park. Trescothick mentions the game as a watershed moment in his career, when he realised he actually belonged in the game.

Warne's book I like. The highlight being him turning up at his mentor Terry Jenner's house early in his test career with a crate of ale and and some pies. Jenner, who had backed Warne from the start told him to fuck off and forget about his test career if he continued in this vein. 

Jenner also rang up Warne to give him a round of fucks when (the real) Devon Malcolm hit him for 3 sixes in an over during a test best 20 odd in 94/95. The next test Warne took 8-71 including a hat trick (David Boon with the catch of his life).

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