The Curious Orange Posted April 15, 2012 Share Posted April 15, 2012 Conditions suiting spinners and the way England have performed in those type of conditions this winter and recent tours of India can't have helped either. Surprised Swann hasn't been picked up as he's good for quick runs down the order as well as his wickets, but I wouldn't go anywhere near the batsmen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sergio Bellend Posted April 15, 2012 Share Posted April 15, 2012 Watching the IPL is a very unfulfilling experience and leaves a sour taste in the mouth. It is crass, vulgar, and what often gets forgotten about among all the other complaints about is that the standard of cricket is often dreadful. The fielding is horrendous, and some of the locals and 'second-rate' Aussies are very poor. I don't think I can really add much more to the argument that is made about the commercialism of the league, but everything about it just reeks of squeezing every single penny out of it and forcing their ideology on to the viewers. The silly forced handshake between the umpires at the start, the staged meetings between Bollywood stars and franchise owners, and the commentary from the likes of Shastri, Gavaskar and Bhogle that is little more than BCCI propaganda. KP can fuck right off with his jealousy. If that passes for cricket, then the media are right to turn their noses up at it. Â But above all that, take a look at West Indies v Australia. WI have been shit for most of the last decade, but have a chance to cause and upset against an OK Aussie team yet they have three potential matchwinners in Gayle, Dwayne Bravo and Narine larking about for a few quid in the IPL. Admittedly a fair chunk of blame lies with the WICB as to why they aren't taking part, but if they really wanted to represent their country then they would be in the Caribbean right now. And forget all your Karbon Kamaals, strategic time-outs and shitty commentary, that is the saddest thing of all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harvey Dent Posted April 15, 2012 Share Posted April 15, 2012 I'm no IPL fan either, mainly because I just don't care. Does anyone even give a shit who wins the thing? Isn't that the point of sport? Players seem to all play for different teams every year, players come in and out through the tournament and as others have said the standard is hardly consistently great. To me it's like the big budget, corporate sponsored version of a kick about in the park. Anyone turns up if you give them a ring, grabs whatever shirt and has a laugh with no real point... but in a stadium laced with all the stupid bollocks that they put on. A T20 world cup every few years and a few one offs a the end of test series is enough for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paid Members Devon Malcolm Posted April 15, 2012 Author Paid Members Share Posted April 15, 2012 The stupidest thing about the IPL was last year when all the franchises had to give all but four of their players for re-auction so that the new franchises had a chance to go for them and start on an even keel. One of the most unbelievably stupid things I have ever witnessed in sports administration. Â Plus, most of the supporters don't support a team, they just follow their favourite players. There's no team loyalty - wherever Tendulkar or Dhoni goes, fans will follow. It's just shit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Magnum Milano Posted April 15, 2012 Share Posted April 15, 2012 Owais Shah surely must be in line for an ODI and 20/20 call-up soon, though, he's been awesome in the IPL and the other 20/20 competitions he's played in. Bar one wild swing when Malinga skittled him, Shah has been superb this IPL. The knocks on him were always about his running between the wickets and his fielding, but there have been no issues there whatsoever. If Michael Lumb made the last T20 World Cup purely off the back of playing in the IPL, Shah really should be a shoe-in for a recall. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators PowerButchi Posted April 15, 2012 Moderators Share Posted April 15, 2012 Adam Hollioake's had a change of career.  From the nets to the cage: Adam Hollioake takes on the challenge of MMA Former England one-day captain Adam Hollioake may have quit cricket, but he still craves competition as he embarks on a career as a mixed martial artist. MirrorSport blogger Jay Dann caught up with him in this exclusive interview   Born competitor: Despite retiring from cricket Adam Hollioake has maintained his competitive edge Getty A retired cricketer. A former England cricket captain. At 40 years of age, Adam Hollioake is embarking on an unlikely new career in the boxing and mixed martial arts (MMA) world.  Hollioake Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paid Members Devon Malcolm Posted April 15, 2012 Author Paid Members Share Posted April 15, 2012 (edited) Owais Shah surely must be in line for an ODI and 20/20 call-up soon, though, he's been awesome in the IPL and the other 20/20 competitions he's played in. Bar one wild swing when Malinga skittled him, Shah has been superb this IPL. The knocks on him were always about his running between the wickets and his fielding, but there have been no issues there whatsoever. If Michael Lumb made the last T20 World Cup purely off the back of playing in the IPL, Shah really should be a shoe-in for a recall. Â They can't really use the fielding/running criticism of Shah any more if they keep picking Samit Patel and have just brought back Panesar for tests. Shah was in great form for England before they dropped him. England really could do with him in the lower middle order, he has plenty to offer. Edited April 15, 2012 by Gladstone Small Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Magnum Milano Posted April 15, 2012 Share Posted April 15, 2012 Another fantastic knock from Shah today, 60 from just 26 balls, finally getting dismissed caught on the boundary attempting another six. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paid Members Devon Malcolm Posted April 16, 2012 Author Paid Members Share Posted April 16, 2012 Okay, so I've been looking at the international schedule for this summer and England are playing FOURTEEN ODIs. 3 against West Indies, 5 against South Africa, 1 against Ireland....and 5 against Australia?! Why the fuck are they coming over just for some ODIs? We're also playing 4 20/20s, yet we're only playing 3 tests against South Africa in what should be a series that gets at least 4 tests. Â Absolute bollocks. We always play 7 tests a summer and now we're sacking one off for a pointless ODI series against Australia? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Curious Orange Posted April 16, 2012 Share Posted April 16, 2012 That's the problem with having more grounds done up to host test cricket than there are actual tests - all the grounds need some international cricket or the counties missing out can't cover the overheads without it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Max Power Posted April 16, 2012 Share Posted April 16, 2012 Ian Botham has just walked past my work on one of his charity walks. I clapped him and he nodded and said thanks. I think I'm in love. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paid Members Burchill's Buddy Posted April 18, 2012 Paid Members Share Posted April 18, 2012 In an act of total, total scummery, appears on Twitter that someone broke into Adam and Ben Hollioake's parents house last night and stole a load of Ben's old gear. Â Including all of this Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LariatTom Posted April 18, 2012 Share Posted April 18, 2012 I saw that on Twitter when I was flicking through my feed this morning. Horrible news, but with so many cricketers, journalists and broadcasters helping to spread the message to try and get it back, hopefully his parents can recover most, if not all, of Ben's old kit. I had no idea the list was so extensive until I read that post just now. Â There are some utter shitbags in this world. I hope they're found. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paid Members Devon Malcolm Posted April 18, 2012 Author Paid Members Share Posted April 18, 2012 That's just awful. Some of those items might be difficult to trace but here's hoping they get it all back. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Magnum Milano Posted April 18, 2012 Share Posted April 18, 2012 Saw the Ben Hollioake news this morning. Â Been laid up in bed for a couple of days and watched a cracking match between Dekkan and Rajastan in the IPL yesterday, with the Royals chasing down 196 to win it. Shah scored 11, but he was badly hampered coming in at four after Menaria had got a laboured run a ball 22. Brad Hodge came in after him and played a hell of an innings hammering Dale Steyn and the rest of the Dekkan attack to win the game for his team. Some of the Chargers fielding was awful, Monty at his worst, and not just limited to the Indian lads, whilst Dan Christian showed yet again that he is the most overpaid player in the competition despite the incredibly fortuitous wicket of Dravid which would have been wided had he left it (as it is he played it on to his pads and then the wickets). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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