The All New Cricket Thread!

[The Curious Orange]

Somewhere along the line they switched focus entirely on creating a bowling attack for a pacey pitch like Perth, despite the rest of the pitches in Australia not being like that anymore.

It would be nice if they actually picked someone used to taking the new ball this summer like Ollie Robinson, Sam Cook or Ben Coad - Potts could be an option too, but don't think being 12th man for the last year has helped him form-wise.

[Gus Mears]

I enjoyed us basing our attack around Mark Wood, the world's most injured man, being fit for 5 tests in a row.

[JNLister]

Got my name in Wisden. Admittedly it was in the section "People who did not win our writing competition" but it still counts.

Means I'm now free to post it here (it's an allusion to https://www.orwellfoundation.com/the-orwell-foundation/orwell/essays-and-other-works/the-moon-under-water/):

 

Quote

In 1943, George Orwell wrote of his favourite public house, the Moon Under Water. While he discussed its many virtues, he puzzlingly forgot to mention it’s just two minutes from the County Ground.

It’s an idyllic place to watch cricket, its character distinguished by the way no two structures look alike. The ultimate contrast comes from the oldest, somewhat decrepit, covered wooden stand being directly opposite the media centre: a fibreglass structure with floor-to-ceiling windows that brings to mind a spaceship.

While the County Ground features a giant video screen for instant replays of dismissals and close calls, there’s also a scoreboard that’s visible from every seat at every moment. If one ever tires of the architecture, there’s a church spire and a lush hill range in the background to catch the eye. And at the heart of it all lies a field that offers a fair battle of bat and ball, but with an unusual slope or shape that makes it a unique battleground.

If, or rather when, the rain arrives, there’s adequate covered spaces for all spectators to take shelter. Extended breaks give an opportunity to visit the club museum, free with optional donation. Savvy spectators will know to look to the longest serving steward who, from the position and colour of the clouds alone, will unfailingly predict whether it’s better to hang on for a resumption or make a dash for the early train.

At the County Ground, one can walk the entire circuit of the field without losing sight of the wicket for more than a few seconds, unimpeded by member only gates or hospitality suite entrances. While each spectator will have their own preferred vantage point, with padded seating throughout, the ultimate option will always be the row of benches where, on quieter days, there is room to spread out a packed lunch.

Speaking of food, the County Ground has a range of options from pasties and pies on a cold County Championship weekday to the T20 Blast food village where every world cuisine is available in a conveniently handheld format. There’s also a bar stocked with locally sourced beers at prices comparable to The Moon Under Water itself. Customers are trusted to return their glasses at the end of the day with no deposit needed, refundable or otherwise.

But now is the time to reveal something which the discerning and disillusioned reader will probably have guessed already. There is no such place as the County Ground. That is to say, there are many grounds of that name, but I know not of any ground with just that combination of qualities.

To be fair, I do know of a couple venues that come close. Worcestershire’s New Road is a near fit, but I fear any association between it and the words “Under Water” would not be well received.

And, as an adopted Bristolian, to admit that Somerset’s Taunton home is the true County Ground would be about as enjoyable as a visit to Room 101.

 

[HandsomeButchIII]

On 4/16/2026 at 5:36 PM, Gus Mears said:

I enjoyed us basing our attack around Mark Wood, the world's most injured man, being fit for 5 tests in a row.

It's ok, They'll have Jofra Archer bowl 8 over spells at full pelt at Headingly when it's overcast on a  seaming wicket which swings for medium-fast for five days. Then he'll fall apart like the man made from Meccano at the start of the 90s CBBC documentary The Lowdown.

 

BAZBALL!

 

D-Mal, had it best (as befitting a man formally called GladstoneSmall on here so knows his quicks). Steve Harmison, poor bowler, would just hit county players on the head in May and get tests to ever decreasing returns. Not like the Oval in 93, where D-Mal, Gus and the honest seam bowling of the other Steve Watkin was fantastic.

Edited April 18 by HandsomeButchIII

[The Curious Orange]

I've just looked up that test. Fraser batting at 8 - that's a proper tail!

[JNLister]

[Jesse]

Barely want to talk about the start to our season. 3 defeats in 4 in the Metro Bank for Lancs Women. Absolutely miserable start to the season, the previous two losses were fairly close but today was an absolute thrashing.

[Fog Dude]

Ed Davey represents a posh seat nowadays, but he's made no secret of the fact he's from Nottinghamshire originally.

[Lion_of_the_Midlands]

One thing we have not talked about is the young Indian lad in the IPL, Sooryavanshi. I know it's the IPL but Jesus H Christ on a bike, he's 15, he's seeing the cricket ball like it's a beach ball, and he's blasting it to all parts of the ground. I've seen him track Jasprit Bumrah back over his head for 6 like it was me bowling. Today he charged Rabada and put him back over his head for 6. 

He really is something else. I've always been a Test cricket man, but I think I'd like to see him play. 

[Cod Eye]

Some amazing news on the County front for me and others in Barnsley. Yorkshire have announced that they will be playing their One Day games at Barnsley CC's Shaw Lane ground from 2028. The ground is only a 10 minute walk from my house, so Im over the moon. Up to now(well, 2028), Ive either had the nightmare drive into Leeds or the long drive to Scarborugh to see Yorkshire play! 

They are also having women's First Class games there, and aiming to host some men's first class games there, so its exciting times! 

[JNLister]

Ticked off one another of the "see all 10 forms of dismissal in person" on Saturday at the England-India womens T20 game when India retired a batter who was scoring too slowly for their liking. Apparently the first time that's happened in a full member nation womens international. (Only other known case was a world cup qualifier which I think I mentioned in this thread where a team that had already scored 200 retired the entire team because rain was approaching and they wanted to get the other side in for at least five overs so they could get a DLS result as a washout would have eliminated them: https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/icc-women-s-t20-world-cup-asia-region-qualifier-2025-1483752/qatar-women-vs-united-arab-emirates-women-6th-match-group-b-1483765/full-scorecard)

I think that gets me up to seven: the five common ones (bowled, run out, caught, stumped, LBW), plus I definitely saw either a hit ball twice or an obstructed the field (in the form of handling the ball.) 

[Gus Mears]

On 11/22/2025 at 10:28 AM, Gus Mears said:

Well that was fucking shit.

 

[Lion_of_the_Midlands]

Tremendous catch by Williamson to get Stokes. It has been bad but let's hope we get the same conditions to bowl in that they've had. 

[The Curious Orange]

5 hours ago, Gus Mears said:

Well that was fucking shit.

Good chance England could be 100 runs ahead at lunch on Day 2 like when you posted this the first time round!

Edited June 4 by The Curious Orange

[HandsomeButchIII]

This wicket is unplayable. Bowled short and stays low and swings and takes the off out about 12 inches up? I can just imagine Woaksey going spare at home, same as Jimmy. Aggerx said on TMS earlier, and I agree, the cut strip is an embarassment. Even my medium pace would seam off there.