Cricket Banter

^^ It's already the beginning of the end for Test Match Cricket, as we know it. The past decade or so we've maybe played too much of it, but what is around the corner is India, England & Australia & very little from the rest.
What is currently happening with golf & the LIV Saudi Tour is about to have an even greater impact on cricket. The IPL franchises are set to take over another T20 tournament. They already have teams in the new SA T20 comp. The upshot is that a player contracted by an IPL franchise will have an obligation to represent them in other countries, SA Saudi etc. this would tie up some players for approaching 6 months of the year, or maybe longer, this will just push Test Match Cricket further to the margins.

(24-04-2023 13:12 )Boomerangutangangbang Wrote:  Ireland v SL 2nd Test Galle Day 4 Close
Ireland elected to bat
Ireland 492 Campher 111 Stirling 103 Prabath 5-174 & 54-2
SL 704-3 dec Kusal 245 Madushka 205 Karunaratne 115 Mathews 100 no

Ireland still trial by 158 & will have to bat for most of the final day to secure a draw.

(27-04-2023 19:32 )Boomerangutangangbang Wrote:  

(24-04-2023 13:12 )Boomerangutangangbang Wrote:  Ireland v SL 2nd Test Galle Day 4 Close
Ireland elected to bat
Ireland 492 Campher 111 Stirling 103 Prabath 5-174 & 54-2
SL 704-3 dec Kusal 245 Madushka 205 Karunaratne 115 Mathews 100 no

Ireland still trial by 158 & will have to bat for most of the final day to secure a draw.

I would be more confident of them achieving that this time around Booms, but there is always the 'pressure' of trying to see out time, and Ireland have been in similar positions before when the 2nd inns turned out to be the polar opposite of the first. Application - step repeat!!

(27-04-2023 19:32 )Boomerangutangangbang Wrote:  [quote='Boomerangutangangbang' pid='2775932' dateline='1682338356']

Ireland v SL 2nd Test Galle Day 4 Close
Ireland elected to bat
Ireland 492 Campher 111 Stirling 103 Prabath 5-174
SL 704-3 dec Kusal 245 Madushka 205 Karunaratne 115 Mathews 100 no
Ireland 202 Teckor 85 Balbirnie 46 Ramesh 5-64 Asitha 3-30
Sri Lanka won by an innings & 10 runs

Sadly, as we expected.

(28-04-2023 13:48 )Boomerangutangangbang Wrote:  

(27-04-2023 19:32 )Boomerangutangangbang Wrote:  [quote='Boomerangutangangbang' pid='2775932' dateline='1682338356']

Ireland v SL 2nd Test Galle Day 4 Close
Ireland elected to bat
Ireland 492 Campher 111 Stirling 103 Prabath 5-174
SL 704-3 dec Kusal 245 Madushka 205 Karunaratne 115 Mathews 100 no
Ireland 202 Teckor 85 Balbirnie 46 Ramesh 5-64 Asitha 3-30
Sri Lanka won by an innings & 10 runs

Sadly, as we expected.

^ Indeed!! As foretold and all too predictable! Can't seem to put a complete performance together at all! I didn't see todays action! Surely the pitch was not that much different to the previous day?? Spin did for them again?? and/or poor thought processes and execution?? Really should be capable of batting out a final days play in these situations.

^^ 7 wickets fell to spin.

No surprise!! except that, unless the pitch became a raging turner overnight, Ireland did cope well in the 1st dig against it, so again application, pressure of holding out - the same issues! Still relatively early in Irelands test journey (look at Bangladesh) but need to see that they are learning

Lots of injuries in the England camp ahead of the Ireland Test. Bowling resources are looking thin. Josh Tongue of Worcestershire has been drafted in as cover.

Are we calling it a Test Match?? I don't think I am!! England - regardless of injuries -were - to my mind - always likely to put out a side that wouldn't immediately be recognised as one that might be expected for a test match! Another reason Ireland need to look at this event, and ask themselves if they really gain from it, and further, whether they are, in all circumstances, being taken seriously as a Test playing nation (albeit one that is at the early stages of a journey!)?? Maybe better off playing Sri Lanka, Bangladesh - even Zimbabwe, Afghanistan etc in tests proper!

^^ You're half right, England were never going in with their 1st choice bowling attack with 5 Ashes Tests crammed into 6 weeks. They will be putting out their top 7 with any luck.