Topic: England's Summer of Cricket 2017 South Africa and West Indies Series

[Yorkykopite]

Surely the Lions tour to Australia would be a better bet? He would benefit more from playing than carrying the drinks. Having the Lions tour in the same country is actual joined up thinking for once.

I didn't realise that. I guess that's what will happen.

[SP]

I didn't realise that. I guess that's what will happen.

David Gower mentioned it, although I can't find any confirmed fixtures for the Lions at all.

[CheshireDave]

David Gower mentioned it, although I can't find any confirmed fixtures for the Lions at all.

Same. Perhaps not rubber stamped yet.

When is it meant to run? Along side The Ashes? i'd be amazed if that was the case. Mad if Australia agree to us sending a B team down there with some players ready for call up should they be required.

[Zee_26]

Slightly off topic, but Ottis Gibson is off to be SA's head coach starting with a nice home series against Bangladesh later this month.

Any thoughts on how he'd do? There are plenty of challenges with the job: a huge World Cup albatross, Kolpak, transformation, aging superstars...

[Fiasco]

Am I perhaps a little harsh by saying both the England and Australia teams/squads for this coming Ashes are both a little subpar in terms of quality?

[voodoo ray]

Am I perhaps a little harsh by saying both the England and Australia teams/squads for this coming Ashes are both a little subpar in terms of quality?

they've both definitely got their own issues.

[Klippity Klopp]

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/v/ihvOkCBL5J8" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">https://www.youtube.com/v/ihvOkCBL5J8</a>

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/v/k_EAF5adH4M" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">https://www.youtube.com/v/k_EAF5adH4M</a>

[SP]

Same. Perhaps not rubber stamped yet.

When is it meant to run? Along side The Ashes? i'd be amazed if that was the case. Mad if Australia agree to us sending a B team down there with some players ready for call up should they be required.

Guardian mentioned it in passing too - they said that the Lions would be in Oz at the start of the tour...

[Klippity Klopp]

Really going to miss Skys coverage of the cricket for The Ashes.

It is a big reason why I've got BT Sports to watch The Ashes (& LFC games).

Not overly impressed with BT lineup - Vaughan, Swann, Pietersen, Ponting & Greg James.

Apart from Ponting, who was very good on Sky in the past - I'm not seeing much insight there.

[SP]

Really going to miss Skys coverage of the cricket for The Ashes.

It is a big reason why I've got BT Sports to watch The Ashes (& LFC games).

Not overly impressed with BT lineup - Vaughan, Swann, Pietersen, Ponting & Greg James.

Apart from Ponting, who was very good on Sky in the past - I'm not seeing much insight there.

Muted with TMS on. It's the only way...

[voodoo ray]

I doubt I'll see much of it this year due to time differences and work, but my concern with the BT coverage is the commentary.

Are they going to stump up (no pun intended) to send their own crew out there or are they going to use the channel 9 stuff in full? If the aussies are on top that could be fucking unbearable.

[dudleyred]

T20 tonight from 6:30

[Crosby Nick]

 Keep forgetting BT have the Ashes. Most annoying as I don't have it. Think I'll go for the old school approach of falling asleep with TMS on. Hope to wake up to better news most mornings than the last series!

[voodoo ray]

T20 tonight from 6:30

I hope the crowd take their thermals with them!

[dudleyred]

I hope the crowd take their thermals with them!

Won't be a night for shorts and tshirts that's for sure!

[voodoo ray]

[Lfsea]

Windies running amok at the moment. Get it on.

[Lfsea]

Wicket. Arf.

[voodoo ray]

been getting a bit of tap since the 3rd over

[voodoo ray]

[TepidT2O]

Well this is a turnaround...

[voodoo ray]

plunk and rashid bowled well. raining now though.

[Welshred]

Hales is on fire at the moment

[voodoo ray]

Looks like it's going to be a close one.

[voodoo ray]

feels like the slowest game of t20 cricket I've ever seen.

[The North Bank]

Windies are one of the best T20 teams in the world, its the only thing they want to play these days. They are world champions and looking like it here, Narine is an exceptional all rounder in this form of the game.

[voodoo ray]

narine's an odd one. he's clearly successful but I don't know what he actually does since he stopped chucking it.

[Crosby Nick]

Bit of a farce at Old Trafford. Sun out, blue skies, start delayed til at least 2pm because parts of the outfield are wet. Obviously bad planning plays a part, al aye a risk of damp conditions at this time of year but surely you make every effort to play for the paying spectators?

[Danny Boys Dad]

Bit of a farce at Old Trafford. Sun out, blue skies, start delayed til at least 2pm because parts of the outfield are wet. Obviously bad planning plays a part, al aye a risk of damp conditions at this time of year but surely you make every effort to play for the paying spectators?

If there's one thing that the cricketing powers that be don't give a shit about it's the paying spectators.

Remember them cancelling a game at OT a few years ago because of a soggy pitch? Commentators were saying that they should just bowl from one end just to get some sort of game on for the spectators but they didn't bother.

[Robinred]

Joe Root dropped Gayle on nought, and Gayle has gone to 32 in quick time.

Joe's slip catching has been poor of late.

[Lfsea]

Bit of a farce at Old Trafford. Sun out, blue skies, start delayed til at least 2pm because parts of the outfield are wet. Obviously bad planning plays a part, al aye a risk of damp conditions at this time of year but surely you make every effort to play for the paying spectators?

It's also borderline inexcusable that, for all the cash that has been spent on OT over the last half a dozen years, they're still having problems with drainage.

[voodoo ray]

Umps get in trouble if a player injures themselves?

[Crosby Nick]

It's also borderline inexcusable that, for all the cash that has been spent on OT over the last half a dozen years, they're still having problems with drainage.

They were talking about the impact of having all the concerts there. Can't really help. I'm sure the club make far more from those than they do from any cricket match they stage but at some point they're going to have to decide where their priorities lie.

[Robinred]

Two cracking catches from Hales and Root - that's more like it.

[Gerry Attrick]

Absolutely dreadful from Samuels. 17 off 46 balls in an ODI should see you dropped for a while.

[Robinred]

Stokes gets Marlon Samuels on review, but no salute that I could see😏

[Frank Becton]

Stokes gets Marlon Samuels on review, but no salute that I could see😏

I think Stokes is 1 point away from a ban so needs to not get into trouble. 

[Crosby Nick]

I think Stokes is 1 point away from a ban so needs to not get into trouble. 

Should win this series then get himself banned from the final one sayer, clear the slate before the Ashes.

[Ray K]

Should win this series then get himself banned from the final one sayer, clear the slate before the Ashes.

Dirk Kuyt likes this. 
That PSV game was hilarious - he spent the last 15 minutes doing everything he could to get booked and eventually got it in injury time. I cheered like we had scored another goal.

[JLStretton]

just seen the catch from root to get gayle, quality.