The Gabba hosts this battle of the associates in a game with a lot of meaning, especially for Ireland, fresh from their win against the WIndies, who, since then, have bashed two more scores of over 300.
I’m not feeling overly enthused about writing at the moment. I saw that throwaway line by Andy Bull in The Spin, and just feel as though these people are maliciously misrepresenting many people’s line. Then there is the reinforcement of Giles Clarke in a position of power, meaning those people who actually feel like Andy Bull’s mythical beings, have every right to be angry. How else can the refuseniks lash out at these people? Oh, of course, we all want KP back….
Any comments on this more refreshing, more enriching match-up should be added below. Keep being strong outside cricket, people.
I’ve just written a post (in reply to MildredPlotka) on that Spin article, elaborating on the one I made earlier.
It’s really very tiring, isn’t it? Twenty-two years ago, Martin Johnson would have been writing witty asides about Dexter and implicitly sharing his readers’ astonishment and cynicism. In 2015 we get John Etheridge showing how distant the press box has become from the readership.
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Oh god! Pringle is in the Sky studio.
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I really did laugh at your post. You expect him to come in like Father Time. Don’t tell me he talked about KP again. He’s such a broken record.
Anyway guys have a look at this little beauty. Fantastic article: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/cricket/cricket-world-cup/11435240/Minnows-are-crucial-to-cricket-World-Cup.html#comment-1876436487 A must read IMHO. Yay I’m feeling humble.
I tweeted him with my usual: 4 all cricket outsiders and he tweeted me back and said who would want to be an insider with this lot! Couldn’t agree more.
Oh and there is a petition to stop the ICC from reducing the number of countries that can compete in the World Cup.
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Some recovery from UAE from 131-6. Ireland now 97-4 and needing something similar.
There was an incident earlier when Ed Joyce was ‘bowled’ and the bails fell back into their grooves. Film of it is in the Guardian OBO – well worth checking out.
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Or watch it here:
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Really conflicted about this one. As a UAE resident, I am rooting for them to do well. At the same time we need Ireland not to stumble over their fellow associate and make it to the knock-out stages.
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Yes, we’re living in a world where it is more in UAE’s long-term interest to lose this game than to win it.
The world created by Dave “meritocratic” Richardson (and those behind him).
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Wholeheartedly agree. It has gotten to the point where Ireland need to get into the quarters. Not so much for the sake of Irish cricket, but governance of the game.
Though of course I’d rather have them in more than anyone else, and that includes SA.
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96m six into the second tier at the Gabba by Kevin O’Brien followed by an 89m six. Fifty off 25 balls….. and out.
John Mooney in wearing one of the new helmets with extra neck protection. 36 needed off 32.
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Dave Richardson: “This is not the kind of game we want to see.”
Yeah, it is competitive at the 46 over mark. Both teams can still win it.
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It was a cracking game. What is wrong with these bozos. Too damn elitist. I don’t understand these people.
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What a cracking game – last two overs…. 10 to win, two wickets, even Swanny is up for it on TMS
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Cracking game, to be decided in the last over of the match. The ICC does not like those games.
Ireland win, but it was anything but straightforward, and the UAE hardly embarrassed themselves either. Halfway through the Ireland innings, they looked good to cause an upset.
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Yay!!!
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Game of the tournament so far. ‘Associate members’ showing how silly and small minded the ICC are!
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Like like a thousand times like.
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No sleep next Tuesday – Ireland play SA!
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Wouldn’t it be something if Ireland beat the Saffers. Blige me.
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You guys are going to love this:-
“The ideas are included in a discussion document – Strategy Conversation Summary – seen by ESPNcricinfo which details radical suggestions for change in the domestic and international game. They form part of a wide-ranging review into the future of English cricket, both domestically and internationally, in which no tenet of the game is immune from potential change (except the management – my addition)”
ECB ideas for the future in Cricinfo – enjoy
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Don’t forget “the ECB brand is toxic so it will be renamed Cricket England and Wales”!
How is it even possible to sink lower than they already have? But fair play, they keep managing it.
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“Dickheads England & Wales” surely?
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C**** (Strauss’ expletive), Executives & Weasels?
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Some interesting slants on this at the DT:-
The governing body confirmed on Wednesday the existence of a document, quoted by Cricinfo as containing plans for a streamlined county championship and the inauguration of an Indian Premier League-style Twenty20 competition – what, another secret document???
Giles Clarke is to become the ECB’s first president, a position created under an updated constitution which recognises the need for a full-time focus to be applied to this country’s representation in global discussions. – updated constitution that leaves the MCC still in position???
Graves said “At the end of five years, if people turn round and say ‘Colin Graves has changed English cricket for the good, and it’s more entertaining, better to watch …’, and everybody’s happier with the game, then I’ll be highly delighted.” – haha, so it’s all about Colin Graves then?????
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/cricket/international/england/11434968/ECB-consider-radical-plan-for-four-day-Tests-and-40-over-one-day-internationals.html
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As a loyal Guardian reader, I’d love to see what their reaction is to the ECB conversation. Apparently, the big news is KP’S tweet in favour of the EPL.
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but they are definitely not talking to the people – counties and stakeholders only – the people can just get stuffed – why does anybody support this lot ever??
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The Guardian finally has a report. No comments.
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So does the Mail.
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“Article with no comments enabled”.
I should have that phrase saved on my clipboard.
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Couple of horrible posts below the Guardian match report: Yossarian1977 confirming that neoliberal economics > sport and that’s fine by him (“teats” and “welfare” ffs), and the increasingly depressing hblove saying that Pak and WI are better to watch even when they’re not.
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According to Sharda Ugra on cricinfo one of the proposals is a virtually done-deal:
“what of the 40-over World Cup? At the international level, that should be a shoo-in. The ECB’s discussion document has the words requiring its reps to “influence ICC” into changing the World Cup to a 40-over format. It won’t require much effort as the other two biggies – India and Australia – are on the ECB’s side anyway”.
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If that comes to pass:
You thought Anderson and Broad look knackered now? Wait till you see the England attack after a few more tweaks by the ICC.
40 overs means less mandatory rest for the players (believe me, they will fiddle with this then). Which means a World Cup can become a double round robin, to generate even more revenue.
The ICC: The only governing body that tries it best to turn the showcase event into a living nightmare for fans.
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Could the ECBXI (or even the Cricket England and Wales Boored) last 40 overs…
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Don’t we just all wish for an NZ v Ireland semi at least…
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Excellent match report:
http://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/other-sports/ireland-march-on-after-uae-scare-314770.html
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