The World T20 starts tomorrow (or next week if you’re a big boy – oh, missus!)
CricketMax underwent extensive trials on different wickets to try and find the perfect balance between bat and ball.
The tournament starts at 09.30 GMT, with Hong Kong v Zimbabwe in Nagpur and at 14.00 Afghanistan v Scotland, on Wednesday there’s Bangladesh (who must be a bit shagged out after losing the Asia Cup final to India) against my Dutch cousins at Dharamsala and later on Ireland v Oman.
romeoromeotango 
Well, I’m standing to applaud.
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That was a blast of hope that did everybody a world of good. Rather spoilt by Chris Bloody Morris getting a four-fer, but never mind.
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Mes coughs in the direction of Bangalore.
First dismissal was a bad decision by the umpire.
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Coughs a little louder
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Chris Gayle’s been off the field for so long he won’t be able to open the batting.
Probably went in search of pussy.
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It wouldn’t have taken him that long I reckon.
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Jeffrey Vandersay sounds like he should be fronting a group of Motown crooners. Let’s see how he bowls…
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He’s not in the same league as Harold ‘Melvin’ Larwood, but that drop at deep midwicket struck a pretty Blue Note.
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Badoom-tish
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All the way round the boundary board, it says “Hit On Me”.
Chris Gayle will bat if absolutely necessary, it appears.
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Apparently it is now absolutely necessary.
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I think that was out. Bounced off his fourth finger, not the ground.
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Afternoon all, the Tyne & Wear bunfight is over and both a step closer to joining Villa in visiting the City Ground next season.
Run a ball required by the Windies.
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A couple of boundaries and it looks like the jog is up for Sri Lanka
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Who need Gayle?
Well played by the WI – dodgy fielding, and iffy umpiring apart.
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Morning. Come on the NZ Wummun! Seeing Aus 9/4 never gets boring.
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Brownie trolling Lankies by retiring out on 92 against UAE.
Nathan Buck, Toby Lester, Simon Kerrigan and Saqib Mahmood are all playing for the UAE. Steven Parry and Matty Parkinson are both in for Lancs, which is interesting. Looking forward to seeing how Parkinson does.
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That UAE bowling scorecard hurts my head. It’s like glimpsing a parallel universe where Lancashire is a land of dry, arid heat.
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I’m sure Killer is enjoying being given some tap by Liam Livingstone.
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Lancs Lancsing up. What’s interesting is that they’re Lancsing up at the handed of Saqib Mahmood and Nathan Buck.
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Afternoon everyone.
Er, c’mon you Bangladesh.
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Afternoon all
Congrats to the Silver Ferns (or is that the Rugby team?) and Bangladesh post 156/5. That isn’t going to be enough against the Aussies. I can see the Aussies only needing the top 4. Even the walking lbw will get a decent proportion of those runs.
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I’ve just come across a piece of info on another site that may be of interest here. Apparently, the ECB rules state that overseas players in county cricket must come from full member nations. So, none of our boys can come over for the experience, sadly. Obviously, Bosman overrules this as far as Ireland, Holland etc are concerned, but last time I looked Afghanistan wasn’t in the EU, so no Shahzad, Hasim, Samiullah nor any of the myriad Dawlats. Shame. Can we start lobbying for this to change? In a friendly manner, of course.
Meanwhile, a couple of Banglas could be good signings. Tamim to play for Somerset alongside the original Banger, before it’s too late, maybe?
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If I didn’t know any better I would start to think that governing bodies such as the ECB, ICC, BCCI etc don’t actually want the involvement of the Associate nations and don’t really care about their development.
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Aussies already have the run rate under control
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Khawaja at it again, this could be over fairly quickly
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To paraphrase Oscar
Work is the curse of the cricket-watching classes.
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Just got home and seemingly the Aussies made hard work of that
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Jordan Clark going wicket-crazy out there. Blimey. I like him, but I think he might need to step up a gear this season and this looks promising.
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I’m sure Killer will have really enjoyed being Matty Parkinson’s first Lancs wicket.
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Looks like, if you’re a spinner, you really need to get this MCC vs Champs gig. Otherwise, you may as well hibernate until August. Carver, Tredders and Samit all cashing in today
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Samit and Tredders in the wickets = good.
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Rhodes and Hodd making this stand count though.
Yorkshire will be happy to bowl last
Afternoon all
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I’ve been thinking this afternoon (and also reading ‘The Spin’ on the sly in work).
Tomorrow is a bit of a quandry, but I would not be unduly upset if the ‘thing’ (as Rooto put it at the weekend) should come to pass. Of course, such a thing could not be conceived in any way shape or form.
If you all see what I mean.
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I see what you mean absolutely.
I’d love it if the ‘thing’ came to pass – but I’d quite like it not to be tomorrow…..as I think if England get through to the Semi’s, they have a very good chance of winning the (whole) ‘thing’
It’d be much nicer if the Afghans managed to sneak past the Windies or something like that.
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The prospect of ‘the thing’ is quite nice, though, isn’t it? For once, either way we get to say our boys done good.
Evening all
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Evening Galactus, evening FL
The killer argument for me was the one HPG came up with the other day (en passant, I noted a certain Mr Ball bowling for MCC against the Tykes – a relative, I found out, of Bruce French).
It’s two overs left, the Afghans need 20 to win. Who are you screaming for?
Of course, this scenario will never happen.
Ever.
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The second part of my thought process was based – loosely – on Pascal’s wager.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pascal%27s_Wager
A certain team lose – and what do they lose apart from a bit of pride and a slagging in the less salubrious parts of the British press? Well, not very much if we’re honest.
A certain other team win, par contre, well, that will make all the difference to them.
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Hi Mes
I’m cheering England on. I’m not too gutted if it goes the other way.
Although this
does place things in perspective. Nicely done. I think I’ll now be secretly hoping the Afghans do it.
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I’ve decided however to avoid any “in-play jinxing” (straight, reverse or drive-by) either way tomorrow.
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It’s a nice place to be in. I think I’d rather not see the Afghans crushed, but any other result would be ok.
If I’ll be honest I think an Afghan win with the spinners doing the damage would be my chosen outcome.
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Afghanistan obviously DOOMED.
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If England lose to Afghanistan but beat SL, who beat SA, who beat WI, who also – somehow – lose to Afghanistan. Then everyone has 4 pts. I think.
I’m just trying to square away my competing desires for an Afghan win, but qualification for England.
Morning, by the way.
I’ll be in class for the first innings. Hope ‘it’ is still ‘on’ when my student leaves.
On a less positive note, English Dollop’s been all over the OP’s CC coverage this morning. I hope he/she gives up soon. At least Cheque knew his place.
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I was wondering if that ‘thing’ could happen today and England could still qualify. Seems a bit too convoluted and hopeful.
As mentioned, no jinxing in the cricket today, but if necessary I might try one on Dollop!
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Anyway, before all that happens, the first FC match of the county season is set to be concluded, and it looks tight. MCC are 54/1 chasing 256, and are therefore doomed.
That’s probably good as nobody* wants to see Yorkshire lose their first match of the season.
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No, nobody at all.
I’m remaining silent on the other game for fear of affecting it somehow.
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In other news, here’s my hero being right as usual, this time on the MCCU system.
http://www.espncricinfo.com/england/content/story/987535.html
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1st score check, England 42/4. Blimey
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it could almost be Lancashire out there.
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Except if it was Lancashire, the English side would at least have the decent T20 spin attack required.
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Ian Bell and Tom Westley taking Steve Patterson for over 4 an over. Harrowing experience for Patto there.
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65/6 now. Are there Lancashire players in the squad who can advise on the proper procedure for a “Lancs Up”. Or does mayhem need an approach?
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Oh dear god.
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Jos Buttler gave a masterclass in the art, Chopper. Lankie honour is satisfied.
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Of course Jos is a Lankie, I was concerned they might not approach a ‘Lancs Up’ with the requisite elan, but not to worry.
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Morning all. Apologies – in an unusual turn of events the moment I got out of a meeting and logged on to check the score England wickets stopped falling. If only I had that effect on a traditional Lancs-up.
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what’s happened here is that you’ve jinxed Afghanistan. That ought to tell you something.
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That would explain it. That does sound more like my usual form.
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Can’t be too long now before Surrey, Notts, or Warwickshire throw some cash Tom Westleys way.
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Morning all – I am here.
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Well, I kept a sneaky eye on proceedings, as I “needed the laptop on in case of difficult vocabulary”.
That is all for now…
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Take it deep, lads.
Meanwhile, I notice that the Sledge is warming up nicely for the season.
Did Bressie-lad injure himself?
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