Cricket-Match-Special ... A forum for discussion

Isn't it longer for players who have already played test cricket for another team?

mikesiva wrote:Isn't it longer for players who have already played test cricket for another team?

No. He has to wait only 3 years so he will be 29/30. Could have Archer and Olivier opening the bowling for England by then.

Stephen Fleming has stepped down as coach of Melbourne Stars

andy wrote:For some random reason the shirts the players will wear in the Ashes this year, will feature players names and numbers on the back of their shirts...

Arthur Crabtree wrote:Promote shirt sales?

I think it's meant to engage people who haven't got a clue who they are, which suggests that it's aimed at the wrong target audience.

But.... players names appear on shirts across a range of sports, including ODI and T20 cricket (and presumably the 100 too), so it may just be test cricket finally catching up with the rest of the world

Durhamfootman wrote:I think it's meant to engage people who haven't got a clue who they are, which suggests that it's aimed at the wrong target audience.

Those mums and kids?

could be

do they still think that, now that Strauss has gone?

Slipstream wrote:Duanne Olivier wants to play cricket for England says Richard Gibson in the Mail. How many years does he have to do to qualify?

April Fools is a bit early.

I know The Day Today is supposedly making a comeback in podcast form, but even this level of satire is a bit far fetched.

New Zealand have cancelled their u19's tour to Bangladesh

India have retained the ICC test mace for the 3rd year in a row

No contest.

nobody else seems to have a team that can perform with any sort of consistency across a full year

Durhamfootman wrote:nobody else seems to have a team that can perform with any sort of consistency across a full year

New Zealand are capable, but can't seem to get test matches against the top.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/47798208

Always amazed me that he had the captaincy for so long, given his record in county cricket is atrocious!

What do Ireland have in the cupboard, though? In their last test match they batted a guy scrapping a FC average of 20 at Durham in their top 5 (Stuart Poynter) of a test match. Their opener averaged 10 in 6 matches for Middlesex, and has an average youd expect from a number 8 in FC cricket over the years. Their double drop could hardly get a game in 6 years in CC, and when he did, he was terrible.

The fact seems to be, a player averaging just above 30 in CC over the years is walking into this team, and would probably stand out as their most qualified player. The batting line up is horrendous, and will be torn apart by any half decent attack in test cricket. I cant see many people going out their way to play a decent amount of tests v them.

Ireland's first class domestic league has three teams in it

three

how that is meant to support a test team is beyond me