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Summer of Cricket thread

Richie said:
I'd say Australias chances are good to defend out WTC title given that our Test match win percentage at Lord's stands at a healthy 45%. No team, not even England (40%) has a better record at the Home of Cricket than the Aussies. We have claimed 18 wins from 40 matches at Lord's in more than 140 years of Test cricket, which is far superior to South Africa's 33% per cent from 18 Tests at the same venue. Historically, Australia holds a 54-26 advantage over South Africa in 101 Test matches.
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reckon south africa would suit English conditions?
 
I really do think it will be a well fought out contest. Very hard to know about everyones form and fitness on the back of short form tournaments etc.

You'd like to think the experience and class of the Aussies will shine through BUT the Saffers never fear us and with a pumped up Rabada with something to prove, if they win enough sessions who knows.

Can they get enough runs against our bowlers will likely decide it.
 
onedaywinners... said:
I really do think it will be a well fought out contest. Very hard to know about everyones form and fitness on the back of short form tournaments etc.

You'd like to think the experience and class of the Aussies will shine through BUT the Saffers never fear us and with a pumped up Rabada with something to prove, if they win enough sessions who knows.

Can they get enough runs against our bowlers will likely decide it.
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They struggled to score runs in Aus, but must have had a lot of batting success since.
 
Richie said:
I'd say Australias chances are good to defend out WTC title given that our Test match win percentage at Lord's stands at a healthy 45%. No team, not even England (40%) has a better record at the Home of Cricket than the Aussies. We have claimed 18 wins from 40 matches at Lord's in more than 140 years of Test cricket, which is far superior to South Africa's 33% per cent from 18 Tests at the same venue. Historically, Australia holds a 54-26 advantage over South Africa in 101 Test matches.
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Promising, Richie!
 
To qualify for the WTC Final the Proteas defeated West Indies, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Pakistan to top the points standings. Note none of the big three among their wins. Compared to them Australia played both England and India, as well as Windies, NZ and didn't lose a series during the two-year WTC cycle. Yet inexplicably the Aussies finished second on points. Tho we never played our WTC opponents during the cycle we did just before its start in late '22 winning the three Test series 2-0 with one drawn.
 
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The Aussie campaign started with the controversial '23 Ashes that finished in a 2-2 draw and ended with a 3-1 series victory over India, to win the Border-Gavaskar Trophy for the first time in a decade. In between we rolled Pakistan 3-0 at home, drew 1-1 with the Windies, the Kiwis 2-0 on their soil then did the same to Sri Lanka, in what was Australia's first series triumph in the island nation in 14 years. I call that fairly impressive.
 
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grazorblade said:
reckon south africa would suit English conditions?
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Doubt that Grazor as their pitches are similar to ours, fast and bouncy. They struggle too like some of our blokes against the moving ball. Hearing Lords will be lively so will suit both the Proteas and us.
 
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Decentric said:
A few mates of mine don't want to cough up paying Amazon Prime in order to watch the Test Final. I don't want them around here in the middle of the night either!
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I am with your mates. How dare a greedy Yank streamer make us Aussies pay to watch our national sport.
 
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Richie said:
To qualify for the WTC Final the Proteas defeated West Indies, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Pakistan to top the points standings. Note none of the big three among their wins. Compared to them Australia played both England and India, as well as Windies, NZ and didn't lose a series during the two-year WTC cycle. Yet inexplicably the Aussies finished second on points. Tho we never played our WTC opponents during the cycle we did just before its start in late '22 winning the three Test series 2-0 with one drawn.
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Let's face it, the so-called "World Test Championship" format is an absolute joke. As is more and more of international test cricket, unfortunately.
 
Richie said:
The Aussie campaign started with the controversial '23 Ashes that finished in a 2-2 draw and ended with a 3-1 series victory over India, to win the Border-Gavaskar Trophy for the first time in a decade. In between we rolled Pakistan 3-0 at home, drew 1-1 with the Windies, the Kiwis 2-0 on their soil then did the same to Sri Lanka, in what was Australia's first series triumph in the island nation in 14 years. I call that fairly impressive.
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Agree.

Impressive Aus campaign!
 
Richie said:
Doubt that Grazor as their pitches are similar to ours, fast and bouncy. They struggle too like some of our blokes against the moving ball. Hearing Lords will be lively so will suit both the Proteas and us.
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There could be some low scores, Richie!
 
Decentric said:
There could be some low scores, Richie!
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What happened to Baggers DC. I'd agree if the game was to be played in typical English conditions, you know overcast skies, periodic drizzle, but the London forecast is mostly fine for the duration with possible rain only on day 5.
 
Richie said:
Yes the format is, but not the principle. How cool is it to be called the World Test Cricket Champion.
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The principle of having a champion test nation is fine. Unfortunately the process to arrive at two finalists is probably the most unbalanced qualification process, by far, in world sport. Combine this with the fact that test cricket continues to lose relevance in the cricket world, and I don't see any real kudos in being World Test Cricket Champion.
 
Keeper66 said:
Combine this with the fact that test cricket continues to lose relevance in the cricket world,
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Totally agree about the unbalanced process. The ICC is the joke. Dont agree tho over your point that Test cricket is losing relevance. Not for a majority of current Test players who rate it the top of the pile as it carries the most prestige and is the only pure cricket format that comprises a true TEST of all aspects of your cricketing ability. Betting past players w'd say the same.
 
Richie said:
Totally agree about the unbalanced process. The ICC is the joke. Dont agree tho over your point that Test cricket is losing relevance. Not for a majority of current Test players who rate it the top of the pile as it carries the most prestige and is the only pure cricket format that comprises a true TEST of all aspects of your cricketing ability. Betting past players w'd say the same.
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Look, I agree that test cricket is the ultimate and best form of the game. Unfortunately test cricket is really on only maintaining interest levels in Australia, India and England. Maybe New Zealand also, but to a lesser extent. And I'm sure you are right that many players see it as the real test of cricket ability, however it seems that most players outside Aus, Ind and Eng prioritise T20 cricket, for obvious reasons $.

So that is why I said that test cricket is losing relevance. A great example is the decline of the West Indies over the past 10-15 years.

Don't get me wrong, I prefer and enjoy test cricket. I can't watch T20 cricket, each game is essentially the same.
 
Richie said:
Why do you think unfortunately?
The more the merrier for this Test cricket tragic.
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I said test cricket is becoming a joke because outside Aus, Ind and Eng many players prioritise T20 cricket. More and more test series are played without first choice players (excluding Aus, Ind and Eng) because of T20 cricket, so it means some test series do not necessarily have the best players from each country taking part. This diminishes test cricket in my view.
 
Richie said:
What happened to Baggers DC. I'd agree if the game was to be played in typical English conditions, you know overcast skies, periodic drizzle, but the London forecast is mostly fine for the duration with possible rain only on day 5.
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I thought I read the pitch could be juicy.

Good to hear a decent weather forecast, Baggers.
 
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