Cricket

The Ghost of Christmas Past comes calling tomorrow as the Bristol incident of September 2017 is trawled through all over again.

As the article explains.

First glances are sometimes misleading and this case is not as straightforward as is sometimes presumed. For a start, Stokes has already been cleared of the charge of affray at Bristol Crown Court and looks set to remain insistent that, apart from staying out later than was wise, he has done very little wrong.

For that reason, the CDC - which claims to be an entity independent of influence from the ECB or beyond - has assembled an especially experienced panel and permitted legal representation for the players; something it says it will do only in "the most exceptional case" in its own regulations

The case will be heard - and hopefully concluded - over two days this week. Hales will appear before the panel on Wednesday morning, with the expectation that Stokes will appear later the same day, with the possibility his testimony will run into Friday. A verdict - and the announcement of any potential sanctions (fine and bans are both possible) - is also expected on Friday. It may or may not be relevant that the ECB are holding their Christmas party that day; an early announcement is anticipated

It may also be deemed relevant that the two men at the heart of the case, Kai Barry and William O'Connell, praised Stokes as "a hero" for saving them from homophobic abuse and attack. A key moment in the court case came when a fellow defendant, Ryan Ali, accepted that video footage showed him attacking Hales and Barry with a bottle. Stokes is therefore likely to argue his action were proportionate and responsible.

It is worth noting that several other members of the England squad have already been punished for their part in events that night. It is understood they received fines of between £1,000 and £2,000 and written warnings as to their future conduct. At least one of them is understood to have returned to the team hotel later than Hales. The CDC panel may struggle to justify substantially tougher penalties


There is an important distinction between the players, though. For while Stokes has already, in effect, been suspended for the Ashes series - he also lost the England vice-captaincy - Hales has missed only two ODIs (also missed by Stokes) at the end of the 2017 summer in the immediate aftermath of the incident. That could leave him a little more vulnerable to any further sanction, especially as he is currently not a first-choice member of England's ODI side. Put simply, Stokes already has time served in the bank. Hales does not.

Furthermore, while Hales was not on trial in Bristol - he was never even arrested - some his actions on the night in question may well require explanation to the CDC, not least the suggestion that he had only arrived on the scene after the incident. Copious CCTV footage suggests that was not true.

There was also the suggestion, from Stokes' defence team, that the most serious injury sustained in the episode - Ali's broken eye socket - may have been caused by an apparent kick to the head by Hales.

The smart money would appear to be on a fine for Stokes and perhaps a fine and suspension for Hales, plus warnings for both on future conduct, although suspensions are still possible for both.


http://www.espncricinfo.com/story/_...vents-bristol-ecb-hearing-begins?platform=amp
 
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Sandpaper-gate and Australia's year of test match turmoil finally reaches home soil this week after a year of largely demoralising maulings away in South Africa and the UAE.

(Broken only by some remarkable batting heroics from Paine and Khawaja in the first drawn (Pakistan) test match in Dubai)

Australia, the number five ranked team, bereft of their big names are rather like a canoe without a paddle, directionless and hard to steer, with new captain Tim Paine left with the rather thankless task of rebuilding confidence and shaping a way forward through a sea of negativity.

As for India, the number one ranked team, their year of trying but failing to conquer overseas, six defeats in eight tests in South Africa (2-1) and England (4-1), reaches Adelaide and crisis torn Australia, a more favourable set of circumstances is beyond dreams and they must take advantage. No one really knows who starts favourites, but never have India begun a series Down Under with such expectation that this could be their time.

However, that was said about the tours of South Africa and England as well, and both those series went the way of the home side - partly due to a lack of preparation and partly due to some poor selection decisions. India's warm-up match in Sydney was hardly inspiring as they conceded 544 against a Cricket Australia XI.

Team news:-

Australia have rolled the dice again hoping they can at least add some backbone to a lineup prone to collapsing, Smith and Warner were the corner stones and without them there is no permanence or stability, the house just keeps falling down.

Their latest try is to bring in front line batsman Peter Handscomb in place of Mitchell Marsh, while Marcus Harris will open with Aaron Finch with Usman Khawaja down to three. Pat Cummins, Hazlewood, Starc and Nathan Lyon the bowling options.

India, without Privi Shaw for the first test have picked only four bowlers rather than their usual five with Ravi Ashwin providing the spin option, Bumrah, Ishant and Shami the seamers.

This is the first of a FOUR not FIVE test series and starts tomorrow 12am GMT time, they are NOT playing at Australia's traditional fortress of Brisbane either

So the first in Adelaide, South Australia then the second at Perth, Western Australia then at Melbourne, Victoria (boxing day test) and finally Sydney, New South Wales.

Its too close to call,

Odds Australia 6/5 fav, India 11/7, draw 9/2 (oddschecker)
 
It was a good toss to win for India who then proceeded to throw any perceived advantage straight into the bin as loose shots had them reeling at 40 odd for 4, in the end they were grateful for an old school and patient 123 from Pujara for any sort of score at all.

250-9 at stumps is far better than had seemed likely at one stage but Adelaide isn't the subcontinent and it could still leave them struggling in this opener.


Advantage Australia.
 
Magnificent effort from Pujara and extracted full value for his patience, although perhaps a little fortunate to reach three figures with Australia failing to review an edge when on 99.

There are some short videos doing the rounds.

The Cummins run out of Pujara late in the day and the spectacular catch from Khawaja to send a loose Kholi packing are especially worth a look.

All these are on the twitter page linked right at the bottom of the list below

Pujara's run out off the last ball of the day, spectacular fielding from Pat Cummins

Pujara brings up his 100

Starc bowls Sharma

Ashwin nicks off to Cummins

Patient 50 for Pujara

Pant gone to the faintest of nicks

Pant flicks Starc for six

Lyon gets Rohit going for a slog

Rohit Sharma hits Cummins for six

Brilliant catch from Khawaja punishes loose Kohli

Rahane falls to Hazlewood

Starc get Vijay out nicking off


https://mobile.twitter.com/corbpie
 
deipnosophist said:
Kane Williamson 139 not out puts us in a decent position against Pakistan. 5th day tomorrow
Click to expand...

Watched a fair bit of it last night. He's a brilliant player, Williamson, and I've no doubt that when he finishes his career that he'll be remembered as the best batsman NZL has ever produced. Even at this point, I'd rate him above Martin Crowe, and I thought Crowe was a fabulous player in the 80's and 90's.

Tough call to say who is the best batsman in the world currently between Williamson, Kohli and Root. Could argue about it for hours, bit like the Messi/Ronaldo debate.
 
Toffee in Jandals said:
Watched a fair bit of it last night. He's a brilliant player, Williamson, and I've no doubt that when he finishes his career that he'll be remembered as the best batsman NZL has ever produced. Even at this point, I'd rate him above Martin Crowe, and I thought Crowe was a fabulous player in the 80's and 90's.

Tough call to say who is the best batsman in the world currently between Williamson, Kohli and Root. Could argue about it for hours, bit like the Messi/Ronaldo debate.
Click to expand...

LOL

Best batsman in the World is sitting on his arse in purgatory.
 
Australia's batting did what it does best of all recently and collapsed in a heap, at 127-6 they were looking at a very sizeable deficit but Travis Head's unbeaten 61 has kept them in the game at 191-7, 59 behind. With their two main batting stars banned it was always likely run getting would be difficult but swapping the chairs around has once again proved futile.

Ravi Ashwin was perhaps the best bowler with three wickets and lots of maidens from a turgid days cricket with less than 200 runs scored for eight wickets. The first hour tomorrow will be crucial with Travis Head hoping Mitchell Starc and the tail will give him the support he needs as he attempts to wipe out the deficit.

India's day and they must be looking to take control by batting with a little more prudence second time around.
 

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