Cricket

[Chris O'Connor]

Not sure what documentary it was in but remember a lad called Carberry saying about the abuse he took off the bowlers for dropping a catch once and how they were scared in the field. Funnily enough, I think KP was in that one stirring the pot. I don't like the way he always jumps onto the players he obviously doesn't like and accuse them of bullying, just because they worked out he was a grade A whopper. It's a fine line between playing hard and winning and making sure you don't cross that line.

I think Jonathon Trott singled out a few too, and he never even mentioned KP. if the fielding isn't up to scratch it seriously undermines the team but Trott told s few to f. off over the bullying culture he thought rife when the wheels started coming off.

It's never all one is the bad guy and Jonathan Trott's biography is not only fascinating about his own mental struggles, but that bullying culture among the loud mouthed opinionated few in the team, not hard to think who they are. Petersen was undoubtedly hard to manage ad a pain in the ars* but I don't think Trott was pointing at him, far from it in fact. Tbf to Petersen he mentioned Trott's deteriorating mental state to Flower who didn't recognise it as quickly as he might have done.

A new man or even quieter team member daren't have a bad day in the field or he'd know about it.

 

[Blue Shoes]

Willey built a lot of pressure then a rank full toss no ball for a six, followed by a wide. 9 runs off 1 ball when the rest of the over went for 4.

 

[Walken]

However poor England's bowlers gave been it is wonderful stuff from balbirne and stirling and a win in a 300+ chase is huge for Ireland.

This will hurt a few england players, not sure I've ever seen Tom Curran have a great game.

 

[Blue Shoes]

However poor England's bowlers gave been it is wonderful stuff from balbirne and stirling and a win in a 300+ chase is huge for Ireland.

This will hurt a few england players, not sure I've ever seen Tom Curran have a great game.

What's he doing? They're missing every slower ball he bowls and smashing every fast ball, should have bowled 6 slower balls in his last over.

 

[ToffeeTim]

Lot of bowlers won't be getting picked in the next squad

Ireland batted so well though

 

[blue to the bone]

Up the Irish!
We have taken down the empire !

 

[Walken]

What's he doing? They're missing every slower ball he bowls and smashing every fast ball, should have bowled 6 slower balls in his last over.

It's not like he has the express to shock them either

 

[Walken]

Not sure what documentary it was in but remember a lad called Carberry saying about the abuse he took off the bowlers for dropping a catch once and how they were scared in the field. Funnily enough, I think KP was in that one stirring the pot. I don't like the way he always jumps onto the players he obviously doesn't like and accuse them of bullying, just because they worked out he was a grade A whopper. It's a fine line between playing hard and winning and making sure you don't cross that line.

Kp was on carberrys side when the lad banter brigade were abusing the newer players

 

[Lloydystark]

2nd string side, Ireland would get smashed against our strongest line up

 

[Walken]

I would drop Bess too. If you don't have a very good spinner you shouldn't play one for the sake of it. Our quicks are much better bowlers than him. Root can bowl a bit if needed.

We will need a spinner at some point, game time is important if we want to be more than a team that's good at home under the clouds

 

[Blue Shoes]

It's not like he has the express to shock them either

He's ok at t20 i think, but like you, i don't remember him doing well over, sam is lightyears ahead imo and should be the one to replace plunkett.

That was an embarrassing way to finish though, so sloppy with the no balls, free hits and extras that 9 run ball from willey was probably the difference.

Best team won though, can't argue with that, it's good for cricket really. Think England's selections were shocking, why pursuit with vince? Could have given an eye at a few other youngsters as well, especially for the 3rd game with roy looking rusty etc.

 

[Chris O'Connor]

Lot of bowlers won't be getting picked in the next squad

Ireland batted so well though

Tbh let's face it they never were anyway. Reece Topley the best.

Only the two openers, Morgan and Rashid are first teamers, Ali may get in but far from assured of a place

Billings or Banton could be batting reserves but it's pretty much all fringe players - even Willey wasn't in the World Cup squad. I rate it even less important than the defeat by Scotland a year before the World Cup.

All about who of the fringe players could make an impression, not that any of the results even mattered but they did win the series.

 

[Lloydystark]

How weird is it playing Ireland and our captains more Irish than some of the actual Ireland team

 

[blue to the bone]

How weird is it playing Ireland and our captains more Irish than some of the actual Ireland team

Some irony in that statement. Some of England's greatest players are not very English!

 

[Chris O'Connor]

How weird is it playing Ireland and our captains more Irish than some of the actual Ireland team

Yeah true but he is Irish and always has been. In order to play international cricket he had to play for England and certainly for his few tests as his home country weren't a test playing nation and didn't have full member status.

If you're from a country without status you have to choose another and he was playing for Middlesex and had made his home over here.

Ireland have their new South African who was brought up in Pretoria and qualifies through a grandparent, they all do it. In the past it was even easier with South Africa banned when individuals could play for anyone pretty much - or the quota system which made Pietersen unable to get a game in South Africa and decide to spend the required years over here in the county game to switch allegiances.