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The Cricket Thread, Mark 2


SirFozzie

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  • 2 weeks later...

It's not quite like a brushback pitch in baseball, but short pitched bowling (referred to as bumpers) does have some of the same qualities, in that it's purpose is to make the batsman a bit uncomfortable in the crease, you're hoping that they flinch and provide a catching chance from a deflection (and not being able to feel comfortable stepping in towards more normal deliveries). It's a long running tradition of being used in cricket, with it's controversies). Again, it's mostly to the body, but when you're bowling a ball at such speeds, there's a chance that it's just going to shoot up and fly towards the batsman's head.

Two of the most famous controversies was Bodyline, where England used it to great affect in the 1932-33 Ashes. It was so controversial that the England Captain (who was made the scapegoat for the tactic despite being TOLD by the team officials to use the tactic), refused to apologize for the tactic and was never selected for England again. It actually caused a sharp flurry of diplomatic notes and pressure from politicians, because of its intimidatory nature (especially in the days before helmets and significant padding)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bodyline

 

Later, in the 70's and 80's, the West Indies had a whole attack of fast bowlers who would bowl bumpers a lot of the time, mostly to the body, but any delivery could come bouncing head high. They were so good (and intimidating), that England was being battered (and weren't helped when the England captain, trying to give his team some confidence, told the England press that they were going to make the West Indies bowlers "grovel", which had some unfortunate racial implications), England actually recalled 45 year old Brian Close for one series against the West Indies , because Close was pretty much famous for not being intimidated, but never giving the bowler the satisfaction of showing that he had been hurt by a blow. The West Indies definitely did their best to make him say uncle. (pause it in the last couple seconds to see the bruises he had earned from this battering)

 

https://www.cricketcountry.com/articles/aging-john-edrich-and-brian-close-show-exemplary-courage-against-frightening-west-indies-attack-28791

 

Nowadays, there's an unspoken agreement to not really bowl bouncers at the lower order batsmen who can't really defend themselves. But, as you see with the Smith incidents, sometimes the top order batsmen are too good to get out if you don't vary things up.

edit: Better link

 

Edited by SirFozzie
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Australian cricket fans are just the worst overall. 

Piss on about the South African and Pakistan cheating scandals to no end, but make every excuse about the sandpaper stuff. Uncomfortably aroused over "Get ready for a broken fuckin arm" and the taunts to Trott about his mental illness, but the Smith/Archer stuff was overstepping the line (and we'll just ignore the dozens of Brett Lee oops-beamers on Youtube)? GTFO.

One of the absolute worst contributors to the fake macho culture in our country.

Bancroft is a pretty ordinary test opener, but I reckon he's got merit in the middle order, just not sure how you make that happen. Be a huge call to drop Warner for the third test, especially if Smith is unfit.

Khawaja
Harris
Labuschagne
Bancroft
Head
Wade

seems like a reasonable experiment to make here. Or even Labuschagne open and keep Khawaja at 3 if you need an out to bring Smith back in. 

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This Ashes has two shit batting sides. Steve Smith's the exception. Australia were 179 all out yesterday in the Third Ashes Test and today England are 54-7 losing a wicket the very first ball after lunch.

Edited by The Natural
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23 minutes ago, The Natural said:

This Ashes has two shit batting sides. Steve Smith's the exception. Australia were 179 all out yesterday in the Third Ashes Test and today England are 54-7 losing a wicket the very first ball after lunch.

67 all out. Embarrassing. Joe Denly is the leading scorer in this innings with 12.

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On 8/23/2019 at 2:07 PM, The Natural said:

67 all out. Embarrassing. Joe Denly is the leading scorer in this innings with 12.

England have remarkably chased the Australian total of 361 to win by 1 wicket. England's most successive chase. Ben Stokes, amazing. Stokes and Leach put 76 on for the 10th wicket partnership. 

Edited by The Natural
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