Cricket

Did you tell him he is a fucking legend?? :giroud3:

Usual suspects like Fakhar and Ali and Amir will understandably get credit but I want to give Azhar Ali a shoutout.

He got a lot of flak recently. Sure he may be a test specialist, and he plays like one, but he improved his ODI hitting immensely in the past few games and was an integral part of a great opening partnership with Fakhar. He is a calming influence which I can appreciate after many a collapse.

But more importantly, seems like a great and humble human being. He would do anything for the team and somebody with that kind of attitude is someone you want around. Pakistan especially cannot take that kind of person for granted as we have a history of shameless and selfish people taking bets etc, especially as our batsmen.

About time!

Well overdue. Congratulations.

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Joe Root really is a top quality batsmen, 184 not out at Stumps on day 1 vs a quality South African attack.

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Walked into such a bad situation as well. What a dream start to his captaincy.

Ashes commencing in just over 3 weeks, going to be a fascinating summer, will be gutted if we lose at home as we can’t seem to win in England anymore.

Think you’ll be ok this year

Dont think we have the strongest squad heading to Australia and add the Stokes situation to that and its a mess

Plus we have Ballance and Vince somehow in the squad which is a joke!

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I’ve put a bet on Australia to win 4-0. The first test is in the bag already, we never win there.

I think 4-0 might be a bit of a stretch as I think the English bowlers may trouble our batsmen also, in saying that I think Australia 3-1. Yeah the Gabba is a happy hunting ground for us, haven’t lost a test at the venue since 1988.

Yeah a lot of people fancy us in the Adelaide test, but 3-1 is the favourite score, not great odds, so that’s why I didn’t go for that.

I also think we’ll miss Ben Stokes.

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Yeah all that makes sense then, what odds you get for the 4-0 ? Stokes is a huge loss, averages around 40 with the bat and is very good with the ball also, one of the best all rounders in world cricket.

The Ashes is on a shocking time for people in the UK, midnight to like 7am unless it’s the Perth Test or the Adelaide day night test…

I got 9/1 on 4-0. Think 3-1 was only 4/1. Either way, the bookies are certain of an Oz win.

Yeah, I won’t be able to watch most of it. Probably a good thing, seeing as we’re in for a likely hammering :smile:

England 302 Australia 165/4, interestingly poised test match here, its been more old school type grind test cricket with scoring rates between 2.5-2.8 per over.

Just seen Malan’s dismissal :rofl:

On another note, Nathan Lyon is so annoying, maybe even more so than Mitchell Johnson.

Even as can be heading into Day 3. Smith and Marsh looked imperious overnight. This Gabba wicket has played quite unexpectedly. Lyon’s managed to get serious turn early in the match. Fuck it cmon Englandddddd

Aussies deservedly taking control of this Test. Diverse and pacey bowling attack of Starc, Hazlewood, Cummins and Lyon have overwhelmed England. As well as Anderson is bowling we could have really done with Stokes to match the Aussies on the hostility front. Oh well we’ll come back more prepared in the second test.

Loving today’s play so far, only need another 106 to win with 10 wickets in hand.

Aussies win the 1st Test by 10 wickets, was a really close contest for 3 days but we dominated the last day and a half or so. Daynight Test in Adelaide begins on Saturday, the poms may fancy themselves to get some movement with the pink ball.

:eyes:

He’d be a massive inclusion but I doubt it will be in time for the 2nd test, if England lose in Adelaide not much point in him coming over.