The creekit

[eric olthwaite]

If we could just bear in mind it’s not limited over and we don’t have to win today . . .

[Tommy]

Brilliant by all the spinners today, particularly Leach and Ahmed. Seven wickets and a second innings five-for on debut is about as good as you can hope for with an eighteen year old on debut. He’ll probably have to develop his batting if he wants to try to retain his place in the manner that say, Moeen Ali or Steve Smith eventually did. As it stands I think Leach is a fixture in the test side and the odds of playing another spinner in any home test are very slim. No doubt he’ll have a chance to show what he can do in limited overs matches before long and time is on his side.

[Bobbycollins]

Brilliant by all the spinners today, particularly Leach and Ahmed. Seven wickets and a second innings five-for on debut is about as good as you can hope for with an eighteen year old on debut. He’ll probably have to develop his batting if he wants to try to retain his place in the manner that say, Moeen Ali or Steve Smith eventually did. As it stands I think Leach is a fixture in the test side and the odds of playing another spinner in any home test are very slim. No doubt he’ll have a chance to show what he can do in limited overs matches before long and time is on his side.

I'm sure you are right about Leach being the first choice and the Ashes series is probably a step too far for Ahmed at this stage, however there is one Test against Ireland before the Ashes, which is possibly an opportunity for a home Test debut. it would be a shame to have bowled so well in Pakistan and then not to have an opportunity on home soil. There are plenty (too many) T20 and ODI international matches in the summer, so Ahmed must have a chnce of playing in place of Rashid in some of those games.

[the flying pig]

I'm somewhere on the fence between this being very good cricket and complete bollocks. Maybe about 55:45?

[Trumper]

I'm somewhere on the fence between this being very good cricket and complete bollocks. Maybe about 55:45?

The batter (runner) is cheating so deserves it. Need to remove the stigma from this act

[dirty leeds]

I think the batter is entitled to one warning from the bowler, via the umpire. If they do it again, it's the batter's fault.
Nothing to stop the bowler giving this warning in their very first over, either.

[Trumper]

I think the batter is entitled to one warning from the bowler, via the umpire. If they do it again, it's the batter's fault.
Nothing to stop the bowler giving this warning in their very first over, either.

So first ball of the match every bowler should give a warning which effectively same as not giving a warning ..just saves time having to say it! No different to me to a stumping or a close in fielder running out batsmen on strike

[eric olthwaite]

I guess you could argue that it fits in with the route to bish-bosh across all forms of cricket. In accordance with the rules or not, it effectively disincentivises the attempted quick single in favour of score accumulation through boundaries. Pah.

[Mustafaster]

Perfectly acceptable.
Within the rules, batter trying to gain unfair advantage.

[Bobbycollins]

Mankad dismissals are just another example of inconsistency in sport. If a bowler loses his run-up and doesn't release the ball, it is declared as a dead ball by the umpire and the bowler has another attempt. However it was noticeble last season that bowlers seemed to abort their delivery if they noticed the batsman moving across their stumps to give themselves a better angle. So if it's a dead ball when the bowler doesn't release the ball, at what point does the ball become live?

[Devi]

Mankad's were deemed ungentlemanly and as such, against the spirit if the game, in a pre-bish-bosh era.

That batters now have licence - and more often than not, conditions including flat tracks and short boundaries - to destroy bowling attacks, I've come to the view that absofuckinglutely Mankads in limited overs games should be allowed, frankly, without a warning, and with a warning in Tests. Today's game just isn't the gentle leather on willow that it used to be - indeed, it's rapidly becoming more akin to MLB (where of course base stealing is and has always been part of the game). You want to steal a yard? Fine, but don't complain if you get caught.

[Devi]

Mankad dismissals are just another example of inconsistency in sport. If a bowler loses his run-up and doesn't release the ball, it is declared as a dead ball by the umpire and the bowler has another attempt. However it was noticeble last season that bowlers seemed to abort their delivery if they noticed the batsman moving across their stumps to give themselves a better angle. So if it's a dead ball when the bowler doesn't release the ball, at what point does the ball become live?

Past the vertical, and out of his/her hand.

[Bobbycollins]

Mankad dismissals are just another example of inconsistency in sport. If a bowler loses his run-up and doesn't release the ball, it is declared as a dead ball by the umpire and the bowler has another attempt. However it was noticeble last season that bowlers seemed to abort their delivery if they noticed the batsman moving across their stumps to give themselves a better angle. So if it's a dead ball when the bowler doesn't release the ball, at what point does the ball become live?

Past the vertical, and out of his/her hand.

Pedant's corner - actually the ball becomes live when the bowler commences his/her run-up per rule 20.5 and is deemed dead, amongst other examples when "20.4.2.10 the ball does not leave the bowler’s hand for any reason other than an attempt to run out the nonstriker under Law 38.3 (Non-striker leaving his/her ground early)". But I still think it's wrong!

[Bobbycollins]

Good to see that England have abandonded any pretence of having warm up matches before losing the first game in a series. International caps now seem to be won very easily.

[Rob]

Chance for some fringe players in South Africa to make a case for being included in the squad for England’s ODI defence. Too many players missing though through T20 leagues and the test squad heading to NZ - Root, Jacks, Stokes (if not retired) etc.

[Rob]

Encouraged in Bloemfontein to see both a large LUFC flag and a bloke wearing a centenary tee shirt.

[Bobbycollins]

Welcome to India. Any sign of grass poking through the sand?

[dirty leeds]

Well, the garden is very rose-filled just now.
England win the first test in NZ at a canter while Australia fall apart against India inside three days.

I expect Vampire The Flouncer will shortly make a rare appearance on this forum to explain it all.

[Bobbycollins]

Usually pleasing to see Australia thrashed, however the pitches prepared for India spinners are not good for the future of Test cricket in India. Opening the bowling with Ashwin in Australia's second innings towards the end of Day 2, with Jadeja bowling from the other end after 5 overs is a pretty clear indication of an uneven contest, largely decided by the pitch preparation.

[dirty leeds]

Thanks, Vamps : knew you'd be back with some excuses.