The World Cup [admin's warning: contains cricket]

[BigCrompy]

I presume O'Brien can look forward to a nice fat IPL cheque this summer. Good luck to him if so.

So, do you keep the Associates in the WC, or give Ireland Test status? The ICC can't have it both ways.

A second northern hemisphere Test team would do no harm at all to the game's expansion in Europe. Most tourists could tack a one-test Ireland series onto their England tours until they find their feet.

LOVE to see Test cricket at the Clontarf, for my money this can't happen soon enough. That result was wonderful, and that's despite being an Englishman being made to suffer in Australia.

Perhaps the ICC could stretch even further, perhaps to a third Test team in the northern hemisphere - perhaps a team in the Caribbean, I hear they're pretty fond of the game over there...?!

[Ancient Colin]

This is a long thread, and going back a bit there is a suggestion that Canada should be taken more seriously, which is as daft an idea as saying that Wales ought to have their own cricket team.

Well, they've just bowled Pakistan out for 184 in Colombo ... (Canada, that is, not Wales).

[John Byrne's Underpants]

I thought that the Holland game was tense, a tie with India compulsive, but this afternoon was simply amazing. Even Geoff Boycott was full of praise for the Irish.

http://www.cricketeurope4.net/DATABASE/ ... 0504.shtml

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This is a long thread, and going back a bit there is a suggestion that Canada should be taken more seriously, which is as daft an idea as saying that Wales ought to have their own cricket team.

English bowlers are

[Ancient Colin]

Well, they've just bowled Pakistan out for 184 in Colombo ...

Oh well. It was looking interesting at 104-3, losing last seven wickets for 34 not quite so impressive.

[John Byrne's Underpants]

Well, they've just bowled Pakistan out for 184 in Colombo ...

Oh well. It was looking interesting at 104-3, losing last seven wickets for 34 not quite so impressive.

A collapse of English proportions

[John Byrne's Underpants]

Now Broad is likely to be out for the rest of the tournament as well (Pietersen we already knew about). Likely replacement will be Tremlett

[SmileyMan]

Tremlett on subcontinent wickets should be ...... interesting!

He'll either go for six, or hit a bump and kill a batsman. No possible other outcome for every ball.

[YF Dan]

http://atwoweekcricketodyssey.blogspot.com/

My take on the past two weeks in India.

[Yankee Clipper]

http://atwoweekcricketodyssey.blogspot.com/

My take on the past two weeks in India.

Wonderful blog Dan,

Whilst India obviously doesn't have the historic and cultural appeal of playing cricket on the banks of Loch Lomond in Oxford shirts and the pouring rain, especially the sheer joy in getting the wicket of Mr Silver (as easy as it was though). It sounds like you had a fantastic trip - Great read.

See you soon
Dave C

[YF Dan]

Bless you Clarkey.

I wish I'd blogged about that Scotland tour back in the day, that was fun.

[John Byrne's Underpants]

Prior to open

Well that experiment really worked

[A-Ro]

M. Prior - For Sale 1 brain, very light usage.

[Yankee Clipper]

England's inability to close out a game is a shambolic disgrace. We've had Ireland at 111/5 and now Bangladesh at 169/8 and contrived to lose both.

Jimmy Anderson should hold his head in shame right now. The over that opened with 5 wides was and absolute shocker.

Bangladesh still have Holland to play. When they win that England must beat the West Indies or they are on their way home....

[John Byrne's Underpants]

It appears that Anderson is likely to be dropped for Tremlett in the next game, although he did have his one good game at the ground we're playing at tomorrow, which may just save him but I doubt it. He looks knackered and the conditions don't suit him.

Basically, to qualify, England need to beat the West Indies and hope that South Africa beat Bangladesh, otherwise it's going to be out of their hands.

[SmileyMan]

Good Grief England!