Indian Premier League (IPL)

[prydey]

It kicked off early thismorning (12:15am) in fine form with brendan mccullum (kiwi keeper) smashing 158 off 73 balls to totally dominate the game. due to the early hour i didn't manage to watch the whole game but overall it seemed o.k. there should be some big scores as the grounds are small and look very fast.

i wonder if all the big dollar players will handle the pressure to perform?

also seems weird watching players who would normally be playing against each other and hating each other, playing in the same squad.

[FlipXW]

Yeah I watched McCullum's innings, what a deadset freak. This will be very entertaining to watch.

[Rodp]

I predict you're watching the beginning of the end of International cricket as we know it today.

[prydey]

Originally Posted by Rodp

I predict you're watching the beginning of the end of International cricket as we know it today.

you could be right but i hope you're not. i enjoy all forms of cricket but the t20 format is very unforgiving. i like watching batsmen build an innings but in this version of the game the pressure builds with every dot ball. last night the new batsmen in couldn't match the pace of mccullum and due to the fact that there were few overs remaining, didn't have the luxury of getting their eye in. they try to come out and go at 10+ an over and get out.

i might jump on the back of the 'deccan chargers'. their bowling stocks seem a bit slim although that may be because i don't recognise them but the batting includes vvs laxman, gilchrist, symonds, afridi, gibbs and R sharma.

a lot of late nights coming up. luckily i'm on arvo's at work this week so early rising is not important.

[uranium_death]

20-20 and "cricket" don't belong together.

IMO, 20-20 is an entire new game.

It's like comparing sprinters to long distance runners.

Their skills differ greatly.

[prydey]

Originally Posted by uranium_death

20-20 and "cricket" don't belong together.

IMO, 20-20 is an entire new game.

It's like comparing sprinters to long distance runners.

Their skills differ greatly.

i agree entirely! i'm one of those cricket fans who's favourite form of game is test cricket.

i'm just enjoying the ipl for what it is.

[TadKa]

I can't wait for 10ten or 5five, maybe even 1one. I do enjoy going to a good 1 dayer. And love listening to a day nighter at work then coming home to sit in front of the telly with a beer. I like test cricket but 1 dayers are my prefered form.

[FlipXW]

Originally Posted by prydey

i agree entirely! i'm one of those cricket fans who's favourite form of game is test cricket.

i'm just enjoying the ipl for what it is.

Im with you aswell. Nothing wrong with the entertainment value though, just watched Huss smash 116 off 56. Brilliant stuff.

[prydey]

another innings down and another centurian. this time one of our own. the illustrious Mr Cricket. a lazy 116 from 50 odd balls. team score of 240.

edit - beaten to it!!

[Lightning Strike XR6]

Was watching but fell asleep :(

[prydey]

was really looking forward to game 4 last night between knight riders and deccan chargers. first time out for gilly and symonds so was hoping for another slog fest. unfortunately the groundsman prepared what can only be described as a joke. even the indian commentators were bagging it. about 2 or 3 overs in there was much concern and even the umpires had a bit of a chat. they decided to play on and it was clear from the start that a run a ball total would be more than enough.

gilly played his usual little cameo seemingly unaffected by the pitch (23 of 22) then symo came in and played a real backbone innings while others fell around him. with 4 overs to go he tried to up the tempo, which he did for a bit with 20 of 1 over but then fell also (32 off 39).

the knight riders were chasing 111 and looked like never getting there until D.Hussey came in and played a similar role to symonds. not worrying about runs too much, just staying around. they got home with 1 over to spare.

to top it all off, a light tower went out with 3.2 overs to go. had the game ended there, under d/l it was a draw! they were getting ready for a bowl off when after 30min the tower came back on. reminded everyone of the 2007 world cup farce.

one thing brought up by the commentators shich i agree with is the way everyone is getting on. 3 months ago the aussies and indians wanted each other's blood, now they are in the same team. all seemingly enjoying the game together. good to see!

[irlewy86]

I'm a big fan of seeing new pairings throughout the teams, as stated its good to see players from all countries playing together and getting along. Its like a giant game of "Dream Teams"

[FlipXW]

Originally Posted by prydey

was really looking forward to game 4 last night between knight riders and deccan chargers. first time out for gilly and symonds so was hoping for another slog fest. unfortunately the groundsman prepared what can only be described as a joke. even the indian commentators were bagging it. about 2 or 3 overs in there was much concern and even the umpires had a bit of a chat. they decided to play on and it was clear from the start that a run a ball total would be more than enough.

Same here. Was very dissapionted with that so called wicket. Atleast the Aussies went hard though in comparison.

[XR06T]

does anyone else notice that the broadcast switches from a 16:9 picture behind the bowlers head, to a stretched 4:3 picture from the side of the ground? fromt he side on shot the player look stumpy and fat, get a little arkward to watch imo..

[xr8 utey]

did i really see the xxxx angels in the opening ceremony? :

[DoreSlamR]

Originally Posted by XR06T

does anyone else notice that the broadcast switches from a 16:9 picture behind the bowlers head, to a stretched 4:3 picture from the side of the ground? fromt he side on shot the player look stumpy and fat, get a little arkward to watch imo..

That was just Warney...

[prydey]

Originally Posted by DoreSlamR

That was just Warney...

speaking of warnie, he's lost none of his touch. 3 for 19 @ under 5 an over in a T20 is a good effort. i'm glad he's captain too. if he wasn't such a tool off the field when he played for australia he would've captained them as well. he is a good captain.

chargers on again tonight. go gilly and symo. hopefully the pitch can allow them to showcase their power.

[FlipXW]

Originally Posted by prydey

chargers on again tonight. go gilly and symo. hopefully the pitch can allow them to showcase their power.

Time for a coffee.

[prydey]

too right!! there are some advantages to shift work. not having to get up early every other week is one of them.

[FlipXW]

Hopefully Simmo can hit a few more than Gilly did.

[prydey]

Originally Posted by PhilXR8

Hopefully Simmo can hit a few more than Gilly did.

he did. in fact twice as many!

they were well and truly outplayed last night. mcgrath is as miserly as ever. i wonder how much extra pressure the $1.4M price tag is creating on symo. his bowling is way below par, or just not good enough for the T20 arena.

come on chargers, turn up the wick.

[FlipXW]

Haha yeah. I went to bed after Chargers got out. Poor score, not much of a change of a win. Hopefully they'll get it together in the next match.

[prydey]

i was in bed well before 2am.

maybe the first couple of games set the bar too high!

[prydey]

hayden v 'obnoxious weed' tonight. should be good. hopefully he puts him over the fence a few times.

[RG]

Originally Posted by prydey

hayden v 'obnoxious weed' tonight. should be good. hopefully he puts him over the fence a few times.

Great innings by Hayden, too bad Dhoni's decision to run got him out.

[prydey]

of all the players to throw down the stumps, it had to be harbijan didn't it.

[Rodp]

Looking at the scorecard of last nights game (I haven't been watching...) is there any reason why Harbhajan only bowled 2 overs? He was the most economical of all the bowlers, and with Hayden on a tear, he would be the obvious bowling choice. Seems like very poor captaincy.

[RG]

Originally Posted by Rodp

Looking at the scorecard of last nights game (I haven't been watching...) is there any reason why Harbhajan only bowled 2 overs? He was the most economical of all the bowlers, and with Hayden on a tear, he would be the obvious bowling choice. Seems like very poor captaincy.

Your last line says it all. Even the Indian commentators were very critical of his decision not to bowl his 4.

[fatbats]

Thats because he's captain. Captains often under bowl themselves

[RG]

What a champion Andrew Symonds is. Fastest 100 in the IPL off 47 balls and brought it up with a MASSIVE 6 of Shane Warne and then followed it up a couple of balls later with another 6 while backing away. Awesome.