**Official** World XI v Asia XI

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

yeah the crowd certainly loved that, he did well considering he hasn't played in a year

And that he's what... about 72 years old?

 

[Son Of Coco]

To be one of the greatest games in history it would need some competetive meaning for mine.
I might also add that a slogfest such as that which those two would probably engage in would actually denegrate, not raise, the quality of viewing.

You're a strange one Richard. As opposed to good old English technique? They time the ball very well, slogging (in my mind at least) refers to swinging the bat without any regard for where you might be attempting to hit it. I think you'll find that these two know exactly where it's going most of the time they are batting - like any other batsman.

 

[Son Of Coco]

Yep - boring, monotonous, same-same-same thing.
If he'd have skied one, though - great.

It is boring watching Gilchrist score so quickly with a dazzling array of shots. Bring back Geoffrey Boycott and we can all have our socks knocked off at the rate of a run an hour.

 

[Son Of Coco]

Exactly - I don't like anomalies.
It's like - he plays a way no-one has a right to play - consistently.
It just baffles me how much he gets away with it.
Sorry if that seems "purist" or whatsits, but that's just the way it is.

Why? A lot of your posts are based on them.

Maybe he plays that way because he's good Richard. You should learn to relax a bit more, sit back, and enjoy the show. You may not see it again for a while.

 

[Son Of Coco]

I'd probably like him if he was English.
Just call it jealousy - something I'm normally not accusable of.
It just irks me - he epitomises the "we can do anything" nature of the Australia current (not in his personal agenda, I've nothing but admiration for his walking and humility - simply in the way he bats). And I don't like that.

Hahaha, I was going to suggest the very same, but thought I'd better keep it to myself!

I think that attitude has been the difference between us and you guys for a while now, but then I think England may be finally starting to believe! McGrath used to say that they knew England were playing for a draw before the series even began, but it's going to be interesting this time around.

 

[Son Of Coco]

Yeah, but it kinda gets frustrating when Gilchrist turns a contest into a slaughter.

Really? Hmmm, nup can't think of a time when it's done that for me yet!

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Really? Hmmm, nup can't think of a time when it's done that for me yet!

Yeh, many Aussies tend to suffer from that syndrome.

 

[Son Of Coco]

There is no competetive element to these matches - the players are not taking it seriously.
ODIs are matches that should be taken with the utmost severity at all times.

hahahaha............. um, cricket isn't that serious...

 

[Zinzan]

Yes English fans would love to have players of the flair of Gilchrist and Cairns, in fact who wouldn't

 

[Son Of Coco]

Yeh, many Aussies tend to suffer from that syndrome.

haha, 'ok, now heel down and ..............grind, grind, grind'

 

[Son Of Coco]

Hmm... a few, of course, but mostly it was simply clean cricket-shots with a bit of improvisation (often coming down the wicket).
Even if it had been a simple slogfest it'd still have been far, far greater than any innings I've ever seen.

What's the difference between slogging and 'improvisation'? I've often seen Gilchrist hit the ball very hard, but I've rarely seen him resort to out and out slogging. I think the difference in this case is who we're referring to and whether you like them or not.

 

[Son Of Coco]

What the hell you mean by a stonewall I'm not sure.
But most things are preferable to a slogfest.

A stonewall is also known as blocking the **** out of it in layman's terms.

 

[Zinzan]

His dismissal last nite was a slog wasn't it?

 

[Son Of Coco]

the good old australian spirit !!!!

don't hold us all responsible for one clown.

 

[Son Of Coco]

His dismissal last nite was a slog wasn't it?

I wasn't aware that we were talking strictly about one-dayers. If that's the case then everyone's guilty of slogging.

 

[Zinzan]

Don't be so sensitive...Even Gilchrist can play an ugly slog once in a while...in fact i'm sure even the great Don played the odd ugly slog-shot.

I take your point though, generally there is no way you could describe Gilchrist as a slogger. He's generally just a great stokemaker.

However you must accept that last nite he was nicked out slogging

 

[Son Of Coco]

Don't be so sensitive...Even Gilchrist can play an ugly slog once in a while...in fact i'm sure even the great Don played the odd ugly slog-shot.

I take your point though, generally there is no way you could describe Gilchrist as a slogger. He's generally just a great stokemaker.

However you must accept that last nite he was nicked out slogging

I haven't watched last night's first innings yet, but I have definately seen him out slogging in the one-dayers on a few occasions. I'm not being sensitive, just stating my opinion. One-dayers are a slogfest at the start and end of the innings, I had presumed that the original post was referring more to Gilchrist in tests - rightly or wrongly.

 

[marc71178]

no, ROW v Asia is fine. Keep in mind that the Asian team had Tendulkar and Akhtar out with injury. Also, Attapattu had to withdraw at the last moment, and I'm not sure why Afridi wasn't picked.

Because he's not consistent enough?

 

[marc71178]

hehe at full strength the ROW line up would have been even stronger, but it was good to have Gough out there, hes pretty popular out here and represents England in a world wide fundraiser.

Oh, he's popular alright, but the problem is he's also past it.

 

[marc71178]

There could be reason to play both Flintoff & Cairns.

I could see it, and I'd actually look to try and bat Flintoff at 5 (which is where he's been so good this year - I do believe he actually got to number 2 batsman in the World briefly from there), with Cairns at 7 or 8.