The Silver Fern

Watching at the ground, I presumed they were bowling to a plan for these 2 batsmen but it seemed to involve pitching it up and they were all being dealt to. I wondered if they think King has a weakness falling over and being LBW .... if that wasn't the case then it was just bad bowling

Point for discussion. Are there no top quality test players under 30? Starc, Head, Carey, Archer, Root, Stokes have been the standout players so far and all over 30. Is the focus on T20 producing a generation that can't bat or bowl for long? Answers on a postcard

Think of poor little Kane being padded up all day.

Took a look at the world record progressions to see which year Sam Ruthe's personal bests would have set a world record.

800m - 1938
1,500m - 1956
Mile - 1953
3,000m - 1954

Interestingly his younger sister Daisy (14) has run just over 4:30 for 1,500m and that would have set the women's world record in 1956.

@Donsteppa said in Ashes 2025/6:

Quite un-Australian like today - yet another wicket gifted more than earned.

That was a terrible shot by Carey after he and Starc were just milking the wayward Jacks for 4 singles an over. The pitch looks quite slow and "spongy" - a dangerous pitch to drive on if it's not quite full enough. But a relatively benign wicket to drop anchor and hit the bad balls.

@Donsteppa said in West Indies tour of NZ:

Given his history (if they hold him back), so that they don't play him for one game and then lose him for another six months for all formats...

Happiest person on planet will be Mini Steppa if Jamieson does play (favourite player).

There are a couple of posters that know much more about bowling loads etc than I'm aware of though.

Are you going to the 3rd test Mr Steppa? My current plan is to attend on Friday - 2nd day.

@Bovidae said in NZ Sevens 2025-26:

Highlights of the AB7s final game in Cape Town against GB. Both Clarke and Tocker score a try, and you see the speed of Tocker.

Tocker looks a bit of a beast. Good to see some new players coming through. I've been watching Lasaqa in the highlights packages but yet to see him in any open space.

@NTA said in Ashes 2025/6:

@KiwiPie dunno if you're getting Fox or Channel 7 commentary over there?

We get Fox over here. I don't really listen to the commentary to be honest.

It was weird that Archer only reached the 150km/h mark once he was riled up by Smith and the game was gone. Might be an idea to bowl like that earlier on in the game.

The batting flaws are well documented but Glenn McGrath criticised the bowling and the field placings as lacking patience - each plan lasted a couple of overs and then they would try something else. McGrath was, of course, the master of the nagging line and length and occasionally being taken on to be hit off his length, but usually getting the last laugh.

Looks Salah may be goneburger in the January window.

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2025/dec/06/mohamed-salah-arne-slot-liverpool-thrown-under-the-bus

Meanwhile Villa win in the last minute against Arsenal and it is 3 clubs separated by 3 points.

Those are some pretty impressive times for a solo run. 1,500m final still to come

World Cup Draw

Group A: Mexico, South Korea, South Africa, Qualifier
Group B: Canada, Switzerland, Qatar, Qualifier
Group Brazil, Morocco, Scotland, Haiti
Group USA, Australia, Paraguay, Qualifier
Group E: Germany, Ecuador, Côte d’Ivoire, Curacao
Group F: Netherlands, Japan, Tunisia, Qualifier
Group G: Belgium, IR Iran, Egypt, New Zealand
Group H: Spain, Uruguay, Saudi Arabia, Cabo Verde
Group I: France, Senegal, Norway, Qualifier
Group J: Argentina, Austria, Algeria, Jordan
Group K: Portugal, Colombia, Uzbekistan, Qualifier
Group L: England, Croatia, Panama, Ghana

Ravindra reminds me of Clive Lloyd (that's one for older viewers). Early in his innings he can look awful, like he's going to get out next ball. But once he's in you can't bowl to him.

Presumably choosing to bat because they never last longer than 50 overs so they can bowl at Australia under the lights?

@barbarian said in Ashes 2025/6:

I've avoided the rugby threads here for a while, but I'll get right back into the cricket pages. How good. Suck shit England.

Certainly not ruling them out for the series, but you feel like that was the one they had to win. Cummins will be back in Brisbane. Joffra/Wood will only tire as the series goes on. We've just got to keep them at the bowling crease for as long as we can.

England had everything going their way at lunch yesterday.

• A lead of 100 with 9 wickets in hand
• Lyon crocked
• Khawaja crocked
• Doggett bowling dogshit
• Boland under pressure

All thrown away by tea and then trampled on by the end of the day. Yet Stokes and BMac won't change their approach which presumably means they will continue with driving outside off with no foot movement on bouncy pitches to balls that aren't full enough.

Guardian top 100 Ashes cricketers
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/ng-interactive/2025/nov/11/100-greatest-mens-ashes-cricketers
Warne 1, Bradman 2, Botham 3.
Compiled by 51 journalists picking their top 50 - Bradman topped most lists but apparently 2 people didn't select him in their top 50 even though they had to include players from all eras.

Buendia is a great little player who has struggled with injury. Adds a bit of craft to Villa's hard workers.

Doku is a joy to watch to anyone who likes freestyle football. City have moved him closer to the penalty area instead of being stuck out wide and defenders are scared of him when he runs at them. Not sure I can think of a player you can compare him to for playing style with his fast feet and acceleration. City use a Cherki, Foden, Doku triangle in the middle of the field, looking for one of them to get space facing forwards to either play a ball for Haaland or push to the full-backs out wide where it is usually defender free.

And in good news for everyone, Notts County won tonight to move up to 3rd and an automatic promotion spot - stop the season now!

@sparky said in EPL 2025/26:

Man City hump Liverpool 3-0.

Their fifth defeat of the season already and in 8th after spending £450 million on players since May.

Arnie Slot will be lucky to survive the international break.

I can't see them sacking Slot soon. No obvious successor and he deserves the chance to develop this squad. But they have already lost more games this season than all of last season.

Weird season, 5 teams share 5th spot and have played 11 games and have 18 points. Which means you're in the UCL race but that you're tracking for only 62 points. Everton just 3 points off the top 5 but in 13th spot ....

Do a few people on this thread need reminding that it was a 20 minute red card and that Ireland had 15 men on the field for the whole second half?

It's a bold strategy by Bournemouth to hold a high line against Manchester City. There is no way that you should allow Haaland to be put through on goal from his own half!

Arsenal looking better and better to take the title with a very solid defence and a good enough attack