You ****...100 opening stand.
Can this really be England?
Well played Crawley & Sibley
It was meant to read ‘minus Rabada' but mixed him up with Lamelas 'goal'
On his ban I don’t know how anyone can argue against it for consistently crossing the line
Crazy that this hasn’t been ironed out of his game yet
As a saffer, I obviously think the ban is utter nonsense in a format that is losing its appeal quickly - if that was Ben Stokes you Poms would be completely out-raged for a celebration that shock the entire ground with passion
In a test Match where SA were completely toothless, irrational and outplayed it was the one moment where you sat up and wanted to see that again. There was no malice, foul language or physical confrontation just pure emotion.
Pathetic ICC, and I as many fans lost interest after that decision. Being a decent bowler in my youth, taking the prized wicket of the opposition is why you play the game, it’s exhilarating.
Take it out his game?? Fuck might as well send him off to play bowls...
I agreed with you, right up to the KP comments on it and the replays . Its deserved, hes a silly boy.As a saffer, I obviously think the ban is utter nonsense in a format that is losing its appeal quickly - if that was Ben Stokes you Poms would be completely out-raged for a celebration that shock the entire ground with passion
In a test Match where SA were completely toothless, irrational and outplayed it was the one moment where you sat up and wanted to see that again. There was no malice, foul language or physical confrontation just pure emotion.
Pathetic ICC, and I as many fans lost interest after that decision. Being a decent bowler in my youth, taking the prized wicket of the opposition is why you play the game, it’s exhilarating.
Take it out his game?? Fuck might as well send him off to play bowls...
Cannot agree mate and if that was or had been Stokes who consistently got in the batsman’s personal space when celebrating a wicket then I’d 100% back another 'yellow card' and ultimately a game ban
Rabada has previous and lots of it. You cannot celebrate by getting in the space or face of the batsman you’ve just dismissed. He even got away with one with Crawley's dismissal earlier in the match where he was on the edge
What happens when in the heat of the moment a batsman does not change his path to the dressing room, barges Rabadas shoulder and it ends up with him rapping his bat round his head?
Celebrate by all means as loud and proud as you want but not in the space or face of the batsman you’ve just got out. Not acceptable
Had he celebrated Roots wicket 2 yards to his right off the wicket there would be no problem whatsoever, there would be no ban and no one would be talking about it
I was a bowler, like yourself and imo his celebrations cross the line. Some people’s lines are very different to others
I played league cricket for about 30 years with and against loads of Aussies, Pakistanis and Saffers
I’ve got to say the Saffers pushed the line more than any others but that is just my personal experience
Fair enough, that’s how we play - we put it all out there, think the aussies are similar.
Growing up as a fast bowler we are taught to be super aggressive, get in the batsmen’s face and and that builds up till you eventually get him out - Steyn, Donald, Merv Hughes come to mind with the same approach, and I personally think with this prawn sandwich niny approach it takes away an aspect of the game me and Others love - same as sledging, it’s part of the game
Take this raw batsman vs fast bowler contest away and I’m not hooked anymore.
one of my favorite memories of test cricket is Donald vs atherton - amazing. If Donald got him out during that marathon innings he would have gone besurk and rightfully so. Artherton gets this as he said in he’s interview
Did Rabada push the line celebrating, probably yes - did he hurt, offend or disadvantage someone? I still think it was pure theatre, something cricket badly needs.
If stokes did that to De Kock maybe I’d feel differently!
Maybe when you national team is as shit as SA it’s the only thing to cling onto!
Either way congrats on another win in SA, England are playing some clinical cricket and have been very impressed with with Roots captaincy
Great chat
As a saffer, I obviously think the ban is utter nonsense in a format that is losing its appeal quickly - if that was Ben Stokes you Poms would be completely out-raged for a celebration that shock the entire ground with passion
In a test Match where SA were completely toothless, irrational and outplayed it was the one moment where you sat up and wanted to see that again. There was no malice, foul language or physical confrontation just pure emotion.
Pathetic ICC, and I as many fans lost interest after that decision. Being a decent bowler in my youth, taking the prized wicket of the opposition is why you play the game, it’s exhilarating.
Take it out his game?? Fuck might as well send him off to play bowls...
Agree with 99% of all that. The Atherton/Donald confrontation was one of the great moments of Test cricket
As you said, that is what test cricket is all about
But giving it to them in an intimidating, in your face manner, not for me
Stokes should be stripped of his Sports Personality award,
and banned for at least a year in all forms.
Used up his good will for thuggery by avoiding an assault charge
when acquitted of affray two years ago.
Defending a gay couple from abuse my arse if you'll excuse the expression.
Fine cricketer by any test but not a good Ambassador for what was once
the most civilised game in the world
ruined by cheating, hooliganism sledging and the new forms of cricket.
There I said it.
Probably escape with a fine about 1% of his ECB contract.
Poor show sir.