****the official CRICKET thread*****

[Premchand1976]

Wanna bet Gabriel said something like "yuh bullerman"...lolll

Heard him say " doh touch dat f*****g ball to the batsman

[hydroep]

Shannon Gabriel sorry for asking Joe Root if he 'liked boys'

West Indies bowler Shannon Gabriel exchanges words with England captain Joe Root during the third Test
Joe Root's response to Shannon Gabriel's comment was picked up on the stump microphone

West Indies bowler Shannon Gabriel claims he asked England's Joe Root if he "liked boys" during the third Test but has apologised for his words.

The 30-year-old was charged for the comments he made to skipper Root, who replied: "Don't use it as an insult. There's nothing wrong with being gay."

The incident in St Lucia resulted in a four-match ODI ban for Gabriel, 30.

"I know now that it was offensive and for that I am deeply sorry," Gabriel said in a statement.

"To my team-mates and members of the England team, especially their captain Joe Root, I extend an unreserved apology for a comment which in the context of on-the-field rivalry, I assumed was inoffensive sporting banter."

Gabriel said of an exchange that occurred on the third day of the Test that it had come "during a tense moment on the field".

"The pressure was on and England's captain Joe Root was looking at me intensely as I prepared to bowl, which may have been the usual psychological strategy with which all Test cricketers are familiar," he said.

"I recognise now that I was attempting to break through my own tension when I said to Joe Root: 'Why are you smiling? Do you like boys?'

"His response, which was picked up by the microphone was: 'Don't use it as an insult. There's nothing wrong with being gay'.

"I then responded: 'I have no issues with that, but you should stop smiling at me'."

Gabriel was charged under article 2.13, which relates to the personal abuse of a player, player support personnel, umpire or match referee during an international match.

By accepting the charge, Gabriel was fined 75% of his match fee and picked up three demerit points, taking his overall total to eight in a two-year period, which triggered the ban.

England won the Test by 232 runs, although they had already lost the series having been beaten in the first two Tests. A five-match ODI series between the sides starts on 20 February in Barbados.

https://www.bbc.com/sport/cricket/47238300

[shake d livin wake d dead]

Joe root confirmed it then

[Dizzy28]

Asking someone if they like boys is considered an insult?
By Joe Root's own admission it isn't. Watching the video of the incident he only responded when he reached within range of the stumps meaning he knew he wanted his response to be captured.

Gabriel and the WI should not have caved in to this. Do like Rabada and hire lawyers and fight it.
Gabriel's punishment came with the Match Ref not even knowing what he said because Root refused to disclose it and it wasn't picked up by the stump mics.

[shake d livin wake d dead]

all this bachannal just because England loss the blasted series...first Holder, now Gabriel

[shake d livin wake d dead]

One of the best test matches I ever watch was today...sri lanka vs SA...chasing 304...batting 220-9 and they won....

[cornfused]

Winning the series has cost us

1. Demerit point on The Antigua Pitch

2. Fines and suspension for Holder slow over rate

3. Gabriel fine and suspension

Did anyone watch the second test? When Shane Dowrich took that fantastic catch, Gabriel dove over Dowrich, what did were the comments attributed to Nasser at that time?

Anyone?

[shake d livin wake d dead]

Gayle to retire from ODIs after the world cup

[mr360]

He is not that effective now, his period is over.

[shake d livin wake d dead]

Agreed^ hopefully he goes out in good style...

[Dizzy28]

1st ODI tommorow WI England.

[shake d livin wake d dead]

dectnish windies squad on paper...Russell should have been in there

[Dizzy28]

dectnish windies squad on paper...Russell should have been in there

Given what they have to work with based on who playing PSL and who injured it is probably the best squad they could come up with. Will they be competitive to this England one that has been beating everybody over the past year to two is another story.

[Dizzy28]

He is not that effective now, his period is over.

And he scores a 100 on his return to prove he his still effective.

[shake d livin wake d dead]

Man leaving with a bang...getting some form for the cup

[Premchand1976]

He is not that effective now, his period is over.

And he scores a 100 on his return to prove he his still effective.

He really is the " universe boss ".

[shake d livin wake d dead]

Windies downfall is the bowling attack

[Dizzy28]

Windies downfall is the bowling attack

Today's attack has 1 specialist fast bowler (counting Holder as a specialist all rounder). This is untenable.

[shake d livin wake d dead]

Them drop catches aint cutting it...they missing Russell maybe Narine, might even throw een cottrell...carlos is not a game changer with the ball

[shake d livin wake d dead]

Expected result...hopefully they get better bowlers next game

[Dizzy28]

This england batting line up scary. They either on par or better than India. India has the better bowling though

[shake d livin wake d dead]

This england batting line up scary. They either on par or better than India. India has the better bowling though

Hence they could be very dangerous in the cup....with home advantage anything could happen

[mitch1980]

commentator said West Indies innings had 160 dot balls but 23 sixes.
Eng in 40 overs had 6 dot balls.

Eng played an excellent game chasing such a tremendous score.

From Cricinfo
http://www.espncricinfo.com/story/_/id/ ... est-indies

"The package Gayle brings with him is not entirely positive, though. His lack of mobility in the field - really, it's a throwback to Victorian days - is a major problem, while his inability to run does not just reduce his own scoring opportunities. He is unable to take the second or third runs his partners may be capable of making and thus increases the pressure upon them. While he might argue he can compensate for that weakness, he will know the very best ODI players - and you have only to think of the speed of MS Dhoni between the wickets - can both hit sixes and scamper quick ones and twos.


Chris Gayle celebrates his comeback century Getty Images
The fact that Gayle played out 55 dot balls before reaching his century will, more often than not, cost his team. Jason Roy, by comparison, faced 18 dot balls in making his century.

There are huge issues inherent in Gayle's approach. If he fails having eaten up a dozen or so overs at the start of the innings, he puts his side at a significant disadvantage in having wasted Powerplay opportunities. Here he didn't hit a boundary until the 15th over of the innings. By the time he was out, he had faced 65 dot balls; the same number of deliveries Roy needed for his hundred. And even if he does come through that tough start, can anyone's acceleration justify the risk of failure or the difficulty in running between the wickets?"
"

[shake d livin wake d dead]

second odi today..I read that Russell may be back for the remaining 3 ODIs....

[Dizzy28]

second odi today..I read that Russell may be back for the remaining 3 ODIs....

If he comes in it has to be for either one of the two spinners - Nurse or Bishoo. However the WI attack would have a sameness about it. Russell, Holder, whichever 3rd seaming allrounder they pick all would be the same beast i.e a medium fast seamer.

We need a really good spin all rounder for the ODI setup. Kind of like Kedhar Jadhav and Jadeja for India or Sakib for Bangladesh.

[shake d livin wake d dead]

I think that's it for Narine? I wonder if they could try Chase as a spinner(he is better with the bat than Bishoo)...Roach injured so hopefully he will be set for the cup...

[shake d livin wake d dead]

Them drop catches aint cutting it...they missing Russell maybe Narine, might even throw een cottrell...carlos is not a game changer with the ball

Guess cottrell made a difference...nice victory by the windies

[Zetski]

Yuh know a ched ded when men replying to themselves

[INHUMAN]

Haffi remain relevant soldeeer. Yuh eh know whoze me oar...i am the champion of the rajs so i have weight round dis forum.

[trent]

So I see Russel is back, wonder if Narine will be back for WC also...