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RangersMedia

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Everything posted by RangersMedia

  1. The 10-15cm leeway is basically like Umpires Call in cricket - it is probably what needs to happen. 15cm is half a foot which is probably ample leeway. Sat at my desk with trainers on, putting a ruler to my feet 15cm takes me from where my toe is, to where my laces start. Should go with the on field decision if the error is within that margin. There is nothing wrong with VAR, it probably is good for the game - however the way it is implemented just now is stupid, and far far far too forensic.
  2. That Hamilton red today is up there with the worst of bad decisions. As obvious an accidental handball as you'll see. Balls hit his bicep whilst in a natural running position.
  3. I'm now questioning how I knew the name of the guy who plays the trumpet for the Barmy Army....... but had never heard of one of the highest grossing sportsmen ever in Kobe Bryant.
  4. Not sure Sri Lanka will be too much of a test - England won relatively comfortably there just over a year ago, and Sri Lanka are another side who have went backwards since. The Ashes in Australia will be the acid test though. The Aussies are looking like a top team again, especially at home - cannot see an England win over there, but a competitive showing bodes well for this young team. Don't know what to make of this series result against SA though beyond they've convincingly beaten a team at a very low ebb.
  5. Don't want to take away from England who have played really well in patches and are actually starting to look like theres a foundation there to build on. But.... I don't care about the rankings, this South Africa side are the worst test team England have played in some time. They have been really, really poor this series. Just giving wickets away when batting, and... bizarre fields and spells of uninspired bowling. Much as England have played well in patches, I don't think they've been good as much as South Africa have been bad.
  6. Amla, De Villiers, Morkel and Steyn have all retired since the sandpaper test - I think any team would struggle losing 4 players of that quality in quick succession. They have Philander going after the next test - another top class player. Even Elgar and Du Plessis are well into their 30's and whilst I don't think I'd consider either to be top class, they are established test batsmen who will not be around for too much longer. So really in terms of established quality, they are left with Rabada and De Kock. With England putting 500 on the board it was always going to be hard. Granted SA had the worse of the conditions in this test, but it still isn't a bad batting pitch and 300 should be considered a par score, the ball is turning a bit but still not doing a great deal for the seamers. SA are not a good team just now, definitely approaching the lowest ebb of a transition period - I cannot see how they are rated above England in the rankings, but I expect them to rapidly fall. It is easy to be carried away by England here, but... Root and Bess are taking 9 wickets between them which tells its own story.
  7. England could easily score 500+ today. Don't think SA have bowled well but.... this pitch has nothing in it for the bowlers so far, ball is doing absolutely nothing - given conditions you'd expect a bit of swing, but just not coming. Not a fan of tests when the pitches are offer this little. So long as you bat OK, then it is difficult to lose when batting first in these conditions. Scoreboard pressure and pitch deterioration just see it that way That said Stokes has been sublime, and Pope not bad either.
  8. Better than Botham. Not yet. But he is probably the best all rounder in the world today, certainly taken across all formats - and probably the only England player who'd be in a World XI just now.
  9. Not the most exciting match ever, until the tense last session. However that was a proper test match, and exactly why they must stay 5 days long.
  10. England can't lose from here - The wickets too slow to threaten another 300 runs during a days play without taking risks that would see wickets fall. South Africa would need to play very well to draw, and do something absolutely outstanding to win. If the wicket remains dead, I give England a 75% chance of a win - it's still a big, big ask to go through a whole day 5's play with 8 wickets - if the wicket starts to do something +95% chance of a win. a couple of wickets before lunch and a win is surely near certain. I expect they will get rid of the Maharaj quickly, being a nightwatchman - but if South Africa get to lunch with 200-3 or similar.... game on.
  11. England bowled really well yesterday, the pitch was also quite dead for a bit, but the bounce came later on - a good patient display and got their rewards when the wicket started doing something. TBH as disciplined an England performance as I've seen these last 5yrs. The pitch was dead today. I don't think South Africa were particularly awful, just the ball did almost nothing all day. England batted well, but I won't get too carried away - I don't think it was particularly challenging for the batsmen other than being a bit slow to score on. May be interesting if the pitch stays like this and England stay in until after lunch tomorrow - but conditions look like the ball might start to swing a bit tomorrow. England can't lose from here. Even if the pitch stays flat, it's a slow scoring wicket, and it would be tough for South Africa to get the 300 odd needed in 4.5 sessions to salvage a win.
  12. England are playing decent, but the wickets made it as easy as you could hope for on a day 3 pitch. Very slow and flat- balls did nothing today. Didn't expect that, thought it would deteriorate further as it looked to be getting tricky yesterday.
  13. How far can he realistically take Bournemouth. He has done as just about as good of a job that is realistically possible - the only can be down.
  14. Aside from the obvious reasons, with the bout of illness to Archer and Broad especially, I never understood not giving them an extra days rest by batting first. It was a decision that seemed always likely to have England chasing the game.
  15. I am scratching my head why Root elected to field first. Tbh, the scoreline flatters England.
  16. The Aussies are starting to look like a properly good team just now. Fantastic fast attack and Lyon is a top class spinner. Middle order still looks weakish, but they are only a player or two away from being the clear #1 test side IMO.
  17. Make the rule easier to understand. Generally VAR has been ok except offside decisions, but its the new rules fault rather than the tech where the problem come - under the old rule ( certainly as I understood it) he seems about 1.5 to 2 feet onside. Absolutely nobody would think that was a controversial goal if it was given before VAR or in a league without VAR. The leading foot or head is easier to understand.
  18. I can't see how that Pukki goal is offside at all. No part of him looks offside when the ball forward is played. Bizarre decision imo, and explantion has me scratching my head
  19. Wilder has dererent there. He's like a snake, in the sense that you've got respect the sharp end. You can't walk him down without taking risk. I still think Wilder beats Joshua, simply because I think Joshua is relatively easy to time. Tbh I think Joshua is tailor made for Wilder, and Wilder jumps on opponents when they are hurt - he is a terrific finisher (even if not stylish to watch). Joshua would have the better of the fight, but Wilder only needs a chance. Fury v Joshua - less so. Not sure who I would pick there.
  20. But... he does possess freakish explosiveness. Whilst technically limited, it really isn't a bad trait for a guy who's job is punching.
  21. Negative tactics from Joshua, but it was the smart fight that gave the much shorter man no real chance. The big ring helped a lot too. I do think Joshua loses to both Fury and Wilder. Both are big enough. Ruiz is a dangerous fighter who nobody will want a part of. Wee fat guy, but hits hard and fast - could be hell for many a champion. He might find the next phase of his career hard to catch a break.
  22. Joshua is fighting boring but its working
  23. Joshua fighting like he should have fought! Using his physical advantage to keep Ruiz off.
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