Cricket: International Discussion Thread

Terrible decision by Nigel long today. Even lyon was walking of after he saw the initial replays...
 
Brendan McCullum to retire in February

New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum will retire from all forms of international cricket at the end of the home series against Australia in February 2016. McCullum, 34, made the announcement in Christchurch a day after his team won the Test series against Sri Lanka 2-0.

McCullum will not play the World T20 in March in India, where Kane Williamson will captain the New Zealand team. He will play his 100th Test against Australia in Wellington from February 12 - the first player to play so many consecutive matches from debut - and retire after the second and final Test of that series, in Christchurch from February 20.

McCullum said he would have preferred to reveal his retirement after the series against Australia, but the impending announcement of New Zealand's World T20 squad had forced his hand.

"Ideally, I would have preferred to wait until after the Test in Christchurch to make this news public," he said today. "However, the schedule for naming the ICC World T20 squads means I couldn't have managed this without causing a lot of confusion and speculation - something I was keen to avoid. I've loved my opportunity to play for, and captain the Blackcaps, but all good things have to come to an end, and I'm just grateful for the wonderful experience of playing for my country.

"There's a time and place for reflection and that's at the end of your career. For now, I'll be giving all my attention to helping the team focus on what's coming up over the next few weeks - and making sure we're in the best possible shape for what's going to be a very challenging summer."

McCullum had stepped into the New Zealand captaincy amid much controversy over the sacking of previous captain Ross Taylor, and his first Test series as captain, in 2013, was disastrous. That series featured an innings of 45 all out for New Zealand in Cape Town, and brought the team two innings defeats.

But New Zealand made significant strides under McCullum in the years since. In particular, he was credited with formulating New Zealand's highly aggressive brand of cricket, which has brought them much success, especially at home. With the victory against Sri Lanka in Hamilton on Monday, McCullum's New Zealand equalled the team's longest undefeated home streak, of 13 Tests. McCullum's current 11 victories from 29 matches also makes his win percentage the highest of any New Zealand captain, marginally better than that of Geoff Howarth, whose team had 11 wins from 30 games.

McCullum's captaincy also saw the blossoming of several New Zealand players. Trent Boult and Tim Southee have become one of the most feared new-ball pairs in the world during the past three years, while 25-year old batsman Kane Williamson has become the top-ranked Test batsman. New Zealand also played in their first World Cup final in March, under McCullum.

As a batsman, McCullum had been a high-impact, aggressive player for much of his career, batting largely in the middle order in Tests, and as an opener in the shorter formats. Recent years have seen improvements in his defensive game. In 2014, he became New Zealand's first triple-centurion, against India in Wellington. He was also the first New Zealand batsman to breach 1000 runs in a calendar year in 2014, having also hit a double-century against Pakistan, and 195 against Sri Lanka that year. McCullum is currently the joint-record holder for most Test sixes alongside Adam Gilchrist. He had hit his 100th six in the recent Test in Dunedin, and later said: "It's the only record I care about."

Having been designated wicketkeeper for 52 of his 99 Tests, McCullum also has 194 Test catches and 11 stumpings to his name.
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Agent_Smith said:
Brendan McCullum to retire in February
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Ever since I heard the news something doesn;t make sense. I suspect one of two things - breakway/rebel league/T20 masters etc, or certain things are about to go sour after Chris Cairns won - Vincent/Modi etc future appeals.
 
MyBBOutkast said:
Ever since I heard the news something doesn;t make sense. I suspect one of two things - breakway/rebel league/T20 masters etc, or certain things are about to go sour after Chris Cairns won - Vincent/Modi etc future appeals.
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Guess we'll see. He's 34 now and I reckon that he wants to spend his twilight years doing a Kallis, Gayle or Sangakkara (i.e. travelling the world playing in T20 leagues making mega tom).

Can't blame him though. He's done his time and served his country with distinction.
 
Agent_Smith said:
Can't blame him though. He's done his time and served his country with distinction.
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I don't like him&Jansen pushing Ross Taylor out of the captaincy, yet when he retires now Kane Williamson is frontrunner to be captain. Ross taylor is still only 31, Williamson barely 25.
 
WaxLyrical said:
SL are finished. The greats are now retired and left them nothing for the future.
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Just like with the West Indies, Sri Lanka are going through a transition.

AB, Amla, Philander, Steyn & Morkel will be gone soon, They are still there but look what's happening. The Proteas almost got beat by Bangladesh.

This is proving that you need thousands of players playing cricket competitively in school, club, Main & "Reserve/2nd" league FC cricket. England, India & Australia have that. That's why they will be the 3 top ranked teams. Most of their young/not old stars are settled - Kohli, Ashwin, Jadeja, Rahane, Smith, Starc, Hazlewood, Warner, Lyon, Root, Finn, Stokes, Cook, Broad etc.

South Africa only have Rabada, Sri Lanka have Chandimal&Matthews. Right now I'd put my money on a full strength West Indies beating the Proteas in a Series in the West Indies, or winning a Test match here.

KBrathwaite, Gayle/Johnson, Bravo, Samuels, Chanderpaul/CBrathwaite, Pollard, Ramdin/Dowrich(wk), Russell, Holder(c), Taylor, Miller/Benn. Then there's Dwayne Bravo.
 
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Cricketer Chris Gayle fined for asking reporter on date in interview

West Indies cricketer Chris Gayle has been fined A$10,000 ($7,200; £4,900) for "inappropriate conduct" after he asked a TV reporter on a date in a live interview.

Gayle was speaking to journalist Mel McLaughlin during a Big Bash League match in Hobart on Monday.

"To see your eyes for the first time is nice. Hopefully we can have a drink afterwards. Don't blush baby," he said.

Gayle has said he is sorry, but that the reaction was "out of proportion".

His team Melbourne Renegades beat the Hobart Hurricanes by five wickets in Monday's T20 game.

Gayle, who had scored 41 in just 15 balls, was answering questions from Network Ten's McLaughlin about his big-hitting style when he made the remark, which was widely condemned as sexist.

The former West Indies Test captain told reporters on Tuesday: "There wasn't anything meant to be disrespectful or offensive to Mel. If she felt that way, I'm really sorry for that.

"It was a simple joke. The game was going on. Entertainment, things get out of proportion but these things happen."

McLaughlin has said his date request was "a little bit disappointing because I'm not used to seeing that".

"I don't really want to be the subject of such conversations," she told her network.

'Out of line'

The Melbourne Renegades said his comments were "completely inappropriate and disrespectful" and apologised to McLaughlin and to the public.
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More at:http://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-35229309

[video=youtube;puKoIoNXGtA]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=puKoIoNXGtA[/video]
 
He got a fine.

Meh think its blown out of all proportion. All he did was ask her out for drinks. Maybe inappropriate time, the way people are carrying on would think he had done something much much worse.
 
Yep, and apparently DJ Bravo has made her blush on TV before and Tim Cahill has kissed her live on TV aswell.
 
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