England - Return to the top of the World

[Lightnings]

I've decided to jump on the bandwagon trend of doing a story for your game. I've had a look GrahamB's and a few others, and have gathered a few tips on how to make a good one. I got the game a few days ago, and this is my first international game. Hope everyone likes it!

Beefy promises to bring England back to glory!

England have a new head coach who has promised to lead them to victory over Australia and the World. Sir Ian Botham has played over one-hundred and two test games for England and one-hundred and sixteen ODI's. He scored at a average 33.54 and took wickets at a average of 28.40. He has joined as England's head coach and as part of his deal he will have full choice of the players he selects. Rumour also has it he has persuaded all-rounder Andrew Flintoff not to retire from test cricket after the Ashes. He has just announced his first 12 man squad for the 1st test against the West Indies.

A. Strauss
A. Cook
I. Bell (C)
R. Bopara
P. Collingwood
K. Pietersen
S. Davies (WK)
A. Flintoff
S. Harmison
J. Anderson
M. Panesar
G. Onions

This squad see's recalls for Ian Bell (Warwickshire), Monty Panesar (Northamptonshire) and Steve Harmison (Durham). It also sees possible debut's for Ravi Bopara (Essex), Steve Davies (Worcestershire) and Graham Onions (Durham). In a shock move he has made Warwickshire's Ian Bell captain of the squad. Many England fans are said to be shocked. Can Bell and Botham lead England to victory against the West Indies

[Lightnings]

Just to let you know i'm playing on Normal and pre-patch.

Steve Harmison was the man left out of the squad as Botham handed debut's to Ravi Bopara, Steve Davies and Graham Onions. Chris Gayle won the toss but suprisingly put England into bat and out came Strauss and Cook, looking to bat out the morning session. Strauss came out in a aggresieve mode, hitting 26 off 22. Strauss eventually slowed down, but made his half-century with 40 minutes to go till Lunch. The West Indies pace attack was never really threatening during the first session, and England went in at 113-0 with Strauss on 71 and Cook on 37. Cook pushed on to get his 50 just a few overs after the restart. Halfway through the afternoon session and a delighted Andrew Strauss smashed a half-volley off Fidel Edwards for 4 to bring up his 100. The defiant pair kept on attacking the Windies and made their 200 partnership and at tea the score was 212-0. Cook finally made his hundred after facing 256 balls. And on Ian Botham's first match in charge on the end of the first day the score was 301-0. Early on in the morning Strauss made his double century. After hitting some quick early runs, Andrew Strauss and Alistar Cook passed the record for the highest ever first partnership for England (Previous record 359 - L Hutton, C Washbrook). Just after passing this landmark, Strauss was trapped LBW by Fidel Edwards for 210 and the score was 360-1. Bopara got off to a quick start in his first over hitting fourteen off one over. Cook fell on 135 edging Edwards to slip and the score was 377-2. Bell and Bopara batted till lunch, surviving a hostile short ball attack from Fidel Edwards and Darren Sammy. Ravi Bopara fell early after lunch for twenty three being caught behind off a bouncer from Sammy. Bell played well for his 50, getting it by running off a little push towards mid off. He fell next ball to Bravo edging behind to Ramdin. Collingwood smashed Gayle for four runs through the cover to make his half-century. Wicket-keeper Steve Davies made 43 before being trapped LBW by Bravo after getting cross footed off a ball that was reverse-swinging. The score then was 554-5. Next in was Kevin Pieterson. He made just sixteen before edging the ball to the slips. Flintoff only made 18 before having his middle stump uprooted out the ground by Jerome Taylor. Collingwood eased towards his century and made it off 153 balls. Onions made 16, Anderson made 5 and Panesar made 6* not out and Paul Collingwood finally fell on 140. The final score was 690 all out with Strauss top-scoring with 210.


Devon Smith and Chris Gayle made 12 runs before going in for lunch. After two overs of Anderson (and two from Flintoff) Ian Bell threw Graham Onions the ball. With his first ball in test cricket he got Gayle to edge the ball through to Steve Davies for 6 and the score was 24-1 with Onions getting his first teat-wicket ever. Devon Smith and Shiv Chaderpaul however didn't get out and the West Indies went into Tea on day 3 at 111-1. Devon Smith made his test-century and off just 111 balls. The next wicket didn't fall until Shiv Chanderpaul tried to come down the pitch and slog Monty for six, but he missed the ball and thanks to some great work behind the stumps from Steve Davies the West Indian was out for 50 off 151 and the score was 180-2. Bell through the ball too Collingwood for a brief spell before the new ball arrived in fourteen overs. Sarwan attempted to smash him, but instead ended up edging to the slips and Collingwood had a wicket with his fourth ball. At the end of day three the West Indies were 202-3. Onions and Flintoff were thrown the new ball but didn't take a wicket until the ball was 17 overs old. Flintoff bowled a ball that staightened onto off stump and Bravo played it onto his stumps. Deonarine was caught Spectacularly by Paul Collingwood at short leg of the bowling of Anderson and the score was 320-5. Anderson swung the ball alot and it payed off when Ramdin missed the one that straightened and had his off stump flying off behind the wicket-keeper doing numerous cartwheels. Anderson got his third by making Sammy hook him straight to Andrew Flintoff out in the deep. Panesar got his second by getting Jerome Taylor out by making him play the cut shot and it ended up in him edging it to Steve Davies. Smith was out for 214 with Flintoff getting him to hit it straight up in the air and Bell pulled off a good catch. The West Indies needed the last pair to get 79 runs to make sure they avoided the follow on. It didn't go well for them with Panesar knocking Edwards middle stump out with what was a kind of slow spining yorker. Bell enforced the follow on with England leading by 273 runs and one day and a session to get them out. The final innings score was 417 with Smith the top scorer with 214.

England had one chance to get a early wicket with one over left before tea. Anderson employed a leg slip and with the last ball before tea Gayle flicked the ball of his hip straight to Cook and Gayle was out for six. After three maidens, Chanderpaul and Smith were looking to hit a few runs. However, the first ball they tried to do this Anderson bowled a yorker and Shiv Chanderpaul's middle stump was doing cartwheels. The score at that stage was 6-2 and it didn't go any higher until the next wicket. Flintoff's first ball was another yorker and it got past Smith's bat and destroyed his middle stump and the West Indies were 6 for 3. And only four more was added before Dwayne Bravo tryed to hook Flintoff but gloved him through to Steve Davies and the score was a shocking 10-4. Sarwan and Deonarine made the highest partnership of the innings so far making 43, but then Panesar got on that spinned from the leg side to the off stump and Deonarine edged him through to Davies. Sarwan had made 41 and was the top scorer, but then Onions bowled a very fast ball of a good length and it hit Sarwan on the back pad and was given out LBW as it was as plum as a ... plum. And the score was 64-6. Only one more wicket fell before the end of the day with Sammy slogging off Panesar straight to Bopara in the deep. The score at the end of day 4 was 84-7. Flintoff and Panesar wrapped things up early on with England winning by an Innings and 156 runs.

Man of the match: Andrew Strauss

[Chasjs]

Looks great, well done in the test, great result, although I found the Windies to be push overs in test cricket. Even so that opening partnership is immense. I'm tempted to do a story, sadly, it'll have to wait as I'm away for 2 weeks .

[patrickF690]

good result

[Ollie Ostrich]

Great result man, to have a partnership that big especially on ICC 2009 when I can't seem to get more than 100 is amazing and it was your first game with England. Keep up the good work man like the way you have again changed the slant of stories on this forum by saying that Sir Ian has taken over as coach, very clever. Will be interested to see where you take your England team.

[GrahamB]

Impressive start indeed!

[zub2009]

good start

[Lightnings]

My internet went off while i was finishing off my update, i didn't realise, i click preview and i lost half a hours work.



Instead of spending another half a hour spending writing it up again i'm just going to tell you that i beat the Windies by an innings and 66 runs, Denly made his debut (hitting 77) and Anderson took 6-44 in the second innings.

[Lightnings]

Pietersen destroys the West Indies

Kevin Pietersen tody demolished the Windies with a unbeaten 108 off 77 balls. England's side today was:

A. Strauss
S. Moore
K. Pietersen
I. Bell
T. Bresnan
J. Denly
P. Collingwood
A. Flintoff
M. Prior
J. Anderson
R. Kirtley

This saw a recall for the potentially dangerous James Kirtley and Yorkshire all-rounder Tim Bresnan and wicket keeper Matt Prior returned from injury. Chris Gayle won the toss and chose to bat. Arguably the biggest six hitter in the world Chris Gayle was out second ball, playing onto his stumps off Anderson. Smith faced the same fate off Flintoff just one over later. Sarwan and Chanderpaul put on 48 before James Kirtley took his first wicket back in ODI's. Chanderpaul and Bravo got the Windies upto a hundred with Shiv Chanderpaul making his fifty. Collingwood was given a bowl and got Chanderpaul out for 57 and the score was 100-4. Pollard made just 5 before coming Collingwood's second victim. Ramdin made 24 before hooking Flintoff in the deep and Kirtley pulled off the catch. Sammy and Benn both made ducks, but Jerome Taylor and Dwayne Bravo pushed on bringing the score to 206-8 but Jerome Taylor fell last ball for 37 to make the score for 206-9.

Things got off to a bad start for England with Strauss falling for 13. Debutant Stephen Moore follwed suit for 23. Pietersen raced to 50 off just 42 balls. Bell made 32 off 31 before Sammy trapped England's new captain for 32 off 31. All the while Pietersen was smashing balls left right and center. He made his century off just 70 balls. Bresnan made a nice 31* not out of 27 balls and England rolled home to victory with 15 overs left to go and seven wickets in hand. Here's a fact that shocked many - for his century Pietersen didn't hit one six.

[Lightnings]

Trescothick back with a bang!


Marcus Trescothick today finally returned to the international setup and boy did he do it in style. He and Strauss guided England to a ten wicket victory over the West Indies with them both making unbeaten centuries. The only changes in the side were Trescothick in for Moore. Gayle won the toss and chose to bat. Flintoff caught and bowled Devon Smith after Smith pushed the ball straight back at him for just one. Niether Flintoff, Anderson or Kirtley could find the break through, and Chanderpaul and Gayle added ninety-one to the score. Desparate to get the dangerous Gayle out, Bell in desparation turned to part-time spinner Joe Denly. Thinks didn't start well with Gayle smashing him for six first ball. However, the very next ball Gayle came down the pitch and missed the spinning ball and Prior stumped the Windies captain and he was out for 54 off 60. Sarwan made just 12 runs before falling LBW to Collingwood. Bravo added just fifteen before falling to the same fate as Sarwan but instead to Ryan Kirtley. Pollard fell for 7, Ramdin was out for a golden duck and Sammy added 8. All the while Shiv Chanderpaul was edging towards his century, and made it off just 110 balls. Benn made 15, Taylor made 2 and Richardson made 5 before becoming Bresnan's first victim of the day. Shiv Chanderpaul was 125 not out.

What happened next came as a shock to everyone. Out came England's opening batsman and they both rushed to there fifty's. And soon enough they both made there centuries and soon the game was over with England romping home to a ten wicket victory. Trescothick ended with 139 off 133 and Straus 112 off 115. What a win!

[Lightnings]

Boom boom Trescothick!

It was like after his 139* at Lords it was like he got in his car at Lords and drove to the Rose Bowl and carried on batting. He top scored today in a 103 run victory for England, with him getting 175* not out off 140 balls. The only change in the squad was Graham Swann in for the expensive Tim Bresnan. Bell won the toss and chose to bat. Strauss made just 10 before Sammy got him out LBW. Pietersen made 26 off 23 balls before Sammy got his second wicket by knocking his middle stump out the ground. All the while Trescothick had blasted his way to 50 off just 37 balls. The new captain Bell made just fourteen before falling to Bravo. Flintoff added just fourteen to the score, but by then Trescothick had made his second century in two games. Collingwood made just twenty before Taylor had him caught at gulley. Prior was the only player to support the big scoring Trescothick making a unbeaten 50. Trescothick made 175* not out and the final score was 316-5.

Gayle made 19 before being run-out by Bell. The next six batsmen made small cameo's but not one passed 40 runs. Swann got rid of Devon Smith (40), Shiv Chanderpual (19) and Ramnarwesh Sarwan (12). Dwayne Bravo and Dale Richards made 38 and 39 before they both fell to Collingwood. Ramdin made 27* not out before the tail enders collapsed for just 11. The Windies final score was 209 all out giving England a 107 run win. Surely Trescothick's heroics have earned him a place in the World Cup squad and the Ashes squad?

[Lightnings]

By the way i was so angry i forgot to take screenshots.

England knocked out of World Cup by the Netherlands and Pakistan

After the dissapointment of previous World Cups, England fans were hoping that this might be their year. It turned out not to be this way. They lost to the Netherlands and too Pakistan. England's team for the world cup was:

Trescothick
Strauss
Morgan
Denly
Shah
Pietersen
Collingwood
Flintoff
Dalrymple
Mascheranus
Davies
Anderson
Broad
Harmison

England won the toss, and chose to bowl. Flintoff made the Holland upper order melt like warm nutella, taking 25-6. The lower order and tailenders put up a fight but were out for 96. Not many expected England to lose. No one did. But they did. Dirk Nannes took 7-18 removing Trescothick (10), Strauss (15), Pietersen (2), Shah (0), Collingwood (6), Anderson (1), Harmison (16). England lost by 7 runs.

England knew going into the Pakistan match that they needed to win. One man stopped them. Shahid Afridi. He made 70 off 34 and took 4-24. When he came into bat Pakistan were 10-3. When he was finally out bowled by Masheranes - Pakistan were 160-5. They posted a target off 194 for England to chase. England took a different stance and opened with Pietersen and Flintoff. They made a 100 partnership off just 60 balls, smashing the Pakistan bowling attack left right and center. That is, until Shahid Afridi came on. He removed them both in his first over, and England never recovered, limping to just 160-8. The queen is said to be not amused.

[Lightnings]

Trescothick misses out on Ashes through injury - Suprise call up for Vaughan

Marcus Trescothick will miss out on most of the Ashes because of a broken finger that will take five weeks to heal. Michael Vaughan has been called up in place of him. This has shocked many people, wondering why Botham as picked Vaughan. Well i have the answer for you. Vaughan has been averaging 88.00 this year in county cricket for Yorkshire (over 9 matches). Here at childishthings.co.uk we will be bringing you day by day updates of the Ashes. Back to the team, and Botham has revealed it will be a straight race between Ravi Bopara and Michael Vaughan for the last spot in the 11 man side. You can find the full team below.

A. Strauss (VC)
A. Cook
I. Bell (C)
P. Collingwood
K. Pietersen
R. Bopara
M. Vaughan
M. Prior (WK)
A. Flintoff
J. Anderson
G. Onions
M. Panesar

[Lightnings]

The Ashes - Cardiff - Day 1

England Squad:

A. Strauss
A. Cook
M. Vaughan
I. Bell (c)
P. Collingwood
K. Pietersen
M. Prior
A. Flintoff
J. Anderson
G. Onions
M. Panesar

Australian Squad:

P. Hughes
S. Katich
M. Clarke (c)
M. Hussey
S. Watson
M. North
B. Haddin
M. Johnson
B. Lee
S. Clark
P. Siddle

The main things you can see there is that England have suprisingly gone in with ex-captain Michael Vaughan and that Australian captain Ricky Ponting is out with a injury. Michael Clarke (deputising for Ponting) won the toss and chose to bat first. The new ball didn't swing around alot, and Hughes and Katich got off to a steady start. Katich was dropped by Cook with the score 62-0. Hughes and Katich survived a few more scares and Australia went into lunch at 90 for 0 with Hughes 56* not out and Katich 34* not out. One upside for England - no extras. After scoring for 17 overs after lunch at just over two an over, Hughes looked to go after Paul Collingwood. However, the first ball he tried to do this he gloved it straight to captain Bell at short leg and Hughes was out for 65 off 159. Katich and Clarke remained strong and the Aussies went in for tea at 171 for 1 with the new ball due in 15 overs. Just one over before the new ball was avalible and the rain came down leaving just 8 overs with the new ball before the close of play with the Aussies on 204-1 and Katich just 7 runs away from his century. Like the first time round neither Anderson nor Flintoff could find any swing and Australia went into day 2 on 230-1 with Katich 98* not out and Clarke 62* not out. Defiantly the Aussies Day.

[Lightnings]

Celebrating Mitchell Johnson's golden duck

The Ashes - Cardiff - Day 2

The Aussies came out with a overnight score of 230-1. Clarke and Katich added 39 together before Flintoff bowled a fantastic yorker which had Clarke's middle stump uprooted from the ground and doing cartwheels. Clarke stood there for a while, still in shock at the delivery. He finally walked and was out for 80. This brought Mike Hussey (otherwise known as Mr. Cricket) to the crease. Katich was dropped again on 116 off the bowling of Anderson this time by Onions. It didn't matter though as Katich edged Anderson next ball straight to Flintoff in the slips and Katich was out for 116 off 310 balls and the Aussies were 296-3. Watson added just 23 runs to the total before falling victim to the suprise package of Paul Collingwood. Hussey and North added 6 before Lunch and they went in at 348-4 with England getting three wickets in the session. After Lunch Hussey raced on while North got himself settled. On 99 not out, having smashed Collingwood for 4 the previous ball, Hussey looked certain to score his 10th century. Collingwood had other plans. He bowled a short ball just outside off stump and Hussey dragged the ball onto his stumps to become Collingwood's third victim. He however injured himself bowling and won't be able to bat or bowl for the rest of the test and possibly the rest of the series. Panesar got his first wicket by deciving Marcus North with the one that spins the other way and he was out for 26 and Australia had fallen to 437-6. Mitchell Johnson came out to bat with a big repuation for big hitting from South Africa. Clearly the South African's needed someone like Monty Panesar in there team. He got Johnson pushing the ball straight back at him and Monty somehow took his 5th catch off his International Career and Johnson was out for a golden duck. Australia went into tea at 468-7. At tea, Graham Onions remained wicket less after bowling 38 overs for 140 runs. This changed after tea when Brett Lee edged him to Matt Prior who took a good low catch. Bell took the third new ball and Haddin finally fell for 64 losing his patiance and hitting a wide short ball off Anderson straight to captain Ian Bell. Clark made a quick fire 25 before smashing Flintoff to Cook out in the deep and the Australians were all out for 536. Cook and Stauss came out with 56 minutes of play left to survive. Lee and Johnson bowled 14 vicous overs in bad light but Cook and Strauss survived making 42. (Cook - 10 - Strauss - 32 )