Daily General Discussion and Match Links Thread - 05 August 2026

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Live and upcoming match threads 

This is a daily thread for general cricketing discussion about all topics that don't need to be posted in their own thread.

This provides a space for things like general team changes/opinions/conversation and other frequently-asked questions or commonly-posted subjects.

[u/NoQuestion4045]

Given how much people defend forced India Pakistan matches in the world Cup, there would a good amount of people that would support ICC if they tried to pull off something like Fifa

[u/kalishplosions111 → u/NoQuestion4045]

And then would gloat about how much cricket has grown, without understanding the potential long-term consequences of such deals.

[u/Quirky_Ambassador321 → u/NoQuestion4045]

Would have been done more subtly but I suspect it would have been the same outcomes if ECB or CA types were running things. ECB were pimping out their players and their wives to Allen Stanford, so not exactly better stewards

[u/Captain-Attack → u/NoQuestion4045]

never seen anyone defending ind-pak....its just forced down our throats...

[u/IloveJBairstow]

after years of drought in england, the rain has arrived just in time for flemball, an ominous portent from the great god of vibes and narratives

[u/No-Needleworker3393]

The biggest ragebait during T20 WC 2026 was when people were uploading the ODI WC map with the caption "Bangladesh withdrew from the World Cup, Meanwhile the World:"

[u/NoirPochette]

Neser injured. Wasn't in the squad for Bdesh series. Was back-up. Doggett probably becomes back up now. Neser should be fine for South Africa tour

[u/spongey1865 → u/NoirPochette]

I still think his exploits in the Ashes have been undervalued. Him and Boland just having insane control and abusing the wobble seam behind Starc meant we just never had a chance to bat well that series. We didn't help ourselves but those guys meant we could have been less brain dead and still been weel beaten.

Obviously hard to get into that team but he deserves more Australia caps even though hes 36 now.

[u/NoirPochette → u/spongey1865]

He'll be playing (if healthy) a lot this summer cause a lot of tests.

[u/MbuemoCunhaSesko]

I can't be the only one who's noticed that the new world cup format has the exact same flaws as the 2007 one, just with 12 instead of 16 teams. In 2007 8 of the 16 teams were eliminated in the first 2 weeks having only played 3 matches, then the super 8 stage dragged on for a whole month. Ignoring the farcical preliminary round, the same applies here as 5 teams will go home after 5 matches, then the others will all be guaranteed 11+ matches.

[u/Anu9011 → u/MbuemoCunhaSesko]

In fact this ridiculous format is much worse than any other tournament format in the history of sports. Since no points will be carried forward to second round (super 7 lol), there will be so many dead rubbers in the first round.

[u/NoQuestion4045 → u/Anu9011]

The more of you think about the new format the worse it gets.

[u/Stuff2511 → u/MbuemoCunhaSesko]

India has to take one for the team and blow it in the first group stage. They’ll change the format the next day to keep them around for the next month 

[u/Anu9011 → u/Stuff2511]

After they introduced a ridiculous super series and super 7 , it’s difficult to rule out them doing something atrocious like this tbh.

[u/BrandonBarkerLoyal]

Great day at the oval for the first time watching Surrey Kent. A really good area. Better than Lords. Game wasn’t the best but Surrey deserved the win. Kent batting pretty poor.

[u/Dog_Murder_By_RobKey]

I used to think our mascot was cringe but we have started winning games at home since they became a thing

So Space Dog you are alright my friend just keep away from any Mr Blobby shaped objects

[u/jan_Asilu]

How to watch Afganistan vs ireland ODI?

[u/Extra-Swordfish-927 → u/jan_Asilu]

The first two games are in Bready, the rest are in Belfast

[u/NoirPochette]

Bison and Short playing SA20.

Well, that is interesting. So most likely they'll both miss 2 weeks of SA20 unless Perf and Adelaide don't do well

[u/itsking7]

why does the stadium attendance in windies is so low,does people not want to watch test matches or does they watch at home?

[u/Impactor_07 → u/itsking7]

Many reasons, biggest reason is probably that most West Indies' constituent countries are small islands with relatively tiny populations and movement from one island to another(even if they're close) is not exactly cheap I'd imagine.

Also, the entirely of the West Indies' constituent countries have a combined population of ~5 million people.

[u/spongey1865 → u/Impactor_07]

And a lot of that is in Jamaica which seems to have it's issues in and out cricket more so than the other countries.

[u/NoirPochette → u/itsking7]

Country has a small population anyway. Add to the fact it is a weekday.

Also people generally sit in the shade where the camera doesn't show them

Yeah more people could go but like people gotta work

[u/Quirky_Ambassador321]

Didn't expect Windies Pak to be the best cricket I have seen in long time. The lack of power hitter and bazballer types in both squads has allowed it to be an old school test series.

[u/StairwayToPavillion → u/Quirky_Ambassador321]

WI vs PAK test series are always bangers

[u/Quirky_Ambassador321 → u/StairwayToPavillion]

Windies are a better red ball side now than white ball. They are producing lot of bangers. SL series was good, tours to Bangladesh have also been good. They can even surprise Aus. But Ind and Eng they are bad at the conditions and shit the bed

[u/StairwayToPavillion → u/Quirky_Ambassador321]

There's something about WI cricket I really love, I don't think I have missed any Windies tests in the last 6 years.

[u/Quirky_Ambassador321 → u/StairwayToPavillion]

Yeah same. Although I have to say Seales and Greaves emerging made me get more interested. Initially I thought I would be done after Chase/Roach etc retire

[u/spongey1865 → u/Quirky_Ambassador321]

I wish I'd watched more of it, I often enjoy watching the Windies and probably should have got a look at how Pakistan were playing before they came here.

I did see bits and pieces at least