The Cricket Thread 2017

[PaulWinch again]

I still find it slightly mental that Plunkett isn't there. If he were the fourth seamer I think we'd be better balanced. Ball is fine, but he's a bit samey to Broad.

[OzVilla]

If only Moen just posed a few more problems or had more consistency, they could then rotate the quicks and use Woakes as you suggest in those middle overs but you can see they just don't trust him to tie them down in anywhere near the way Lyon does.

[olaftab]

Those of you in a depressive mood please lighten up. OK England should have got 50 more runs than they did and yes Aussies should have have been knocked over for 50 fewer but... both teams are evenly balanced and average Test standard teams so  it will ebb and flow all series.
To get them all out for just over 300 at the Gabba is very good. A good morning and the Test is England's. One thing is clear both teams are incapable of annihilating the each other.

[Chris Jameson]

Oh and my worries about Cook haven't been assuaged, his shot was fucking atrocious.

To be fair Paul, you do seem to have worries about every single player at various times!

[OzVilla]

I'm more frustrated to be honest as we had a wonderful opportunity today but to put things into some context Engand are in their strongest position entering the 4th day of a Gabba Test than at any time since November 1986.

[PaulWinch again]

Oh and my worries about Cook haven't been assuaged, his shot was fucking atrocious.

To be fair Paul, you do seem to have worries about every single player at various times!

Yes fair point!

[Proposition Joe]

Those of you in a depressive mood please lighten up. OK England should have got 50 more runs than they did and yes Aussies should have have been knocked over for 50 fewer but... both teams are evenly balanced and average Test standard teams so  it will ebb and flow all series.
To get them all out for just over 300 at the Gabba is very good. A good morning and the Test is England's. One thing is clear both teams are incapable of annihilating the each other.

It's England in Australia though, and more often than not, even if things look decent at one point, they always end up bad. I think the Aussies are bang average, but England are masters at shooting themselves square in the foot. I expect Australia to knock off the winning runs about an hour after Tea tomorrow amid loads of press comments about "express pace".

To borrow from Battlestar Galactica: all of this has happened before, all of this will happen again.

[olaftab]

However “all of this.....” phrase equally applies to the other side. Joe you are a true villain  as we all worry about other team scoring on the counter when we have a corner😊

[PaulWinch again]

It's such a cruel blow that we can't have Tymal Mills in the team.

[fredm]

Cannot understand why on earth the ECB have not allowed Stokes to be selected. What ever happened to innocent until proven guilty?  It would appear that the police are struggling to find any real decisive evidence and what they do eventually find will be given to the CPS who will then sit on it for weeks before, IMO, coming up with "insufficient evidence to justify proceedings".  In the mean time the Ashes could well be lost.

[Proposition Joe]

It's such a cruel blow that we can't have Tymal Mills in the team.

Why not? Injury, IPL or some other reason?

[PaulWinch again]

He's got a back condition that means he can't put too much stress on it. It's why he only plays 20/20.

[PaulWinch again]

Right England the time is nearly upon us, please don't wilt. Battle hard and push them back and get them panicked about the lead we're building.

[OzVilla]

Bright, very warm and Sunny this morning. A 'batting day' as Bumble would say.

[PaulWinch again]

Fingers crossed.