England 2012 Cricket Thread

[paul_e]

Sri Lanka have absolutely nothing with the ball if it's not turning.  They've not got anything out of the pitch for the spinners so far so just needed our batsmen to play sensibly to get to this position.  If the pitch plays like this tomorrow and they don't make a major change we should be looking at well over 400 here.

I reckon keep it sensible until lunch tomorrow and have the current pair see us to 220-230 then come out after lunch and try to pile on a few runs.  I'd want 5 sessions to bowl them out and have a bit of leeway in case we need to come back out so I'd like 400 by the end of tomorrow and then if we've got wickets in hand go all out to break 500 before lunch on thursday.  We really need to not give them the chance to stick in and play for the draw so we need enough time to be certain we can bowl them out.

[PaulWinch again]

We have shown that if you're sensible on subcontinent pitches, then you can build scores. We need to go from here and bat them out of the match. It's vital when KP gets in that he bats sensibly. It's very important we win this game.

[Dave Cooper please]

KP bat sensibly? Perish the thought!
Three sixes already, if he goes defensive against spin he gets out, he's doing it the only way he knows.
England lead.

[PaulWinch again]

This is a brilliant innings from KP, it could accelerate us into a position to win this game.

[Dave Summers]

I think he scpred about 50 runs in the time it took me to get from Northfield to town to come into work.

Well batted sir and we should win from this position

Bell gone for 18 to complete a poor winter and cue the calls for him to be dropped I guess.   As my mate has just said, it would be amazing if people were calling for the head of a batsman who averages 46 point something.   Seems to be the way though !!

[UK Redsox]

Roshan Abeysinghe must hate commentating with Sir Geoffrey. He can hardly get a word in.

Its Aggers and Victor on at the moment. They're my favourite duo these days

[Villan For Life]

Much debate on the Cricinfo text commentary about KP's switch hitting. I've not seen it as I'm stuck ast work. Can anyone shed any light on what has gone on during this innings?

[paul_e]

Basically Dilshan refused to bowl at KP when he was switching his hands.

Was all a psychology thing, KP just got totally into his head and Dilshan had a sulk.

Basically as they're explaining things it's all about timing, if Dilshan sees him move before he's in his delivery stride he can pull out and Pietersen then gets warned for wasting time.  If Dilshan is in his delivery stride and pulls out he gets punished instead.

The whole thing will go on for a long time I think.

Aside from that, this has been as good a batting performance as anything I've ever seen from KP, has looked like he's hitting a beachball with a tennis racket.

[Dave Cooper please]

I think the umpire is wrong to warn KP according to the latest from the ICC rule-setters. They have stated that the switch hit is legitimate and as it is such a risky shot for a batsman to try and gives the bowler every chance to get him out then the risk / reward balance is fine and as it is an exciting shot it should be allowed.
 Bowlers do not have to tell the batsman what sort of delivery they are going to bowl, surely a seamer changing his grip on the ball and throwing down a leg-break is the same as a batsman changing his grip on the bat to hit the ball unorthodoxily?

[PaulWinch again]

151 and out, great innings KP.

[PaulWinch again]

It's a shame we couldn't play like this for the rest of the winter.

[avfcpg]

Great knock from KP. Class is permanent and all that.
Shouldn't have been warned. He was set when the delivery was made, what he does after that his up to him...

[paul_e]

 That 151 is up there with the all-time greatest performances.  It's a dog of a pitch that every other player has struggled to get a strike rate over 50%, to swagger out and smack it all the pitch like that takes special talent.  I'd go so far as to say no other batsman in the world currently could've done that (Tendulkar at his best could've but he's not that player anymore).

[PaulWinch again]

Yes well I think that answers all questions on KP's place in the side, there is noone else who can do that.

[The Left Side]

Well done KP