England 2012 Cricket Thread

[Villan For Life]

Good to see Monty opening the bowling. I'd also have thrown the new ball to Swann rather than Jimmy. Seamers have done nothing on this pitch.

[LeeB]

Didn't see that coming!

[PaulWinch again]

Well just caught up with what happened, unbelievable. Brilliant from Cook and KP and Monty has been an absolute star. We absolutely have to win this game.

[paul_e]

The selectors really should be ashamed, the decision to not play monty in the first test looks more and more ridiculous every day.

Brilliant from KP, did exactly what I was hoping for after yesterday, superb performance from a player who is only limited by his attitude.

Then an excellent bowling performance, need to offer gambhir singles and clear the tail up quickly tomorrow, can hopefully be done by lunch.

[PaulWinch again]

Bairstow sounds like he got a bad decision?

[spangley1812]

Bairstow sounds like he got a bad decision?

Yes and he shouldnt have walked and then made the umpires refer it to the 3rd umpire who hopefully would have said it was not out

[PaulWinch again]

Watching the highlights, KP truly is a remarkable player and this performance shows why it's madness why some people didn't want him back.

[PaulWinch again]

Also hopefully if we win this match, this is the first time in well over a year we've played really well and ruthlessly against top opposition.

[PaulWinch again]

Oh and Monty should play in every Test where it's a spinning pitch.

[cheltenhamlion]

Got up to watch it this morning. Clinical is the only way to describe it.

[Meanwood Villa]

Excellent stuff. Now let's win the series.

[PaulWinch again]

Great performance.

[paul_e]

Superb bowling from Swann and Monty backed up a stunning batting performance from KP perfectly.

At our best a year or so ago we engineered chances like this and then took them quickly and efficiently, 2012 had seen that side of our game fall away so it's really positive to see us put a team to the sword like this.

Aside from the 3 mentioned, excellent captaincy by Cook, he did a great job of supporting KP with the bat and got all the important decisions right.  Also big kudos to Compton for the finish today.  Was only a small total to chase down for the win but to do hitting to the rope rather than eeking out the singles shows great confidence and shows he's mentally strong enough to be a very good opener.  I hope today serves as a marker for him where he can step up as he's started ok but not got a big score just yet.

[PaulWinch again]

In fact on reflection that is one of England's best ever Test victories.  It's been a long time since we've thrashed a good side, and gives me hope again.

[taylorsworkrate]

In fact on reflection that is one of England's best ever Test victories.  It's been a long time since we've thrashed a good side, and gives me hope again.

I agree, after such an atrocious year, the signs of a good team are still there. Need to back this up now.