The Cricket Thread 2013

[Villan For Life]

For once (and I hope I don't jinx things) England's tactics appear to be working. A solid start and then kick on without losing wickets.

That's possibly the greatest mockers of all time.

Nah I had faith in Bopara (embarrassed winky thing)

[ADVILLAFAN]

Bopara proved me wrong against the Aussies on Saturday, put in a great innings.

294 to win, so a good score by England.

[PaulWinch again]

That could put Ravi back in the forefront, brilliant innings. We do need a wicket or two.

[PGW]

This game aint won SL 98=1 19.4 overs

[PGW]

102/2 20.5
dilshan 44 (56) ct Root b Swann
Sangakarra 49 (58)

[PaulWinch again]

Ravi bowling nicely as well. If he can perform like this, then he has a role in this team.

[PaulWinch again]

We are really struggling now, we need wickets.

[PGW]

180/2 34 overs. At the end of the next over the Batting Power Play for 5 overs. We'll know more after that methinks!

[PGW]

The curse of the batting power play strikes again!
Jayawardene ct Bairstow b Anderson 42 (43)

Second ball of the powerplay 35.2 overs
187-3

[paul_e]

Massive wicket, he looked like he was going to post a big score.

[PGW]

Looking very ominous her 9 overs to go and Anderson has only 1 left.
230 - 3 41.1
Only just over 7 per over but 7 wkts in hand

[Steve R]

Just goes to show that the better teams aren't at all fazed by scores around 300 or less. The way England bat they're more or less giving themselves no chance of hitting 320 and up.

Roll on the Ashes.

[PaulWinch again]

Brilliant effort from Bopara and Root today, and to an extent Trott. However this game shows why we can't adopt this brand of cricket, we have to attack in the middle overs like Sri Lanka did. We must learn this lesson now, because it's clear conservative cricket won't win the day. Well played the Sri Lankans and now it's must win against NZ. We have to be aggressive.

[olaftab]

England will beat the Kiwi's on Sunday. Today they had no answer for real world  class display from Sangakarra.  However India and Sri Lanka look a step above other teams in this tournament.

[PaulWinch again]

Well I disagree on that, NZ didn't look a step below Sri Lanka the other day. In any case if England hope to win we have to place more risk based cricket and gamble.