The Cricket Thread 2013

[PaulWinch again]

Actually scratch that, poor shot.

[cdbearsfan]

No commentary in the pub. Is there still cloud cover? And is the consensus that England should've chosen to bowl or just that England are batting horrifically?

[Brend'Watkins]

Not going to be the whitewash we thought then.  A good day for the Aussies.

[PaulWinch again]

This has been a pathetic effort.

[PaulWinch again]

Our batsmen should be embarrassed, they really should and frankly question marks have to be placed on Bell now. He didn't necassarily get himself out, but has what one century in 19 matches? It's up to our bowlers to dig us out again.

[eastie]

Told you 300 would be excellent on this pitch- even 220 is not awful - the Aussies will struggle to reach 200- much  closer game now though.

[cdbearsfan]

I've said for a while it won't be a whitewash. Partly because of the English weather, partly because England always seem to throw in one atrocious performance per series, quite often the first test.

I'm sticking with my three-one prediction.

[eastie]

Our batsmen should be embarrassed, they really should and frankly question marks have to be placed on Bell now. He didn't necassarily get himself out, but has what one century in 19 matches? It's up to our bowlers to dig us out again.

Disagree , conditions have favoured the bowlers - if we get an hour and half bowling tonight we could take 4 or more wickets.

220 is not a great score but its not terrible either on this wicket - very winnable still.

[PaulWinch again]

Told you 300 would be excellent on this pitch- even 220 is not awful - the Aussies will struggle to reach 200- much  closer game now though.

Sloppy batting has done this, it's not the pitch. We might well knock them over but 220 is poor.

[LeeB]

At least we get a crack at their top order with these conditions.

[PaulWinch again]

At least we get a crack at their top order with these conditions.

Yep that's the only positive, we might well run through them. However whatever way you want to look at this, it has been a dreadful batting display and that's that.

[PaulWinch again]

Right well hopefully our bowlers can save us, come on lads.

[adrenachrome]

Australia's openers will emerge in a few minutes. Still 29 overs left today. Meanwhile, here's a stat from Andy Zaltzman. "England fold like a self-origamiing paper pigeon. Last 4 wkts fall for 2: first time their last 4 have fallen for 2 or less since 1998-99."

[eastie]

Told you 300 would be excellent on this pitch- even 220 is not awful - the Aussies will struggle to reach 200- much  closer game now though.

Sloppy batting has done this, it's not the pitch. We might well knock them over but 220 is poor.

Overcast conditions is the biggest reason pwa- granted some poor batting too -lets blow them away.

[Chris Smith]

This is going to be an entertaining hour or so, much better than watching a side bowl with 500 on the board.