The Cricket Thread 2013

[Villafirst]

Cook needs to go back to digging in and getting big centuries. I want Root in the side, but I wonder if they've moved him up too soon. It's hard to tell after 3 innings, but it's just my feeling at the moment.

Varun Chopra might be better at opening than Root?

[curiousorange]

I do feel that even if England retain the Ashes here, I still wouldn't like to call the Australia series.

[PaulWinch again]

Cook needs to go back to digging in and getting big centuries. I want Root in the side, but I wonder if they've moved him up too soon. It's hard to tell after 3 innings, but it's just my feeling at the moment.

Varun Chopra might be better at opening than Root?

I'd like to see Chopra and Taylor pushing the batting line up.

[paul_e]

I still think Taylor's problem is that he's not great in the field.  He's fine as a wicket keeper but he looked out of his depth being asked to field square of the wicket.

[PaulWinch again]

He's not that poor though and it can be worked on.

[PaulWinch again]

We really do these two to bat all day now, if we're going to be in a good position tonight.

[paul_e]

Decent recovery so far, I pretty much agree that we can't afford to lose either of them, mainly because I don't trust Bairstow to hang around if we do.  Get to the end of the day and let bairstow come in tomorrow with the aim to score big and quick and he'll be fine.

[PaulWinch again]

This is such a batting track.

[curiousorange]

Nothing for the bowlers here. Trott and Bell concentrate, this could be over 250 by the end of the day.

[PaulWinch again]

Those that are out should be embarrassed and need to look at themselves, this is 500+ wicket.

[curiousorange]

I don't know what the weather's supposed to do on Saturday in London, but here it's sun all day tomorrow and a bit of cloud cover on Sat. If England bat all day today and pretty much all of tomorrow, the only issue could be when to declare in their second innings.

[curiousorange]

Ah well, maybe Bairstow will finally prove me wrong.

[PaulWinch again]

Now we're buried, shocking for Trott to get out when he's set. We are going to be so far short of par on this wicket.

[PaulWinch again]

That Trott wicket is symptomatic of the England team now, no concentration or apetite to get big runs. Shocking and now it's time for Bairstow to turn up.

[paul_e]

really poor shot from Trott.  Bell needs to bat through again and we need the rest to stick with him a little.  As always 350+ gives you a target to bowl at, unless the pitch is a dog like the first test 300 should be the minimum.