The Cricket Thread 2013

[Villan For Life]

I have been at work all day and on the way home TMS said KP is injured ?? is anyone able to update me on this please, I would be very grateful..

Calf strain. Won't field in this match and very doubtful for Old Trafford

Cheers fredm........How has he got a calf strain ?? He hasnt batted for long and seemed fine when he took that catch to close the Aussie's 1st innings anyway who to replace him I would go James Taylor as if you bring back Compton it means moving Root

There's a few days before the 3rd test so he's got time to recover.

I wonder if Morgan is ahead of Taylor?

I am fairly certain Morgan is injured......He broke a finger in the Champions Trophy and I dont think he is fit yet and he isnt playing for Middlesex currently

I didn't know that.

Taylor it is then.

Cricinfo reporting that Morgan is fit and has been training with the England squad.

Eoin Morgan

If he plays for Middlesex between now and the start of the Old Trafford test then I think he will get the nod ahead of Taylor.

[paul_e]

I think we'll let Root try for a double century and declare early on, probably fair, he's played beautifully today, left it a bit later than I expected to accelerate the run rate but that's absolutely unimportant.  I wanted us to get well over 500 and they've done that with change.  I'd also have liked to have seen Australia have 7-8 tricky overs at the end of the day but with Root still there I can totally understand that not happening.

[spangley1812]

I have been at work all day and on the way home TMS said KP is injured ?? is anyone able to update me on this please, I would be very grateful..

Calf strain. Won't field in this match and very doubtful for Old Trafford

Cheers fredm........How has he got a calf strain ?? He hasnt batted for long and seemed fine when he took that catch to close the Aussie's 1st innings anyway who to replace him I would go James Taylor as if you bring back Compton it means moving Root

There's a few days before the 3rd test so he's got time to recover.

I wonder if Morgan is ahead of Taylor?

I am fairly certain Morgan is injured......He broke a finger in the Champions Trophy and I dont think he is fit yet and he isnt playing for Middlesex currently

I didn't know that.

Taylor it is then.

Cricinfo reporting that Morgan is fit and has been training with the England squad.

Eoin Morgan

If he plays for Middlesex between now and the start of the Old Trafford test then I think he will get the nod ahead of Taylor.

Well if he is fit I reckon he should have been playing in the Championship game that Middlesex have just won as Morgan hasnt played any "longer form" cricket in weeks and Middlesex only have T20 games between now and the 3rd Test (as do all the counties)

[fredm]

Bring in Gary Ballance and let Yorkshire lead the way

[olaftab]

Can we now start talking about how we should reduce the number of tests we give Australia, as they clearly are not up to scratch?

Please?

Ahaaa..I was thinking this earlier as I remember they suggested in early 2000's that playing England was no longer a challenge and therefore number of tests in Ashes series should be reduced!

[Chris Jameson]

Bring in Gary Ballance and let Yorkshire lead the way

Wish I could remember the name of the kid who has scored a century for the 2nd's this season, chap who has worked for Yorkshire for years and been watching since the 50's reckons he's going to be the best of the lot. Much as I'd love Root, Bairstow and Bresnan to be playing for Yorkshire they are doing alright without them. Delighted for Joe Root, really hope he gets his double century.

[claretandbeer]

Why are England still batting?

I reckon it's about the mental disintegration of the Aussies. It's the kind of thing that they did to us in successive series over the best part of 20 years so it's nice to see them on the receiving end.

Plus there's still 2 days to go!

This. Read Steve Waugh's autobiography about his and Border's approach  and the concept of 'mental disintegration',akin to Bomber Harris' opinion of the bombing of Dresden.

[olaftab]

This. Read Steve Waugh's autobiography about his and Border's approach  and the concept of 'mental disintegration',akin to Bomber Harris' opinion of the bombing of Dresden.

Yes ok but leaving absolutely no chance of escape and winning the game is much more likely to mentally damage the opposition than setting a huge target and eating up time that could lead to a draw. Also if England are waiting for Root to get his double century than that would be highly unprofessional.

[The Left Side]

Great bit of cricket from England today, well done Joe

[PaulWinch again]

Well played Joe, got to win from here. I'd rather KP wasn't injured, but I'd have Taylor in personally.

[cdbearsfan]

Can we now start talking about how we should reduce the number of tests we give Australia, as they clearly are not up to scratch?

Please?

Ahaaa..I was thinking this earlier as I remember they suggested in early 2000's that playing England was no longer a challenge and therefore number of tests in Ashes series should be reduced!

Perhaps Australia could merge with New Zealand to make more of a game of it?

[cdbearsfan]

Absolutely bloody ludicrous that they still haven't declared.

[beness]

Absolutely bloody ludicrous that they still haven't declared.

I think they're waiting to see root get a double.

[beness]

Good day of sport today with the tour de France,the Ashes and the Open all due to complete. hope Westwood had a good nights sleep.

[spangley1812]

Absolutely bloody ludicrous that they still haven't declared.

No it isnt, grind them into the dust, keep them in the field for as long as possible, give the bowlers a good rest. give their openers only 10 mins prep time...........