The Cricket Thread 2013

[Chris Smith]

It does beg the question what the point of the floodlights are though. Seems to me that the paying spectators are the last people taken into account

Absolutely, I understand the safety issues but they've got flood lights and they'd play limited overs cricket in these conditions.

[DrGonzo]

Absolutely, but the Old Trafford hierachy couldn't care less, we are well past refund time.  I still believe we can win this game though, I'd rather be playing.

[taylorsworkrate]

Away from this game briefly, Ballance has had another good game for Yorkshire.

Seems with him, Taylor and Bairstow if he can get to grips with his game that England have some exciting young batsmen

[DrGonzo]

Away from this game briefly, Ballance has had another good game for Yorkshire.

Seems with him, Taylor and Bairstow if he can get to grips with his game that England have some exciting young batsmen

Absolutely, we are just looking for the next Jimmy Anderson

[taylorsworkrate]

Away from this game briefly, Ballance has had another good game for Yorkshire.

Seems with him, Taylor and Bairstow if he can get to grips with his game that England have some exciting young batsmen

Absolutely, we are just looking for the next Jimmy Anderson

That might be a tad bit trickier!

[taylorsworkrate]

Away from this game briefly, Ballance has had another good game for Yorkshire.

Seems with him, Taylor and Bairstow if he can get to grips with his game that England have some exciting young batsmen

Stupidly forgot Root

[DrGonzo]

This is why I was glad to see Root going to the top of the order, good batsmen at 1,2,3 are hard to find.  With Cook not on top of his game at the moment there is a lot of pressure on the lad and if he comes out of this then England's line up is looking solid for the next 6 years until Cook retires.  It is strange to see so many England batsmen struggling on home turf, we've been a ton light in just about each of the six innings so far.  Obviously I mean five....just can't think straight on sundays.

[PaulWinch again]

Steve Smith is starting to look a good cricketer, I like him as a player.

[ADVILLAFAN]

Weather forecast for today suggests that we've retained the Ashes.

[DrGonzo]

11:30 start. Australia declare.  98 overs, 3.3 ish per over.  Let's do this.

[PaulWinch again]

We're never chasing it down, it's going to be hell to bat out there. We've got to knuckle down.

[PaulWinch again]

I do think we need to play positively though, because the more runs we get and the quicker we get them the less the Aussies can attack.

[PaulWinch again]

Cook gone and once again our opening pair have put on nothing. It really needs to be addressed, our starts in every innings this series have been atrocious.

[DrGonzo]

I've got money on 5-0.  Come on KP!

[PaulWinch again]

Oh and Cook wasted a shocking review.