The Cricket Thread 2013

[paul_e]

Anyway, Bell and Pietersen are batting nicely here. I think whatever is in this pitch, it's very much with the new ball which makes Cook and Trotts shots all the more disappointing

This backs up my opinion that it's all about the pace off the bounce, as the ball softens that pace will naturally go down, which reduces the chance of one spitting off the pitch, look at the number of wickets where players have been late through the shot, there's definitely a lot of unpredictable pace in the pitch.  It's not massively affecting lateral movement and is only occasionally affecting the bounce.

[taylorsworkrate]

Anyway, Bell and Pietersen are batting nicely here. I think whatever is in this pitch, it's very much with the new ball which makes Cook and Trotts shots all the more disappointing

This backs up my opinion that it's all about the pace off the bounce, as the ball softens that pace will naturally go down, which reduces the chance of one spitting off the pitch, look at the number of wickets where players have been late through the shot, there's definitely a lot of unpredictable pace in the pitch.  It's not massively affecting lateral movement and is only occasionally affecting the bounce.

Again a valid point, but it surely indicates how badly England played in the first innings from 150 for 2, having well and truly seen off the new ball, only to lose poor wickets against Lyon.

Second innings, surely Cook and Trott, knowing that batting will get easier didn't need to be so reckless against the new ball. Positive yes, but selective aggression would have been the order of the day. The Aussies were bowling more than enough poor balls at Trott's legs (a peculiar strategy) that he didn't need to play a hook shot he had no chance of controlling.

Pietersen and Bell have so far looked untroubled and have waited for Australia to bowl too straight and then picked them off.

[Monty]

Trott's out of nick and, as always when that happens, isn't always getting the rub of the green either. Cook got the best ball of the innings a couple of times earlier in the series, but today's dismissal was gravely disappointing.

[taylorsworkrate]

As a slight aside, just checked the test rankings and India are somehow above us, despite losing the last two series a combined 6-1. How on earth do they work that out?

[taylorsworkrate]

Trott's out of nick and, as always when that happens, isn't always getting the rub of the green either. Cook got the best ball of the innings a couple of times earlier in the series, but today's dismissal was gravely disappointing.

I think Trott's looked in great touch this match, in both innings. Which makes both his dismissals all the more frustrating

[paul_e]

Trott's out of nick and, as always when that happens, isn't always getting the rub of the green either. Cook got the best ball of the innings a couple of times earlier in the series, but today's dismissal was gravely disappointing.

I think Trott's looked in great touch this match, in both innings. Which makes both his dismissals all the more frustrating

Trott's wicket is as clear a case of misjudging the pace as you'll ever see, kit was a poor decision to go after it but that was made a lot worse by him not getting through the shot.

Cook's was poor, but as the commentators on sky said, it was full and wide, you can usually score from those fairly safely if you're trying to put runs on the board, it was just he misjudged his choice of shot.  I put that down to him not playing his natural game and trying to score when it was probably better to leave it well alone.

[taylorsworkrate]

That's just it though. Why go after it? It did come of the pitch quickly, but the angle of the bouncer meant it was never going to be easy to control in any case.

As i've said Australia were using the odd tactic of bowling on Trott's pads which is his strength, so the scoring opportunities were there for Trott and he's not made use of his good touch in this match.

Cook's I thought was wide, but not full enough to be playing a drive to. His feet went nowhere and he ended up wafting at the ball with the inevitable result of an edge

[paul_e]

but again, what you're not getting is why they've been tempted into those shots, both cook and trott were looking good and then played a shot which looks both poor and totally out of character.  There are a number of reasons behind it, some form related but the pitch and bowling is also important.

Fair play to Bell, 50 and a decent rate, he's easily the best batsman in the squad on current form.

[taylorsworkrate]

but again, what you're not getting is why they've been tempted into those shots, both cook and trott were looking good and then played a shot which looks both poor and totally out of character.  There are a number of reasons behind it, some form related but the pitch and bowling is also important.

Fair play to Bell, 50 and a decent rate, he's easily the best batsman in the squad on current form.

I understand where your coming from, but it's not that I ain't getting your assertion of why they've been tempted into those shots, it's that I disagree with it.

Cook and Trott are intelligent enough to understand that batting would get easier after 15-20 overs as Bell and Pietersen have clearly shown to be the case. There's no need to go after the ball when the odds weren't in their favour. It's not as if there's a lack of time left in the match and Australia were feeding them enough poor balls as it was.

I get your point about the pitch, but in my view that should make the batsmen more selective against the new ball, not less.

Pietersen gone to a really tame shot. That's poor really, the game was drfiting away from Australia and batting was looking pretty easy. The doors open for them again now. I don't hold much hope for a decent innings from Bairstow, but obviously glad to be proven wrong

[taylorsworkrate]

Bell really is playing well. Its looked a different game for him all series.

[paul_e]

from here, another 75 is minimum to get a lead over 200, if we can get the lead up over 250 then we're favourites.  So right now I'd say it's very even.  Interesting situation given how many people gave Australia the first 2 days.

[taylorsworkrate]

Oh fuck off Dar, with your silly light meter.

[taylorsworkrate]

Oh just fuck off umpires. Just fuck off.

[taylorsworkrate]

That's too dark? Really?

[taylorsworkrate]

I can see us losing a wicket here. That could have seriously affected their rhythm and concentration. Poor from the umpires