The Cricket Thread 2014

[adrenachrome]

Good to see the espncricinfo correspondent writing "the city end".

[UK Redsox]

167 for Hales today. Why isn't he in the one day side?

[UK Redsox]

Just seen the video of the "run out". SL did nothing wrong, they warned Buttler and he did the same thing again.

Alec Stewart on da Beeb

"First of all it's not ideal. With the laws of the game as they are Sri Lanka are entitled to appeal. They warned Buttler. Buttler did exactly the same thing again. Senanayake is allowed to do that and [captain Angelo] Mathews is allowed to uphold the decision. We don't like to see that, but why have that law when it can't be used. The law needs to change so there is something else instead of a consequence of being run out, or you can just put up with it."

[PaulWinch again]

I think this Sri Lankan innings so far shows our problem, we don't impose ourselves on the game with the bat at the top of the order. There is no way a top 4 of Cook, Bell, Ballance and Root is up to it. We need Hales in the top order, because our style doesn't work when we set a target. Also we have bowled far too many wides and no balls in this series.

[PaulWinch again]

Good catch from Root there, but we need a clatter of wickets.

[PaulWinch again]

Good from Tredwell and Jimmy there, we need to attack hard now.

[Bald Eagle]

Tredwell, 3 overs 2 wickets for 8 runs. Cook takes him off. Cooky we've got to bowl them out, get a grip.

[PaulWinch again]

I think it highlights a bit of a concern, he he's got to make up 10 overs from Root and Bopara and he lacks trust in them. I think we need another genuine bowling option.

[paul_e]

I think it's sensible captaincy, he's giving Root a few overs when SL are trying to stop a collapse so they're not going after him, if we can get 4-5 cheap overs from Root now he can bring Tredwell back if they try to escalate again.

[PaulWinch again]

I think it's sensible captaincy, he's giving Root a few overs when SL are trying to stop a collapse so they're not going after him, if we can get 4-5 cheap overs from Root now he can bring Tredwell back if they try to escalate again.

I agree but it highlights a limitation in the team, that he has a bowler he feels he can't attack with.

[paul_e]

maybe but there's not many teams with 5 strike bowlers so I'm ok with it if he uses them properly.

[PaulWinch again]

No true, but unless Root's form improves I think Mooen Ali might be a better option.

[paul_e]

Absoutely, Root with the bat is a much bigger concern than Root with the ball right now.

[PaulWinch again]

He hasn't performed over quite a long time now, and yet he seems to be an automatic pick which is strange.

[PaulWinch again]

This is drifting now, Cook needs to do something or Sri Lanka will stroll this.