The Cricket Thread 2014

[paul_e]

Real shame for cook there, has done his job though,  now we need Ballance to get his century and for Bell to have a bit of luck and get a score then we can let the lower order come out swinging tomorrow.

[Villan For Life]

Great innings by Balance. I like the calm authority of his batting

[Villan For Life]

247-2 at stumps. A productive day for England.

India were pretty nippy in the field. I don't remember the last time a day's play ended on time!

[PaulWinch again]

I was there today and I thought Cook worked so hard and won back a lot of support, it was really disappointing when he got out but it was a huge innings today. Ballance was great as well and it was the best day we've had in a long time.

[UK Redsox]

I was there today and I thought Cook worked so hard and won back a lot of support, it was really disappointing when he got out but it was a huge innings today. Ballance was great as well and it was the best day we've had in a long time.

If have liked to see them take on the India part time bowlers a bit more and also be a bit more attacking against Jadeja.

India are a bowler short in this test and Singh was on debut, so 247 in a day is a bit short

[PaulWinch again]

That pitch was doing a bit and the outfield was slow, it might have been a bit down but it wasn't a long way down. Cook was understandably a bit tentative, and I thought Singh was very good. I thought the reaction for Cook was as sympathetic as anything I've seen. The entire crowd was with him.

[spangley1812]

You going any other days Paul........TMS were saying that they are not expecting many spectators for the next 4 days

[PaulWinch again]

No sadly I'm off on holiday and have a few bits to sort or I would, it's a great ground for atmosphere but it's bizarre starting it on a Sunday.

[Dave Cooper please]

Superb from Cook, really wish he had got the ton to really stuff it down their throats, as it is they will merely gag a bit until his next poor score.

I don't want Cook as captain but I do want him as an opener, I just wish there was a credible candidate to take over. I reckon Cook knows there isn't too, and that's why he's soldiering on.

Brilliant today though.

[UK Redsox]

Joe Root will be captain soon.

[tomd2103]

Superb from Cook, really wish he had got the ton to really stuff it down their throats, as it is they will merely gag a bit until his next poor score.

I don't want Cook as captain but I do want him as an opener, I just wish there was a credible candidate to take over. I reckon Cook knows there isn't too, and that's why he's soldiering on.

Brilliant today though.

Knowing how they are, they will simply shift attention on to Bell if he doesn't get a score.  Totally agree with your commemts about his captaincy, as it would probably benefit him to concentrate solely on his batting going forward. 

[Villan For Life]

I was there today and I thought Cook worked so hard and won back a lot of support, it was really disappointing when he got out but it was a huge innings today. Ballance was great as well and it was the best day we've had in a long time.

If have liked to see them take on the India part time bowlers a bit more and also be a bit more attacking against Jadeja.

India are a bowler short in this test and Singh was on debut, so 247 in a day is a bit short

India bowling a leg stump line to a packed leg side field stymied the scoring.

[tomd2103]

I don't want to curse things, but it could be very interesting if Buttler comes in with 400 plus on the scoreboard and a free rein.

[paul_e]

This is good right now, we've got to 300 and now Ballance and Bell both look to be trying to escalate the scoring.

[OzVilla]

Good ball to get Ballance that. Maybe of the back leg but still a top knacker.