The Cricket Thread 2014

[taylorsworkrate]

We did unearth a real fast bowling talent: Steven Finn.

We then however, messed about with his action and run up so much that he lost all confidence and pace. He looks on the way to getting it back and must come into the team for the last test.

[Dave Cooper please]

No, Finn somehow messed with his own action and started hitting the stumps on his run in. He couldn't be allowed to keep doing that because he was no-balled every time he touched the stumps.
Not seen him bowl since but the fact he has been bought back means he must have corrected his action to stop hitting the stumps. Hope so, and I hope he gets a start in the 5th test.

[dave shelley]

Fecking Nasser Hussein, States that Bell was settling in nicely and...bang, out next ball!

[PaulWinch again]

Hmmm it's going ok, but batsmen have given it away a bit. I really like Moeen but he's got to sort his short ball issue, because it lead to his dismissal today.

[paul_e]

still a good first 4 sessions for us, I think most people would've taken us having 4 wickets left and a lead of 50 by this point after we lost the toss.

If this pair can stick around for an hour I think 300 is possible and would be a very good lead on a pitch that will give our bowlers a lot to work with.

[PaulWinch again]

Root and Buttler doing well here.

[Villan For Life]

Rain stopped play. It looks pretty dark even with the floodlights on.

[paul_e]

This is why I've been so eager for Buttler to get a chance in the test side, they know he can score big runs very quickly and are being very cagey with him.  The rain delay is frustrating as you're never quite sure what it will do to the pitch but we're only 50-60 runs from a dominant lead now.

[peter w]

Maybe so but he was distinctly average behind the stumps yesterday. He can't be picked solely because he can bat.

[Villan For Life]

Maybe so but he was distinctly average behind the stumps yesterday. He can't be picked solely because he can bat.

I think that was a lot to do with the conditions, Peter. Dhoni was pretty awful too.

[paul_e]

Maybe so but he was distinctly average behind the stumps yesterday. He can't be picked solely because he can bat.

I think that was a lot to do with the conditions, Peter. Dhoni was pretty awful too.

From what I've seen I agree, he was solid in the first test and has done little in the last 6 months to suggest that we're trading off his batting agianst some poor keeping.  Yesterday there seemed to be a lot of pace and bounce in the pitch and a lot of movement in the air, making the ones that were a bit off target do a lot more than you'd expect.

[Chris Jameson]

If it had been Prior who dropped the catch yesterday and let the four byes through his fingers he'd have been crucified on here. Always felt sorry for the likes of Chris Read and Foster who are both excellent wicketkkeepers but got overlooked for lesser keepers who could bat a bit.

I had to turn TMS off earlier, couldn't listen to Boycott being so rude to Allison Mitchell, hope somebody has a word with him.

[PaulWinch again]

Prior was an excellent player, but he's gone downhill and won't be back I don't think. Buttler was always going to be a developmental pick.

[paul_e]

If it had been Prior who dropped the catch yesterday and let the four byes through his fingers he'd have been crucified on here. Always felt sorry for the likes of Chris Read and Foster who are both excellent wicketkkeepers but got overlooked for lesser keepers who could bat a bit.

I had to turn TMS off earlier, couldn't listen to Boycott being so rude to Allison Mitchell, hope somebody has a word with him.

The key is that it's easier to improve a good batsman who an average wicketkeeper than the other way round.

Chris Read is a great example, his average for England, in all formats, is about 18. To justify that you really need to make a massive difference in the field, he'd have to bat at 9 or 10 in this England line up and I just don't think he's so much better to deserve that.

Prior only started getting picked up on his keeping weaknesses when his batting fell apart, when he was averaging 45 at 75-80% strike rate no one had a bad word to say about him, but when you're making mistakes in the field and getting out for 10-20 regularly you're always going to be setting yourself up for the block.

[Villan For Life]

Inspection at 4.30pm