The Cricket Thread 2014

[Villan For Life]

Inspection at 4.30pm

Further inspection at 5pm

[UK Redsox]

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.

I heard that as well. Yesterday he was bordering on patronising but today he was downright rude.

[UK Redsox]

I likes the suggestion that Andrew Samson's database be named "Geoffrey" because it knows everything.....or at least thinks it does.

[PaulWinch again]

It's bad that a 10-20 yard stretch of the outfield is going to end the day's play.

[Villan For Life]

It's bad that a 10-20 yard stretch of the outfield is going to end the day's play.

I've just got home from work and switched the live coverage on. As Ian Ward has just asked, given the ground was under water last Friday - a T20 game went into a reserve day - and the same stretch of the outfield was boggy, why didn't they bring the rope in 10 metres?

[Villan For Life]

Play now abandoned for the day.

[Dave Cooper please]

Are they allowed to move the boundary rope in the middle of a Test? If not then given the forecast for Sunday it's likely the match won't finish (unless England can skittle them out tomorrow).

[paul_e]

Are they allowed to move the boundary rope in the middle of a Test? If not then given the forecast for Sunday it's likely the match won't finish (unless England can skittle them out tomorrow).

Nope, can't change the pitch dimensions after the first delivery.

[Dave Cooper please]

Didn't think so.

[peter w]

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.

Agreed but you also have to say that Prior's keeping come on leaps and bounds. He was more than just average behind the stumps as he progressed in the England team. I worry about buttler's batting because I think he's been charmed so far. He has took advantage and fair play to him. But when he goes through a bad run I don't think he's ready enough to dig himself out the hole and I worry about his technique when under pressure.

Absolutely he should be in the team on merit right now but I just worry that he's not yet properly ready for it. The negative side of it.

[Villan For Life]

Are they allowed to move the boundary rope in the middle of a Test? If not then given the forecast for Sunday it's likely the match won't finish (unless England can skittle them out tomorrow).

Nope, can't change the pitch dimensions after the first delivery.

Given the weather forecast they could have applied a bit of common sense and brought the rope in before the start.

[taylorsworkrate]

Pretty much need to go all guns blazing this morning, and get 180-200 ahead quickly.

[PaulWinch again]

Yep 180-200 and then declare.

[taylorsworkrate]

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.

Game has changed though. A test team cannot afford to carry a wicketkeeper who only averages around mid 20's.

Buttler has so much raw ability, he has to be in the team. His keeping was outstanding in the previous test.

[PaulWinch again]

Root gone, good knock from him and I'm actually quite glad that Pankaj has got a wicket.