The Cricket Thread 2014

[PaulWinch again]

Good to see Cookie keeping the field up to Dhoni, big change from earlier in the summer.

[PGW]

Yeah but Stokes has scored more centuries than Woakes in first class cricket as well. I like Woakes and I think he's improved a lot in the last year, but I think he still needs a bit more.

You can make statistics win any argument yes he has 9 first class centuries to Woakes 8 but Woakes ave in 1st class cricket is 38.6 to Stokes 34.2, Woakes has 4014 1st class runs to Stokes 3623.
Ben Stokes Test average is 25.36 whereas Woakes Test average is 75.
Stokes average contains a 100 in that test average as well.

Of course but I was responding to the fact their Stokes only has one century in Tests. Look I like Woakes, but I think Stokes has more about him as a Test cricketer. I hope they both end up being great, but if I had to put my money on who will have the better Test career I think it'll be Stokes.

We could carry this discussion on for years let alone today........Woakes for me.....in three years time you can buy me a pint or three....or vice versa!!!!

[PGW]

Dhoni definetly the cement for the Indian batting....12th half century v England

[PaulWinch again]

This getting frustrating now.

[PaulWinch again]

Hopefully we'll knock them over quickly after tea.

[PGW]

At last that's sorted...148 all out.
If anyone interested the womens test score latest
England 92 & 202
India 114 & 88-2 require a further 98

[PaulWinch again]

Bit annoying that they got those extra 50 runs after Bell's drop, but we need to bat well now.

[PGW]

Result from Edgbaston today:
South Africa U19's 227 all out 48.1
England U19's 231-8 49.2
England win by 2 wkts with 4 balls remaining

[PaulWinch again]

Cook just got away with one, he was stone dead LBW but it did look in real time like it pitched outside leg.

[PaulWinch again]

Well done Sam Robson to make it through that tricky spell under pressure he did very well.

[Villan For Life]

A good day for England.

[PGW]

A good interview with Woakesy as well, well rounded chap.

[tomd2103]

A good interview with Woakesy as well, well rounded chap.

Villa fan too, so what would you expect!!

[OCD]

Cook just got away with one, he was stone dead LBW but it did look in real time like it pitched outside leg.

They've only got themselves to blame for not allowing DRS.

[tomd2103]

Cook just got away with one, he was stone dead LBW but it did look in real time like it pitched outside leg.

They've only got themselves to blame for not allowing DRS.

Going to go out on a limb, but I think India have got to have a look at themselves.  With a few exceptions (Rahul Dravid being one) they were absolutely pathetic the last time the came here and after an initial decent start they have reverted to that level of performance this time around.  It's almost as if they have the attitude "we're not used to these conditions so it doesn't really matter" and their away record shows that.  They also seem to have a bit of a chippy attitude when things go against them (the whole DRS thing is a joke and it all reared up with the Anderson incident this series) and I'll never forget Dhoni bringing himself on to bowl on their last tour when they were on the receiving end of things (he petuantly took all his gear off and then put it back on before and after each over he bowled). 

The Indian obsession with cricket fascinates me and I love their passion for the game.  I also accept the players are superstars in their own country, but test series don't come around too often and I can't help but feel they have short changed fans (both English and Indian) on their recent visits here.

Saying that, go and watch them win this test now!!