The Cricket Thread 2016

[paul_e]

Depends on how Men approaches it, if he can hog the strike and make them try to bowl him rather than gift him singles Lords flattens out quickly.

[taylorsworkrate]

Wonderful day of test match cricket. A pitch that offered a bit for the bowlers through the day, and the ball swung for most of the day. Our top order is really a worry. So many times we are 30/3 or thereabouts. If only we had a world class, South African born batsman who has scored over 20 test centuries, currently playing domestic cricket.

Great stuff from Root, Stokes, Buttler and Ali.

[taylorsworkrate]

I think we'll struggle to get anywhere near 400 now. That said, at 30-4 you'd settle for anything 350+

We should get 400 or thereabouts really.

In fairness, from 30-4, anything over 250 is a really decent effort.

[Villan For Life]

Depends on how Men approaches it, if he can hog the strike and make them try to bowl him rather than gift him singles Lords flattens out quickly.

If he plays it right and rotates the strike then we should get to 400. I just think that their seam attack, refreshed after a night's rest with a newish ball will expose our brittle tail.

[PaulWinch again]

Root, Stokes, Buttler and Ali have done a great job today. Let's hope Broad can hang around and let Moeen play tomorrow.

[UK Redsox]

The trouble is that Briad has gone from being an all rounder to someone who possibly should come in even after Jimmy.

[taylorsworkrate]

The trouble is that Briad has gone from being an all rounder to someone who possibly should come in even after Jimmy.

I think that should definitely be the case at the moment. At least Jimmy can block up an end for a few overs

[tomd2103]

I'm getting very worried about Bell now, it sounds like he was beaten by an absolute doozy today so as a standalone wicket I'm not concerned but he's getting out for very little too often, and it almost always happens after a bit of collapse which is the point where you want a guy who's one of our most experienced batsmen to stand up.

Wonder if he's got a cup final ticket and is hoping to be dropped for the Headingley Test?

Time for a look at Taylor instead of Bell?

Bell's natural successor is at Warwickshire, though currently has a dislocated shoulder. 

I don't think Sam Hain qualifies for England until 2016. As good as he looks I reckon he needs a couple of seasons in county cricket under his belt before he gets an England call.

It was a bit tongue in cheek from a Bears fan!  I like Taylor and think he would definitely be next in line if Bell is dropped. 

[Dave Cooper please]

God almighty you guys heard the reason Stokes came in ahead of Ali? Apparently Ali was batting in the nets and didn't have time to get his kit on. That is utterly embarrassing and shambolic. Should someone not have called him in once the 2nd or 3rd wicket went down?

Worked out okay though!

[Dave Cooper please]

That was a great day of Test cricket.
As an England fan I have to worry once again about our top order, but 3 out of the 4 were done by good bowling on a seaming pitch early on, but as an opener and number three you should expect that surely?
Brilliant fightback, and at the sort of scoring rate that even the Aussies would appreciate.
Enjoyed that a lot, good stuff.

[pooligan]

Tongue in cheek, maybe Bell  has the chance to go to Wembley with Chris Woakes, i see both of them down Villa Park fairly often.

[PaulWinch again]

Moeen going is annoying, but it was a good and important 58 he scored.

[PaulWinch again]

Broad's batting is just woeful now. He should only be considered for his bowling.

[Villan For Life]

Broad's batting has gone dramatically backwards. To think he's got a test best score of 169 albeit in a match tainted by spot fixing. He's a genuine number 11 now.

[paul_e]

Damn shame that Moeen couldn't stick around for another 7-8 overs but it looks like the pitch is lively again this morning so getting an earlier chance to go at them might not be the worst thing in the world.  I think we've made a competitive total so anything more is a bonus anyway, we're probably slight favourites right now.