The Cricket Thread 2016

[taylorsworkrate]

3rd fucking ball of the day?

[john e]

I didn't realise that. In which case he should be removed as captain now.

If things don't go out way in the first hour then it could get pretty ugly.

Cook has previous for it though doesn't he? Remember Kerrigan at the Oval in 2013? I don't think he got a bowl in the Aussies second innings.

Although he is not a selector, he does have input into selection. If he doesn't rate Ali as a bowler then why select him?

I really think it is time for Cook to resign as captain.  I don't think he really has any idea about how to use his bowlers and really lacks the instinct needed for captaincy. 

Don't think he will ever resign, he still thinks he should be the one day and 20-20 captain

[taylorsworkrate]

If we lose this series, we'll be down to 7th in the test rankings. Thoroughly deserved

[tomd2103]

3rd fucking ball of the day?

If it wasn't before, the top order is becoming a real problem.  We aren't going to beat good opposition if we are 50-3 on a consistent basis.

[PaulWinch again]

I think Bell's gone mentally. Cook is really looking like the old Cook, which is very encouraging. Especially since these are good bowlers.

[Chris Jameson]

Out top order is a fucking disgrace. How dare Tveter Castro pietersen into the the long grass

I'll be honest, I really don't know. It's a toughie.

This may be quite surprising, but I was a little bit drunk when I posted that!

Think you got away with it although I was up all night trying to find an answer for you!

[taylorsworkrate]

Good fight shown so far by Cook and Root. Need both to go on to make sizeable hundreds. Always feel a collapse is imminent though

[Chris Jameson]

I enjoy the competitive nature of the Ashes but at the same time the snarling, in your face, aggressive behaviour from the Aussies reminds me why it's hard to like them but it's noticeable in this Test what a good spirit it's being played in. Plenty of smiles from players on both sides but still an enjoyable and competitive Test, I like the New Zealand team.

[paul_e]

lovely counter-attacking performance from Stokes again.  I doubt we can win from here but to give us a chance we need a lead of 300+ by the end of the day and Stokes and Buttler are the players who can give us that.

[Proposition Joe]

Some lovely hitting by Stokes here.  Like when Freddie was in one of his moods.

[aj2k77]

Yeah this is exactly like a KP or Flintoff game changing session. Absolutely cracking hitting from Stokes, not slogs either genuine shots.

[Monty]

That's something else from Stokes. It'd be nice if he could start adding some more wickets to his game, because what a genuine star we'd have then. Man of the match for his batting, no question.

[paul_e]

His bowling is the frustrating thing, because he bowls well but doesn't really look like taking wickets.  I still think his batting is a bit hit and miss but he's been superb in this match.

[paul_e]

I hope Buttler goes out with the same attitude, we've got a lot of time left in the day, some really aggressive cricket here starts making them think about playing for the draw, which is a big swing in the match as it had NZ victory written all over it at 11:02 this morning.

[aj2k77]

Our run rate has improved this test too. Back to 3.5+ an over which is where you need to be.