The Cricket Thread 2016

[paul_e]

Good from Moeen, big wicket that, get Smith soon and they're looking at 250-300 which would be well below par on here.

[PaulWinch again]

I think we need Smith and Clarke quickly.

[PaulWinch again]

Clarke and Smith are both looking pretty good here.

[paul_e]

that is the tiniest of edges but it's good for us.

[Proposition Joe]

It really irks me when Smith gets runs, even more than Warner.  He just looks so utterly shit.  Come on England, put him back in his place.

[PaulWinch again]

Bad day for us that. Need to fight back tomorrow.

[PaulWinch again]

Let's hope we get a bit more luck today and can knock them over for less than 400. One slight concern yesterday was that Finn was well down on pace, he needs to up that today.

[PaulWinch again]

"It's hot. Comfortably the warmest day of the series so far by my reckoning, and yet the temperature around the ground feels lukewarm. Sadly, the events of yesterday, when Test cricket reverted to type and the Australians remembered how to leave the ball, seems to have burst the bubble of England's supporters and left them feeling rather flat. Can England get back in the game? As the saying goes, it's a big first session."

See this statement on the BBC annoys me, because it implies there's something wrong with proper Test cricket and knowing when to leave the ball. That is one of the great skills in the game and shouldn't be criticised.

[OzVilla]

I actually quite enjoyed the first session of play yesterday. Ok it didn't have the fireworks of Trent Bridge but the cat and mouse game between openers and bowlers was great to watch if you understand what's really going on.

Helps when you know the series s in the bag though to be fair.

[PaulWinch again]

I think we're facing a massive score here, we don't look like taking any wickets.

[PaulWinch again]

Ha jinxed it, fortunately. But we really need a clatter of wickets here to get us anywhere near back in this game.

[PaulWinch again]

Smith caught off a no ball. We really need to cut these no balls out, we've lost a few important wickets because of it this summer.

[PaulWinch again]

Shocking no ball as well.

[paul_e]

It's things like that which are holding Finn back from being a genuine world class bowler, you just can't be making those mistakes at this level, if they're a fraction over I have some sympathy but 3-4 inches like that is pathetic.

[paul_e]

I reckon I prompted Finn to get the wicket, I'm claiming it at least.