The Cricket Thread 2016

[PaulWinch again]

Regardless of that decision the batting has gone backwards in these two games. We've gone back to confused thinking in the middle order. Buttler really is in terrible form as well.

[Chris Jameson]

The form Buttler is in makes it even more baffling that Bairstow isn't in the squad, he deserves his place on his batting alone. Can't be many players dropped from a side having played a match winning innings in their only other ODI appearance of the summer.

[Chris Jameson]

Enjoying this from Morgan and Plunkett.

[Villan For Life]

Entertaining stand from Morgan and Plunkett, 55 off 21 balls

[Chris Jameson]

We gave them the kids of death then!

Enjoying watching the tight bowling from the Aussies. That should do it.

[PaulWinch again]

I think Buttler should be left out of the last 3 games. He's not benefitting from getting worse and worse. He's a real talent, but I think he needs a break. Good to see Morgan get some runs. Taylor, Hales and Roy all need to learn how to build on a start.

[Villan For Life]

Was Stokes taking evasive action? Did his left hand come out too far as he blocked the ball from hitting the stumps? The third umpire looked at replays and gave him out, which from his point of view and in my eyes, was the right call. That wicket certainly pushed us back and we didn't find our way back till Morgan's late blitz.

[Villan For Life]

I've never heard booing like that from a Lords crowd.

[PaulWinch again]

I think it's a reflex action, bear in mind that it's going at full speed.

[PaulWinch again]

This will lead to bowlers beaming it at batsmen now.

[Villan For Life]

I think that the law certainly needs to be clarified. How do you define "intent" and when does intent become evasive action? I think Stokes knew exactly what he was doing. Maybe a more experienced captain would have withdrawn the appeal; Smith is a new captain and it does remind me of Collingwood against the Kiwis in 2008 when a batsman was run out after colliding with the bowler in his follow through (Sidebottom?). Collingwood was, I think, in his first series as one day captain and the Umpire asked him if he wanted to withdraw the appeal. He didn't and has since admitted that he wished he had.

Cricket is as much about the spirit of the game as winning and that is something that I love about the sport. Maybe Smith would reassess his position if he had a few more series under his belt.

Thankfully it didn't happen in an Ashes test. Imagine the furore!

[ACVilla]

My first view of it was on slo-mo and I think it was the right call, he's clearly looking at the ball and attempts to push it away.

Was it as a reaction to a fear that the ball may be hitting him, I don't believe it was but put me in front of Mitchell Starc launching the ball at me in that way and I may well have had the same reaction.

[Chris Jameson]

If it had been the other way round, Stokes chucking the ball and Smith handling it there would have been very loud tutting from the members pavilion.

[OzVilla]

Had it been the other way around you'd not have heard the booing at Lord's over the mass whining from 12,000 miles way about 'cheating England' and how the Aussies would never do such a thing. Players names refusing to be mentioned in newspapers and how it's all Un- Australian.

This morning a reference to it but barely a murmer.

[aev]

Wasn't the on field decision not out but it was referred then to the 3rd umpire?

I also remember Harmison doing something to Inzamam in a test match....I think the appeal then should have been withdrawn (it wasn't) as it should have been yesterday.

The thing that got me was Smith saying it was blatantly out - it was anything but blatant. He also said it was in the rules, which always make me chuckle, as they are called laws.