The Cricket Thread 2016

[peter w]

I've definitely been one of the Bairstow doubters but that was a great interview. Good luck to him.

[paul_e]

I wouldn't call myself a doubter but i thought England did him a lot of harm making him carry drinks for 18 months, I'm glad it hasn't stopped him becoming a good player.

[PGW]

Matthews calls heads. wins toss and bowls!!

[Dave Cooper please]

Steady start, less than 2 runs an over - Proper Creekit!

[PGW]

Cook gone 16 ct behind off Shanaka, his first test wkt. Cook falls 20 short of his 10000 runs
49/1

[PGW]

Compton 0 third ball ct Thirrimane b Shanaka 49-2

[PGW]

51/3
Root Ct Silva b Shanaka 0
Hales still battling away 33*

[Chris Jameson]

Bloody rubbish Root. Send him back to Yorkshire to find some form!

[PGW]

Shanaka 3-5 from 4 overs....not a bad start to his Test career.

Vince still 0 (9) Herath on now looking for 3 more victims to take him to 300

56-3

[paul_e]

Root and Cook I can forgive a little, they got done by good deliveries that drew them into driving at the ball.  Compton i have less sympathy, I think his wicket was very cheap.  Hales is showing a lot of maturity so far, hopefully he can stick around and have one or 2 big partnerships to take us on to a 350-400 score which i think will be competitive on here.

[tomd2103]

Root and Cook I can forgive a little, they got done by good deliveries that drew them into driving at the ball.  Compton i have less sympathy, I think his wicket was very cheap.  Hales is showing a lot of maturity so far, hopefully he can stick around and have one or 2 big partnerships to take us on to a 350-400 score which i think will be competitive on here.

Think we will have to bat very well to reach that kind of score Paul.  I would probably take anything over 300 at the moment. 

[paul_e]

Root and Cook I can forgive a little, they got done by good deliveries that drew them into driving at the ball.  Compton i have less sympathy, I think his wicket was very cheap.  Hales is showing a lot of maturity so far, hopefully he can stick around and have one or 2 big partnerships to take us on to a 350-400 score which i think will be competitive on here.

Think we will have to bat very well to reach that kind of score Paul.  I would probably take anything over 300 at the moment. 

I agree, I might revise it down to 250-300 but lets wait and see how Stokes and Bairstow do first, if those pair (and Hales) can build things a little there are runs here, Stokes might be the perfect option because I think being more positive will help on this surface.

[paul_e]

Shows what i know, this is looking bad.

[PGW]

If it stays overcast for 3 days 225 will be competitive on here. Not sure what forecast is.

[PaulWinch again]

This is terrible at the moment.