The Cricket Thread 2016

[Woofles The Wonder Dog]

It's a balancing act. While Sri Lanka are highly unlikely to get to the target, 345 in 110 overs (there were 12 overs left in the day and 98 tomorrow because of the rain) is certainly not impossible. Much less and Sri Lanka could have been 60-0 at close needing only 250 or so to win in a day.

Obviously time will tell, but with the weather about, the difficulty in taking wickets and the fact that only twice in the last 30 years has a side scored more than 310 in the 4th innings indicates to me that it was a return to Straussian caution.

[Dave Cooper please]

It's a balancing act. While Sri Lanka are highly unlikely to get to the target, 345 in 110 overs (there were 12 overs left in the day and 98 tomorrow because of the rain) is certainly not impossible. Much less and Sri Lanka could have been 60-0 at close needing only 250 or so to win in a day.

Obviously time will tell, but with the weather about, the difficulty in taking wickets and the fact that only twice in the last 30 years has a side scored more than 310 in the 4th innings indicates to me that it was a return to Straussian caution.

Actually it's 14 times see here and 8 of those have come since 2000, which shows that with the higher run rates in modern Test cricket it will become more common to see 300+ run chases.

[Woofles The Wonder Dog]

It's a balancing act. While Sri Lanka are highly unlikely to get to the target, 345 in 110 overs (there were 12 overs left in the day and 98 tomorrow because of the rain) is certainly not impossible. Much less and Sri Lanka could have been 60-0 at close needing only 250 or so to win in a day.

Obviously time will tell, but with the weather about, the difficulty in taking wickets and the fact that only twice in the last 30 years has a side scored more than 310 in the 4th innings indicates to me that it was a return to Straussian caution.

I missed out "at Lords", which was particularly relevant! Though not as relevant as the shitty weather. Still think the declaration was over cautious.
Actually it's 14 times see here and 8 of those have come since 2000, which shows that with the higher run rates in modern Test cricket it will become more common to see 300+ run chases.

[Dave Cooper please]

Should a captain make a decision that important basing it on the weather forecast? I think he has to plan on there being a full 90 (or 98 in this case) overs played and 310 in 98 overs is gettable especially on a pitch that was still playing reasonably well.

 We are going to see more and more successful 300+ run chases, it's the way the game is going.

[cdbearsfan]

But they'd already won the series. Who cares? Live a little.

[Dave Cooper please]

No way, grind them into the ground.

[cdbearsfan]

Nah. Do what you can to win. It's a spectator sport.

[Villan For Life]

Our record in the final test of a series where we're winning is poor. It's the complete opposite to our record in the final test of a losing series where we always seemed to win against the Aussies when the Ashes had gone again.

We should press for victory every time.

[Dave Cooper please]

First ODI.

1 Jason Roy, 2 Alex Hales, 3 Joe Root, 4 Eoin Morgan (capt), 5 Jos Buttler (wk), 6 Jonny Bairstow, 7 Moeen Ali, 8 Chris Woakes, 9 Adil Rashid, 10 David Willey, 11 Liam Plunkett

No Finn or Jordan, two spinners

England won toss and chose to bowl.

[PaulWinch again]

I'd like to see Tymal Mills get involved with ODIs, his back should hold up for 10 overs.

[Dave Cooper please]

SL rattling along but losing wickets.
56-3 sfater 8.4 overs - two for Willey and one for Woakes.

[paul_e]

Plunkett is throwing down an over full of utter filth here.

[tomd2103]

I'd like to see Tymal Mills get involved with ODIs, his back should hold up for 10 overs.

Saw him in a T20 a few weeks ago and he was impressive and very quick (think he was clocked at over 90 mph).  In the interview after the game, he said that sadly 4 overs is all he can really manage, although he hoped to play in a 50 over game at some point.  Real shame, as we don't produce genuine quick bowlers very often if at all.

[paul_e]

Yet another Woakes wicket with the first ball of a spell, that's becoming a fantastic habit this summer.

[PaulWinch again]

That's a shocking start to the reply compounded by the worst review ever!