The Cricket Thread 2016

[dcdavecollett]

Anyone got Ian Bell's phone number..?

[Chris Smith]

Another top order failure, Michael Vaughan had a point.

[PaulWinch again]

He did. I'd be curious to see some stats on how often we've had 4/5 wickets down for less than 100 in the past 18 months.

[Dave Cooper please]

We seem to have loads of players comfortable to bat in the middle order after 30, 40, 50 overs but none who can move up the order.

[PaulWinch again]

Hameed again the shining light for England. If any of the other top order batsmen had shown the amount of effort that Hameed and Root showed we might of put on something to defend.

[PaulWinch again]

This has been an absolute battering.

[aj2k77]

This series has 4-0 written all over it now.

[PaulWinch again]

Incredible grit and guts shown by Hameed. It would be nice to see the other batters value their wicket like that.

[Villan For Life]

Incredible grit and guts shown by Hameed. It would be nice to see the other batters value their wicket like that.

We seem to have solved the who should open with Cook problem which has been a headache since Strauss retired. Hameed really looks the part and has had some bad luck on in this series with one that kept very low getting him out, being run out by his partner and now his hand injury. He will miss the final two tests as he is being sent home for surgery. It will be interesting to see who they call up from the development squad who are in the UAE as cover.

Now if we can just sort out the other batsmen we'd be a damned good side!

[peter w]

Time to call up Ian bell.

[adrenachrome]

Time to call up Ian bell.

He's well up for it if recent interviews are anything to go by, but he is playing in the Big Bash for the Perth franchise. Not sure if that would be a factor.

[UK Redsox]

Looks like it'll be Keaton Jennings.

I assume that he'll play, else why bother calling him up

[PGW]

Well been confirmed that Jennings and Liam Dawson jetting out for last 2 tests.

Jennings i can understand but Liam Dawson...why oh  why??

What has young Leach at Somerset got to do.

20 championship wkts @ 43.85 versus 65 @ 21.87. Strange decision to me.

[PaulWinch again]

Jennings looks a bloody good player.

[Brend'Watkins]

Looks like I chose the wrong test to go to in terms of England's performance. Ah well.