The Cricket Thread 2016

[PaulWinch again]

I agree with Vaughan England have a real habit of making a bad session into a terrible one.

[Chris Jameson]

I was surprised to hear on 5 Live this morning that England were favourites to win the series.

[PaulWinch again]

I was surprised to hear on 5 Live this morning that England were favourites to win the series.

Yeah me too. I can't understand any basis for that. It's not like conditions in NZ are that different from England and they're a better team.

[PaulWinch again]

God almighty you guys heard the reason Stokes came in ahead of Ali? Apparently Ali was batting in the nets and didn't have time to get his kit on. That is utterly embarrassing and shambolic. Should someone not have called him in once the 2nd or 3rd wicket went down?

[Monty]

God almighty you guys heard the reason Stokes came in ahead of Ali? Apparently Ali was batting in the nets and didn't have time to get his kit on. That is utterly embarrassing and shambolic. Should someone not have called him in once the 2nd or 3rd wicket went down?

It says something that a team captained by our top century-maker in history, and which includes our top wicket-taker as well, is in such disarray.

[PaulWinch again]

That is shambolic beyond belief.

[Villan For Life]

God almighty you guys heard the reason Stokes came in ahead of Ali? Apparently Ali was batting in the nets and didn't have time to get his kit on. That is utterly embarrassing and shambolic. Should someone not have called him in once the 2nd or 3rd wicket went down?

I don't think that it's that much of an issue. Yes it's unusual and there seems to have been a breakdown in communication, but given that numbers 6 and 7 are virtually interchangeable, where is the issue?

Perhaps Ali should have thought twice about going for a net on the first morning of a Lords test in March when the ball is likely to be doing allsorts.

[PaulWinch again]

But it's not about individual decisions it's about leadership. If players shouldn't be going for a net on the first morning that should be communicated to all of them. If they're allowed to go then there should be sufficient communication in place to ensure you don't miss when you should be going out to bat.

[Monty]

Good for the neutral though! Quick start to the test, and to the series - first session has produced 4 wickets and 80 runs so far. Good stuff. For the neutral.

[Villan For Life]

But it's not about individual decisions it's about leadership. If players shouldn't be going for a net on the first morning that should be communicated to all of them. If they're allowed to go then there should be sufficient communication in place to ensure you don't miss when you should be going out to bat.

It's as much about Ali and his professionalism as Cook and a lack of leadership.

[aj2k77]

Englands top order is going to be blown to shreds by the Aussies.

[PaulWinch again]

But it's not about individual decisions it's about leadership. If players shouldn't be going for a net on the first morning that should be communicated to all of them. If they're allowed to go then there should be sufficient communication in place to ensure you don't miss when you should be going out to bat.

It's as much about Ali and his professionalism as Cook and a lack of leadership.

I don't know how we can judge Ali without knowing the rules in place. Surely if a player isn't meant to go the nets on the first morning there must be a rule in place?

[PaulWinch again]

Root is doing well and I think Stokes is doing the right thing in attacking.

[Villan For Life]

But it's not about individual decisions it's about leadership. If players shouldn't be going for a net on the first morning that should be communicated to all of them. If they're allowed to go then there should be sufficient communication in place to ensure you don't miss when you should be going out to bat.

It's as much about Ali and his professionalism as Cook and a lack of leadership.

I don't know how we can judge Ali without knowing the rules in place. Surely if a player isn't meant to go the nets on the first morning there must be a rule in place?

That's just it we don't know the rules.

I would doubt that on day one of a test, as an opener and a captain that it is Cook's responsibility. It would possibly fall under the remit of an assistant coach, which at this moment we don't have.

A reasonable recovery led by Root and Stokes. We've a long way to get back into this test though.

[PaulWinch again]

Good counter attack from Root and Stokes to get us to lunch. We need a lot more from them, Ali and Buttler though to get us up to a good score.