The Cricket Thread 2016

[paul_e]

Good over as I was typing, 8 from it, a couple more like that and I don't think Clarke will be able to stick with him.  Need Ballance to try to get something from Lyon at the other end though.

[PaulWinch again]

Yep agreed. I appreciate Ballance is struggling and needs to stick in, but it's critical we don't just allow Lyon to bowl. That is where a lot of our problems have come in the past. Also if Ballance isn't doing it it heaps the pressure on Root.

[PaulWinch again]

This is better keep getting the singles off Lyon.

[PaulWinch again]

Now I love Joe Root, but this is his danger time now. He quite often looks absolutely amazing and like he'll never get out and then gets out in an unexpected way in the late 80s early 90s. Come on Joe make it a big score.

[olaftab]

When Root gets to his ton he will also inch ahead as the leading test run scorer on a rolling 12 months basis. Current target is 1415.

[PaulWinch again]

Good gritty 50 Ballance, now kick on.

[olaftab]

Proper test match batting there. bowler change see off his first 5 and than dispatch him for four.

[PaulWinch again]

Excellent session for us. Kick on in the evening session.

[Villan For Life]

Good afternoon session, more of the same in the evening session please.

[tomd2103]

Excellent session for us. Kick on in the evening session.

Very good recovery from where we were.  The first hour after tea is going to be crucial. 

[Ads]

Apart from a bit of uneven bounce in Starc's first over, this pitch isn't offering anything.

The lead singer of the Village People is looking as ordinary as he always does in our conditions.

Good digging in from Ballance and Root is as classy as ever. Important, as others have said, that we kick on, as you'd think it would be difficult to take 20 wickets on this pitch.

[paul_e]

Right now this pitch and the standard weather in Cardiff are making a draw the safe bet here, the cloud cover this morning was important and gave them something to work with for the new ball but after about 15-20 overs the swing went and nothing much has happened since.  Unfortunately the pitch is so slow that there's not enough pace to score freely on it either.

[PaulWinch again]

Got to say Cardiff is easily the worst Test ground. The pitch is never good.

[olaftab]

Cardiff have simply bought this test match but this pitch will suit Moeen Ali on the 4/5th day. Aussies did not deal with spinners on similar pitches in the Middle East earlier this year.

[PaulWinch again]

Ballance gone, it's a dangerous time now. We need to make sure we don't have a clatter of wickets again or we'll be in trouble.