The Cricket Thread 2016

[PaulWinch again]

I think Taylor is the long term replacment for Bell, he's a class player.

[Villan For Life]

Three days into the test match and an aggregate of 813-11 off 261 overs isn't the best advert for test cricket.

Pity Bell got out towards the end but barring a spectacular collapse we've virtually secured a very tedious draw.

[Dr Butler]

I think Taylor is the long term replacment for Bell, he's a class player.

agreed....as much as I like Bell he looks a shadow of the batsmen we know he can be...

COYB
The Doc

[olaftab]

I hate the way test cricket has become just a home team only forum. Its cheating.

Agreed. I feel for the Team that has to play test matches in england in May.  It's almost unfair to ask them to play cricket when the temperature is 15 degrees on a lush green pitch!

[taylorsworkrate]

I hate the way test cricket has become just a home team only forum. Its cheating.

Agreed. I feel for the Team that has to play test matches in england in May.  It's almost unfair to ask them to play cricket when the temperature is 15 degrees on a lush green pitch!

There hasn't been a proper green top in England for many years now.

[peter w]

I hate the way test cricket has become just a home team only forum. Its cheating.

Agreed. I feel for the Team that has to play test matches in england in May.  It's almost unfair to ask them to play cricket when the temperature is 15 degrees on a lush green pitch!

That's the weather though and we've always played early tests because of a tight schedule. the weather is one thing deliberately doctoring oitches is another. I have no problem with England having to play in scorching heat but there's no way better pitches cannot be prepared.

[Villan For Life]

I hate the way test cricket has become just a home team only forum. Its cheating.

Agreed. I feel for the Team that has to play test matches in england in May.  It's almost unfair to ask them to play cricket when the temperature is 15 degrees on a lush green pitch!

I agree with you to a point, but in reality there's a reason why the Aussies usually play the first test of a home summer in Brisbane which is considered to be the fastest track in the world. Those conditions favour them as English conditions favour us.

[peter w]

It's not a doctored pitch though. Weather and traditional pitches are one thing but preparing specific pitches for specific games is very John Beckish and is detrimental to test cricket.

[olaftab]

I am not sure pitches in UAE are necessarily doctored. This is harsh landscape and unless someone is willing to spend lot of money to replace the entire square about a meter deep with soil imported from somewhere else it's always going to be flat and lifeless.

[Villan For Life]

I am not sure pitches in UAE are necessarily doctored. This is harsh landscape and unless someone is willing to spend lot of money to replace the entire square about a meter deep with soil imported from somewhere else it's always going to be flat and lifeless.

It's not surprising they don't spend invest in the square. They don't play that many games at the ground and if the security situation were to drastically improve then Pakistan would very quickly be looking to play at home anyway.

[Villan For Life]

Cook's innings is remarkable particularly as he's been on the field for the entire match so far. I think he went off with a couple of overs to go before the close on day one but other than that, at lunch on day 4 he's still out there.

400-3 at lunch, Cook 204, Root 76. That was a pretty good session for England. I wonder if they will try and force a result? It will take a pretty special bowling effort on this pitch but Bayliss is a pretty attacking coach so you never know.

[PaulWinch again]

Excellent morning and Root raced along. Cook's done really well.

[PaulWinch again]

Annoying that Root didn't get a hundred, but an excellent score in any case.

[paul_e]

This is a truly abysmal pitch, any game where a team takes the 3rd new ball the home side should be fined over the state of the pitch, maybe harsh but it completely undermines the sport to have games like this.  I'd genuinely rather see a game over in 3 days than see one where you'd need 7-8 days to stand a chance of a result.

[PaulWinch again]

Bairstow hasn't taken the opportunity to secure his place there. This is a big innings for Buttler.