The Cricket Thread 2016

[paul_e]

I'm happy enough with the scoring rate as long as our batsmen don't get frustrated and feel they need to start moving the scoreboard along, as Hales seemed to do when he got himself out.

Yeah I agree, this isn't really the game for people like Hales, Ali and Stokes who do get frustrated if they're not scoring.  I'd think that Compton, Root and Taylor are enough to counter that though given the comparatively low targets.  Either way I won't be judging anyone for low scores on what appears to be a low scoring test.

There's so much time left, they should just focus on nice steady accumulation. Everyone these days wants to be Australia c. 2002, biffing their way through every situation - far better at this sort of moment to take your time, and allow the game to go your way rather than force it.

I think some players just like to score runs and I don't think that's a modern thing, what has changed is the power which means 2s and 3s have become 4s which nudge the strike rate up from 60-70% to 80% and up. Even the accumulators (such as compton and cook) are generally around 40-50% now whereas 30% wouldn't have been uncommon in the past and again that's because when they do play shots they go to the rope a lot more often.  In other games where both sides are putting 400+ in their first innings it's those fast scoring players who make the difference. World class batsmen who thrive at both (like Root and Smith) are an anomaly and rightly appear near the top of the batting charts in all formats.

Aside from that I think the other big difference is in the pitches; low scoring pitches which give the bowlers things to work with are rarer than they have been because these games don't often go to 5 days and less than 5 days isn't worth as much money.

[Monty]

Don't forget the massive bats as well. More like clubs than bats, in fact.

[paul_e]

Don't forget the massive bats as well. More like clubs than bats, in fact.

I was coupling that in with the extra power.

[Monty]

Ah gotcha. And I think improvements in physical training must have something to do with it, with players strong enough to keep wielding those massive bats for hours on end.

[paul_e]

Ah gotcha. And I think improvements in physical training must have something to do with it, with players strong enough to keep wielding those massive bats for hours on end.

Yeah, that's why it's difficult to seperate those into different things, stronger players means bigger bats and both together mean the ball coming off the bat faster.

Anyway, Compton gone for 49 just 2 deliveries after getting a massive lifeline playing a really poor clip off his legs, I think the pressure of getting to 50 along with the knowledge that he was lucky not to have gone got to him and he played an uncharacteristic shot after a really good innings.

[paul_e]

so end of day 3 with a 261 lead and wickets in hand, I'd try to bat until tea and leave 4 sessions to clean them up, should mean a 400+ lead as well.

[PaulWinch again]

Excellent day and we've just got to score quick ish tomorrow and give them 4 1/2-5 sessions to bat.

[tomd2103]

Excellent day and we've just got to score quick ish tomorrow and give them 4 1/2-5 sessions to bat.

Yep, South Africa imploded there and seem to have real problems in their camp.  Hopefully we can take real advantage and wrap up a comfortable win.

[OzVilla]

Really enjoyed the way we've gone about it so far in this Test. You forget how enjoyable sport can be when your teams doing well.

[PaulWinch again]

Shame Root got out for 70 odd again. It's not really a problem at all, but just from his perspective he could do with improving his conversion rate from 50s to 100s.

[tomd2103]

Lead of 342 heading towards lunch.  I would declare just before tea (which should see us with a lead of over 400) and give the South Africans 3-4 overs to face just before the interval. 

[taylorsworkrate]

Bairstow playing a cracking little innings

[PaulWinch again]

Yep really good knock.

[Villan For Life]

I thought they'd declare when Woakes got out and the lead was over 400.

[four fornicholl]

ive turned the big bash on for last couple of overs
its been a cracker