The Cricket Thread 2016

[Villan For Life]

326 all out so the Saffers need 416.

Great knock from Bairstow.

[tomd2103]

326 all out so the Saffers need 416.

Great knock from Bairstow.

Should be more than enough, but yet again we fail to really finish a team off when we have got them down. 

[tomd2103]

SA 93/3.  We are well on top now and at last it seems we are starting an away test series with a flourish.

[olaftab]

Complete control I would say. Expect them to finish it half way through the second session tomorrow.

[PaulWinch again]

That's a terrible missed stumping from Bairstow, hope it doesn't prove too costly.

Just to be clear I don't think it will prove costly. It's a shame after his quality knock that he makes that mistake.

[PaulWinch again]

Actually on replays it was quite tricky, so terrible may have been overstating it, but he still should of got it.

[Villan For Life]

Good to get Du Plessis 5 minutes before stumps.

[PaulWinch again]

Great wicket from Finn that.

[paul_e]

Actually on replays it was quite tricky, so terrible may have been overstating it, but he still should of got it.

This is my issue with Bairstow being picked ahead of Buttler, aS a batsman in he's in far better form but he's just not good enough to be an international keeper?  The problem is you can't drop him and no one in the top 5 deserves to be dropped either.  This is why Moeen at the top was worth a look, it'd have given us the option to have both without losing a bowler.  Longer term I see Taylor moving up to 3, Bairstow putting down the gloves and going to 5 and Buttler back in at 6 but right now Hales and Compton are in credit.

[PaulWinch again]

Good day again and what I'm hoping this will show is that if he's fit Finn has to play. I like Wood and I think he offers a lot, but for me Finn is first choice behind Broad and Anderson every time. He's just a quality wicket taking bowler. That last over tonight was fast and spiteful.

[paul_e]

I think the whole attack have bowled well, Stokes and Woakes haven't got much reward but they've played their part well, ditto Ali in this innings.

[OCD]

I really like the look of this side - much more balanced. Still has Anderson and an on-form Buttler to come back into contention at some point too. We're looking much better in all forms just lately.

[tomd2103]

Good day again and what I'm hoping this will show is that if he's fit Finn has to play. I like Wood and I think he offers a lot, but for me Finn is first choice behind Broad and Anderson every time. He's just a quality wicket taking bowler. That last over tonight was fast and spiteful.

Finn has all the tools to be a top bowler.  If he can hit a good length on a consistent basis, his height and the extra bounce he will get from it will cause real problems on some pitches.  I've always thought he was a bit too 'nice' as a fast bowler and didn't have the nasty streak that some of the top ones possessed, but he seems to be developing a bit more confidence.

[Villan For Life]

Fantastic start to the day with Mo gearing De Villiers in the first over.

[JD]

Brilliant start. We've got to win now surely?