The Cricket Thread 2016

[taylorsworkrate]

Rashid has been bowling brilliantly in the big bash.

[PaulWinch again]

He has, but my concern is that his bowling looks so different in Tests. I like him, but other than than second innings in the first Test he did absolutely horribly in the UAE. He deserves another shot, but they need to work out exactly what they want him to be.

[paul_e]

He has, but my concern is that his bowling looks so different in Tests. I like him, but other than than second innings in the first Test he did absolutely horribly in the UAE. He deserves another shot, but they need to work out exactly what they want him to be.

This is largely my concern, I think he needs to be in the ODI and T20 teams but I'm not sure he's right for tests, he himself doesn't seem confident in his bowling and as you say he bowls very differently, and it's nothing like as effective.  For a leggie to work they have to encourage the batsman to try to hit them out the ground, Rashid just doesn't do that, he seems scared of going for lots.

[PaulWinch again]

Blimey South Africa make 5 changes. Their batting first as well.

[PaulWinch again]

Pretty poor first over from Jimmy.

[Dr Butler]

Pretty poor first over from Jimmy.

I wonder if he is still struggling with that calf strain...Broad on the money again

UTV
The Doc

[PaulWinch again]

This has been a pretty poor start, we've been far too leg side.

[PaulWinch again]

Moeen strikes and once again Taylor takes an incredible catch.

[Villan For Life]

We've bowled poorly so far.

[PaulWinch again]

We have that was a really poor over from Woakes. Also if Bairstow is going to dive across Cook like he did he has to get there.

[PaulWinch again]

Woakes needs to be careful here, because he's bowling really poorly. The others are bowling poorly as well, but they have credit in the bank. He was really unlucky in first Test, but there's a risk that when opportunities come up they'll look at his record and raise a few question marks.

[PaulWinch again]

Anderson has been really poor. I'm starting to worry a bit about him now, this is his third Test match back he should be back at match fitness now. Not sure whether he's still struggling with his calf injury, but he's well below par.

South Africa's morning hands down.

[Villan For Life]

Anderson has been really poor. I'm starting to worry a bit about him now, this is his third Test match back he should be back at match fitness now. Not sure whether he's still struggling with his calf injury, but he's well below par.

South Africa's morning hands down.

I said during the last test that he was short of form. The concern now for me is that unless he turns it around during this test then his next test will be the first test against Sri Lanka at home in May. That's a hell of a gap and for a guy that's always been a rhythm bowler he will take time to get back to his best, assuming that he does.

Boycott said on TMS that within a few minutes of the start he was trudging back to his mark and did not have any purpose about his body language. He's always the first to moan about the ball so let's hope it's just his dislike of the Kookaburra ball that's affecting his form, although I suspect otherwise.

[PaulWinch again]

De-Viller's might have been right about Anderson, he seems to have completely lost his zip.

[olaftab]

Moeen strikes and once again Taylor takes an incredible catch.

Yes it was. Question is how many balls he grabbed whilst completing that catch?