The Cricket Thread 2016

[olaftab]

I am really saddened to hear of Jack Bannister's death. I don't remember him playing for The Bears as it was before my time but do remember with fondness his absolutely succinct  and unambiguous  commenting on International cricket. He was the best thing on talk sport for a long while and I became an even bigger fan of his reporting once I realised his Warwickshire link. RIP Jack.

[Villan For Life]

Another dropped catch, this is looking like one of those games we have after we've won a series. It's not really good enough, we should be able to keep our motivation up to win any match.

I think that is the difference between the good and the great sides. 

I'm not sure it is. How many times did we win the final test in an Ashes series after the Aussies had retained the Urn?

Psychologically you will naturally be in a lower gear. You've achieved what you set out to achieve and often the opposition step up a gear because they are playing for their places.

[paul_e]

Another dropped catch, this is looking like one of those games we have after we've won a series. It's not really good enough, we should be able to keep our motivation up to win any match.

I think that is the difference between the good and the great sides. 

I'm not sure it is. How many times did we win the final test in an Ashes series after the Aussies had retained the Urn?

Psychologically you will naturally be in a lower gear. You've achieved what you set out to achieve and often the opposition step up a gear because they are playing for their places.

It's worth noting as well that most of the damage has been done by one bowler, when Broad rips through teams with one of his spells does it mean they're a poor team or is it just a spell of brilliance?  For me the game changed when he got 3-16 this morning, I'd put that down to good bowling more than anything.  I'd also put the main difference between the teams down as us letting them off with a few dropped catches.  They had 3 centurions who were all dropped before they got to 50, if even 1 of those catches sticks you can knock 70-80 runs of their total and the gap is very small.

[PaulWinch again]

Moeen batted really well today.

[PaulWinch again]

I like Woakes' effort and application, but he's still not there as a Test bowler for me. He deserved the opportunity in this game, but I can't see him being a regular unless his bowling gets more consistent.

[PaulWinch again]

Good to see Jimmy bowling nicely again.

[Dave Cooper please]

Going to have to bat really well to save this Test.

[PaulWinch again]

Yep I'd say our best chance is South Africa batting for too long.

[Dr Butler]

Yep I'd say our best chance is South Africa batting for too long.

maybe they are worried that England might chase and get 350/400 odd....

UTV
The Doc

[Dave Cooper please]

Right, 382 to win with a possible (rain and bad light permitting) one hour tonight and 90 overs tomorrow.

Highly improbable (it would be the ninth highest run chase ever) but I reckon the likes of Root and Stokes would fancy a stab at it if the openers can get through this evening.

[PaulWinch again]

Hales gets a grubber and is out.

[Dr Butler]

Hales gets a grubber and is out.

Cook gone now....C&B..Morkel

[PaulWinch again]

We're folding like a deck of cards.

[Dave Cooper please]

Right, 382 to win with a possible (rain and bad light permitting) one hour tonight and 90 overs tomorrow.

Highly improbable (it would be the ninth highest run chase ever) but I reckon the likes of Root and Stokes would fancy a stab at it if the openers can get through this evening.

That went well then.

[PaulWinch again]

Worst review ever from Compton as well. Taylor needs runs here, but Compton and Hales have certainly not nailed their places down. We've performed pretty poorly in this game, bad bowling on the first day and then a collapse in the first and now the second innings.