The Cricket Thread 2016

[PGW]

39 a top score in tests for Woakes...probably should have been better. An important contribution a 92 partnership to help England close to a 400 total, 389/7

[PaulWinch again]

Beautiful knock by Mo, fully deserved 150.

[paul_e]

What a fantastic day for Woakes so far.

[PaulWinch again]

I think we need to find a way of getting Moeen coming in at 7.

[PaulWinch again]

Finn doesn't look quite right at the moment.

[UK Redsox]

Sri Lanka do not appear to be very good at cricket at the moment.

Batsman walks out and batsman soon walks back........Ceylon and thanks for all the fish

[Villafirst]

Finn doesn't look quite right at the moment.

Bring Stokes back when fit, keep Woakes in and drop Finn. Woakes is quicker and much better with the bat.

[paul_e]

Sri Lanka look like a side that's missing 2-3 world class batsmen but they've also got a big problem the bowling has been unrelenting. I think we're the only side around right now who can lose a quick or 2 and still put out a 5 man attack that is constantly asking questions.  That depth of genuinely threatening quick bowlers is why we have a very good chance of ending the summer holding every single test trophy.

[paul_e]

Finn doesn't look quite right at the moment.

Bring Stokes back when fit, keep Woakes in and drop Finn. Woakes is quicker and much better with the bat.

Right now it would be hard to justify doing anything else.

[DaveD]

Sri Lanka have just lost two genuine all time greats. They're going to take a while to adjust. Ali batted really well today, and  Anderson and Broad are just world class as a unit. Woakes had a great day and Finn not so much, but they're both fine players and we really do have an embarrassment of riches at the moment.

[UK Redsox]

Finn doesn't look quite right at the moment.

Bring Stokes back when fit, keep Woakes in and drop Finn. Woakes is quicker and much better with the bat.

When Sky showed the high/average bowling speeds, I was surprised to see that Woakes was quicker than Finn

Bringing in Stokes for Finn would give England won if the deepest batting lineup ever, with really only Jimmy who has rabbit tendencies

[PaulWinch again]

Finn doesn't look quite right at the moment.

Bring Stokes back when fit, keep Woakes in and drop Finn. Woakes is quicker and much better with the bat.

Right now it would be hard to justify doing anything else.

Yep at the moment I'd agree, but I'd qualify that by saying that Finn at his best is a much better bowler than Woakes.

[paul_e]

Finn doesn't look quite right at the moment.

Bring Stokes back when fit, keep Woakes in and drop Finn. Woakes is quicker and much better with the bat.

Right now it would be hard to justify doing anything else.

Yep at the moment I'd agree, but I'd qualify that by saying that Finn at his best is a much better bowler than Woakes.

I agree but Finn's best doesn't happen as much as it should and I'm not sure why.  Woakes gives us as much because whilst he bowls at a good pace he does it with an action and an efficiency that means he could give you 2-3 8-10 over spells in a day which we won't get from anyone else.  I like having a workhorse quick, it means you can tie down an end with them and a spinner pretty easily and then rotate in short spells at the other end.  If he can get 'right' Finn should be perfectly suited to those short spells.

[PaulWinch again]

I think Finn's problem is injuries disrupt him. If he can get a year of sustained fitness he'll be outstanding.

[ACVilla]

I only saw the highlights on C5 last night so forgive me for making such a massive leap but his bowling yesterday reminded me of a certain Aussie fellow named McGrath.