The Cricket Thread 2016

[ACVilla]

Also I love the fact that more than anyone else in the country he has a smooth repeatable action which means he can bowl longer spells regularly and still get lots out of the ball, that should help him have a long career and hopefully avoid injuries.

Glen McGrath-esque in its repetition. Yet he swings it more and is a far better batsmen.

Sometimes players who are expected to shine on the international stage don't and those expected to do do.

He may not have the xfactor but he has all the credentials to be a very special player.

A good comparison in my mind would be Warne/Stokes vs McGrath/Woakes.

[Chris Jameson]

Good job for England that the selectors do though.

*smiley, winky thing*

[PaulWinch again]

That was an annoying way to get out from Root.

[PGW]

Disappointing to lose Vince only 15 minutes before Tea. Difficult time for Gary Ballance now
139/3

[PGW]

Proved too difficult for Ballance LBW Shah 6 just 4 minutes from Tea

Leggy Shah 3/22
147/4

[taylorsworkrate]

Another average effort from the middle order. We've been saved on numerous occasions recently by the lower order.

It won't keep happening.

[PaulWinch again]

Pretty poor, Shah is rolling through us here.

[PaulWinch again]

This is why the Root wicket was so frustrating, and he clearly knew it, it's kind of opened the door.

[taylorsworkrate]

Pretty poor, Shah is rolling through us here.

I would say that of his 3 wickets, the only good ball was the one that got Ballance. Root had a massive rush of blood to the head, and Vince just missed an ordinary one.

Not great

[PGW]

Pretty poor, Shah is rolling through us here.

I would say that of his 3 wickets, the only good ball was the one that got Ballance. Root had a massive rush of blood to the head, and Vince just missed an ordinary one.

Not great

I would agree. and of course all this has done is to have increased his confidence no end. We all know how talented he is!!

[tomd2103]

I must admit that I thought that Woakes was just short of international class, so I'm pleased to admit that I was wrong!

The selectors have got a real selection problem ahead. From the side playing at Lords, clearly Finn is short of rhythm and form so Anderson will come in for him in the next test. Stokes is nearing full fitness and should go back into the side, but Woakes does not deserve to be dropped. Do they sacrifice Ali, whose runs with the lower order have proved vital or do they drop Woakes who is bowling well and can get you runs?

It's a nice headache to have and it will be interesting to see how they decide to go.

I think it could be a batsman that is discarded or probably Ball.

Cook
Hales
Root (I'd bat him at 4)
Ballance
Bairstow
Vince
Stokes
Ali
Woakes
Broad
Anderson

or one of Ballance or Vince goes and Ball comes back in.

When his finger recovers I'd bring Buttler back in and go with:

Cook, Hales, Vince, Root, Bairstow, Stokes, Buttler, Ali, Woakes, Broad, Anderson

[taylorsworkrate]

Cook is doing this a bit recently, getting to 80 odd then throwing it away.

Seems a long time since his last century.

In trouble now

[PGW]

Mohammad Amir gets his 1st test wkt on his return and it's Capt. Cook bowled off a thick inside edge on to leg stump 81.

Starting to struggle somewhat now at 173/5.

[taylorsworkrate]

Our batting generally hasn't been good enough for a long time now. We've been saved by the exploits of the bowlers and runs from the lower order

[taylorsworkrate]

Getting a little silly now