The Cricket Thread 2016

[UK Redsox]

Quickly followed by Chef

[Villan For Life]

Important ton by Cook and yet more records broken/equalled.

First England batsman to score 5 test tons against Pakistan and he has drawn level with Gooch with 11 centuries as England captain.

He really is phenomenal batsman.

[Villan For Life]

Disappointing to lose Cook just on tea. It seemed to keep low, but I think he could have got a little further forward.

Huge session coming up for England now. Given our recent batting malaise we really need to ram home the advantage that winning the toss has potentially given us.

[PaulWinch again]

Excellent knock from Cook, shame he got out just before tea. Need Root and the middle to go big here.

[PaulWinch again]

Well done Root. Vince is on borrowed time now, because he just keeps making the same mistake.

[Villafirst]

Vince isn't good enough. Bell would be a good recall option. Question marks over Hales as a test opener.

[paul_e]

I'd leave them both in for the rest of the series and then review things.

Vince needs to be given a chance to settle, I don't like the idea of dropping someone if they fail in 2-3 tests, I just don't think you'll ever get a settled and functional team if you do that.  Bringing someone in for a one off match to cover injuries (like Ball) is fine but if you've picked someone with a view of them being a regular then they need a fair chance.

For Hales I think he can take no shame from today, the delivery that got him was an absolute snorter that few batsman would've been able to deal with.  Overall his record is below par but a decent series against SL means he deserves to see this one out.

[Villafirst]

Hales has too much of a one day mindset.

[PaulWinch again]

I wouldn't be dropping Vince yet, but he needs to show that he's learning.

Funnily enough what England need is an amalgamation of Vince's stroke play and Ballance's mental strength.

Good day though and a chance to press on tomorrow.

[Villan For Life]

Although he got a peach of a delivery, I am disappointed that Hales failed again. Our top 5 has lost 4 class players over the last few years and we haven't replaced them (Strauss, Trott, the South African and Bell). Various permutations have been tried without success. Now we have Hales, Vince and Ballance in the side and they're not inspiring confidence. You can argue that Root has replaced the South African but we haven't had a settled top 5 since the 2013 home Ashes series.

I agree that we should stick with Vince. Dropping him after a couple of games is wrong and takes us back to the bad old days of the 1990's. Hales worries me as does Ballance. Both are players I really like so I hope it comes good for both of them.

All in all it was England's day and how positive to see a nightwatchman of the calibre of Woakes striding out to bat. If he can stick around tomorrow and Root pushes on, with Bairstow, Stokes and Ali to come we could get a formidable target.

[olaftab]

Good play by England today and a sort of score against a top attack that shows the team is there are there about  at the top of world Test ranking. Once again it's all about Cook and Root if they both do well England do well obviously world class operators however the other 3 top order batsmen who went cheaply need to start contributing. looking forward to tomorrow.

[Villafirst]

Vince won't last, another Adam Lyth. I'll think be proven right on this. Get Belly back in, way better than Vince.

[PaulWinch again]

Bell struggled at the start of his Test career too. Vince needs more time.

[Ads]

Bell struggled in the middle parts and at the end at times too.

[tomd2103]

Although he got a peach of a delivery, I am disappointed that Hales failed again. Our top 5 has lost 4 class players over the last few years and we haven't replaced them (Strauss, Trott, the South African and Bell). Various permutations have been tried without success. Now we have Hales, Vince and Ballance in the side and they're not inspiring confidence. You can argue that Root has replaced the South African but we haven't had a settled top 5 since the 2013 home Ashes series.

I agree that we should stick with Vince. Dropping him after a couple of games is wrong and takes us back to the bad old days of the 1990's. Hales worries me as does Ballance. Both are players I really like so I hope it comes good for both of them.

All in all it was England's day and how positive to see a nightwatchman of the calibre of Woakes striding out to bat. If he can stick around tomorrow and Root pushes on, with Bairstow, Stokes and Ali to come we could get a formidable target.

I would add James Taylor to the list of players who have departed the scene recently, as he was looking like he was settling in the side.