The Cricket Thread 2016

[taylorsworkrate]

Nothing infuriates me more in cricket than the use of the nightwatchman.

Please do not lose a wicket.

[Dave Cooper please]

Nothing infuriates me more in cricket than the use of the nightwatchman.

Please do not lose a wicket.

Dunno, we used Woakes last time and all that does is give him another chance to rack up a big score.

[taylorsworkrate]

Woakes is a bit different, as he's a fine player in his own right.

The regular tailenders, such as Finn, Anderson etc, are so frustrating to watch. If they survive the night, and stay in for a length of time the next morning, they generally slow the scoring rate down.

I just don't agree with the concept. I think a supposedly high class batsman should be able to survive a couple of minutes. You never see the openers having a nightwatchman if a teams innings starts a couple of overs before the end of the day

[PaulWinch again]

Excellent from Cook and Hales. I'm pleased for Hales because I feel that there are lots of people who want him out the team and are looking for a reason. I hope he goes on to get a hundred. He showed real character today.

[Dave Cooper please]

No, I don't like it, but now that we bat down to at least 8 then using Woakes isn't so bad.
Often it's the decision of the potential incoming batsman anyway, he might want a night watchman to save him having to "get in" twice.

[taylorsworkrate]

Excellent from Cook and Hales. I'm pleased for Hales because I feel that there are lots of people who want him out the team and are looking for a reason. I hope he goes on to get a hundred. He showed real character today.

Hales is a very talented player. His past performances in the ODI and T20 sides have shown that. He's got 5 test fifties now, which to me shows that he can play at test level, he just needs to go on and make a big hundred.

I can't see any openers currently banging the door down in the county game either

[cdbearsfan]

Very enjoyable day at The Home of Cricket.

[ADVILLAFAN]

The worst was when Hoggard was the night watchman about 10 years ago. He was always out after about 3 balls. I've never liked the concept either

[UK Redsox]

Herath hattrick

https://youtu.be/8YlQwdMPVjw

[Villan For Life]

Going down today, and possibly tomorrow depending on the state of the match and the availability of cheap day five tickets.

The weather is good, the match is nicely poised and so its promises to be an intriguing day of test Cricket from two good sides.

[Whiney MacWhineface]

Sri Lanka win by 229!

[JD]

Sri Lanka win by 229!

Brilliant.

[PaulWinch again]

Horrible start to the day. Root and Vince need to do a job here.

[taylorsworkrate]

All the batsmen doing all the hard work and giving it away again.

Pitch is very flat and a draw likely. We'll need to be careful now though

[paul_e]

This is moving towards a draw orcEngland win with some special bowling.  Another 70-80 tonight and we could seriously consider a declaration in the morning.