The Cricket Thread 2016

[paul_e]

I'm very happy with Hameed here, I'm sure I've said before I don't tjink openers need to pile on massive scores all the time but they do need to see off the hard ball so get to the 23rd over without loss is job done. Turning the inevitable 30-40 into a 50 and then 100 is the bonus.

[paul_e]

Well that was a thoroughly pathetic review, never looked like coming back enough.

[olaftab]

Superb 50 for the young man. Well played.

[Monty]

Whisper it, but it looks like we've got a real player here doesn't it? I thought it might be too soon to plonk him in the team on a difficult tour, but how about that.

[Dave Cooper please]

Hameed looks the real deal doesn't he?

[paul_e]

It makes the decision to give Ballance 1 more chance all the stranger as well.

[Dave Cooper please]

It makes the decision to give Ballance 1 more chance all the stranger as well.

In hindsight yes, but no one knows how a 19 year old is going to react on debut, he could have got two ducks and then Ballance at 4 makes sense.

[Meanwood Villa]

Cook was a young man thrust into the team in India. Scored a century on debut. Fingers crossed Hameed emulates him this test and moving forward.

[paul_e]

It makes the decision to give Ballance 1 more chance all the stranger as well.

In hindsight yes, but no one knows how a 19 year old is going to react on debut, he could have got two ducks and then Ballance at 4 makes sense.

Only if Ballance had any sort of form though. If you pick a youngster who has scored for fun in first class matches then you have to trust him.  A performance like this could've been the difference in the Bangladesh series and Ballance just isn't in a place to do it right now.

[PaulWinch again]

Hameed looks a real player.

[olaftab]

Whisper it, but it looks like we've got a real player here doesn't it? I thought it might be too soon to plonk him in the team on a difficult tour, but how about that.

Hameed looks the real deal doesn't he?

Hameed looks a real player.

I am absolutely impressed and not wishing to curse  him I am confident that he will nail a ton tomorrow.

[Dave Cooper please]

It makes the decision to give Ballance 1 more chance all the stranger as well.

In hindsight yes, but no one knows how a 19 year old is going to react on debut, he could have got two ducks and then Ballance at 4 makes sense.

Only if Ballance had any sort of form though. If you pick a youngster who has scored for fun in first class matches then you have to trust him.  A performance like this could've been the difference in the Bangladesh series and Ballance just isn't in a place to do it right now.

You have to trust him up to a point, England have struggled for years to replace Strauss as an opener and a 19 year old who had only played one season of first class cricket was a risk that had to be backed up with a good middle order. Okay, so now he has proved himself as the calmest debutant I've seen for years and we might be able to trust our top order a bit more. Ballance will be fine, he has the talent, he just maybe isn't a Test opener.

[PaulWinch again]

Hameed just has it. He has obvious talent and also has the temprament. He'll be a star.

Ballance can come back as a Test player, I saw his ability in person when he got a century in Southampton, but he has to acknowledge he has a technical issue and make steps to address it. He has refused to acknowledge it in the past.

[LeeB]

Game on here folks.

[thick_mike]

Maybe...