The Cricket Thread 2017

[manic-road]

The Ashes are about over now, and only into the second test. Pathetic batting yet again today.

[Risso]

Disgraceful. When the wheels come off in Australia, they do so in some style.

[PaulWinch again]

Well done Woakes and Overton showing up the shameful effort from the batsmen.

[paul_e]

This session we're bowling how we should've on the first day, 2-3 yards fuller and they're just not dealing with the late swing.

41-3 and Smith got very lucky with one as well.

[Proposition Joe]

Also sadly I don't think Root is even in the conversation with Smith and Kohli for best bat in the world. He gives it away far more often than those two.

He's not even the best bat in the England team. It's still Cook. We are still too dependent on him though: he makes a score, England posts a good total; he fails and more often that not England gets skittled.

[taylorsworkrate]

Looks high

[Proposition Joe]

This session we're bowling how we should've on the first day, 2-3 yards fuller and they're just not dealing with the late swing.

41-3 and Smith got very lucky with one as well.

It's the hope that kills you ... i expect Smith will make the most of it now and take the game away from us once and for all.

[Chris Smith]

This session we're bowling how we should've on the first day, 2-3 yards fuller and they're just not dealing with the late swing.

41-3 and Smith got very lucky with one as well.

It's the hope that kills you ... i expect Smith will make the most of it now and take the game away from us once and for all.

You were saying? ;-)

[taylorsworkrate]

Its been good bowling this session. Shocked that Australia chose to bat again. They'd have had us 5 or 6 down by the close of play in these conditions.

Australia could just declare now in fairness. They have probably 100 more than we are capable of chasing already.

[Proposition Joe]

This session we're bowling how we should've on the first day, 2-3 yards fuller and they're just not dealing with the late swing.

41-3 and Smith got very lucky with one as well.

It's the hope that kills you ... i expect Smith will make the most of it now and take the game away from us once and for all.

You were saying? ;-)

Finally my attempts to jinx the Aussies pays off!

[tomd2103]

Its been good bowling this session. Shocked that Australia chose to bat again. They'd have had us 5 or 6 down by the close of play in these conditions.

Australia could just declare now in fairness. They have probably 100 more than we are capable of chasing already.

The concerning thing is that it has taken favourable conditions (ie the ball starting to swing) to make our bowlers threatening.  It almost seems as if we have gone down there with the attitude that "it's not really our conditions, so what can you do?" and are getting rolled over again.  You wouldn't bet against another 5-0 result at this point and if it is, to have 3 out of the last four series end up like that is just unacceptable.

[OzVilla]

It's almost like that last session was played in Engand with the ball hooping around. They did brilliantly to even be thinking there's a chance at the close.

In reality though, a run chase of 320 is highly unlikely but possible, they'd need to really knuckle down and have some luck, I wouldn't be betting the house in it though.

[paul_e]

Its been good bowling this session. Shocked that Australia chose to bat again. They'd have had us 5 or 6 down by the close of play in these conditions.

Australia could just declare now in fairness. They have probably 100 more than we are capable of chasing already.

The concerning thing is that it has taken favourable conditions (ie the ball starting to swing) to make our bowlers threatening.  It almost seems as if we have gone down there with the attitude that "it's not really our conditions, so what can you do?" and are getting rolled over again.  You wouldn't bet against another 5-0 result at this point and if it is, to have 3 out of the last four series end up like that is just unacceptable.

I'm not sure that bit is true, I think they'd decided to pitch it up before it started swinging rather than because it started swinging.  That's what England have got wrong because in English conditions you bowl length or a touch short and it's hard to get away but on Australia pitches that length just isn't threatening.  It's not easy to score off, which is why the run rate has been low, but it just doesn't get wickets.  Shifting to slightly full and bringing them forward is the way to mess with Aussies rythym because they're used to the extra pace and bouncier pitches.  Look at Smith today, full and straight and he looked lost but bowling a few inches over 5th stump (Anderson's normal line) just doesn't bother him when the ball doesn't move in the air.

[Chris Jameson]

Wish England had players who could stick around, got plenty who can come in and hit a few boundaries, shame the young lad from Lancashire had a poor season that wasn't helped by injury.

Is Root being written off again?

[taylorsworkrate]

Wish England had players who could stick around, got plenty who can come in and hit a few boundaries, shame the young lad from Lancashire had a poor season that wasn't helped by injury.

Is Root being written off again?

Root not being written off, just a realisation that whilst he's a wonderfully talented player, he doesn't possess the mindset that the best like Smith and Kohli have. He should really be making big scores much more consistently with his ability. Too many times he gets to 50/60 playing beautifully, then gives it away.