The Cricket Thread 2017

[cheltenhamlion]

I am sure they will just drop in Rashid unless it looks like the pitch will do something. How about chucking Bairstow in for Roy?

[cdbullyweefan]

Abandoned, no result. Pretty disappointing. It didn't look to be raining too heavily when they went off, had they played one more over... there would have been a winner on D/L. Shame the umpires were so quick to race off.

[tomd2103]

I am sure they will just drop in Rashid unless it looks like the pitch will do something. How about chucking Bairstow in for Roy?

Billings has opened a few times in the past so I think it would be him.

[PaulWinch again]

I wouldn't be dropping Roy now. Yes he's going through a bad run, but he's shown what he can do before, which thus far Billings hasn't and I'm not sure about Bairstow opening. My view is we're in a tournament now and we should be as much as is possible picking the team that has performed in the last year or so.

[paul_e]

I wouldn't be dropping Roy now. Yes he's going through a bad run, but he's shown what he can do before, which thus far Billings hasn't and I'm not sure about Bairstow opening. My view is we're in a tournament now and we should be as much as is possible picking the team that has performed in the last year or so.

Agreed, that's why I think I'd favour Willey over Ball as well (and bring back Rashid) because i want people who been heavily involved in making us the pre-tournament favourites.

[tomd2103]

I wouldn't be dropping Roy now. Yes he's going through a bad run, but he's shown what he can do before, which thus far Billings hasn't and I'm not sure about Bairstow opening. My view is we're in a tournament now and we should be as much as is possible picking the team that has performed in the last year or so.

I agree about Roy, but Billings has had some decent knocks recently and at opener too.

[paul_e]

I wouldn't be dropping Roy now. Yes he's going through a bad run, but he's shown what he can do before, which thus far Billings hasn't and I'm not sure about Bairstow opening. My view is we're in a tournament now and we should be as much as is possible picking the team that has performed in the last year or so.

I agree about Roy, but Billings has had some decent knocks recently and at opener too.

The problem is that dropping someone who has bene a regular for 18 months after the fist game of the tournament looks a bit knee-jerk and doesn't send out a great message.  On that basis I'd stick with him for now.  If he doesn't manage a score in the next 2 (and we get through) then his place for the semi should be reviewed.

[tomd2103]

I wouldn't be dropping Roy now. Yes he's going through a bad run, but he's shown what he can do before, which thus far Billings hasn't and I'm not sure about Bairstow opening. My view is we're in a tournament now and we should be as much as is possible picking the team that has performed in the last year or so.

I agree about Roy, but Billings has had some decent knocks recently and at opener too.

The problem is that dropping someone who has bene a regular for 18 months after the fist game of the tournament looks a bit knee-jerk and doesn't send out a great message.  On that basis I'd stick with him for now.  If he doesn't manage a score in the next 2 (and we get through) then his place for the semi should be reviewed.

I'd go with that Paul, especially as Roy has shown good form over a fair period of time.  That's what puzzled me a bit about Rashid being left out, as he has been a regular for some time now.   The only thing I can think is that they thought Bangladesh might weaker against seam bowling, but they coped pretty well.

[Villan For Life]

Malinger the Slinger back for Sri Lanka against the Saffers at the Oval. I thought he'd retired from international cricket years ago!

[Dave Cooper please]

Malinger the Slinger back for Sri Lanka against the Saffers at the Oval. I thought he'd retired from international cricket years ago!

He should have been retired forcibly from the start, the cheating bastard.

[olaftab]

In all my life of playing cricket watching cricket I have never understood how he has been allowed to bowl😨 He just chucks it and gets away with it😡

[Villan For Life]

I know, his action is like a round arm Baseball pitcher.

I've always thought that the ICC were as flexible as Murali's elbow when looking at such bowling actions, particularly as they didn't want to upset the powerful Asian Cricket boards. If Malinger or Murali had been English, Australian or even West Indian they'd have been forced to remodel their respective actions.

[olaftab]

Off to Edgbaston now to watch the local derby. This is quite unique as probably the only place where both teams will have an equal size crowd cheering them on. Let's hop the fans behave and I am wearing an England shirt😟

[Villan For Life]

Off to Edgbaston now to watch the local derby. This is quite unique as probably the only place where both teams will have an equal size crowd cheering them on. Let's hop the fans behave and I am wearing an England shirt😟

Enjoy your day, the atmosphere should be electric.

[Villan For Life]

Finn has been confirmed as the replacement for Woakes.