The Cricket Thread 2017

[passitsideways]

It's only a problem because they all looked shit at (not) playing them. They tried the same against Malan in the first innings and it didn't work very well to start off with. Likewise, the English bowlers took a similar approach against Smith on the third morning, but it's hardly Australia's fault that it was Jake Ball bowling them, not Starc or Cummins.

[OzVilla]

I actually agree Passitsideways, the deliveries where generally between hip and chin height and that's fair enough at Test level.  You're going to get your technique examined and if your not up to it then either get better or expect more of the same.

If England had bowlers like that they'd be doing exactly the same.

[PaulWinch again]

That is absolutely true of an established batsman and it's fair enough then. It's a different story with a tailender who is known not to be a great bat. 5 successive bouncers was over the top to a guy who is batting 10/11.

[taylorsworkrate]

I actually agree Passitsideways, the deliveries where generally between hip and chin height and that's fair enough at Test level.  You're going to get your technique examined and if your not up to it then either get better or expect more of the same.

If England had bowlers like that they'd be doing exactly the same.

If we had bowlers that could do it, then Australia probably wouldn't. At the moment, they know they can bowl short at our tailenders, without fear of retribution when their tailenders bat.

[paul_e]

I actually agree Passitsideways, the deliveries where generally between hip and chin height and that's fair enough at Test level.  You're going to get your technique examined and if your not up to it then either get better or expect more of the same.

If England had bowlers like that they'd be doing exactly the same.

I agree that most of them were, but, as i said, there was one little spell where, in my opinion, they were bowling 3-4 over shoulder height per over and not getting called up on it because they were borderline, that's the bit I have issue with, not the ones that are up in the armpit region.

[tomd2103]

That is absolutely true of an established batsman and it's fair enough then. It's a different story with a tailender who is known not to be a great bat. 5 successive bouncers was over the top to a guy who is batting 10/11.

Agree in principle Paul, but I think that kind of consideration went out of the game sometime ago.  I recall watching Darren Gough doing one of those masterclasses on SKY and telling a story about when he was under the captaincy of Richie Richardson.  He said they were playing a game and he had got four wickets when the opposition number 11 came in.  He said he was going to pitch it up to him to try and get his fifth, when Richardson strolled over, told him Malcolm Marshall was watching in the crowd and to instructed him to "knock his head off".  Gough duly obliged and the batsman just about managed to get out of harm's way.  He said he was going back to mark when Richardson came over again and said "do it again", so he did.  Richardson then came up to him and said "now pitch it up" which he did and got his fifth wicket.  He said that Richardson took him to one side afterwards and said that that was what he expected of him and that it was a real learning experience.   

[Chris Jameson]

One of my favourite sporting battles was when Richardson was at Yorkshire, without a helmet, facing a fired up Allan Donald at Edgbaston. Two world class players at the top of their games.

[PaulWinch again]

Concerns of Moeen's fitness to bowl, so we're potentially going in with no spinner other than Root. I hope the conditions at Adelaide are as expected. 

[olaftab]

One of my favourite sporting battles was when Richardson was at Yorkshire, without a helmet, facing a fired up Allan Donald at Edgbaston. Two world class players at the top of their games.

My best memory is Kallicharan and Lloyd taking on Thompson and Lilley at their best and depositing their bouncers into the crowd.

[olaftab]

Anyone up later to see the toss?

[OzVilla]

England win toss and bowl. That's always an interesting decision. Overton in for Ball.

Overcast and very windy, England need to start well

[OzVilla]

So 11 overs gone and it's raining. Aus 24-0 and we badly need to re-group as quite frankly we've been awful.

Bowled too short and we've looked asleep in the field. There's been at least 3 singles taken to fielders who should have been saving one. This looks a poor decision to bowl on this evidence so far.

[olaftab]

England’s performance has been similar to my attempt to stay awake. Ineffective.

[taylorsworkrate]

I don't think its a poor decision to bowl, with overcast conditions and the lights on.

We've just been fucking shit.

I can't see us taking 20 wickets during a match this series.

[OzVilla]

I agree, it'll be a real struggle with our current attack. If the ball isn't doing much we are very pedestrian which is the one thing you cannot afford to be on Australian pitches.