The Cricket Thread 2017

[manic-road]

It’s just a shame we haven’t completely rammed the advantage home. Root out again the morning after, and nothing much from the Moeen again. 550+ would look a lot nicer and is the sort of score you expect when somebody scores 250.

Great knock from Cook though and thoroughly entertaining from Broad.

The quick runs from Ali off the bowling of Lyon made Lyon suddenly lose his length and started bowling to short even after getting his wicket. I know Ali didn't get to many but the impetus of the match changed after his quick boundaries.

[paul_e]

It’s just a shame we haven’t completely rammed the advantage home. Root out again the morning after, and nothing much from the Moeen again. 550+ would look a lot nicer and is the sort of score you expect when somebody scores 250.

Great knock from Cook though and thoroughly entertaining from Broad.

The quick runs from Ali off the bowling of Lyon made Lyon suddenly lose his length and started bowling to short even after getting his wicket. I know Ali didn't get to many but the impetus of the match changed after his quick boundaries.

I agree it's just frustrating that he couldn't change gear and take advantage himself.

[olaftab]

BBC Midlands Today has really gone for the local angle with their headline. Woakes helps England to dominant position in fourth Ashes Test.

Well that’s how I saw it as well😉

[olaftab]

Despite a little drizzle teams are on the pitch. Let’s go..

[olaftab]

Well that didn’t last long. Jimmy gone first ball.

[Villan For Life]

I'd have declared overnight

[olaftab]

By not declaring overnight you can disrupt their Planning and also choose how to roll the pitch. 2 down is good for now but RSP now.

[PaulWinch again]

Looks like the rain will do for us here annoyingly, unless it's clear tomorrow and there's an early clatter of wickets.

As an aside the ball tampering stuff sounds like utter bollocks.

[Villan For Life]

By not declaring overnight you can disrupt their Planning and also choose how to roll the pitch. 2 down is good for now but RSP now.

A fair point but kind of negated all of that possible disruption by Jimmy  getting out to the first ball of the day.

[paul_e]

By not declaring overnight you can disrupt their Planning and also choose how to roll the pitch. 2 down is good for now but RSP now.

A fair point but kind of negated all of that possible disruption by Jimmy  getting out to the first ball of the day.

Not really, we still got the choice of the roller for the pitch and we'd have done it with litle thought for how much batting we were going to do.  Onto the game I thought we were too economical, it worked against the poorer batsmen because they couldn't resist trying to force something and playing silly shots.  For this pair we're going to have to tempt them into playing I think.

[olaftab]

Play will start early tomorrow. Weather is expected to be dry but cloudy and alarmingly chilly for Mel at only 20 degrees.

[Villan For Life]

By not declaring overnight you can disrupt their Planning and also choose how to roll the pitch. 2 down is good for now but RSP now.

A fair point but kind of negated all of that possible disruption by Jimmy  getting out to the first ball of the day.

Not really, we still got the choice of the roller for the pitch and we'd have done it with litle thought for how much batting we were going to do.  Onto the game I thought we were too economical, it worked against the poorer batsmen because they couldn't resist trying to force something and playing silly shots.  For this pair we're going to have to tempt them into playing I think.

I'd have wanted as much time bowling at them as possible, particularly given the weather forecast. If Jimmy had batted for an hour then great but a fresh attack is much better.

[paul_e]

By not declaring overnight you can disrupt their Planning and also choose how to roll the pitch. 2 down is good for now but RSP now.

A fair point but kind of negated all of that possible disruption by Jimmy  getting out to the first ball of the day.

Not really, we still got the choice of the roller for the pitch and we'd have done it with litle thought for how much batting we were going to do.  Onto the game I thought we were too economical, it worked against the poorer batsmen because they couldn't resist trying to force something and playing silly shots.  For this pair we're going to have to tempt them into playing I think.

I'd have wanted as much time bowling at them as possible, particularly given the weather forecast. If Jimmy had batted for an hour then great but a fresh attack is much better.

We lost 2 overs.  If we can get another couple of wickets early tomorrow (before they catch up to us) then it's difficult to criticise.  The bowling in the first session last night was the best we've offered all tour, others have been more successful in terms of wickets but we stifled them completely. Woakes was particularly good, bowled an attacking line that worked with the field perfectly and fully deserved his wicket.

As for the weather I don't think anyone expected to only see an hour of play after lunch, the commentators had said they expected showers but there was no suggestion of anything more up until I turned it off at the first rain break.

[Dave Cooper please]

In case you hadn't noticed Cook's knock was the highest score in Test cricket for a player carrying his bat.
Pretty impressive.

[paul_e]

In case you hadn't noticed Cook's knock was the highest score in Test cricket for a player carrying his bat.
Pretty impressive.

Along with about 5-6 other records.