The International Cricket Thread 2018

[JD]

Off to the first day tomorrow morning. Gym/work is only 10 mins walk to the ground.

[Villan For Life]

Smith looked a broken man in his press conference. I should feel some sympathy but I don’t.

[UK Redsox]

Lehmann quitting after this SA v AUS Test

[Villan For Life]

Cheats never prosper.

Lehmann lost the dressing room over this and I’m not surprised he didn’t go before.

[Chris Jameson]

Can see him returning to Yorkshire at some stage in the future, used to love watching him as a batsman.

[manic-road]

Smith looked a broken man in his press conference. I should feel some sympathy but I don’t.

After telling Jimmy Anderson that he is about to get a broken arm I have no sympathy whatsoever. Not surprised Lehmann has gone, just surprised he got off so lightly.

[PaulWinch again]

I have more sympathy for Smith than I do Warner. I get the impression Smith is a bit of a dope who's easily led (not ideal for a Captain!). Warner on the other hand seems like a genuinely nasty piece of work.

[PaulWinch again]

Ali and Woakes dropped from squad for second Test. Not a surprise really both of their records away are poor.

Batsman James Vince, uncapped spinner Jack Leach and fast bowler Mark Wood have all come into the 12-man squad, the team definitely needed freshening up.

I'll be curious to see how they balance the side. I think Leach absolutely needs to be given a chance, and Wood needs to be in for variation. But if it's a straight swap, Ali and Woakes out with Leach and Wood in, then that is a pretty long tail.

[OzVilla]

I feel sympathetic on a human level for Smith and Bancroft, Warner can go feck himself. They've made a mistake and their punishment fits the crime.

I just hope the media leave them alone now and the game moves on.  They'll have suffered enough after time out of the game.

[spangley1812]

I feel sympathetic on a human level for Smith and Bancroft, Warner can go feck himself. They've made a mistake and their punishment fits the crime.

I just hope the media leave them alone now and the game moves on.  They'll have suffered enough after time out of the game.

I think you are spot on.........Smith and Bancroft were very gulible and were "led astray" by that muppet Warner but they should have stood up to him
Its a shame for Smith as he appears to be a nice/decent guy and a brilliant batsman but this will always be a "stain on his legacy"

[Dave Cooper please]

Ali and Woakes dropped from squad for second Test. Not a surprise really both of their records away are poor.

Batsman James Vince, uncapped spinner Jack Leach and fast bowler Mark Wood have all come into the 12-man squad, the team definitely needed freshening up.

I'll be curious to see how they balance the side. I think Leach absolutely needs to be given a chance, and Wood needs to be in for variation. But if it's a straight swap, Ali and Woakes out with Leach and Wood in, then that is a pretty long tail.

Well it's only really one extra tail-ender if Vince plays which shouldn't matter if our top order could actually stay in for longer than 30 balls.

[UK Redsox]

If Vince plays then I suppose Overton would be dropped

Playing Stokes a specialist batsman screws up the balance of the team

[Dave Cooper please]

I think Vince will play and it will be a toss up between Leach and Overton depending on whether England want a specialist spinner, they could go all seam and use Root to spin a few overs.

Anyone know what the pitch is usually like over there?

[PaulWinch again]

I think they need to see if Leach can be a spinner who adds value on any pitch.

[dcdavecollett]

So the selectors have made their usual move following a bad defeat where England are bowled out for less than a hundred -drop a Warwickshire player!