The International Cricket Thread 2018

[paul_e]

You could equally argue the game changer was when Root was needlessly run out.

The difference is we had a decent 'start' on the board and with the batting to come should've still posted 350ish. That Bairstow, Stokes and Buttler were all out cheaply is why our first innings total was low. Kohli was dropped on 21 with very little batting to come and India would've been 100 and a bit for 7, in the end he scored anothr 128 from about 170 more for India.

That said, it's only an opinion but I think a drop like that, in the game context, is inexcusable and will cost us this test.  I said Malan needed to score big runs to make up for it and I stand by that.  He knows he shelled a simple one, a winner would be determined to make up for that by seeing England into a strong position in the 2nd innings but Malan doesn't have the mental strength or the technique to do it.

[paul_e]

Important little smash from Curran here, it's this aspect that makes me think he's a batting all-rounder right now (and potentially a very good one).

Lead up to 174 - if we can get near to 200 I think it's game on because the ball is going to swing around massively in these conditions and only Kohli seemed to have any idea how to deal with it.

[PaulWinch again]

Sam Curran is doing a hell of a job here.

[tomd2103]

We could really do with Broad rediscovering the batting form he showed early in his career right now.

Curran is going great guns here, but i think he now needs to start managing the situation and try and get us past 200 at least.   

[paul_e]

Curran gone, that's a shame but I still think we've stolen 40-50 runs there which they won't be happy about.  194 for the win, I think they'll make that but if we bowl well we could make it very uncomfortable with 3-4 wickets this afternoon/evening.

[PaulWinch again]

It’s been a good effort from Curran, Rashid and Broad. They’ve given us a chance.

[manic-road]

We need to use the cloud cover to get the ball swinging and tale early wickets, I wouldn't mind seeing Curran open the bowling with Anderson. Broad didn't bowl well enough in the first innings to get the chance to open.

[PaulWinch again]

Oh no Malan.

[beness]

2 Down, well done so fae lads

[paul_e]

This is the Broad I was hoping to see in their first innings.  Why can't he bowl like this consistently?

[PaulWinch again]

3 down, needed that.

[paul_e]

Very important wicket, need to get Kohli though, whilst he's still there it's their game to lose, if he goes with them still 100 short then it's a whole new game.

[olaftab]

I claim Rahul wicket as I said to a friend just before he edged it that he looks set for tomorrow.

[paul_e]

Unlucky from Curran, lovely delivery but always looked a bit high.

Good over though, they need to make Kohli uncomfortable for the next hour.

[PaulWinch again]

I don’t like this tactic of allowing Kohli a single. Should have learnt from that in the first innings.