The International Cricket Thread 2018

[paul_e]

If as seems likely, they go with Buttler as wicketkeeper then I don’t think he will open.  I See Bairstow as a potential opener but I think that to open and keep wicket is a huge ask. I know Alec Stewart did it but he’s one of a small group.

I went with Buttler because Bairstow seems to be their choice as keeper and Buttler has opened in the shorter formats a fair bit.  Whoever is keeping bats down the order though, to give them a break.

[taylorsworkrate]

What a fucking ridiculous shot from Moeen. Playing well and India under a bit of pressure for first time and he just completely gifts his wicket away.

[paul_e]

What a fucking ridiculous shot from Moeen. Playing well and India under a bit of pressure for first time and he just completely gifts his wicket away.

Agreed, looked like he wanted to hit Ashwin out of the attack but I'm not sure why.

[manic-road]

Poor LBW decision by the umpire but no reviews left.

[paul_e]

Awful decision that, poor that we'd wasted our reviews but you still have to question the umpire there, never looked close for me.

As backwards as it might sound if England can get another 20-30 runs here I suspect we'll have the happier dressing room at the change over because they'd have been looking at cleaning us up for 120-130 once Stokes went. On top of that a 66 over old ball is still swinging massively so Jimmy and Curran in particular will be very keen to see what they can do.

[Risso]

Awful decision that, poor that we'd wasted our reviews but you still have to question the umpire there, never looked close for me.

As backwards as it might sound if England can get another 20-30 runs here I suspect we'll have the happier dressing room at the change over because they'd have been looking at cleaning us up for 120-130 once Stokes went. On top of that a 66 over old ball is still swinging massively so Jimmy and Curran in particular will be very keen to see what they can do.

A good point that, at 86-6 things were looking dire.  Curran is doing well, and if he can somehow get any support from Broad we might push 250.  Still a shit score, but at least not a complete disaster.

[paul_e]

217/8 - that's good going by Ali and then Curran, as above I reckon we'll be the happier dressing room right now, given the amount of swing we've seen anything around 250 would be competitive, getting near it with the top 4 having completely collapsed is a great effort.

What's really frustrating is that the all rounders have, yet again, pulled us out of the fire, if we could get them coming in at 250-300 rather than 100 or less these would be match winning contributions.

[Risso]

Bloody Jennings and Cook again - surely sooner or later the penny will drop with the selectors.

[manic-road]

240-9 at least Broad hung around a bit, innings will soon be over now Jimmy is coming out to bat.

[paul_e]

At lunch everyone would've taken 240/9 so I'm much happier than I was a couple of hours ago.  I'd have taken it at Tea as well.

[PaulWinch again]

Was at the game today, Curran, Moeen and Broad really dug is out. Curran looked great.

[Andy Poole]

I have tickets for the Sunday, day 4. It's in the balance as to whether I see any play at all.

[tomd2103]

Was at the game today, Curran, Moeen and Broad really dug is out. Curran looked great.

He certainly did Paul and it was a great reaction after being dropped for the previous test.  Things have got to be addressed though as they aren't getting any better and these collapses are happening far too often. 

[tomd2103]

Bloody Jennings and Cook again - surely sooner or later the penny will drop with the selectors.

Was listening to the TMS discussion at the close of play yesterday and it is was pretty clear from what they were saying that Root feels far more comfortable batting at four.  Unless Bairstow can bat at three (after seeing him at four I'm not sure he will be suited to batting even higher up the order) we are looking at finding an entirely new top three which is a very big ask. 

Jennings is beginning to look mentally shot to me, but I'm not sure making such major changes would be wise with just one test left. 

[paul_e]

Decent morning but really need to get Kohli, once he goes it's game on.