The International Cricket Thread

[hilts_coolerking]

It makes me furious because it's so unprofessional.  Okay, Mo and Bairstow are struggling for runs but if they can't get the ball off the square just fuckin stay there and let the bloke at the other end do it.

[manic-road]

This is why I always think England need to accelerate a bit in games like this, we have a bad habit of giving away cheap wickets.

Across the 2 innings so far we probably let them get 100 more than they should've and now we've gifted them cheap wickets when we should've been looking at getting another 70-80. I'm not sure i like us giving away the best part of 200 runs like that.

Need to accelerate? That's part of the reason they are losing wickets. If they had dug in like yesterday they could have built up a decent lead.

[taylorsworkrate]

Does Moeen actually practice batting anymore?

He did an odd article in the Guardian about how he would be judged on his bowling during the series.

No Mo, you are in the team as an allrounder. The carefree attitude of "it doesn't matter how many runs I get" is not an acceptable one.

[PaulWinch again]

What’s Bairstow’s Test form since giving it the big one after that hundred in Sri Lanka? His attitude fucks me off.

[hilts_coolerking]

No Mo, you are in the team as an allrounder. The carefree attitude of "it doesn't matter how many runs I get" is not an acceptable one.

Exactly.  He's nowhere near being the best spinner in the country; it's because he's the best spinning allrounder in the country that he's in the team.  If he isn't scoring it's time to go with a specialist spinner.

[PaulWinch again]

He is one of the best spinners, but the all rounder point remains. You’re not in the team as a fucking number 11 Moeen.

[hilts_coolerking]

Now I've calmed down I'd take a lead of 65-70 right now.

[PaulWinch again]

If we could get 50-60 ahead now that’d be good.

[taylorsworkrate]

Its probably now a case of Jimmy having to bowl in the 2nd innings as a necessity.

[paul_e]

This is why I always think England need to accelerate a bit in games like this, we have a bad habit of giving away cheap wickets.

Across the 2 innings so far we probably let them get 100 more than they should've and now we've gifted them cheap wickets when we should've been looking at getting another 70-80. I'm not sure i like us giving away the best part of 200 runs like that.

Need to accelerate? That's part of the reason they are losing wickets. If they had dug in like yesterday they could have built up a decent lead.

It really isn't, it's just poor shot selection. We've scored 31 in 14 overs since Stokes went, that's not a team that's taking risks, it's batsmen in shocking form playing stupid shots. I think there's a bit of a habit in test cricket to say that any time a team loses wickets they should just go all out defence but, just like football, the game has changed and that's often the wrong thing to do. Bowling teams expect you to be more defensive and crowd the bat. counter-attacking by being a bit more aggressive for a few overs takes the game back to how it was before you lost the wicket(s) and you get a rhythm again.

[manic-road]

This is why I always think England need to accelerate a bit in games like this, we have a bad habit of giving away cheap wickets.

Across the 2 innings so far we probably let them get 100 more than they should've and now we've gifted them cheap wickets when we should've been looking at getting another 70-80. I'm not sure i like us giving away the best part of 200 runs like that.

Need to accelerate? That's part of the reason they are losing wickets. If they had dug in like yesterday they could have built up a decent lead.

It really isn't, it's just poor shot selection. We've scored 31 in 14 overs since Stokes went, that's not a team that's taking risks, it's batsmen in shocking form playing stupid shots. I think there's a bit of a habit in test cricket to say that any time a team loses wickets they should just go all out defence but, just like football, the game has changed and that's often the wrong thing to do. Bowling teams expect you to be more defensive and crowd the bat. counter-attacking by being a bit more aggressive for a few overs takes the game back to how it was before you lost the wicket(s) and you get a rhythm again.

I said part of the reason not the only reason, Bairstow was on the attack and it cost him his wicket whilst playing a shit shot.

[PaulWinch again]

That’s good from Woakes and Broad. I’m impressed by Broad’s attitude in this game. He’s bowled with energy and then he’s batted with real diligence there.

[Monty]

It makes me furious because it's so unprofessional.  Okay, Mo and Bairstow are struggling for runs but if they can't get the ball off the square just fuckin stay there and let the bloke at the other end do it.

They have this mentality that they're going to hit their way back into form, like they're Virender Sewhag. But look at Burns - slow, long, making absolutely sure he gets himself in and gets the rewards.

[taylorsworkrate]

Its a simple statement but it rings true. Play the ball on its merits.

Yes be aggressive, but don't try and drive a ball back of a length with arms away from body (bairstow). Don't leave a ball pitching on middle stump (Ali). Don't try to cut a ball too close to you (Stokes). All 3 of those wickets were so needless.

[manic-road]

That’s good from Woakes and Broad. I’m impressed by Broad’s attitude in this game. He’s bowled with energy and then he’s batted with real diligence there.

Yes Broad looks like he has got his confidence back with the bat, he looked really nervous for a whilst after being struck in the head by a ball bowled by Varon Aaron.