The International Cricket Thread

[Damo70]

Weather disruptions in cricket annoy me. Build some roofs 

[Villan For Life]

I think that momentum has swung firmly back in our favour. Archer has them rattled and even Smith will be questioning how he can deal with him. Let’s hope he stays fit.

[paul_e]

Weather disruptions in cricket annoy me. Build some roofs 

God no, almost everything good about English cricket requires cloud cover, we'd end up about 7th or 8th in the world if we played 'inside' (I know you were joking).

[cdbearsfan]

Open the roof when it isn't raining, close it when it is.

I do think that, one day, someone will build a cricket ground with a roof.

[olaftab]

I do hope not. Covering the Wicket is a step too far for me.

[Steve67]

I think that momentum has swung firmly back in our favour. Archer has them rattled and even Smith will be questioning how he can deal with him. Let’s hope he stays fit.

I just wish Ollie Stone and Mark Wood could stay fit.  Those three would be fantastic to watch. 

[PaulWinch again]

I do think Archer is a different level though. It’s virtually impossible to discern whether he’s going to bowl full or short. It must be a nightmare to face.

[Villan For Life]

With the way that batting has been going particularly in white ball cricket, exactly how high would the roof have to be?

Then you consider a ground like Edgbaston where the stands are various heights, the top level in the press box is the highest point at the ground, how would a roof work there? It’s not Wimbledon!

[cdbearsfan]

Oh I don't reckon it'll be easy. But someone will build one. Maybe when cricket gets in the Olympics.

[Villan For Life]

I do think Archer is a different level though. It’s virtually impossible to discern whether he’s going to bowl full or short. It must be a nightmare to face.

Thankfully our fragile batsmen don’t have to face him!

He reminds me of Michael Holding, there’s nothing in his run up, his action is smooth and easy yet he delivers these balls which cause mayhem. Unless he gets seduced by the financial rewards of the various T20 leagues, we will have a bowler in our team who will wreck havoc.

[PeterWithesShin]

A cricket ball isn't hit any higher than a baseball is and some stadiums have roofs. Mind you the ball does hit them, or at least gangways etc occasionally so those parks have their own rules for when that happens.

[Villan For Life]

Oh I don't reckon it'll be easy. But someone will build one. Maybe when cricket gets in the Olympics.

They tried it at the Millennium Stadium. There was an invitation T20 game just after the 2005 Ashes. The ball struck the roof several times.

Also, given that we lose more days to rain than most other test playing countries, I can’t see visiting test teams agreeing to play under a roof either. It would increase our home advantage even more.

[paul_e]

I do think Archer is a different level though. It’s virtually impossible to discern whether he’s going to bowl full or short. It must be a nightmare to face.

His pace is the biggest problem but not just because he's so quick, it's because he's a lot quicker than he looks like he should be. He hits people a lot because they just can't get the timing right (it's also why he's so hard to score off in red ball cricket).

earlier in the test Holding (I think) was talking about it, he adds a few mph of pace by flicking his wrist in the delivery, it also means he can get extra bounce but it's really hard to spot because it's so natural to him that he has no 'tell'.

I think I called him as a future England player pretty early on here and it was on the back of seeing about 20 deliveries in the big bash, it was just so obvious that he was special and I'm just glad that England have realised that and fast-tracked him in. I honestly think he'll be the number 1 bowler in the world, across all 3 formats, within 2 years.

[Villan For Life]

I do think Archer is a different level though. It’s virtually impossible to discern whether he’s going to bowl full or short. It must be a nightmare to face.

His pace is the biggest problem but not just because he's so quick, it's because he's a lot quicker than he looks like he should be. He hits people a lot because they just can't get the timing right (it's also why he's so hard to score off in red ball cricket).

earlier in the test Holding (I think) was talking about it, he adds a few mph of pace by flicking his wrist in the delivery, it also means he can get extra bounce but it's really hard to spot because it's so natural to him that he has no 'tell'.

I think I called him as a future England player pretty early on here and it was on the back of seeing about 20 deliveries in the big bash, it was just so obvious that he was special and I'm just glad that England have realised that and fast-tracked him in. I honestly think he'll be the number 1 bowler in the world, across all 3 formats, within 2 years.

Thank fuck he’s ours!

[UK Redsox]

I do hope not. Covering the Wicket is a step too far for me.

Thanks Geoffrey