The International Cricket Thread

[PaulWinch again]

He looks like a bit of a phenom to be honest. He plays scoring shots so effortlessly and in the main without risk.

Nice for Joe to break his slightly barren run in terms of 100s.

[LeeB]

He looks like a bit of a phenom to be honest. He plays scoring shots so effortlessly and in the main without risk.

Nice for Joe to break his slightly barren run in terms of 100s.

Just seen that nobody in test history has more runs from their first 9 innnings

[paul_e]

It's a bit of a perfect storm, he's a very good batsman but more importantly he plays in a way that's perfectly suited to how this England team play and came into the team at exactly the right time which meant we were playing to strengths rather than trying to force him into a different game plan.

He reminds me of Pietersen in that he plays shots that should be risky (and are for other players) but makes them look perfectly safe.

[manic-road]

Brilliant from Root and Brook, England looked in trouble after the first few overs. Crawley yet again failed to deliver, we still haven't had a decent opener since Cook which will be our biggest weakness come the Ashes.

[LeeB]

It's a bit of a perfect storm, he's a very good batsman but more importantly he plays in a way that's perfectly suited to how this England team play and came into the team at exactly the right time which meant we were playing to strengths rather than trying to force him into a different game plan.

He reminds me of Pietersen in that he plays shots that should be risky (and are for other players) but makes them look perfectly safe.

Hopefully he's nothing like the bellend Pietersen is.

[Risso]

Bloody hell, this England team just keep confounding expectations. From 21/3 to over 300 with no more wickets. 18 months ago that would have been 92 all out.

[LeeB]

Bloody hell, this England team just keep confounding expectations. From 21/3 to over 300 with no more wickets. 18 months ago that would have been 92 all out.

I checked the score this morning having not followed any of the play and thought we must have played a bit cautious to 'only' have 315-3.

Then I saw that it had rained, lol.

[paul_e]

Bloody hell, this England team just keep confounding expectations. From 21/3 to over 300 with no more wickets. 18 months ago that would have been 92 all out.

I checked the score this morning having not followed any of the play and thought we must have played a bit cautious to 'only' have 315-3.

Then I saw that it had rained, lol.

I did the same, thought the green top might have helped them and then noticed it was from 65 overs.

Hopefully he's nothing like the bellend Pietersen is.

I just meant in terms of making the game look very easy. I get KP was (and is) a bit of a twat but he was also supremely talented and stood out in what was a very good batting line-up. Brook has that same aura.

[LeeB]

Regarding Brook/Pietersen, yeah I get your point, Pietersen is just one of those guys I just can't take to as a personality despite his obvious ability.

That scorecard today though really took me back to the Ashes in the 90's, making a decent start against the Ausies then watching the afternoon and evening sessions drift by in an avalanche of runs for them after Steve Waugh gets himself in. Except it's us doing it.

[PaulWinch again]

I do exactly the same with the score - assumed it was 80-90 overs and they’d throttled back. Nope!

[UK Redsox]

My prediction that England would beat SA in the T20 semi turned out to be very wrong.

[PaulWinch again]

Not a great start, need Root and Foakes to do a job here.

[PaulWinch again]

Well Foakes isn’t going to do it!

[olaftab]

England have blown away any chance of 550 plus, but there could be a declaration here soon.

[paul_e]

Excellent morning fot Root, the ramp shot just after the new ball was an incredible shot.