The International Cricket Thread

[tomd2103]

I suppose if you laud them for the style of play when they are winning, you shouldn't pile in on them when they lose playing that way.  I did think they were a bit reckless in New Zealand and it cost them a series win and again I thought they were reckless at times in this game and it has cost them really.  It's all good and well prioritising style of play, but this is the Ashes and results mean everything.

I think it was important that we got off with a win as it Lord's next and we haven't got a great record there.  Think it will be very hard to come back from 2-0 down to even get a draw.

Agree 100%. I think our aggressive approach is great, but play the situation.

Unless you're on 500+, you don't declare in the first innings of a series. Aggressive vs reckless. Okay, we made a statement... then dropped a shitload of catches, and lost.

The question is, would the Aussies have allowed us to win that test at the Gabba? Would they fuck.

We can get back in this series, but Lord's will be tough. Mo did well and bowled his fingers to the bone. Our worst seamer was Jimmy, but you don't drop Jimmy for Lord's.

I can't see us making changes. He gets in the side on his batting, but the only real question is whether Bairstow is light enough to 'keep. No shame in asking that, because he's returning from a serious injury.

Putting on entertainment is great, but we need to make sure we act when we smell blood, because the Aussies were bleeding throughout, and we let them rack up a win - from nothing.

Agree with that Rory.  I've seen us take some fearful hammerings off the Aussies over the years, but that one stung a bit last night as it felt like we gift wrapped it a bit for them. 

[UK Redsox]

England team to play Australia on the one-off Test Match:
Tammy Beaumont, Emma Lamb, Heather Knight (captain), Nat Sciver-Brunt, Sophia Dunkley, Danielle Wyatt, Amy Jones (wk), Sophie Ecclestone, Kate Cross, Lauren Filer, Lauren Bell.

I'm surprised that Issy Wong isn't in the side, but apparently Lauren Filer is a bit quicker.

Lack of another genuine all-rounder puts added pressure on NSB

[Risso]

Thing is, this was inevitable at some point playing ‘Bazball’. The truth is they were always going to take some risks and end up losing a close one. One you could look back on and ask questions.

Just wished it wasn’t yesterday against them.

The thing with Bazball is, it needs to get a bit more 'football'. Mix in a bit of intelligence when required. England could and should have won the first test. I'm very much for the new way of playing, but at times they just need to think about things a bit more carefully.

[PaulWinch again]

Yeah and a great illustration of that is Root’s second innings dismissal. The initial aggression on the start of day 4 made absolute sense and completely shifted the momentum of the game. That battle had been won and we were in a great position. It didn’t need the reckless shot he played to get out. That individual mistake put Australia back in the game, and at that stage we had them massively under the cosh.

[tomd2103]

Thing is, this was inevitable at some point playing ‘Bazball’. The truth is they were always going to take some risks and end up losing a close one. One you could look back on and ask questions.

Just wished it wasn’t yesterday against them.

The thing with Bazball is, it needs to get a bit more 'football'. Mix in a bit of intelligence when required. England could and should have won the first test. I'm very much for the new way of playing, but at times they just need to think about things a bit more carefully.

Spot on.  To be fair they are only a year into the job, so we may see the tactical side of things evolve over time. 

[edgysatsuma89]

To be fair, on that shit pitch, if we play more conservatively then that match ends in a draw. I know we would obviously take that now but how we played made sure there was a result eitherway. I know we want results and it was a shit feeling at the end but it was fun to watch*.

*until Root's last over.

[UK Redsox]

Good fight-back by England here, just as it seemed Aus were going to put up a big first innings score.

Is there any rule against the men's team calling up Ecclestone. She might be the best spin option in the country at the moment

[PaulWinch again]

The handwringing from some of the Aussies about Robinson’s send off of Khawaja is laughable.

[tomd2103]

The handwringing from some of the Aussies about Robinson’s send off of Khawaja is laughable.

Short memories in that part of the world it seems, as they seem to have forgotten the antics of Merv Hughes, Glenn McGrath et al. 

While we're on the subject of Australians, listening to the TMS coverage, that Jim Maxwell is one annoying bell end.  Mark Taylor on the other hand, is a welcome addition to the commentary boxes. 

[Rory]

I like Gillespie. Very knowledgeable and an awesome voice.

[edgysatsuma89]

I like Gillespie. Very knowledgeable and an awesome voice.

Yep, really like him.

[OzVilla]

The handwringing from some of the Aussies about Robinson’s send off of Khawaja is laughable.

Short memories in that part of the world it seems, as they seem to have forgotten the antics of Merv Hughes, Glenn McGrath et al. 

While we're on the subject of Australians, listening to the TMS coverage, that Jim Maxwell is one annoying bell end.  Mark Taylor on the other hand, is a welcome addition to the commentary boxes. 

I cannot fecking stand Jim Maxwell. He also has the habit of when things are going well for them he's all sweetness and light but gets that Aussie mood on when things don't, he's such a annoying twat.

Not a patch on other less celebrated cricket commentators from these parts.

[Rory]

The handwringing from some of the Aussies about Robinson’s send off of Khawaja is laughable.

Short memories in that part of the world it seems, as they seem to have forgotten the antics of Merv Hughes, Glenn McGrath et al. 

While we're on the subject of Australians, listening to the TMS coverage, that Jim Maxwell is one annoying bell end.  Mark Taylor on the other hand, is a welcome addition to the commentary boxes. 

I cannot fecking stand Jim Maxwell. He also has the habit of when things are going well for them he's all sweetness and light but gets that Aussie mood on when things don't, he's such a annoying twat.

Not a patch on other less celebrated cricket commentators from these parts.

I do think it's important to remember a lot of these Aussie commentators have had to sit alongside the likes of Boycott.

Perhaps not Maxwell, but I do find modern Aus commentators like Ponting, Clarke, Gilchrist & McGrath very objective and complimentary of good play from both sides.

I love the rivalry, but it's brilliant to hear an Aussie commentator shouting acclaim in response to an England catch, or an English commentator praising an Aussie century.

The beauty of the game.

[Nev]

Absolutely and compare it to the jingoistic diarrhoea that passed for coverage of the CL on BT.

I like Maxwell precisely because he is a bit of an old misery and adds some colour. I find myself enjoying Tufnell more and more who has all but abandoned the laddish banter and replaced it with a more relaxed, observational side.

[PaulWinch again]

Yep jingoistic stuff is bloody horrible. I like a gentle bit of bias on both sides - but as long as they keep it balanced.