The International Cricket Thread

[Monty]

Looking at the two sides, my preference would be the one effectively 166-1 with a 1-0 lead in the series.

[paul_e]

Looking at the two sides, my preference would be the one effectively 166-1 with a 1-0 lead in the series.

That'll be the team that's just won the test championship and who were 1 wicket away from whitewashing us 18months ago?

[olaftab]

With hindsight it's easy to say we were wrong but if we'd just ducked and dodged and not taken it on we'd have just guaranteed that every single test match going forward would've seen us facing fuckloads of short stuff.

NO. By ducking and dodging we would have wasted their energy and 20 overs later their quickies would have been far too knackered to revert back to their disciplined line and length. That's the time to smash em out of the ground. It's called Test cricket, time to wait and enough time left to strike. However England have behaved like an amateur village team that wanted to get the game over with and nip off to the pub.

That's pure guesswork but there's no point arguing about it any more, you all clearly disagree with me. I just suspect you'll all have the same complaints every time we lose under this approach.

It's the first time bazball has been challenged by a fine team and it's collapsed. It was ok against a Pakistan team that had not played Test cricket for a while and were grateful for the visit and the Kiwis who were without 4 first choice bowlers. Art of the game is to play the conditions and the opposition in front of you.

[PaulWinch again]

Again this isn’t about Bazball it’s about performing poorly. We made poor decisions with the bat after playing excellently and we’ve been poor in the field.

[Risso]

With hindsight it's easy to say we were wrong but if we'd just ducked and dodged and not taken it on we'd have just guaranteed that every single test match going forward would've seen us facing fuckloads of short stuff.

NO. By ducking and dodging we would have wasted their energy and 20 overs later their quickies would have been far too knackered to revert back to their disciplined line and length. That's the time to smash em out of the ground. It's called Test cricket, time to wait and enough time left to strike. However England have behaved like an amateur village team that wanted to get the game over with and nip off to the pub.

That's pure guesswork but there's no point arguing about it any more, you all clearly disagree with me. I just suspect you'll all have the same complaints every time we lose under this approach.

I don't think it's wildly crazy to think that when you're 187-1, that if three of your top order batsmen don't then chuck their wickets away, that they should have been able to add more than 40 runs. Of course it's guesswork, but as I said before, once you're out you're out and you definiely can't score any more. Another 30 each, and it's game on. Now it's almost certainly 2-0 down in the series.

[Ads]

Bowled nicely...but. I wonder if Amderson and Broad are just now done. We're so badly lacking in pace.

[Monty]

Bowled nicely...but. I wonder if Amderson and Broad are just now done. We're so badly lacking in pace.

Honestly, Broad is on one of the unluckiest streaks I can remember, between this and the 4th innings at Edgebaston.

Anderson, however...breaks my heart to say it, but against real top-level batting he doesn't look to have the incision anymore.

[UK Redsox]

Having the keeper standing up to Jimmy highlights the lack of pace

[Ads]

Bowled nicely...but. I wonder if Amderson and Broad are just now done. We're so badly lacking in pace.

Honestly, Broad is on one of the unluckiest streaks I can remember, between this and the 4th innings at Edgebaston.

Anderson, however...breaks my heart to say it, but against real top-level batting he doesn't look to have the incision anymore.

There's just no threat at all anymore with Jimmy. I hope Wood is fit for the 3rd test.

[taylorsworkrate]

Looking at the two sides, my preference would be the one effectively 166-1 with a 1-0 lead in the series.

That'll be the team that's just won the test championship and who were 1 wicket away from whitewashing us 18months ago?

Indeed. Australia are a very fine side, but they haven't really had to play all that well to win the 1st test and be so far ahead in the 2nd. We've gifted them it so far.

[Ads]

Lords is such a morgue as well. Like the Anfield of cricket.

[lovejoy]

Not a big cricket fan so need some help. I always though test cricket was adjusting your tactics in accordance with the position of the match. I understand England have more aggressive tactics now but just sticking to the plan come what may really the answer, its almost as if the result is incidental to them.

[Paul.S]

What a terrible call not to go to DRS for that. Even I called it out at the time.

[taylorsworkrate]

Broad and Anderson have bowled garbage today under very helpful conditions

[Ads]

Broad and Anderson have bowled garbage today under very helpful conditions

No they haven't. They've bowled well, we've just not carried that extra pace to trouble them.

Glad that wank shaft has gone.