The International Cricket Thread

[PaulWinch again]

Game over - good effort (second innings) but overall, thrown away again. And they cheated.

Far be it from me to defend a bunch of upside down lager gargling offspring of convicts but I don't think they cheated. 

It’s not cheating, but it’s pretty low from a side who presents themselves as moral arbiters of the game.

Stokes did brilliantly today, but the really need at how they chucked it away in that first innings. They should have had at parity at the very least going into the third innings. That changes the game.

I’d have big question marks over Bairstow, Anderson, and Crawley. The latter mainly because he’s said some stupid things of late and he can’t back them up.

[manic-road]

Funny to see a load of old toffs trying to kick off with the Aussie team in the long room, gutted we lost but England cerainly know how to give their wickets away easily.

[Stu]

Strauss is a pompous eliteist twat…‘perhaps there are some who wouldnt normally come to Lords in’

What’s the context of that remark? I switched off after the last wicket.

They were talking about Lords actually having an atmosphere for the first time ever

Sigh. Yeah, people who want to see England win rather than ponce about like Victorian gentleman amateurs while the Australians cynically take them apart.

[KevinGage]

It’s not cheating, but it’s pretty low from a side who presents themselves as moral arbiters of the game.

David Warner and Steve Smith are back playing Test cricket, so moral doesn't really come into it for CA.

[Paul.S]

Game over - good effort (second innings) but overall, thrown away again. And they cheated.

Far be it from me to defend a bunch of upside down lager gargling offspring of convicts but I don't think they cheated. 

It’s not cheating, but it’s pretty low from a side who presents themselves as moral arbiters of the game.

Stokes did brilliantly today, but the really need at how they chucked it away in that first innings. They should have had at parity at the very least going into the third innings. That changes the game.

I’d have big question marks over Bairstow, Anderson, and Crawley. The latter mainly because he’s said some stupid things of late and he can’t back them up.

I think you’ve hit the nail on the head. It’s within the laws of the game but morally not ideal for me. Saying that, England have only themselves to blame but I still think we’ve got in us to get back into it.
I’d keep Bairstow and have him open the innings and leave Crawley out.
We do need more pace bowling wise and depending on the wicket Anderson could be the one to miss out. Wood and Woakes should both be in the frame.

[Stu]

Australia see themselves as moral arbiters of the game? Lmaooooooooooo

[Stu]

It’s not cheating, but it’s pretty low from a side who presents themselves as moral arbiters of the game.

David Warner and Steve Smith are back playing Test cricket, so moral doesn't really come into it for CA.

But but but BODYLINE!

[PaulWinch again]

It’s not cheating, but it’s pretty low from a side who presents themselves as moral arbiters of the game.

David Warner and Steve Smith are back playing Test cricket, so moral doesn't really come into it for CA.

They had pretty hefty bans. I’m not sure what they did warranted life bans.

[PaulWinch again]

Australia see themselves as moral arbiters of the game? Lmaooooooooooo

Well yeah I know, but they clearly do.

[PaulWinch again]

I really hope they use the anger from this game to make them less casual, and more ruthless. We‘ve lost these two games rather than Aus winning them. That’s not to say they haven’t played well, but both games we’ve let go of really strong positions.

[German James]

I really hope they use the anger from this game to make them less casual, and more ruthless. We‘ve lost these two games rather than Aus winning them. That’s not to say they haven’t played well, but both games we’ve let go of really strong positions.

And too often through silly individual mistakes/decisions. It reminds me of the old Tyrone Mings: brilliance contrasting with the occasional brain-freeze. Anyway, both matches ended closer than I expected so I'm not totally pessimistic.

[Stu]

Australia see themselves as moral arbiters of the game? Lmaooooooooooo

Well yeah I know, but they clearly do.

Was listening to Justin Langer on TMS at lunch on Friday, talking about the documentary they shot behind the scenes, and he was basically challenging the idea that the sandpaper imbroglio was cheating by saying "Have you ever made a mistake?"

Well yes, Justin, we've all made mistakes mate, but this was a premediated idea to cheat.

[PaulWinch again]

I’m hoping listening to Stokes and McCullum this will bring more of an edge to us. They sound pretty pissed off.

[aldridgeboy]

I really hope they use the anger from this game to make them less casual, and more ruthless. We‘ve lost these two games rather than Aus winning them. That’s not to say they haven’t played well, but both games we’ve let go of really strong positions.

100 per cent agree.

[olaftab]

Lyon going off injured when we were 190/1 in our first innings should have been the defining moment of the test match and perhaps the series as a whole. It was such a wonderful opportunity.

Agreed. Both is this match and first Test there were moments to grab it and England didn't.