The International Cricket Thread

[Proposition Joe]

No worries yet it’s a Test match.

Yeah but England's recent Test batting form ... You could almost say that Australia already have enough runs on the board to secure a first innings lead.

[taylorsworkrate]

Woakes and Broad bowling beautifully since lunch.

Stokes needs to back it up when he comes on.

[paul_e]

Great delivery from Woakes to get Head and this is another good one for Wade, looks very close.

[PaulWinch again]

Brilliant Woakesy. Now get Smith out.

[paul_e]

Not Smith but well happy to see Paine get out with a pretty poor shot. Into the bowlers now, can't see Broad carrying on after this one but I'd probably bring Woakes back on for a couple.

[cdbearsfan]

Doesn't matter if we get Smith out if he runs out of teammates. 😊

[PaulWinch again]

This is great, we need to finish the job and then bat well.

[olaftab]

Let Smith watch the humiliation from other end. No need to grind him out.

[olaftab]

Lot of rain over my way. Let’s hope it moves north.

[Nev]

Lot of rain over my way. Let’s hope it moves north.

I can see that from.my vantage point in Town. Doesn't look to be threatening Edgbaston or indeed the west which is good because I have washing out.

[paul_e]

Rain seems to be heading north, it's just hit me in Erdington.

[PaulWinch again]

We to be careful here. This won’t be easy against the Aussie bowlers.

[taylorsworkrate]

Woakes and Broad have been exceptional in flat conditions.

Problem is with our shambolic top order, scores of 150-200 are enough to keep a team competitive on 1st innings most of the time.

[Des Little]

My pal (fellow AV ST holder) has two spares for Saturday - they're not together please note - PM me if you are interested and I'll pass on his details

[paul_e]

With a situation like Jimmy today I do find it incredibly frustrating that the rules don't allow you to say he's out of the game and bring in another bowler. I understand all the arguments against it but a fielder/bowler being injured early on day 1 being replaced doesn't harm the balance of the team/match in nay way and doesn't allow you to pick a dedicated bowler and then replace them with an all-rounder for some extra batting (for example).  I'd change it that an injury during the first innings (for either team) can be replaced 'like-for-like' in the 2nd innings but the replacements need to be submitted ahead of time.