The International Cricket Thread

[hilts_coolerking]

There are questions to be asked of England and obviously they should have done better bowling at the tail, but sometimes you do have to hold your hands up in the face of quality. Smith proved he's an all-timer today, in my view.

Which made the booing all the more disappointing.  Still, when you've been on the piss for 7 hours there's every chance you're going to let yourself down.

[Monty]

There are questions to be asked of England and obviously they should have done better bowling at the tail, but sometimes you do have to hold your hands up in the face of quality. Smith proved he's an all-timer today, in my view.

Which made the booing all the more disappointing.  Still, when you've been on the piss for 7 hours there's every chance you're going to let yourself down.

Yep, really stupid. Would they boo Atherton? Panto bullshit. This is one of the great players, appreciate him.

[Nev]

There are questions to be asked of England and obviously they should have done better bowling at the tail, but sometimes you do have to hold your hands up in the face of quality. Smith proved he's an all-timer today, in my view.

Which made the booing all the more disappointing.  Still, when you've been on the piss for 7 hours there's every chance you're going to let yourself down.

Yep, really stupid. Would they boo Atherton? Panto bullshit. This is one of the great players, appreciate him.

It's part of the fun but it appeared that he got a fine ovation as he left the field. I would've barracked him at the beginning but equally would've applauded him off. But you are always going to get pissheads acting up.
Best batsman in the world but still a cheat.

[hilts_coolerking]

It's part of the fun but it appeared that he got a fine ovation as he left the field. I would've barracked him at the beginning but equally would've applauded him off. But you are always going to get pissheads acting up.
Best batsman in the world but still a cheat.

If it had been last month, or if he and the others hadn't been severely punished, then maybe.  But it was almost 18 months ago.  Very smalltime.

[Monty]

Smalltime is the word. It reminded me of Noses going on about Jack diving.

[Nev]

Smalltime is the word. It reminded me of Noses going on about Jack diving.

Jack Grealish isn't a diver. Bancroft, Warner and Smith are cheats. Yes, they've served their time but part of the carnival of the Ashes are the pantomime villains. Smith gave it back today in spades and fair play to him but take away the edge, heroes, villains, goodies and baddies is to strip the series of it's character and intrigue. I include Stokes in that. It should never overshadow the cricket and I don't think it does. For what it's worth I think all three should've served longer bans, as should anyone regardless of nationality but we may have seen a match winning performance today from Smith and in years to come that will be remembered, not the behaviour of the Edgbaston crowd.

[tomd2103]

I think the last two partnerships for Australia showed the pitch as one very good for batting. Neither Siddle or Lyon looked in any sort of trouble. Think 330-350 was probably a par score, particularly after winning the toss.

Broad and Woakes were exceptional up until tea, then tired. I think Stokes was pretty poor to be honest, didn't back the other seamers up at all.

I suppose it would have been a match situation England would have been happy with at the start of the day, but with the momentum the Aussies have gathered and our general poor batting, I think we will be in deficit by a decent amount on 1st innings.

Went today and would agree with that assessment.  In football terms I would liken it to the emotion of being happy to settle for a draw before a match, but then drawing the game after being 2 or 3 up. Smith's innings was very good, although I thought Jimmy's injury left us a bowler light and it told as the innings went on.  I thought there was more applause in the crowd than boos when Smith got his century, though it was probably close run.

Set up very nicely for tomorrow. 

[cdbearsfan]

There are questions to be asked of England and obviously they should have done better bowling at the tail, but sometimes you do have to hold your hands up in the face of quality. Smith proved he's an all-timer today, in my view.

Which made the booing all the more disappointing.  Still, when you've been on the piss for 7 hours there's every chance you're going to let yourself down.

Yep, really stupid. Would they boo Atherton?

No, but the Aussies would, and I wouldn't blame them. However good Smith is his reputation will always be tarnished. I would say the same about Atherton, too.

[Lsvilla]

There are questions to be asked of England and obviously they should have done better bowling at the tail, but sometimes you do have to hold your hands up in the face of quality. Smith proved he's an all-timer today, in my view.

Which made the booing all the more disappointing.  Still, when you've been on the piss for 7 hours there's every chance you're going to let yourself down.

Yep, really stupid. Would they boo Atherton?

No, but the Aussies would, and I wouldn't blame them. However good Smith is his reputation will always be tarnished. I would say the same about Atherton, too.

Let’s not forget Smith is a serial offender - remember looking to the dressing room for guidance on a review in India ??

[Steve67]

I was disappointed that we put all the fielders back to the boundary instead of attacking Smith today.  They added 150 runs because of Root's defensive nature and I am sure that Aussies would not have taken the same tactic. Smith was brilliant, the cheating fucker. 

[Risso]

Joe Root seems to have withered a bit as a character and a player.

[Villafirst]

Anderson should not have been picked. This will likely scupper our chances of victory. Olly Stone should've been picked for his 90mph plus pace.

[cdbearsfan]

I must admit I do have my concerns that Anderson's injury could prove as vital as McGrath stepping on a ball at the same venue.

If the batsmen do their job and we can win this without Anderson, we can go into the remaining games full of confidence with a full quota of fast bowlers.

If we crumble, and the Aussies finally get a win at Edgbaston, it will give them a huge boost, and with their lucky ground next they could be two up before you know it and that would be nearly impossible to overturn.

Tomorrow might be the day that decides the Ashes.

[Steve67]

Anderson should not have been picked. This will likely scupper our chances of victory. Olly Stone should've been picked for his 90mph plus pace.

I was thinking that.  Also, you don't pick the team the day before, you pick it on the day, just in case the weather turns funny.  I love Jimmy but I honestly think it was a selfish act declaring himself fit for the game and you are right, it could cost us if this afternoons bowling is anything to go by.  My other moan, Broad was brilliant this morning and shit this afternoon but because he takes a fifth wicket, his poor bowling gets forgotten.  We need to replace him soon enough and I am looking forward to seeing the likes of Archer and Stone playing instead.

[taylorsworkrate]

Think thats unfair on Broad to be honest. He was hitting 89mph at times, bowled a good full length and threatened. The bigger problem in the afternoon/evening was that Anderson wasn't avaliable and Stokes didn't back up Broad and Woakes in any way. Smith played carefully, and waited for the bowlers to become tired.