The International Cricket Thread

[PaulWinch again]

Archer isn’t on it today. Down on pace and accuracy, but probably not surprising as he’s had no rest.

[taylorsworkrate]

Archer isn’t on it today. Down on pace and accuracy, but probably not surprising as he’s had no rest.

Must feel utterly deflated too.

[Villafirst]

53/3

[PaulWinch again]

Over the last couple of years the Test team has been the utter antithesis of the one day team. They have no character with the bat, as soon as there is any adversity they fold. It really does need complete change.

Root simply has to go as captain, and primarily because we need our best batsman back. I’m not convinced his captaincy adds any value, but he’s definitely been worse with the bat since he took over and therefore he needs to go back to focussing on that.

[PaulWinch again]

The worst thing about today is that even if they’d have put a passable effort in they’d have got in front of the game. However they disgraced themselves and almost certainly lost the Ashes.

[cdbearsfan]

For fuck's sake. Abu Hamza would have caught that.

[LeeB]

For fuck's sake. Abu Hamza would have caught that.

One handed.

[Whiney MacWhineface]

Root’s game seems to be falling apart in Bothamesque style.

[hilts_coolerking]

For fuck's sake. Abu Hamza would have caught that.

"Death to the West!"

[LeeB]

Root’s game seems to be falling apart in Bothamesque style.

It's a national obsession, lumbering the best player with the captaincy. We never fucking learn.

[hilts_coolerking]

Root’s game seems to be falling apart in Bothamesque style.

It's a national obsession, lumbering the best player with the captaincy. We never fucking learn.

That rules Stokes out then.  No-one else is certain of their place.  Maybe Broad as an interim?  Don't know if he's ever skippered at any level.  Anyway, it's difficult for bowlers to do it.  The cupboard really is bare.  I think the only player in the side who is a county captain is Burns.  Maybe Denly.

[cdbearsfan]

Seeing as it seems to ruin the batting of whoever we choose, I'd go for Steve Smith as captain.

[Whiney MacWhineface]

The body language out there is abysmal. I understand to a certain extent, but the Captain needs to prevent that.

[Villafirst]

Still fine margins in the first two tests. A fit Jimmy Anderson at Edgbaston and we'd have won. The Aussies had the weather on their side at Lord's - so many sessions lost. Another ten overs and the game was England's.

[manic-road]

Stokes just bowled another cracking over with no luck, thought the captain would have gone up to him at the end of the over and said well bowled. As Woofles says, abysmal body language.