The International Cricket Thread

[paul_e]

Overton gets Labuschange but we really need to get Smith.

From what I've seen this was definitely a bat first pitch but given it's Manchester it can fall apart pretty quickly so we need to keep them from getting a massive score today andf then hope there's more in it for us tomorrow. I think this is already a pretty difficult one for us to get more than a draw.

[taylorsworkrate]

I think we need a lot of rain to get a draw.

It still an atrocious batting line up even with Roy and Denly swapped around.

[PaulWinch again]

This could get ugly if we don’t strike a couple of times in the first hour tomorrow.

Fair play to Overton for that wicket, it was a belting delivery.

We need Jof to be a hell of a lot better than he was today.

[Steve67]

Much as I hate them, you have admired their grit and determination.  The balance and momentum should have shifted towards England with the brilliance of Stokes in the last test but the Aussies have dug in superbly and it will take something pretty special to win this test.  We need several quick and early wickets tomorrow morning. 

[paul_e]

Much as I hate them, you have admired their grit and determination.  The balance and momentum should have shifted towards England with the brilliance of Stokes in the last test but the Aussies have dug in superbly and it will take something pretty special to win this test.  We need several quick and early wickets tomorrow morning. 

The long break helped, a 4-5 day turn around would've seen it still in their minds that they lost a test that should've sealed the ashes for them, as the break was longer they had a chance to put it in perspective.

[UK Redsox]

I'd rather have a top captain who averages 25 than pick a guy averaging 60, expect him to do a job, and see his batting suffer anyway (as seems inevitable).

Brearley is an obvious example but I also think about Fleming, who helped to completely transform cricket in NZ.

I still think that the captain has to be worth his place in the side. Brearley's brilliant captaincy and man-management skills tend to overshadow the fact that he was still a very good player.


Anyhow..........Chris Cowdrey

[manic-road]

Lovely from Broad, Head LBW could have been going down leg side.

[manic-road]

Archer is bowling a lot better today, unlucky not to have a couple of wickets already.

[PeterWithesShin]

That seems a bit of an extreme thing to do

[UK Redsox]

Raining in Munchester, who'd have thunk it

[taylorsworkrate]

Good. We need as much rain as possible.

[paul_e]

Haven't been able to watch this morning but just catching up, the Archer one is catchable but it's a very tough chance, slow-mo makes it look a lot easier than it really was, it's a 'put out a hand and hope it sticks' one for me.

[PaulWinch again]

Need to get them out for sub 300-320

[UK Redsox]

Need to get Smith out for sub 300-320

FIFY

[taylorsworkrate]

Need to get them out for sub 300-320

That would still be about 100 too many for our comedy batsmen to cope with.