The International Cricket Thread

[hilts_coolerking]

How many days during the last 5 years can you sum up Englands display as fecking rubbish?

First day against Ireland.

[tomd2103]

How many days during the last 5 years can you sum up Englands display as fecking rubbish?

None at home.

Oh I don’t know. We’ve had some great moments, but we’ve had some shocking days at home as well as away. There needs to be a real re-focus on Test cricket.

Said it before, but on the whole they only seem able to produce good performances when they have been on the receiving end of stinging criticism in the press.  I have long suspected that the England dressing room is too comfortable an environment once a player has established himself and there isn't too much finger pointing towards certain players.

[manic-road]

Start delayed due to rain, wouldn't mind it peeing down there for the next three days.

[paul_e]

This thread is interestingly quiet was everyone just really scared of giving them the mockers?

Burns gone after a good day for him and a useful 81.

Let's see how Roy does down at 4 and if Root can convert to a big ton from here.

[Risso]

This thread is interestingly quiet was everyone just really scared of giving them the mockers?

Burns gone after a good day for him and a useful 81.

Let's see how Roy does down at 4 and if Root can convert to a big ton from here.

Better hope he gets a quick fire thirty from the next few overs then, because you can pretty much guarantee he'll be out in the first half an hour tomorrow morning.

[taylorsworkrate]

Root again fails to convert a start.

All the hard work of the day being undone.

[Risso]

....and there he goes again, failing to convert a half century.  Useless.

[UK Redsox]

Root again fails to convert a start.

That’s the difference between the best batsman in each team

[paul_e]

Root is so frustrating

[Risso]

Root is so frustrating

I just don't think he has the mental toughness.  Obviously he's a good batsmen, but not a great one; and is a very ordinary captain, at best.

[Monty]

Root needs the weight of the captaincy lifted from him. He's always had an iffy conversion rate, but this is getting crazy.

Also, sorry but Roy and Denley have to do something exceptional in the second innings or I really don't think they should be picked for The Oval.

[thick_mike]

Pfft!

[PaulWinch again]

Poor from what was a decent platform.

[PaulWinch again]

We need Root the batter more than Root the captain, so make the change.

On thing that always irritates me is that whenever we lose a set batsman the guy up the other end just doesn’t seem to realise they need to dig in for a bit and adjust their game.

Stupid and unnecessary shot from Roy, has to learn to play the situation.

[PaulWinch again]

Tomorrow is big for Buttler. He’s had a terrible year in Tests and for his talent to have one century is poor. He needs to deliver, we can’t carry a batsman at 7 who scores no runs.