The International Cricket Thread

[Villafirst]

This ball changing is ridiculous. You’re telling me that this ball is equivalent to a 60 over old ball? Fuck off.

Useless fucking umpire! Obvious that the ball hit bat first onto pad!

[paul_e]

I’d be inclined to drop Bairtstow. He’s not delivering the bat, and he’s not the best keeper. He needs runs to keep his place.

Yep, Foakes should come in for sure. Also inclined to bring in Pope for Roy and possibly Sibley for Denley. And give Buttler the captaincy.

I'd agree on that, I think Buttler is a good captain and it would give him more justification as a speciallist batsman at 7.

[taylorsworkrate]

Sorry Paul, but I do think being 2-1 down after this match (barring a bigger miracle than Headingley) flatters us, and is not reflective of the overall difference in the teams.

They have been on top with the ball pretty much every time they have bowled. Broad has been excellent, Archer very good (except for a poor 1st innings this match), but after that we've had nothing. It's not just Smith who has done well against our change bowlers, we haven't looked like getting Labuschagne out cheaply either. You of course make a valid point about Anderson being out, but we can't put an asterisk by the whole series. The fact remains that the bowling attacks we have had haven't been as good as theirs.

I do think a lot of our players are satisfied with 40s and 50s as they know it pretty much keeps them in the team. There doesn't seem to be the hunger to go on and on that players like Trott had, Strauss had and Cook had. Look at Root, who is a technically brilliant player, but has only got 16 hundreds despite passing fifty 60 times. Root has the ability to play a lot more match defining innings than he does. He needs to have the captaincy taken away after this series and hopefully just concentrating on his batting can turn that around.

I know Australia have lost series at home (having players banned against India didn't help), and in fairness we win most at home. However, our batting malaise even at home has been going on for years.

[taylorsworkrate]

This ball is ridiculous, hooping all over the place. I repeat 60 over equivalent, fuck off.

Terrible from third umpire Overton smashed that into his pad and he was obsessed by ultra edge.

That was shocking that he needed to go to ball tracking on that one. The ball went sideways off Overton's bat into his pad.

[Villan For Life]

The new ball is going to be huge in the last hour or so, due in about 12 overs.

Where’s the famous Manchester sunshine when you need it?

[taylorsworkrate]

This ball changing is ridiculous. You’re telling me that this ball is equivalent to a 60 over old ball? Fuck off.

Useless fucking umpire! Obvious that the ball hit bat first onto pad!

He actually said "Is there anything other than RTS to confirm?"

How about your eyes?

[PaulWinch again]

Buttler and Overton have done well there. Unlikely to matter in the end, but just take it as deep as they can.

[PaulWinch again]

This ball is ridiculous, hooping all over the place. I repeat 60 over equivalent, fuck off.

Terrible from third umpire Overton smashed that into his pad and he was obsessed by ultra edge.

That was shocking that he needed to go to ball tracking on that one. The ball went sideways off Overton's bat into his pad.

Yep it’s bloody fortunate it was outside the line.

[PaulWinch again]

The new ball will win it for them.

[paul_e]

Sorry Paul, but I do think being 2-1 down after this match (barring a bigger miracle than Headingley) flatters us, and is not reflective of the overall difference in the teams.

They have been on top with the ball pretty much every time they have bowled. Broad has been excellent, Archer very good (except for a poor 1st innings this match), but after that we've had nothing. It's not just Smith who has done well against our change bowlers, we haven't looked like getting Labuschagne out cheaply either. You of course make a valid point about Anderson being out, but we can't put an asterisk by the whole series. The fact remains that the bowling attacks we have had haven't been as good as theirs.

I do think a lot of our players are satisfied with 40s and 50s as they know it pretty much keeps them in the team. There doesn't seem to be the hunger to go on and on that players like Trott had, Strauss had and Cook had. Look at Root, who is a technically brilliant player, but has only got 16 hundreds despite passing fifty 60 times. Root has the ability to play a lot more match defining innings than he does. He needs to have the captaincy taken away after this series and hopefully just concentrating on his batting can turn that around.

I know Australia have lost series at home (having players banned against India didn't help), and in fairness we win most at home. However, our batting malaise even at home has been going on for years.

Again, look at the stats of the series, Take the top 2 for each team out and they lose a hell of a lot more than we do. We've had a fair number of not quite good enough performances and only really Stokes who's stepped up above that, they've had Smith and to an extent Labuschange do the same. Both teams have been on top with the ball for most of the series, we had a couple of poor sessions in the first game and in this one, they had 1 last match, so on balance they've been marginally ahead with bat and ball across the series, which is reflected by the state of the series. Again, fine margins between 2 sides that are struggling with finding batsmen who can play test match innings with any regularity.

If Stokes in Leeds is masking problems (which it is) then Smith is doing the same. Most of the Australian batsmen have struggled to score anything more than about 30 as well, are they satisfied and knowing they're safe?

Final point, I've never suggested that there should be a asterisk against the series, but you seem to have suggested Aus should get one for the India series literally 2 paragraphs later. All I'm saying is that test cricket has global problems, trying to make out we're in a much worse state than anyone else isn't fair and runs the risk of us abandoning the things that are ok about our setup on the basis that everything is fucked, which isn't the case.

[Chris Smith]

Yes I do but they’ll always have a good attack. Compare this attack to McGrath, Warne, Lee era or Johnson, Harris, Lyon. Then look at their batting, how many tests would Warner (in this form), Harris, Bancroft, Head, Laberscagne and Wade played in previous era’s - not many. That’s is their top order excluding Smith.

I think this attack is better than Johnson and Harris. Less likely to blow you away with 7fer, but more relentless and consistent. And Labuschagne is clearly real class. Other than that though I do agree with your point - but I also wouldn't understate the effect of Smith. He's a monster.

If Smith was English we would be winning this series, other than him the two sides are fairly evenly matched

I'd disagree. Their bowling attack has been far more consistent throughout. Once Broad and Archer come out the attack its easy against the change bowlers.

If you take Smith out of their line up they only have one player who has averaged above 30. I agree that their bowlers are probably better overall but Smith is the one who has made the difference.

[Monty]

I’d be inclined to drop Bairtstow. He’s not delivering the bat, and he’s not the best keeper. He needs runs to keep his place.

Yep, Foakes should come in for sure. Also inclined to bring in Pope for Roy and possibly Sibley for Denley. And give Buttler the captaincy.

I'd agree on that, I think Buttler is a good captain and it would give him more justification as a speciallist batsman at 7.

The captaincy might even help with his batting. Seems to respond to pressure positively.

Gone now though, leaving an inswinger. Diligent effort but no dice today.

[taylorsworkrate]

Sorry Paul, but I do think being 2-1 down after this match (barring a bigger miracle than Headingley) flatters us, and is not reflective of the overall difference in the teams.

They have been on top with the ball pretty much every time they have bowled. Broad has been excellent, Archer very good (except for a poor 1st innings this match), but after that we've had nothing. It's not just Smith who has done well against our change bowlers, we haven't looked like getting Labuschagne out cheaply either. You of course make a valid point about Anderson being out, but we can't put an asterisk by the whole series. The fact remains that the bowling attacks we have had haven't been as good as theirs.

I do think a lot of our players are satisfied with 40s and 50s as they know it pretty much keeps them in the team. There doesn't seem to be the hunger to go on and on that players like Trott had, Strauss had and Cook had. Look at Root, who is a technically brilliant player, but has only got 16 hundreds despite passing fifty 60 times. Root has the ability to play a lot more match defining innings than he does. He needs to have the captaincy taken away after this series and hopefully just concentrating on his batting can turn that around.

I know Australia have lost series at home (having players banned against India didn't help), and in fairness we win most at home. However, our batting malaise even at home has been going on for years.

Again, look at the stats of the series, Take the top 2 for each team out and they lose a hell of a lot more than we do. We've had a fair number of not quite good enough performances and only really Stokes who's stepped up above that, they've had Smith and to an extent Labuschange do the same. Both teams have been on top with the ball for most of the series, we had a couple of poor sessions in the first game and in this one, they had 1 last match, so on balance they've been marginally ahead with bat and ball across the series, which is reflected by the state of the series. Again, fine margins between 2 sides that are struggling with finding batsmen who can play test match innings with any regularity.

If Stokes in Leeds is masking problems (which it is) then Smith is doing the same. Most of the Australian batsmen have struggled to score anything more than about 30 as well, are they satisfied and knowing they're safe?

Final point, I've never suggested that there should be a asterisk against the series, but you seem to have suggested Aus should get one for the India series literally 2 paragraphs later. All I'm saying is that test cricket has global problems, trying to make out we're in a much worse state than anyone else isn't fair and runs the risk of us abandoning the things that are ok about our setup on the basis that everything is fucked, which isn't the case.

Yeah, its fair that I shouldn't have made the point about Australia having banned players against India. They were just outplayed by India having a better squad than they did at the time. Like we have been here
by a bowling attack that has been more consistent and threatening throughout. Added to a batsman who we can't get out.

[PaulWinch again]

It’s nearly done now.

[taylorsworkrate]

FFS the light getting darker gave momentary false hope, until the commentators said blue sky on the way.