The International Cricket Thread

[taylorsworkrate]

A seam attack of Anderson, Broad, Archer and Curran would have a lot of quality and variety for instance, but if Leach is the spinner in the team there wouldn't be a great deal of batting.

I think the only way that would work, would be for Moeen to rediscover his best form with bat and ball. At the moment that would seem a bit fanciful.

[paul_e]

I'm not sure, was our batting performance as bad as is being suggested? We had a collapse in the middle order but so have they and in both cases a swing bowler with an ageing ball has done a lot of damage. I know the shots look poor but I wonder if there's something in the pitch which is making it harder to judge than it appears on the TV, particularly for people who aren't in great form.

[manic-road]

Well done Woakes, that's Smith gone LBW.

[paul_e]

All the criticism of woakes from earlier is forgotten, Smith gone with them still over 100 behind. Massive wicket.

[UK Redsox]

Getting Smith for 80 is like getting any other batsman for 20

[PeterWithesShin]

Steve Smith has now scored 751 runs at an average of 125.16 and has batted 1,854 minutes, just short of 31 hours.

[PaulWinch again]

Smith is Woakes bunny!

[olaftab]

Steve Smith has now scored 751 runs at an average of 125.16 and has batted 1,854 minutes, just short of 31 hours.

OK bit still wouldn’t pay money to watch his ugly batting but would love him to be in my side.

[paul_e]

Smith is awful to watch, with his technique he must have exceptional hand-eye coordination to make the game look so easy.

[paul_e]

I'm not sure, was our batting performance as bad as is being suggested? We had a collapse in the middle order but so have they and in both cases a swing bowler with an ageing ball has done a lot of damage. I know the shots look poor but I wonder if there's something in the pitch which is making it harder to judge than it appears on the TV, particularly for people who aren't in great form.

There we go, Strauss has just made the same point and highlighted it with a graphic showing the delivery for the Smith wicket went through a lot lower than others on the same length.

[paul_e]

Absolutely fucking brilliant catch. Aus all out for 225, Archer with 6.

[UK Redsox]

That catch by Burns was as good as anything you’d see from Ben Stokes

[Steve67]

Useful lead of 69.  For goodness sake bat to the end tonight and carry on the momentum tomorrow!!

[taylorsworkrate]

Great effort from Jofra. 24 overs and kept running in. Deserved his 6 wickets.

Besides the first innings at Old Trafford he has been outstanding.

The only thing I can think with the pitch is once the ball becomes a bit softer its getting a little two paced. Both teams scored at a good rate without losing wickets up to around the hundred mark, but struggled after.

Still don't think the scores reflect the conditions though. Some poor batting and quality bowling from both teams this match.

[taylorsworkrate]

That was a brilliant catch from Burns too. Would have prefered us to have taken that wicket about 10 minutes later without them adding to their score though.