The International Cricket Thread

[cdbearsfan]

Unless England can get a lead of 500+, I still fancy Smith to lead the Cons to victory.

[paul_e]

I think 300 will be a very difficult target, 350+ and I don't think they'll get anywhere near it.

[taylorsworkrate]

The pitch is looking really flat now, and with a tiring Australian attack, we really will not have a better opportunity yo put them to the sword.

[paul_e]

So I predicted a lead of 270-300 yesterday, I'm glad I sold England short, I think we'll bat the day out and be 350+ up and then try to push on until tea tomorrow and pile the runs on. Australia don't look much threat right now, Lyon has, in my opinion, been very poor today. I know he got the wickets but I think he's bowled too many poor deliveries which have stopped them building any pressure. With Marsh, Labschange and Siddle offering nothing as the '4th' bowler it's put a lot of pressure on Cummins and Hazlewood who look knackered.

[paul_e]

Much better from Lyon there but I don't mind seeing big turn like he's got when we're nearly 300 up.

[Villa Lew]

Gutted for Joe Denly

[taylorsworkrate]

Yeah shame he couldn't make a 100 in what should be his last test innings.

[paul_e]

yah, it's a shame for him there but he's done a really good job for us in this innings. The pitch does seem to have come to life after tea, again.

[taylorsworkrate]

Think its more a little reverse swing than the pitch. Pitch still seems very flat.

Need to be a little careful we don't collapse yet again. We don't have an insurmountable total by any means at this point.

[hilts_coolerking]

I've got a lot of respect for Joe Denly.  He's been given a real going over this series and has been shunted up and down the order by England, eventually finding himself opening when no-one else could or wanted to do it, and he's looked all at sea at times but he's never moaned about it and got on with things.  He's fielded well and occasionally looked threatening with the ball.  He's not really Test class but he does have plenty of fight and determination and a ton would have been a great reward for him. 

[paul_e]

It's both (in my opinion). Once the ball gets to about 55-60 overs old it seems to start doing more but as the pitch bakes through the day it seems to get a bit 'sticky' so you get a few going through a bit slow, or not bouncing as high as you'd expect. It's happened 3 days in a row now and is why I'd want England to bat until after Lunch tomorrow, take away a big chunk of the easier conditions from the day but have some helpful pitch conditions and an ageing ball together towards the end of the day tomorrow.

[PaulWinch again]

Curran gone. Come on get up to a 400 lead.

[PaulWinch again]

Buttler has ended this series well. Bairstow is massively under pressure now.

[Monty]

Better late than never! Buttler, Denley and Curran (so far) look to be the big winners from this test.

[UK Redsox]

Steve Smith is a bit good at cricket.

Great catch