The International Cricket Thread

[paul_e]

Looked ok to play on when they were out so yeah, I'm not sure why they didn't try to get some play in. No matter, should be some play after lunch.

[Rory]

Stokes looking very much like a young Charles Dance.

[cdbearsfan]

Here's something that I hadn't thought about......no neutral Umpires in the Tests

I don't like this.

[UK Redsox]

Here's something that I hadn't thought about......no neutral Umpires in the Tests

I don't like this.

3 reviews as well

[UK Redsox]

Well, that's not a good start

Lose three or four in this session and the decision to bat will look bad

[Steve67]

I'm not watching at the moment but cannot fathom why they won the toss and decided to bat?  Can someone explain please?

[hilts_coolerking]

Here's something that I hadn't thought about......no neutral Umpires in the Tests

I don't like this.

3 reviews as well

The three reviews is because of the non-neutral umpires.

[hilts_coolerking]

I'm not watching at the moment but cannot fathom why they won the toss and decided to bat?  Can someone explain please?

It is an odd one.  I can only assume it's because it's Stokes' first Test as captain and he gone with the 'if in doubt, bat' adage.  Looked a bowl first day to me.  The inevitable rain breaks would be perfect for bowling our quicks in short, fast spells.

[Steve67]

I'm not watching at the moment but cannot fathom why they won the toss and decided to bat?  Can someone explain please?

It is an odd one.  I can only assume it's because it's Stokes' first Test as captain and he gone with the 'if in doubt, bat' adage.  Looked a bowl first day to me.  The inevitable rain breaks would be perfect for bowling our quicks in short, fast spells.

Many thanks Hilts.  I suspect you're right and with the weather the way it is, bowling seemed more sensible.

[paul_e]

I'm not sure what I think about the decision to bat or the decision to leave the ball for the wicket, both look wrong in hindsight but I can see why they did it.

[UK Redsox]

I'm not sure what I think about the decision to bat or the decision to leave the ball for the wicket, both look wrong in hindsight but I can see why they did it.

That ball was far to close to leave, especially as the other opener had just about escaped an appeal for LBW when not playing a shot

[paul_e]

I'm not sure what I think about the decision to bat or the decision to leave the ball for the wicket, both look wrong in hindsight but I can see why they did it.

That ball was far to close to leave, especially as the other opener had just about escaped an appeal for LBW when not playing a shot

It was but there didn't seem to be all that much movement so I can understand wanting to play safe and avoid taking an edge. I think that was the problem, he was so concerned about the outside edge that he wasn't watching out for the in-seamer as much as he should've.

Aside from that it looked like the shot of someone who hasn't been in the middle for months.

[paul_e]

There's another, to Denly this time, that came back a lot further than expected.

[UK Redsox]

Off again. Looks like a longer break this time

[paul_e]

Off again. Looks like a longer break this time

Yeah, I've turned it off for a while this time, I suspect we're not seeing any play before Tea.