The International Cricket Thread

[Risso]

No one's worked him out yet! He's an absolutely brilliant player even if he is an unlovable Aussie cock.

That's my point though, I watch him and know he's a brilliant batsman but I still can't stop myself seeing all kinds of problems with his technique. I get the impression that is part of his effectiveness, bowlers get drawn into bowling at the clear weaknesses but he's expecting exactly that and uses it to his advantage.

I know what you mean about his style, as he's not one for the purists, but if he's drawing bowlers into what they think is a weakness, then is it really a weakness at all?

[paul_e]

No one's worked him out yet! He's an absolutely brilliant player even if he is an unlovable Aussie cock.

That's my point though, I watch him and know he's a brilliant batsman but I still can't stop myself seeing all kinds of problems with his technique. I get the impression that is part of his effectiveness, bowlers get drawn into bowling at the clear weaknesses but he's expecting exactly that and uses it to his advantage.

I know what you mean about his style, as he's not one for the purists, but if he's drawing bowlers into what they think is a weakness, then is it really a weakness at all?

and that's exactly the problem. I think there are weaknesses but his stance at the crease makes people miss them, if you look at the bowling maps almost everyone ends up straighter and fuller when they bowl at him and he scores because that's a feast of famine line.

I'm not enough of an expert in cricket tactics to say where people should be bowling at him but aiming to hit half way up middle stump isn't the right place to bowl (consistently) at anyone who plays top 6 in test cricket. Somehow he manages to get into bowlers heads and convince them it's the way to go though. That said I suspect away swing from a line at the top of off (Woakes has had success with this a few times) or spin back in from a 5th or 6th stump line (seen this against him a few times in the IPL and Big Bash) should be the stock deliveries to him.

[paul_e]

Can't see England piling on a massive lead though, this looks a tough pitch to score on and we haven't played very much cricket for 6months.

Both openers gone so Bairstow and Root in the middle, the good part of that is these 2 are both good players of spin so if they can be patient and focused this could be the key partnership.

Think I might have been wrong about this, once the ball softened up things looked a lot less daunting, if this pair can see off the first hour tomorrow we could get a good score, even 300 would make it hard for them because the pitch isn't going to get any better and they just don't look to have the batting to cope with it.

[PaulWinch again]

England have got to target a 200 + lead here. I wouldn’t want to be chasing even a modest amount last here.

[Villan For Life]

I caught the highlights earlier having listened to TMS this morning. The Sri Lankan batting was as poor as I’ve seen for a while, with some poor shot selection against some rusty England bowling.

Bess got a 5-fer without bowling well. It’s not his fault but he will bowl better than that and get no wickets.

[Villan For Life]

A fine innings from Joe Root, he’s a fantastic player of spin. He celebrated that one like it was his first test match ton!

[PaulWinch again]

That was embarrassing for Aggers and Tuffers - if Root hit it into the ground first of course he’s not out. Brilliant knock by Root btw - we need big runs from him this year.

[JD]

Excellent innings by Joe Root, hopefully Dan Lawrence can get a big score as well. Good to see an Essex player back in the team. 

[PaulWinch again]

It’s funny that the BBC live commentary has gone in on Mickey Arthur not knowing the rules - conveniently making no reference to Agger’s vehement insistence it was out.

[PaulWinch again]

Good first knock from Lawrence.

[sid1964]

Joe Root is a fantastic batsman - how lucky we are having him in the England team

[Rory]

Seems a little harsh of the BBC to point out this is Root's first ton since 2019. How many tests has he played since then, about 4?

[PaulWinch again]

9 I think.

[UK Redsox]

It was a fair comment.

Root's 50 > 100 conversion rate isn't up there with that of the other top players

[Rory]

I didn't realise it was as many as 9! Fair enough, comment withdrawn.