The International Cricket Thread

[paul_e]

On the game I think we've let them score 100 more than we should've from the bits I saw of the morning sessions, losing the bowling of Stokes is a massive blow.

As a tiny bit of credit the 5 over spell was a tricky one given the form of our openers so credit to them for seeing it off (I know that's a really low bar). it's now on them to keep that going and get through the first 20-25 overs unscathed to at least get a bit of their dignity back. If they can manage that the target is small enough that we should be able to avoid the follow-on and from there the weather reports for day 4 mean that a draw would become the most likely outcome. Right now I'd take that to avoid the whitewash.

[PaulWinch again]

On the game I think we've let them score 100 more than we should've from the bits I saw of the morning sessions, losing the bowling of Stokes is a massive blow.

As a tiny bit of credit the 5 over spell was a tricky one given the form of our openers so credit to them for seeing it off (I know that's a really low bar). it's now on them to keep that going and get through the first 20-25 overs unscathed to at least get a bit of their dignity back. If they can manage that the target is small enough that we should be able to avoid the follow-on and from there the weather reports for day 4 mean that a draw would become the most likely outcome. Right now I'd take that to avoid the whitewash.

All fair - but bloody hell you could print that out as part of the review of this debacle just to show how desperate things are.

I’m convinced now on the back of his interview that Giles should go. His justification of the amalgamation of the coach and selector roles being some sort of innovative genius that flies in the face of cricketing tradition was just laughable. No Ashley it’s just a really bad decision.

[tomd2103]

Giles’s interview with Simon Mann was really poor, came across defensive and didn’t appear to have any clear ideas except trying to suggest the individuals involved in the decision making aren’t accountable for the failures.

Agree.  The assertion that moving up from 4th to 5th in the test rankings showed there had been some improvement in that format was ludicrous.  Also the comment along the lines "we beat the teams we should beat and lose to the teams we should lose to" was also poor, especially considering one of the team's he was talking about is New Zealand, who have far less resources to work with. 

Felt it is symptomatic of the attitude of the test team as a whole really.

[Steve67]

Giles’s interview with Simon Mann was really poor, came across defensive and didn’t appear to have any clear ideas except trying to suggest the individuals involved in the decision making aren’t accountable for the failures.

Giles needs to sack himself.  Did well with the Bears but way out of his depth in the test arena, sadly. Nice guy and great player, despite me supporting the Pears but he and Silverwood need to step down.

He's got that annoying habit of saying 'OK' after he's made a statement, as if he's forcing the listener to agree with what he's saying. OK?

Ok!  He just doesn't inspire any confidence that they are heading in the right direction, in fact, any direction.

[PaulWinch again]

Oh they’re definitely heading in a direction.

[PaulWinch again]

Predictions on our first innings effort? I’m going to go with c.170

[VILLA MOLE]

Predictions on our first innings effort? I’m going to go with c.170

148

[Meanwood Villa]

192

I'm feeling optimistic

[Gareth]

245 - Root 85

[Villan For Life]

145 with the Aussies enforcing the follow on and losing 4 more wickets before rain saves us for another day.

[Lsvilla]

Please just make it stop now. Or at least let me sleep. 7 consecutive maidens followed by Root out for 0. New lows being achieved in each test.

Update. No run for 53 balls. Malan out. And lunch. Aussie players openly laughing at us. Is Gilo available for another interview? Needs to be clearing his desk I think.

[Rory]

No excuses, this has been the worst tour down under I've ever known. 2010/11 was great, but since then we're P13 W0 L12, and unless we're saved by the weather, in two days that'll be P14 W0 L13.

Zalzman will no doubt have the full grim figures, but this tour has been the most embarrassing that I can remember.

As ever, there's losing, and then there's this...

[manic-road]

Buttler keeps his current form going with a duck. Well done Bairstow and Stokes who have shown bollocks with the bat.

[PaulWinch again]

Well fair play Bairstow, Stokes, and Wood. Without them we’d have been out for about 15.

[Villan For Life]

I love the way Mark Wood plays the game, he just looks like he’s really enjoying himself, like he can’t believe that he’s playing international cricket. He’s so refreshing to watch.