The International Cricket Thread

[Villan For Life]

Apart from the walking wicket that is Zac Crawley this was always going to be a difficult batting session. Losing Stokes was disappointing and now we are into our tail but Pope has shown what can be achieved.

I think we will be bowling before tea and Elgar aside they don’t really have a strong line up, so an interesting few hours ahead.

[PaulWinch again]

Ah a couple of openers that can do the job.

[PaulWinch again]

I think we’ll soon see Broad transitioning out of the side.

[olaftab]

Not soon enough. He should have gone long ago but almost certainly not selected this season.

[manic-road]

Not soon enough. He should have gone long ago but almost certainly not selected this season.

He is only in because so many England opening bowlers are injured.

[Richard E]

Another massive score from Crawley.

[Risso]

Not soon enough. He should have gone long ago but almost certainly not selected this season.

He is only in because so many England opening bowlers are injured.

He got the best bowling figures in SA's innings.

Collingwood yesterday quoted as saying "we don't expect consistency from Crawley". Well, he's not disappointing on that front then.

[Richard E]

He’s being extremely consistent.

[Nev]

No weekend test cricket to enjoy by the looks of things...

[UK Redsox]

That’s gotsta be it for Crawley.

Also, I don’t think that England (in England) can justify picking the best keeper at the moment.

I’d have Billings or Salt keeping and bring Brook in to open. I know that the latter bats at five these days but he’s opened before and….well….he’s not Zac Crawley

[UK Redsox]

No weekend test cricket to enjoy by the looks of things...

Looks like they won’t even make tea on day three

[Villa Lew]

That's as good a pace attack I've seen from a visiting side in England for long time, well done South Africa.

[PaulWinch again]

Well that was horrible. Just played badly in all facets. It doesn’t how aggressive you are, or aren’t, if you play that badly you’ll lose. The bowling is too samey too.

[Risso]

Well that was horrible. Just played badly in all facets. It doesn’t how aggressive you are, or aren’t, if you play that badly you’ll lose. The bowling is too samey too.

It's been coming though really hasn't it? For all the fun of the recent run chases, sooner or later if they want to be a top test nation again they're going to have play consistently well in all areas of the game. You can't rely on swashbuckling centuries from Bairstow and Stokes to save you every match.

[Gareth]

Well that was horrible. Just played badly in all facets. It doesn’t how aggressive you are, or aren’t, if you play that badly you’ll lose. The bowling is too samey too.

It's been coming though really hasn't it? For all the fun of the recent run chases, sooner or later if they want to be a top test nation again they're going to have play consistently well in all areas of the game. You can't rely on swashbuckling centuries from Bairstow and Stokes to save you every match.

Exactly this….openers still look beyond ropey, Pope is doing ok but lots of room to improve, Root is the man,.Bairstow has had a rich vein but you know he’ll go back to walking wicket as quickly, Stokes is Stokes, Foakes will def be under the pump to get a Billings etc in the side to bolster batting & bowlers beyond the old guard looks pretty thin.

Far too many players are promising not necessarily achieving….can see Jimmy & Broad still being in there next summer at this rate