The International Cricket Thread

[Monty]

Is this just the flattest batting wicket there's ever been?!

Stunning isn't it. Best evidence the flat-earth nutters will ever find.

[PaulWinch again]

Christ you wouldn’t want to be a bowler on this.

[olaftab]

Is this just the flattest batting wicket there's ever been?!

Far too friendly this pitch but here is one flatter.
RESULT
1st Test, Colombo (RPS), August 02 - 06, 1997,
India tour of Sri Lanka

India
537/8d

Sri Lanka
952/6d
Match drawn

[Rory]

Is this just the flattest batting wicket there's ever been?!

Stunning isn't it. Best evidence the flat-earth nutters will ever find.

Playing in the dustbowl that is UAE for all those years was shite, it was no good for anybody whose name wasn't Saeed Ajmal.

I was quite looking forward to a nice green top, but instead we get this.

[tomd2103]

Went to a dinner a couple of months ago where Paul Farbrace was the guest speaker.  He was asked about England's batting line up and said that if they can't score runs in Pakistan then they never will as it's the best place to bat in world cricket.

[olaftab]

There is a possible win here in the next two days.

[Lsvilla]

There is a possible win here in the next two days.

Yep. I make England favourites. Skybet disagree and favour the draw.

[manic-road]

Harry Brook playing a test match like a 20/20 game, incredible hitting.

[Villan For Life]

That’s a very carrot dangling declaration

[PaulWinch again]

Yeah I like it - we might lose but the intent to win is important.

[manic-road]

Two early wickets has put Pakistan on the back foot, courageous cricket from England setting Pakistan a gettable target.

[tomd2103]

There is a pretty fine margin between being bold and being reckless.  It's the first test of a three match series and I would have thought that although the aim would be to try and win if possible, the priority would not be to lose.

We leaked quite a few boundaries at the end and they now need 263 with 8 wickets remaining (or potentially 7 if the injured batsman can't return).  Still looks a big task, but given how games have been going over the past year, certainly not out of the question.

[olaftab]

All round very good cricket from England and absolutely the the right thing to do. England will win this match rapidly  once Pakistan get to 4/5 wickets down.

[Dave Cooper please]

To even get into a position to win on such a fucking awful wicket is astonishing, and yes, Pakistan might chase it down but this is transforming Test cricket.

[PaulWinch again]

To even get into a position to win on such a fucking awful wicket is astonishing, and yes, Pakistan might chase it down but this is transforming Test cricket.

Yup it’s a good way to play and we’ll win more than we lose by doing it.