The International Cricket Thread

[tomd2103]

To be honest at a couple of points today we looked gone, but we’re still in it. Need a big morning session to try and knock them over for 220 (lead) or less.

Depends on the pitch I suppose, but I still think we're in it if we are left 275 to chase.  Would be a big ask, but could be possible.

[tomd2103]

Our batting and fielding have been woeful this series. Not passed 400 once, dropped catches all over the place, no balls. The general standards have been well below par.

Compared to what we're like in the field with a white ball, this has been village standard. I can see us losing 5-0 without getting battered once at the hands of an Australian side that's decent, useful, but not one of their greatest.

Their bowling attack is one of the best this century I'd say.  Cummins, Starc and Hazlewood are top quality and although they are now injured, Lyon and Green just finish it off.  Boland has been a good find for them, though isn't quite the same level as the others.

What does for us a little bit is that we don't have home conditions  which negate them like they do in other parts of the world.  With the bowling conditions we have and with a Dukes ball, they are arguably even more of a threat.  Cummins has been especially good so far.   

Might be wrong and hope I am, but I don't see us beating them in a series while those three in particular are around and in the same line-up.

[Rory]

To be honest at a couple of points today we looked gone, but we’re still in it. Need a big morning session to try and knock them over for 220 (lead) or less.

Depends on the pitch I suppose, but I still think we're in it if we are left 275 to chase.  Would be a big ask, but could be possible.

In the absence of their top spinner, we should be confident chasing anything less than 300, in my opinion.

Our numbers 7 - 10 have seven test centuries between them, so it's not like we have a long tail.

Assuming we can bowl well in the morning, get them all out around lunch, the situation is set up perfectly for 'Bazball'. A seemingly difficult chase by historical standards, except we take the bull by the horns, score quickly initially, panic them into defensive fields BUT then use our heads, pick up ones and twos, accumulate runs, followed by a counter attack from a strong tail if needed.

I still back us, but if we can't find a way to win this one, I reckon this Aus team (after 22 years without a series win in England) have the quality, motivation and ruthlessness to push for a 5-0.

We've grown accustomed to being embarrassed over there, but with all the good will in the world, losing by such a scoreline here would be entirely unacceptable.

We really need to find our fighting spirit.

[PaulWinch again]

When we do get on the pitch we need to hit them hard. On most occasions this series when we’ve come back the following day with a chance to grab the initiative we’ve fluffed our lines. We really need to be on it.

[olaftab]

This delay is good as it provides  more rest for Wood and also hoping Robinson can actually contribute  in this series in a meaningful way today.

[olaftab]

I still back us, but if we can't find a way to win this one, I reckon this Aus team (after 22 years without a series win in England) have the quality, motivation and ruthlessness to push for a 5-0.
We've grown accustomed to being embarrassed over there, but with all the good will in the world, losing by such a scoreline here would be entirely unacceptable.
We really need to find our fighting spirit.

Rory this is the thing.
It's cringingly embarrassing  when you're in Melbourne or Sydney. There is no rest as Aussies are constantly in your ear with insults. It would be a total disaster from a England cricket fan point of view to get thrashed here at home as well.

[PaulWinch again]

Right England be right on it.

[UK Redsox]

Well, that was all a bit pointless.

[PaulWinch again]

Pitch it up!

[PaulWinch again]

Runs are coming pretty easy here. We need these two gone quick.

[UK Redsox]

Pitch it up!

The moment that one ball from Woakes swung round a corner (admittedly after pitching), the plan should have been changed.

However, England don’t do flexible any more

[PaulWinch again]

This is a bit of easy for them at the mo.

[PaulWinch again]

Yes get out!

[PaulWinch again]

That shows you - pitch it up to Head as well.

[Beard82]

stats seem to show Head actually does alright to short stuff