The International Cricket Thread

[PaulWinch again]

Moeen gone, real shame but he’s more than done his job. The platform is there.

[Monty]

Moeen effectively opened today so a feisty 50 is a more than useful contribution. A platform and an example for the rest of the lineup.

[Risso]

Moeen gone but I think he's done the job he was there for and fully justified them sticking with him at 3.

Definitely. It wasn't a shit shot either, just a good catch. We've almost got to start playing this like a T20 game so getting out like that isn't really a problem.

[Gareth]

Think the accelerator is gradually being pressed….get to tea no more than 3 down we should be less than 100 behind

[Risso]

C'mon Crawley, get your ton.

[paul_e]

Think the accelerator is gradually being pressed….get to tea no more than 3 down we should be less than 100 behind

I said earlier that 200+ by tea would be the target and that lines up with how we're batting. If we make that with 6-7 wickets in hand and we can go full on t20 after tea and trying to flash 100 runs in 10-12 overs before putting them in for a nasty little spell this evening.

[Villan For Life]

Fantastic ton from Crawley, that’s a pivotal moment in his career and also in this test.

[Risso]

Good lad.

[paul_e]

Right now this is what I think the point of bazball is, we're got them doubting their plans for how to bowl at us and we're milking runs because of it, Cummins is all over the place with the ball right now. I reckon this is exactly what we were trying to do at Lords but we just made a mess of it.

[aev]

Good lad indeed.

I'd have got rid ages ago but he has done well in this series, and does drive the ball very pleasingly.

Root looks as though he is very close to his stumps playing the short ball.

[tomd2103]

Right now this is what I think the point of bazball is, we're got them doubting their plans for how to bowl at us and we're milking runs because of it, Cummins is all over the place with the ball right now. I reckon this is exactly what we were trying to do at Lords but we just made a mess of it.

Lyon is a massive loss for them.  Him bowling tight overs from one end while they rotate the seamers from the other is their approach.  The seamers are now having to do a lot more work and it is now starting to show.

[tomd2103]

Think the accelerator is gradually being pressed….get to tea no more than 3 down we should be less than 100 behind

I said earlier that 200+ by tea would be the target and that lines up with how we're batting. If we make that with 6-7 wickets in hand and we can go full on t20 after tea and trying to flash 100 runs in 10-12 overs before putting them in for a nasty little spell this evening.

Really does depend on the forecast I suppose Paul, but I would be tempted to try and get as many as possible today and even early tomorrow and try and get as big a lead as we can. 

[Monty]

This is much more like it on the Bazball front, bit of luck but that comes and goes. What's been so impressive has been the running for me, not just flinging the bat but looking for gaps, always pushing to turn a leisurely single into a businesslike two. That makes a real difference on the scoreboard.

[LeeB]

Right now this is what I think the point of bazball is, we're got them doubting their plans for how to bowl at us and we're milking runs because of it, Cummins is all over the place with the ball right now. I reckon this is exactly what we were trying to do at Lords but we just made a mess of it.

I find great joy in watching flustered Australians in the field

[paul_e]

Think the accelerator is gradually being pressed….get to tea no more than 3 down we should be less than 100 behind

I said earlier that 200+ by tea would be the target and that lines up with how we're batting. If we make that with 6-7 wickets in hand and we can go full on t20 after tea and trying to flash 100 runs in 10-12 overs before putting them in for a nasty little spell this evening.

Really does depend on the forecast I suppose Paul, but I would be tempted to try and get as many as possible today and even early tomorrow and try and get as big a lead as we can. 

I think what we need to avoid is them feeling that the 'right' thing to do is to dig in and waste time out of the game and I worry they'd be more like to do that if they start their 2nd innings with a big deficit.