The International Cricket Thread

[Villan For Life]

Bravo Joe Root - highest scoring English test batsman in history

He is a truly special player and if he still has the hunger, keeps his form and steers clear of injury I think he could easily catch Tendulkar as the all time leading run scorer in test cricket. He needs around 3,500 more runs so he needs another 3 to 4 years.

[paul_e]

I think England have got the approach spot on to this reply. The game will end as a draw because the pitch is clearly very batter friendly but by piling on the runs quickly we've managed to put a lot of pressure back on them. With Root anchoring the innings letting the rest of the top and middle order go out swinging is a good call in this match.

[PaulWinch again]

Root is just a phenom, an incredible player.

This game is interesting in that England are going well and if Root, Brook, and Smith are still batting at lunch tomorrow they’ll be in and around, or beyond Pakistan. Who knows what third innings pressure might do on at team that has been on a terrible run. But equally if Pakistan get a couple of quick wickets we’re a long way behind and there are some handy batters at 7, 8, 9 but might be a big ask with scoreboard pressure.

[PaulWinch again]

They need to get Root some energy drinks!

[Risso]

Bravo Joe Root - highest scoring English test batsman in history

He is a truly special player and if he still has the hunger, keeps his form and steers clear of injury I think he could easily catch Tendulkar as the all time leading run scorer in test cricket. He needs around 3,500 more runs so he needs another 3 to 4 years.

I didn't realise there was a such gap from Root/Cook to the third highest scorer and below. They're about 50% higher, and obvoiously Root is still going strong.

[PaulWinch again]

Root is also a warrior - you can see how tough today is and I remember an innings in Australia where he had a sickness bug and he was still battling through.

[Villan For Life]

A good day with the bat for England, Root’s effort has been superhuman, at the end of day 3 he’s been on the pitch for all but nine deliveries. He looked dead on his feet at the end.

[Gareth]

A good day with the bat for England, Root’s effort has been superhuman, at the end of day 3 he’s been on the pitch for all but nine deliveries. He looked dead on his feet at the end.

Plug him in, charge him up and get going for a huge score batting most of tomorrow too

[tomd2103]

I think England have got the approach spot on to this reply. The game will end as a draw because the pitch is clearly very batter friendly but by piling on the runs quickly we've managed to put a lot of pressure back on them. With Root anchoring the innings letting the rest of the top and middle order go out swinging is a good call in this match.

Yeah, if we can get anything near a 200 run lead tomorrow, I'd look at declaring.  They will be wary given the 4th innings totals we chased down last time we were out there, so they would want a big lead and would have to amass quite a total to get one, therefore I think it's pretty low risk really.

[PaulWinch again]

They’ll be wary in general they’ve lost 10 in a row haven’t they? And their second innings performances have been horrendous.

[Beard82]

I think England have got the approach spot on to this reply. The game will end as a draw because the pitch is clearly very batter friendly but by piling on the runs quickly we've managed to put a lot of pressure back on them. With Root anchoring the innings letting the rest of the top and middle order go out swinging is a good call in this match.

Yeah, if we can get anything near a 200 run lead tomorrow, I'd look at declaring.  They will be wary given the 4th innings totals we chased down last time we were out there, so they would want a big lead and would have to amass quite a total to get one, therefore I think it's pretty low risk really.

Agreed - Id set out to try and get 200 lead - and then decalre with about an hour left and try and nick a couple off before close

[Villan For Life]

658-3 at lunch, scored 166 in the morning session and the lead is now 102. I think we may see some fireworks in the afternoon session before a declaration around tea.

[Bernie]

658-3 at lunch, scored 166 in the morning session and the lead is now 102. I think we may see some fireworks in the afternoon session before a declaration around tea.

Quite amazing - who would have bet on us being in this position at 4-1 and even 249-3.
There must be some sort of record for the highest innings score in which an opener was out for a duck? Calling Andy Zalzman....

[paul_e]

658-3 at lunch, scored 166 in the morning session and the lead is now 102. I think we may see some fireworks in the afternoon session before a declaration around tea.

Yep, we've put 170ish on in that session and I think they'll want even more in the afternoon, 200+ is my guess and then give ourselves 300-350 runs and 4 sessions to try to force a result. I'd say it's still unlikely because this is a road but it's the only realistic option for a positive result from here. No point batting particularly sensibly though so I reckon it'll be an all shots out of th ebag t20 style thrash, with maybe 2-3 overs to get ourselves settled back in after the break.

[Villan For Life]

These two need just 3 runs to equal the highest test partnership for England and 41 more runs to achieve the highest fourth wicket stand in test history.

Records are nice to have but they eventually get broken, however I’d love to see Root get a triple century. That would be a remarkable achievement in these conditions.