The International Cricket Thread

[olaftab]

On to tomorrow. The first two days has shown that batting gets easier in the mid afternoon to close. If Root and Brook can survive the first session I think England could still go on to win it.

Have you got the lottery numbers as well mate?!

Yes, this one was right out of Iraqi Information Minister’s book of quotes🤦🏾

[PaulWinch again]

Spinning conditions, but that’s a horror show (apt given the time of year) of a performance. If you win the toss and lose on a pitch like that it’s a bad one. But been completely out bowled and out batted. McCullum and Stokes have been brilliant, but there is a very large issue against spin. They were also out bowled.

Well done Pakistan.

[Richard E]

On to tomorrow. The first two days has shown that batting gets easier in the mid afternoon to close. If Root and Brook can survive the first session I think England could still go on to win it.

Have you got the lottery numbers as well mate?!

Yes, this one was right out of Iraqi Information Minister’s book of quotes🤦🏾

Not at all. It was an entirely accurate prediction. If Root and Brook could have survived the first session, England could have gone on to win. Mystic Aftab.

[Steve67]

England are flat track bullies and can smash the ball all over the place against the lesser sides making bazball look good. I’d really like to see some of the batsmen be a bit more selfish and protect their wickets. Move Baz to white ball cricket and give us a proper chance of beating the Aussies. Probably not the most popular of opinions but I honestly don’t see the progression that others do. 

[PaulWinch again]

Well there is obvious progression because look at the results before McCullum came in. You can debate how far, but it’s very clear they are substantially better than they were when McCullum arrived.

[Beard82]

I don’t think it’s fair to call us flat track bullies.  Patakastan is a difficult place to come. I think what there trying to do is evolving but there is a lot of players that aren’t overall it experienced at this level and they will learn from this - as will the coaching set up

[olaftab]

England are flat track bullies and can smash the ball all over the place against the lesser sides making bazball look good. I’d really like to see some of the batsmen be a bit more selfish and protect their wickets. Move Baz to white ball cricket and give us a proper chance of beating the Aussies. Probably not the most popular of opinions but I honestly don’t see the progression that others do. 

This stat is the major risk of Bazball:

Andy Zaltzman
Statistician on Test Match Special
Three times in the last four matches, England have been bowled out in under 40 overs.
It happened only three times between July 1909 and June 1981 - in which time England played 466 Tests.

[Whiney MacWhineface]

I thought the young spinners did well, as did "Squinty" Atkinson and Carse. Younger batters Brook, Duckett (youngish), Crawley and Smith were excellent if very patchy.

Potts has some promise, Pope looks like he's auditioning for "They Shoot Horses Don't They?". He defines "lack of confidence", the poor sod.

There's a lot of excuse mileage in that second test pitch. I still can't believe they used that, and the Pindi pitch.

Is that the last overseas tour for Woakes? I hope not...he seems to take important wickets, but his batting has fallen off a cliff (mind you the same can be said of Stokes's and if he isn't going to bowl he's heading for Mike Brearley territory).

[olaftab]

Not at all. It was an entirely accurate prediction. If Root and Brook could have survived the first session, England could have gone on to win. Mystic Aftab.

Yes ifs were good buts were brutal😂

[PaulWinch again]

Stunning series win for NZ.

[Steve67]

I don’t think it’s fair to call us flat track bullies.  Patakastan is a difficult place to come. I think what there trying to do is evolving but there is a lot of players that aren’t overall it experienced at this level and they will learn from this - as will the coaching set up

We say the same after every series my friend.

[PaulWinch again]

And to an extent they do - except significant spin is very clearly an issue.

[tomd2103]

 Don't want to make excuses, but I think.another thing to maybe consider is the ludicrous scheduling.  Some of those players were still playing ODIs in this country at the end of September.  The white ball games start in the West Indies next week followed by test matches in NZ in November and December, then off to India for more white ball stuff in January. 

That kind of schedule surely can't be sustainable. 

[KevinGage]

When the conditions suit this England team can be as entertaining as any in the world.

As soon as it becomes a bit more challenging they go to pot.

Those two Pakistani spinners have modest enough records in Pakistani domestic cricket and when they played over here before.

But up against England in full pisspants mode they were made to look like prime Ashwin or Warne.

[PaulWinch again]

That is true and England definitely need to be better against spin, but I suspect Noman and Sajid have rarely bowled on pitches that helpful to their particular skills.