The International Cricket Thread

[taylorsworkrate]

Looking at the weather forecast for tomorrow the smart money potentially is on the draw

[PaulWinch again]

My last post came before the collapse. If Tongue’s ability to blow away the tail (plus get some top order wickets) becomes a thing that would be a massive bonus. He wasn’t in great form coming into this game, but he really has something about him.

[Rory]

My last post came before the collapse. If Tongue’s ability to blow away the tail (plus get some top order wickets) becomes a thing that would be a massive bonus. He wasn’t in great form coming into this game, but he really has something about him.

We just also need to bear in mind that India were going after everything post-Lunch. Rahul is class, but apart from Pant (who rode his luck, but that's his style) if we'd got all out the way they did we'd be pretty angry about our shot selection.

[tomd2103]

We've done well to still be in with even a very slim chance of winning this game, as it has looked like completely getting away from us at various times.

That said, if anyone has said just a few years ago that we would need 350 to win on the final day of a test, then the immediate thought would be to try and bat out a draw.  As we've seen before though, there is a different mindset under this regime so it could be a very interesting day. 

[PaulWinch again]

I do dislike the rhetoric at times - Tongue when interviewed said there was no scenario where a draw is a good result. That’s just patently nonsense and where they get confused - you can play for the win, and that be the intent, but if you’re say 100-5 and it rains, a draw is a good result. You’re playing a series for fucks sake.

[olaftab]

This has to be the end of the Bashir experiment. He just isn't currently remotely test match standard. He may improve with a couple of years of solid FC cricket but there is no way he should be in the team against the likes of India or Australia in the winter.

I agree that an effective spinner is essential to a well functioning Test team. If it's not Bashir who else do you suggest we should be developing?

[PaulWinch again]

Playing very smartly thus far.

[PaulWinch again]

Rain is going to deny this isn’t it.

[olaftab]

Covers off…fingers crossed.

[Beard82]

Whatever happens it been a brilliant test match and hopefully the start of a great series. 

Plenty to like in both sides setups.

[Chris Smith]

Whatever happens it been a brilliant test match and hopefully the start of a great series. 

Plenty to like in both sides setups.

Yep, the initiative has swung back and forth several times over the course of the match and England have played with a a level of discipline that has often been lacking in recent times.

[olaftab]

Well,  this is Test match cricket....

[London Villan]

Game on...

[olaftab]

Stokes escapes a review but this is tricky now.

[PaulWinch again]

Wobble is fully on.