The Cricket Thread

[JJH]

Not a bad start eh?

 

[hodge]

FFS JJ

 

[DarkSithLord]

Root HAS to stay in.

 

[Saddlerrad]

I actually celebrated Morgan getting out. Useless. Not the game to be nudging spinners around. This 3 overs will be what is looked back over.

 

[Super_horns]

Down to Buttler and Root but you feel we will fall short..

Kiwis look really strong - 2 good wins against the 2 favourites maybe?

 

[DarkSithLord]

Need 10 an over from here. Very possible...

 

[DarkSithLord]

Come on lads. Dont balls it up from here. 28 needed from 3 overs.

 

[DarkSithLord]

Remind me again why Root wasnt nominated for SPOTY?!

 

[Super_horns]

Great win!

Sensational batting from Root.

 

[DarkSithLord]

GET IN THERE!

 

[hodge]

Absolutely incredible

 

[JJH]

Absolutely speechless.

Joe Root is God amongst men.

 

[Ciderhead]

Who cares if our bowling's terrible, our fielding woeful, with batting like that there's nothing we can't chase down! Incredible!

 

[JJH]

I actually celebrated Morgan getting out. Useless. Not the game to be nudging spinners around. This 3 overs will be what is looked back over.

I did as well, just couldn't find the middle of the bat. Held us up.

 

[Skinner]

Unbelievable stuff, get in!

 

[hodge]

Vince in for Morgan and Root to captain

 

[hodge]

Oh.... AND KICK JORDAN OUT!

 

[Saddlerrad]

Awesome, awesome performance - Root will take the plaudits, but let's not forget, the first 3 overs went for 50 odd - the world record. Without that Root would have needed to take more risks. Let's not beat around the bush though, we won't win anything with this bowling attack. Jordan, when has he EVER bowled well? Topley? Fine when it swings in England with the new ball, on wickets like this he is just straight up and down, like Woakes - pretty awful. Plunkett HAS to come in.

That should give us massive confidence now.

 

[Pyeman]

Am I the only one who finds it frustrating that Ben Stokes is often preferred over Jos Buttler in the batting line-up? Buttler is our most dangerous T20 batsman. The lineup should be built around him and Root.

 

[hodge]

Today was too early for Buttler but they wanted to try and keep momentum going, hence Stokes. Buttler has been promoted plenty of times when appropriate.

 

[Skinner]

Buttler was needed further in to the innings, and rightly so as his partnership with Root was crucial.

Stokes was always going for a lowish score, it was a super decision to bring him in at #3, he maintained the RR, in the PP and we didn't lose the wicket of a crucial player.

 

[Pyeman]

Today was too early for Buttler but they wanted to try and keep momentum going, hence Stokes. Buttler has been promoted plenty of times when appropriate.

Why was it too early for Buttler?

Stokes was always going for a lowish score, it was a super decision to bring him in at #3, he maintained the RR, in the PP and we didn't lose the wicket of a crucial player.

That's much easier to say in hindsight than during the match. There's no way you could know Stokes was going for a low score. Just like there's no way you can know if Buttler would have smashed a century had he come in earlier.

 

[Super_horns]

India return to form by beating their arch rivals..

 

[slaphead]

India only won because Pakistan were awful. India's reliance on Kohli is scary, if he fails, so do they.

 

[Ciderhead]

Afghanistan making a good fist of this chase. Surely SA couldn't fail to defend 200+ again?

 

[JJH]

Afghanistan making a good fist of this chase. Surely SA couldn't fail to defend 200+ again?

Just switched over, they're giving them a proper run for their money. If they lose this they're done and dusted.

Sri Lanka vs WIndies later on today as well.

 

[Ciderhead]

Petered out in the end but they were 103-2 at the halfway stage, good effort. They're no pushover that's for sure.

Thinking it over I'm not sure what the best result is for us in this next one

 

[JJH]

3/3 for NZ. What a start.

 

[Super_horns]

Kiwis look very good again.

 

[Saddlerrad]

Afghanistan are a well spirited side, but they are still a minnow. They won't do anything embarassing you wouldn't think on previous performances, but I'd expect us to get very near 200 and us defend them to a total of nothing more than 150/160. The only issue is, if they win the toss. Even if we score 250 you don't feel safe, even against a park team with Topley and particularly Jordan about the place. We really needed Finn/Plunkett in this series IMO. I'd keep Broad and Anderson firmly away from ODI cricket now.