The Cricket Thread

[Destruction]

Had a good night at Old Trafford but Lancs look fucking wank this year, hard to believe we're defending champs based on the first two games.

Guptill looks a class above mind.

 

[Ciderhead]

All the talk about Sri Lanka's catching beforehand, and dropped 2 already. Always the way

 

[blademan89]

Had a good night at Old Trafford but Lancs look fucking wank this year, hard to believe we're defending champs based on the first two games.

Guptill looks a class above mind.

Next Friday will be good it always is. The only game that matters really

 

[silvergull]

I suspect Sri Lanka are making this pitch look a lot flatter than it actually is with some awful bowling.
Dreadful fielding too. Over in 3 days

 

[kieran_vale]

Don't know what's happened to Sri Lanka today. They were exceptional with their catching yesterday and the exact opposite today. Hopefully Moeen can go on and get his century.

 

[tiltontrev]

Brett D'Oliveira is in as good form as anyone this season, but he won't get a look in for England despite also bowling very useful leg breaks.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/county-championship-division-two/averages

Another fine performance from the lad at Edgbaston tonight with bat and ball.

Rather be a Pear than a Bear.

I was at Edgbaston last night, not really a cricket fan but codged some free tickets so went along, had a great night. The lad Olivera was the stand out player, superb performance. Surprised how poor Warwickshire were, I've seen school kids better in the field than they were.

Drinking in your seat is dangerous, we must've had 9 pints in the space of the game, not to mention the pub before and after!!!! Tender today

 

[silvergull]

Well played Moeen! Slightly up the order makes a big difference.
Looks like Sri Lanka have already given up though. I expect we'll accelerate and hit out here. Will be bowling in the next half hour

 

[Bobbin']

Watching The Verdict last night and they thought Alex Hales was getting a little ahead of himself when he said England were hoping for around 450.

Doesn't seem to be such a daft shout now.

 

[kieran_vale]

Really well done Moeen batted beautifully.

Sri Lanka have been a sorry sight since lunch. Some clueless tactics from the captain and Moeen dropped again. England probably have enough for another innings win now.

 

[blademan89]

Watching The Verdict last night and they thought Alex Hales was getting a little ahead of himself when he said England were hoping for around 450.

Doesn't seem to be such a daft shout now.

Apart from finney and Jimmy every one of our other players are capable of a ton. And even those 2 can stay in a while. The strength and the depth in our batting lineup is superb. Which also includes 2 genuine world class batsmen in cook and root and even bairstow is making huge strides forward to that level. Then add stokes who could become an all round world great and to finish off we have 2 of the best bowlers in the world if not the 2 best. The future is englands to dominate world cricket.

 

[silvergull]

Watching tailenders slog the ball is one of my favourite cricket things

 

[Bobbin']

Apart from finney and Jimmy every one of our other players are capable of a ton. And even those 2 can stay in a while. The strength and the depth in our batting lineup is superb. Which also includes 2 genuine world class batsmen in cook and root and even bairstow is making huge strides forward to that level. Then add stokes who could become an all round world great and to finish off we have 2 of the best bowlers in the world if not the 2 best. The future is englands to dominate world cricket.

Agree almost completely.

The number 3 spot needs addressing, someone really needs to stake a claim for it and unfortunately, it's not Compton for me.

It's difficult to judge playing against this riff raff but Hales is steadily improving and I like him and Cook opening together, Bairstow has been phenomenal since coming back in and even Vince showed a lot of potential in his first couple of innings, would like to see him stick around for a bit. I love the look of this side.

It's great that this thread mentions so many promising youngsters too, exciting times for England cricket.

 

[silvergull]

Shift Ali to 3 is the obvious call

 

[blademan89]

Agree almost completely.

The number 3 spot needs addressing, someone really needs to stake a claim for it and unfortunately, it's not Compton for me.

It's difficult to judge playing against this riff raff but Hales is steadily improving and I like him and Cook opening together, Bairstow has been phenomenal since coming back in and even Vince showed a lot of potential in his first couple of innings, would like to see him stick around for a bit. I love the look of this side.

It's great that this thread mentions so many promising youngsters too, exciting times for England cricket.

I fully agree about Compton it does need addressing but it won't hold us back. The next 3 or 4 years are ours to dominate basically until Jimmy and broad are finished.

 

[JJH]

Shift Ali to 3 is the obvious call

Ali facing the relatively new ball? Not so sure about that - you need to have some balance in the line-up, you can't have a top order full of sloggers (barring Cook, obviously).

 

[silvergull]

Ali facing the relatively new ball? Not so sure about that - you need to have some balance in the line-up, you can't have a top order full of sloggers (barring Cook, obviously).

Anyone whose watched him at county level would suggest he'd make a fine 3. He's no more a slogger than root

 

[silvergull]

Lovely reverse sweep from Anderson. Glorious.

 

[JJH]

Anyone whose watched him at county level would suggest he'd make a fine 3. He's no more a slogger than root

I have watched him at county level, he's not a watchful batsman - his strike rate is over 50. That's not a criticism, but when you lose a wicket early doors you need someone to come in and steady the ship - now I'm not saying that's Compton, but someone of that ilk.

 

[.V.]

I fully agree about Compton it does need addressing but it won't hold us back. The next 3 or 4 years are ours to dominate basically until Jimmy and broad are finished.

Vince to 3, Bairstow to 5 and Jos in at 8 and keeping?

 

[blademan89]

Vince to 3, Bairstow to 5 and Jos in at 8 and keeping?

Possibly in the future yes but I wouldn't push bairstow too quick just yet. Let him get a few more tons on board and become a fully equipped international batsmen. But yes I like the sound of the initial idea.

 

[lordofthepies]

Vince might be a test match number 3 one day but he isn't yet.

 

[lordofthepies]

Next Friday will be good it always is. The only game that matters really

The game that matters starts tomorrow.

 

[mowgli]

Ali facing the relatively new ball? Not so sure about that - you need to have some balance in the line-up, you can't have a top order full of sloggers (barring Cook, obviously).

We tried that in one day games and it was a bloody disaster.

 

[blademan89]

The game that matters starts tomorrow.

Good point.

 

[Super_horns]

Nice innings from Ali after a few doubts about his batting.

Time for Jimmy and co to do the business again with the ball.

 

[RavenBish]

still wouldn't pick Woakes, never once looked like an international bowler, then again he probably wouldn't need to against this Sri Lanka side.

Yep

 

[Skinner]

The game that matters starts tomorrow.

IPL?

 

[mowgli]

Fuck me the Sri Lankan batsmen have given up and probably just want to go home.

 

[lordofthepies]

IPL?

You'd better be joking.

 

[Skinner]

You'd better be joking.

Of course I'm joking.