The Cricket Thread

[Skinner]

India 82-4 with 21 overs left, and they look a bit nervy.

One or two wickets in the next 8 overs will send them into real panic mode, I don't think they're prepared for situations like this as they've rarely experienced it. Need to get Ashwin and Jadeja, or in an ideal world Kohli, as I feel that wicket would see them implode and a proper lol collapse.

 

[Super_horns]

4 down now - we managed to collapse in a session last time out so maybe the tables can turn.

 

[Skinner]

If there was ever a moment perfect for Ben Stokes... Come on lads, just one wicket will shit them up

 

[RavenBish]

A winning draw.

Very good performance all-round. pleasantly surprised - need to be wary of the next match though where it's gonna spin like a motherfucker from ball 1 and they struggled with those conditions in Bangladesh

 

[Skinner]

Very good day 5, dominated it. The declaration was a fair call, hindsight will put it down to cautiousness as usual.

Would be interested to see where this India side stand, but it's hard to judge when 80% of their games are played in India. Would be tempted to put them below Pakistan and ourselves.

 

[lordofthepies]

Very good day 5, dominated it. The declaration was a fair call, hindsight will put it down to cautiousness as usual.

Would be interested to see where this India side stand, but it's hard to judge when 80% of their games are played in India. Would be tempted to put them below Pakistan and ourselves.

In the last 3 years, India have played 9 tests at home and 21 away from home. think your maths might be a bit off.

 

[Skinner]

Last year or so I'm on about, this side is different to the one 3 years ago. New captaincy to boot too.

 

[Camborne Gills]

Australia . That is all

 

[Ciderhead]

Lost their last 8 wickets for 32 runs. Lost by an innings and 80 runs overall.

Bring on the Ashes!

 

[lordofthepies]

That is fantastic news. I'm a little bit disappointed to have no cricket to watch but I'm also delighted by that score. #LOLstraya #ausfailure

 

[Saddlerrad]

Massive toss to lose, this one will bat well first up and then break apart. Don't understand Anderson coming back for Woakes.

Hard not to be doomy.

Test lost by 200+ runs.

 

[Super_horns]

Well he (and Broad) took 2 early wickets which is a good start...

Trouble is that probably leaves India's 2 best batsmen in..

 

[Ciderhead]

Kholi dropped ffs. We're going to live to regret that aren't we?

 

[Super_horns]

Answer seems to be yes..

Tough day.

 

[RavenBish]

A turner my arse. Another subcontinent featherbed that will suddenly start spitting about on Day 4. Win the toss and you can't lose the match in India.

 

[JJH]

A turner my arse. Another subcontinent featherbed that will suddenly start spitting about on Day 4. Win the toss and you can't lose the match in India.

England's last six wins in India have come after losing the toss...

 

[MJA]

That is fantastic news. I'm a little bit disappointed to have no cricket to watch but I'm also delighted by that score. #LOLstraya #ausfailure

So there are some of our major cricketing opponents that you dislike then?

 

[lordofthepies]

So there are some of our major cricketing opponents that you dislike then?

I like all international cricket teams apart from South Africa and Australia. Obviously, I don't mind the Saffers when they're thrashing 'straya though.

 

[RavenBish]

England's last six wins in India have come after losing the toss...

Exactl...wait, what?

That's what this series has been like anyway, I'm sure India's had the odd raging turner in the past but we've been promised that twice in this series already - probably a bit spoilt after those crackers in Bangladesh that produced #goodtestmatchcricket

 

[Ciderhead]

Back to the script we all expected, then

 

[Super_horns]

Some doubts over Duckett and his defensive play already - surely its down to the batting coach to help him out?

http://www.skysports.com/cricket/ne...his-defensive-technique-says-michael-atherton

 

[Aber gas]

Another gone. How many do we fancy chasing then lads?

 

[lordofthepies]

I like your optimism!

 

[blademan89]

It's over this game move on to the next one try and level the series.

 

[DontBringBertie]

Surely if Woakes and Broad are fit for the next test we should go for 4 seamers and 2 spinners?

Difficult to see the point of playing 3 spinners when arguably none are test class. Ansari's selection is particularly puzzling - an average county bits and pieces player. Batty outbowled Ansari last season at Surrey yet can't get in the England team ahead of him?

 

[Ciderhead]

Surely if Woakes and Broad are fit for the next test we should go for 4 seamers and 2 spinners?

Difficult to see the point of playing 3 spinners when arguably none are test class. Ansari's selection is particularly puzzling - an average county bits and pieces player. Batty outbowled Ansari last season at Surrey yet can't get in the England team ahead of him?

Agree totally. He's in because of the balance it provides: left armer, leggie, offie; which makes sense in an ideal world. But as you say, if you're not good enough it's irrelevant

 

[Aber gas]

Agree totally. He's in because of the balance it provides: left armer, leggie, offie; which makes sense in an ideal world. But as you say, if you're not good enough it's irrelevant

I know of an in form, wicket taking left arm spinner.
I also know of an in form, no 4 batsman who is fairly good at playing spin but I wouldn't want to go on.

 

[Ciderhead]

Not so sure about Hildreth but Leach should've been in the squad for sure

 

[Aber gas]

Not so sure about Hildreth but Leach should've been in the squad for sure

I've seen a few recent articles/ tv debates about the dearth of talent in English spin bowling. It's all worthy in a handwringing sort of a way but missed the glaringly obvious. The England selectors dropped a bollock by picking a no mark like Batty and a limited cricketer like Ansari instead of a genuinely exciting spin talent. It's baffling, backward and bloody minded to the point of parody.
England probably should play another seamer in place of Ansari tbh.

 

[Ciderhead]

I've seen a few recent articles/ tv debates about the dearth of talent in English spin bowling. It's all worthy in a handwringing sort of a way but missed the glaringly obvious. The England selectors dropped a bollock by picking a no mark like Batty and a limited cricketer like Ansari instead of a genuinely exciting spin talent. It's baffling, backward and bloody minded to the point of parody.
England probably should play another seamer in place of Ansari tbh.

After coming out and saying what they did making the changes they did to the county system and encouraging the types of pitches that we had at Somerset to then go and completely disregard the main product of those changes was utterly bizzare. Especially when they picked instead Batty (citing experience, which is a bit moot when he's barely played a Test) and Ansari because....erm? I dunno. He can bat a bit? Which is ridiculous given the strength we already have in our lower order batting, any new bowler should be picked on bowling ability alone.