The Cricket Thread

[Bobbin']

Agree that Ansari would have been selected based on his ability to bat a bit.

I personally would have dropped him for Jimmy, by dropping Woakes we are losing a genuine batsman which when India are scoring 455 in their first innings - could be very important and someone who is likely to take more wickets than Ansari anyway!

 

[Aber gas]

345 to go.
We've got this.

 

[Skinner]

Good stuff from the openers this

 

[Aber gas]

Pipe down Kohli. Not out

 

[Bobbin']

This is great test cricket.

Holding my breath during both those reviews!

 

[RavenBish]

that's utterly horrific from Cook with 5 balls left. Too far across his stumps, reaching with the bat - pathetic.

 

[Aber gas]

Gutting for Cook after that vigil. Some fantastic technique and concentration from both openers.

 

[Ciderhead]

I'd like to see Duckett come out and take the attack to them tomorrow morning. His defensive technique has looked decidedly dodgy and I doubt he'll hang around for too long if he just tries to block it out. But if he plays his natural game he won't have to be there for that long to start building some momentum and put the pressure back onto the Indians. If they've got the amount of runs in the back of their mind it will make life that much harder for them.

Whilst it was a supreme effort from our openers I was a little disappointed we don't seem to be even entertaining the possibility of winning the game. Even Broad in the interview afterwards it's all about can we save the game, can we bat out for a draw. I know it would be a Herculean effort to chase 400, but it would be to bat out 5 sessions whatever we score. We'd only need to go at 2.5 an over, I know the pitch is slow and bouncing unevenly and tough to score on but you don't have to take a huge amount of risk to go at that kind of rate. I thought we could've at least tried to play a few more singles. And then if you are looking somewhere on course to closing in on the target, that puts extra pressure on the bowlers and makes them more likely to make mistakes, and your life easier.

It's a great effort whatever happens but I thought we could've looked to go about it a bit more positively.

 

[Super_horns]

Taken to the cleaners so far today.

Good bowling but some rash decisions again.

 

[lordofthepies]

In these uncertain times, there's something almost reassuring about an England batting collapse.

 

[hodge]

Ha, somerset's Facebook page tagging the England page in a picture of James Hildreth saying 'this lad can bat a bit'

 

[Krazy8]

Been banging the Hildreth drum from day one haven't we Aber gas? Can't believe he's not in the side.

 

[Aber gas]

Been banging the Hildreth drum from day one haven't we Aber gas? Can't believe he's not in the side.

I have krazy8. He's not there though so England will have to look within the squad if they want to change summat. Duckett being replaced by Buttler would be the obvious one coming in at 7 with everybody moving up one. Debuting on an Asian tour was always going to be tough for Duckett and if he is to be dropped I hope he is not jettisoned completely.
Woakes for Ansari would be my other change unless they turn up to a absolute dust bowl.

 

[blademan89]

I have krazy8. He's not there though so England will have to look within the squad if they want to change summat. Duckett being replaced by Buttler would be the obvious one coming in at 7 with everybody moving up one. Debuting on an Asian tour was always going to be tough for Duckett and if he is to be dropped I hope he is not jettisoned completely.
Woakes for Ansari would be my other change unless they turn up to a absolute dust bowl.

Will be Woakes for broad won't it.

 

[Ciderhead]

Will be Woakes for broad won't it.

I'd have Ball or Finn in for Ansari in that case. Mohali's supposed to have a bit more for the seamers

 

[Aber gas]

Will be Woakes for broad won't it.

He's not definitely out yet is he? But yeah Woakes would be the replacement. Probably Ball for Ansari then.

 

[blademan89]

I'd have Ball or Finn in for Ansari in that case. Mohali's supposed to have a bit more for the seamers

Fell unlucky we don't have broad and Woakes both fit as well as Jimmy and Stokes then as let's be honest that's by far our main strength. I agree with you all about bringing Butler in too as I know it's a completely different format but he has a fair bit of experience of playing in india so maybe that could help a little. And yes I'd try ball for Ansari for sure.

 

[blademan89]

He's not definitely out yet is he? But yeah Woakes would be the replacement. Probably Ball for Ansari then.

Looking that way unfortunately. Ball,Woakes and Butler in for me.

 

[Ciderhead]

Thing with Buttler is he had similar problems in the UAE if I recall, but we don't really have any better options

 

[lordofthepies]

I'd always have Buttler in the team anyway. I know it's not exactly his natural format but I feel someone that freakishly special should just be in the test team.

 

[blademan89]

Bet the likes of Butler and ball are having an enthralling time in bangladesh and India for nearly 3 months and not even playing a game. They deserve to play on that alone.

 

[RavenBish]

Duckett's confidence is shot so he needs to sit this series out, he'll get another chance.

Buttler for me. His lack of production (and lack of playing time) in red ball cricket has always been the worry but he's obviously talented enough to be a bit of a wildcard - certainly over someone like Gary fucking Ballance.

I'd be verrrry tempted to move Bairstow up to 4 and give Buttler the gloves too.

Ball over Finn should be a no-brainer for Broad's replacement, deserves his chance more - I'd expect them to go with Finn though because they keep persevering with that weirdly - he must be unplayable in the nets.

 

[blademan89]

Duckett's confidence is shot so he needs to sit this series out, he'll get another chance.

Buttler for me. His lack of production (and lack of playing time) in red ball cricket has always been the worry but he's obviously talented enough to be a bit of a wildcard - certainly over someone like Gary fucking Ballance.

I'd be verrrry tempted to move Bairstow up to 4 and give Buttler the gloves too.

Ball over Finn should be a no-brainer for Broad's replacement, deserves his chance more - I'd expect them to go with Finn though because they keep persevering with that weirdly - he must be unplayable in the nets.

No way can we drop bairstow from the gloves he has improved massively so no need to as he's only getting better and better and better with bat and gloves. Let Jos concentrate on his batting and nothing else very very simple imo that.

 

[RavenBish]

Bairstow's a better fielder and more likely to move up the order, those are my only reasons really - I don't buy a lot of the psychological stuff - nor do I think keeping is any more physically demanding.

Pretty happy with the team providing Ball gets a shot in Ansari's absence. Batty won't offer you anything different than Rashid or Ali so the 3 spinners thing would be redundant in my book. The Finn era looks like never taking off. The one thing Ball will give you in these batting conditions is energy, he'll steam in every ball - I think Finn can be a bit sloppy and mopesy when it isn't going his way

 

[hodge]

Bairstow's a better fielder

Wouldn't be sure on that, watched Buttler field quite regularly back when Kieswetter was keeping and Buttler was often one of the better fielders.

 

[Super_horns]

Where would we be without Bairstow's runs!

Good to see Buttler doing well too.

Some shocking shots from the top order.

 

[Saddlerrad]

Probably the most vital period of the entire series this. England going well with India 180-5. The lead is 105. If England let India get a lead, they will lose and crumble to a 4-0 IMO. They get any kind of decent lead (even 25) and they can win this with the extra bounce and spin as India bat last.

 

[RavenBish]

Never. Pick. Batty. Again.

 

[Saddlerrad]

Game and potentially series gone in that last hour. They needed to be 8/9 down on this score. Fancy them for a 125 odd lead tomorrow.

 

[Aber gas]

Just catching up with the last session. Great run out.
Need to run through em later.