The Cricket Thread

[Super_horns]

After that slow start generally was an excellent exciting knock.

 

[Super_horns]

Mahmood on fire again.

2 wickets.

Gregory chipping in well with bat and ball :

 

[kieran_vale]

You can tell he’s bowling well when the captain is happy to set test match type fields for you in the powerplay.

He really is becoming some bowler Saqib.

 

[Railway Blue]

There will be a problem for the selectors when the original squad have served their time!

 

[Super_horns]

Outstanding innings by Babar Azam.

Finally got a competitive game.

 

[kieran_vale]

What an absolutely magnificent win that is for England. To chase down that sort of total is a hell of an achievement. Vince and Gregory batted fantastically but from the start England took it on aggressively. Really speaks well to the whole culture around this ODI setup.

 

[Super_horns]

Another great win for England !

Well done to James Vince and Lewis Gregory who really set that up nicely.

 

[kieran_vale]

Given an interesting little conundrum ahead of the T20 series as all the first choice lads will be back. Personally I’d take out all who are in line for the India test series as they will have to do the whole bubble thing by the look of it and let the others play.

Love Phil Salts attitude at the top of the order. Just goes out there and tries to smash it regardless. Have to appreciate that.

 

[Super_horns]

Great effort by Livingstone to get us close but credit to Pakistan.

Outstanding score.

 

[Super_horns]

Great ending just getting over the line !

 

[SMH]

Anyone watching the Hundred? I've caught a few games and the cricket as expected is good, feel pretty much identical to T20 length wise. The women's games have felt like big events though, whilst the men's games pretty feel much identical to a T20 Blast match with the addition of fireworks and new graphics. No superstar players have signed up bar Rashid Khan, who has played for Sussex for years now.

It'll kill the county game long term no doubt about it assuming it's a success and expands. Fun to watch though, anyone buying those horrific shirts though needs a good shake down.

 

[lordofthepies]

Anyone watching the Hundred? I've caught a few games and the cricket as expected is good, feel pretty much identical to T20 length wise. The women's games have felt like big events though, whilst the men's games pretty feel much identical to a T20 Blast match with the addition of fireworks and new graphics. No superstar players have signed up bar Rashid Khan, who has played for Sussex for years now.

It'll kill the county game long term no doubt about it assuming it's a success and expands. Fun to watch though, anyone buying those horrific shirts though needs a good shake down.

I like the Manchester shirt and a couple of the others are nice but they're largely horrible. I'm not sure if it will kill the county game but priorities will change... There are some other pretty big signings, like Lockie Ferguson, de Grandhomme etc but I guess you'd say Rashid Khan, Sunil Narine and Quinton de Kock are the only real overseas superstars. I think there would have been more if not for Covid though... Also, I think the big difference between that and the Blast is that the big England stars have actually been able to play, although the test players will be done now but with no ODIs scheduled, there's a chance for people like Morgan, Moeen etc to play the whole thing. I have a few reservations and there's definitely some real problems with how it came about but the cricket has been very enjoyable and I think it will bring in new fans. I'm not sure they needed to invent a complete new format to do that though.

I went to the first Manchester game and was supposed to there today and have just been sitting in my front room forlornly waiting for the rain to stop... I'm going to see a game in Cardiff on Saturday as well and the Manchester game next week so praying for better weather.

It has provided some great exposure for the women's game too - women's cricket massively improved over the last 5 years or so and I'm glad they're getting a chance to show that to increased audiences although they haven't quite got the equality the ECB seemed to suggest they'd get in this tournament either.

In summary, I've got a lot of problems with The Hundred but I am enjoying the show but I still love county cricket!

 

[SMH]

I like the Manchester shirt and a couple of the others are nice but they're largely horrible. I'm not sure if it will kill the county game but priorities will change... There are some other pretty big signings, like Lockie Ferguson, de Grandhomme etc but I guess you'd say Rashid Khan, Sunil Narine and Quinton de Kock are the only real overseas superstars. I think there would have been more if not for Covid though... Also, I think the big difference between that and the Blast is that the big England stars have actually been able to play, although the test players will be done now but with no ODIs scheduled, there's a chance for people like Morgan, Moeen etc to play the whole thing. I have a few reservations and there's definitely some real problems with how it came about but the cricket has been very enjoyable and I think it will bring in new fans. I'm not sure they needed to invent a complete new format to do that though.

I went to the first Manchester game and was supposed to there today and have just been sitting in my front room forlornly waiting for the rain to stop... I'm going to see a game in Cardiff on Saturday as well and the Manchester game next week so praying for better weather.

It has provided some great exposure for the women's game too - women's cricket massively improved over the last 5 years or so and I'm glad they're getting a chance to show that to increased audiences although they haven't quite got the equality the ECB seemed to suggest they'd get in this tournament either.

In summary, I've got a lot of problems with The Hundred but I am enjoying the show but I still love county cricket!

You don't have to worry to be fair, your county will be fine, as will the other seven host venues. It's the smaller ones that will disappear. In ten years tops the English domestic system will be made up of 10 counties at the most that will play men and women's County Championship, 50 over competition and The Hundred under their franchise name (although by then they may have reverted back to a T20 format). Which make no mistake is the ultimate ambition of the ECB and TV broadcasters. The problem is the ECB have no power to make a move like that at present, the creation of the Hundred is their attempt to seize that power through the money and fanbase they hope it generates.

 

[Super_horns]

Ben Stokes to to take an indefinite break form cricket.

Ben Stokes withdraws from England Men's Test Squad

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) can confirm that England Men's all-rounder Ben Stokes will take an indefinite break from all cricket with immediate effect.

www.ecb.co.uk

Good luck to him on a full recover and he comes back refreshed

 

[Railway Blue]

Ben Stokes to to take an indefinite break form cricket.

Ben Stokes withdraws from England Men's Test Squad

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) can confirm that England Men's all-rounder Ben Stokes will take an indefinite break from all cricket with immediate effect.

www.ecb.co.uk

Good luck to him on a full recover and he comes back refreshed

When I first followed cricket in 1960 there were no one dayers and at the maximum 10 tests a year. Compare that to today's schedule and btw I am not following the Hundred as I think its an abomination. Test match cricket will suffer.

 

[PuB]

Huge respect for Stokes hopefully he can get back soon and get any help that he needs, it takes great strength to admit something isn’t quite right.

As for the hundred I’ve quite enjoyed it but it’s definitely not aimed at the traditionalists, nice to see lots of kids enjoying it though.

 

[oakroader]

Stokes… you’re a legend
I’m confused about this concept
On one hand it’s taken away the quintessential Britishness out of the game with the commercialism and Americanisms like time outs and disco noises…
On the other hand most games have been a good watch with edge of the seat finishing keeping us glued till the end
Nice to see families and kids and fancy dress and all that, but to me it’s just not cricket…

 

[Super_horns]

Another test - same old story !

 

[Railway Blue]

Looked forward to that today, but as Super Horns said same batsmen, same failures. Persevering with the top 3 and middle 2 is admirable, but it's just not getting any better.

 

[kieran_vale]

I think England have to give Hameed a go next time out. Sibley has had long enough for me. The techniques of many of our batsmen nowadays is horrendous.

I’m not saying this is the reason for today as this has gone on for a long time with the bat but the ECB by prioritising The Hundred right in the main bit of our summer and none of our players getting any first class cricket under their belt has probably not helped either. Surely it would be better for some of these to get time at the crease in the County Championship rather than smack a few balls for a cameo 30.

 

[Super_horns]

Root leading us to a lead over 200.

Be an interesting day tomorrow if the rain stays away!

 

[Railway Blue]

I think England have to give Hameed a go next time out. Sibley has had long enough for me. The techniques of many of our batsmen nowadays is horrendous.

I’m not saying this is the reason for today as this has gone on for a long time with the bat but the ECB by prioritising The Hundred right in the main bit of our summer and none of our players getting any first class cricket under their belt has probably not helped either. Surely it would be better for some of these to get time at the crease in the County Championship rather than smack a few balls for a cameo 30.

Just checked Haseeb Hameed's test record and averages 43.8 from 3 tests with a high score of 82. Still only 24. Also bowls. Get him in!

 

[Super_horns]

Potentially no Broad and Anderson?

Anderson and Broad could miss India Test

England could be without both James Anderson and Stuart Broad for the second Test against India at Lord's, which starts on Thursday.

www.bbc.co.uk

Will leave us short on experience but the talent might be there with Robinson and Mahmood plus Wood.

 

[kieran_vale]

Not been the greatest day for England after winning the toss. As it happens I think the team selection and decision to bowl first were all right just Rahul has really played a special innings.

Robinson and Jimmy kept plugging away really well. Curran has leaked a few too many for my liking though.

Also Root really needs to up his game on the use of DRS. I don’t think there’s another captain in the world who wastes them as much as he does on at best speculative punts. It’s going to cost at some point.

 

[Super_horns]

Not a bad day but will be relying on Root again I suspect

 

[kieran_vale]

I think there’s a good argument Root is maybe the best batsman in the world right now. Just looks like he’s playing on a different pitch to everyone else. Not sure how sustainable it is for England to rely on one man so much but it’s incredible to watch from him.

 

[Railway Blue]

I just knew that when the TMS team said that India have 4 'rabbits' to come that it would bite them on the arse. Now England 1/1 ~~ and could lose this.

 

[kieran_vale]

I just knew that when the TMS team said that India have 4 'rabbits' to come that it would bite them on the arse. Now England 1/1 ~~ and could lose this.

I love almost everything about our bowling except how we deal with tailenders and it’s has cost us big time here. Having played so well for the last three days one terrible session means we are fighting for survival and it’s down to Root again.

Am at the point with the openers it’s almost probably best admitting defeat and saying to get Hales and Roy in there and just tell them to whack it like it’s a power play and not worry about getting out. Burns and Sibley usually mean we are 20-2 regardless anyway.

 

[Super_horns]

What is going on?!

Snatching a likely defeat from the jaws of potentially winning .

 

[kieran_vale]

It’s all too predictable isn’t it. From the moment they came out with the wrong tactics this morning against the tail have just spiralled from there.

With Root back in the pavilion I’m not very confident in our chances but you can’t just rely on him to constantly bail us out.