The Cricket Thread

[hodge]

Also a great example of the saying shit takes wickets, Broad's bowled a few decent balls which beat the bat, then a nothing ball down leg and gets a wicket.

 

[hodge]

Think England have bowled maybe what, 1 ball that would have hit the stumps with the new ball, far too indisciplined from Broad and Anderson. Don't mind ones which swing away just outside off (like that one just now from Anderson which didn't carry) but they've bowled too many which start wide and stay wide/go wider.

 

[Super_horns]

Mccullum out but not before he got a quick fire 40...

 

[silvergull]

I nought broad bowled excellently. Looking like he's getting back into rythem after some rough injuries.

Gillespie happy to take over is great news. Very happy with that

 

[Aber gas]

Good bowling from Ali , games moving on a bit now . Got to restrict nz to lead of under 120 from here .

 

[JonBCFC]

I'd be delighted if Gillespie took over management, hoping he has a say in selection but I doubt it. Also he will know all about whether he thinks root is ready to captain this team, so will be interesting over the next few weeks to see if cook is stripped of captaincy

 

[Saddlerrad]

134 lead for New Zealand, cloudy skies and an out of form top 4. I'm willing to bet that England LOSE the game this evening. The correct way to play? 31 overs left in the day, 4 an over, come out and be attacking and fresh, dead even game at 120-2 say. What will actually happen is Cook, Ballance and co will sit deep, leave, defend, eventually bat that slowly that they get a good one and we will be say, 70-5 at stumps.

Utterly ridicolous, but very predictable.

 

[JonBCFC]

134 lead for New Zealand, cloudy skies and an out of form top 4. I'm willing to bet that England LOSE the game this evening. The correct way to play? 31 overs left in the day, 4 an over, come out and be attacking and fresh, dead even game at 120-2 say. What will actually happen is Cook, Ballance and co will sit deep, leave, defend, eventually bat that slowly that they get a good one and we will be say, 70-5 at stumps.

Utterly ridicolous, but very predictable.

Bit optimistic mate. We will never get 70 before close!

 

[Saddlerrad]

Lyth smashes 3 boundaries, then gets a good one and is caught at slip. I'm happy with what I've seen from him though that he is capable enough. Give me him over Compton/Robson etc everyday.

England 14-1 and just about to defensively bore the world to death and predictably collapse.

 

[Pyeman]

At least Lyth came out with some intent, and the bowler got him with a good delivery, rather than him throwing his wicket away.

 

[hodge]

As it's a general 'The Cricket Thread' are we using this thread for anyone playing and giving updates on how we all do? I got my first league 5 for today, 5-18 off 9.1 overs. Got told I was opening the bowling having had 2 nets since last season and 1 over in a uni match. Started with a wicket maiden, got taken off after 6 when I'd just taken my fourth wicket and got brought on for the last wicket when they took a liking to the spinner who replaced me. I'm a batting all rounder and the captain stuck me at 8 as he wants us to be a 'development team' (a term I hate as I want to play saturday's to win). I'm arguably the 2nd or 3rd best batter in the side so was surprised to be 8. But we only lost 5 wickets so didn't have to bat.

Funny side, can't see me being picked for the 1's next week as their probably won't need me as a bowler and sees me as a batter and didn't get a chance today, it's okay I'll stay in the 2's and bowl some more

 

[Skinner]

We need to bat all day today, require NZ 350-400 after the first hour tomorrow.

 

[JJH]

Bell gone first over of the day.

Fantastic ball, swung incredibly late - almost an unplayable ball.

 

[JJH]

Well, I was just typing out what a potentially fantastic days Cricket this could be if these two senior members of the squad stay in, but that didn't last long.

Still, Cook MUST score big, if there was ever a time to hit form, it's now. He's got a start, if he can feel himself in this morning, he can go on and hit a score.

Root in now, the man in form. Southee gives him an absolute corker first up - he's swinging the ball around corners in this first over.

 

[JJH]

Jimmy Anderson must be sat up in the dressing room shaking his head - he'd have an absolute field day bowling in this, reminds me of the conditions when we had India 8-4 last Summer at Old Trafford, the ball is doing a hell of a lot.

 

[Skinner]

Cook moves into the 40s, will reach half a century by 2 o'clock XD

 

[JJH]

Hard-fought 50 up for Cook.

Starting to find a bit of a rhythm, and has left well outside the off stump.

 

[JJH]

50 up for Root also.

Excellent partnership being formed between these two.

 

[Saddlerrad]

Couldn't really have gone any better than that to be honest. We lost Bell 3rd ball to a good one, but actually, with the way the ball hooped in the first hour or so we really could have lost 3 or 4 wickets. Root will get the plaudits, but Cook settled brillantly there after seeing off the new ball and then a rocky spell this morning.

 

[Skinner]

A century for Cook here would be massive for him. Would be back to back hundreds wouldn't it?

 

[SpireiteDan]

We've actually done well this morning and it's nice to see Cook in some sort of form again.

Ideally, get a healthy lead and see if we can put them under a bit of pressure tomorrow. Still work to do for us yet though.

 

[hodge]

Just noticed the stat that Cook's 50 saw him become the guy who has made the most 50+ scores for England

 

[Super_horns]

Captain's innings from Cook.

Just when he and England needed it most.

 

[hodge]

Something about Williamson's bowling looks awkward to face, looks as if it just drifts in more than expected.

 

[hodge]

Rookie mistake from Root, bloody obvious what Henry and NZ were trying for and he's given his wicket away.

 

[JJH]

Root falls into the short ball trap - but a fantastic innings nontheless.

Still only a slender lead, either Ali or Stokes need to stay with Cook here and make a proper score.

Partnership broken.

 

[Skinner]

Fuck

 

[Mustard]

Disappointing to see Root give his wicket away so cheaply but he's still done very well today. We still need one more big partnership to give us a chance though.

 

[hodge]

Love this field

 

[hodge]

One on the leg stump in 3, 2, 1.....