The Cricket Thread

[hodge]

'Cook is a hooker' great out of context quote

 

[JJH]

100* for Cook, and at a just under 50 strike rate as well - not at all shabby.

Fantastic knock from the Captain, and he's really started to grab this game by the scruff of the neck and has lead by example.

If he can go on and get a few more that will be helpful as well!

 

[hodge]

Back to back hundreds, should mean some people stop questioning his batting for a bit now. Now needs to push on.

 

[Mustard]

Yep. His batting should never have been under question, class is permanent and all that. Happy for him.

 

[hodge]

Reckon umpires call on line

 

[hodge]

Reckon umpires call on line

Easy

 

[Skinner]

Captains innings

Let's see how Stokes gets on with having to defend his wicket rather than the style he needed to deploy in the 1st inns

 

[JJH]

New ball has been taken.

 

[JJH]

50 for Stokes off 57 balls.

Another good knock from the young lad.

 

[SpireiteDan]

Stokes smashing it around now, hopefully he gets his 100.

 

[JJH]

Stokes having some great fun out there.

95 from 82 balls for him now.

 

[silvergull]

Incredible knock by Stokes. The sides feeling balanced. You need players like cook to set the foundations for Stokes and Buttler.

I'm wanting 350 lead though. The declaration decision will be a tough one

 

[SpireiteDan]

There it is, brilliant knock!

 

[hodge]

Top work from Stokes, let him go for it this evening I'd say, have Cook stick around and keep stokes on strike/put away bad balls.

 

[hodge]

Still not sure I rate his bowling that highly but the lad can definitely bat, found our #6 for a while.

 

[JJH]

Ben Stokes hits the fastest ever Century at Lords.

Absolutely magnificent from the young lad.

 

[JJH]

Stokes out.

Fantastic innings - very well done young man.

 

[Mustard]

Cook, Root and Stokes have got us right back in this. Great knock.

 

[blademan89]

Quality attacking positive cricket. How it should be id hold back on rushing for a new coach if farbrace has intentions of playing games like this then fair play to the bloke

 

[JJH]

Cook 150.

Brilliant.

 

[Modernist]

Hopefully we'll go all out tomorrow to score a quick 60-70 then declare with intent.

 

[Pyeman]

Yeah, I definitely think we need a few more runs before declaring.

There seemed to be mixed opinion on the BBC text page, but I think we should give ourselves the first hour and hope that Moeen can score quickly with Cook adding a few himself, then have a go at them for 30 minutes before lunch.

If we can go into the afternoon session with them 2 down and still needing 300 to win, we're in with a good chance of winning with minimal risk of them chasing down our total.

 

[Mustard]

By batting for a bit tomorrow morning it will also give Cook a chance to evaluate what the bowling conditions are like. He might fancy our chances quite early tomorrow and declare if he reckons our bowlers can get in amongst the wickets. It's definitely going to be a balancing act, but I'd like to see Cook be a little less conservative. Lords isn't always the easiest place to score runs.

 

[Pyeman]

Definitely. If the last few days have shown us anything it's that batting generally gets easier as the day goes on. We need to score quickly in the morning in order to amass a decent amount of runs whilst still giving our bowlers the chance to take advantage of the early conditions.

 

[silvergull]

So this mornings rumour is at Bayliss has been offered the job. I would be very dissapointed if that's the case. If Gillespie wants it I'd love him to get it

 

[spireite]

This could be interesting if NZ skittle through the tail here, needing 350+ to win... they're very capable

 

[silvergull]

I only saw the DRS replay of Cook once, but it didn't look conclusive he hit it.
The hotspot seemed to show he clipped the pad, but didn't see anything else on it. Which also explains the snacks.

I'm sure I'm wrong as it's not really been mentioned.

Broad bowled. A shame as he attacked the short ball. The Yorker causing havoc with him again. Useful 10 runs though. Another 20 or so runs will be useful. Set just over 4 an over. Concerned we're about to lose the second new ball though

 

[SpireiteDan]

Stuart Broad is batting 1, if not 2 places too high.

 

[blademan89]

FUCKING DECLARE you negative bastards

 

[JJH]

Thank fuck he's just cleaned up the tail - should have declared before play this morning.

77 Overs left - doubt there's going to be a result.

Everything is so negative with Cook - he doesn't have the bollocks to play risk Cricket and dangle the carrot for them and let us have a go for the win.