The Cricket Thread

[Gashead]

Taylor gone, glad Root won't regret that drop a minute ago!

 

[silvergull]

Stunning again from broad. Full with a little bit of seam. Plumb again. Taylor gone cheaply

We now can't lose, so attacking fields can be kept in

 

[spireite]

Time to surround the bat and choke them

 

[Modernist]

Nothing negative about that at all. The second new ball had gone so a couple more overs doesn't really matter. Anderson was hardly blocking and wasting deliberirs. Chance your hand and throw the bat

Going to be close. Could do with either a magic broad spell or Ali finding turn. Be interesting to see how much it will turn for Ali. He'll get good bounce and drift up the slope.

New Zealand will try and chase this. I love test cricket

It would have been a little risky declaring but sometimes I would like to see us declare early, we have drew many test matches by declaring too late. It shows faith in your bowlers and a win at all costs is the attitude I like, but has never been Englands way and looks like it never will be. But I believe they did the right thing today.

lets hope we can get them all out cheaply.

 

[slaphead]

Shane Warne summed it up for me, best thing that happened to England today was to get bowled out. Cook would have batted to lunch otherwise, got 400+ in front and settled for the draw. He has this negative mentality that is pervading English sport now, and that is to try not to lose, rather than trying to win. I would guarantee if this game was the other way round, McCullum would have batted 45mins then got England in.

Cook is showing it now, where the fuck is the spinner? Get spin on one end and rotate the seamers in 4 over bursts from the other. With both McCullum and Anderson carrying knocks, there is no way NZ were going to chase this, so we should have got them in early and given ourselves maximum time to try and win the game.

 

[JJH]

Stokes gets a massive wicket with a fabulous bouncer.

In comes the Captain.

 

[St Nick]

McCullum didn't fancy batting on the first day

 

[JJH]

STOKES BOWLS HIM FIRST BALL!!!

61-5!!!!

 

[St Nick]

and that's why

 

[silvergull]

This is a really balanced bowling attack that just lacks a front line spinner.
Anderson with swing, broad with movement off the pitch, aggression from Wood and a pure wildcard in stokes. Great bowling this.

Regards to cook 'batting til lunch'. What from this mornings batting performance gave any indication of that?! None of the batsman were blocking and wasting overs. They all went hard at the ball. A bizare comment to say the least

 

[gingerbeardedrunningman]

Let's hope this game is the making of Stokes-ey!

 

[silvergull]

A long time since I've heard an atmosphere like is at Lords

 

[Super_horns]

Stokes really has be inspired!

 

[Mustard]

Stokes has been incredible.

 

[Saddlerrad]

Regardless of the 2 wickets, Stokes set that up with those first 2 deliveries in the over. Absolute jaffers. The first one that took off was absolutely immense.

 

[JJH]

Some incredible bowling here from Ben Stokes on show.

 

[Gashead]

Wishful thinking that Stokes can get the remaining 5 wickets in the next half hour so I can watch the Play-Off Final?

 

[JonBCFC]

Stokes has been brilliant this test. The closest person we've had to replace Freddie flintoff in years imo.

Hopefully he pushes on and becomes a mainstay in this team.

 

[silvergull]

The bowling of Wood also deserves some praise. Love his movement in the delivery stride. Great aggression and not letting the batsman settle.

The dark days of Saker are over!

 

[gingerbeardedrunningman]

Stokes has been brilliant this test. The closest person we've had to replace Freddie flintoff in years imo.

Hopefully he pushes on and becomes a mainstay in this team.

Agreed! Another good test from him, Root and Wood...Ashes is becoming at least a little bit more interesting!!

 

[Saddlerrad]

I've also been impressed with Wood. He looks strong in the upper body, hits the pitch hard and bowls around 90mph, something we have lacked since Harmison/Jones. I suspect he would be VERY handy at somewhere like the WACA.

 

[spireite]

He doesn't just try the same line and length over and over when it's obviously not working either. He mixes it up. I love it when he breaks from his normal run up right at the end and drifts wide, must really throw the batsman. I bet he hits the bat really hard

 

[silvergull]

I'm hopeful that Wood also gives us someone who can blow away a tail. Time will tell, but that's something we've missed for far too long

 

[spireite]

He doesn't just try the same line and length over and over when it's obviously not working either. He mixes it up. I love it when he breaks from his normal run up right at the end and drifts wide, must really throw the batsman. I bet he hits the bat really hard

I'm hopeful that Wood also gives us someone who can blow away a tail. Time will tell, but that's something we've missed for far too long

We sound weird.

 

[EricSabin]

Bit of work to do yet! Jimmy should come back fresh for a burst soonish you'd think

 

[EricSabin]

Was watching the football and didn't realise Anderson was already bowling and had had an over! Move over Bayliss, Im having the job

 

[Saddlerrad]

Need to get 1 of, if not both of these out if we really want to feel confident of a victory. I can see it being a role reversal of Prior saving us in Auckland..perhaps Anderson doing the same for NZ here.

 

[Mustard]

Big wicket there. Watling gone.

 

[JJH]

Hurrah - a breakthrough!

 

[JJH]

Root gets Anderson plum for 67!

Ave it!