The Cricket Thread

[JJH]

Broad gets Latham with an inside edge caught behind.

Good start.

 

[JJH]

Broad strikes again!

Massive wicket.

 

[Mustard]

Good from Wood.

 

[JJH]

Get in

 

[Super_horns]

What would be a manageable target baring in mind there is 2 days left but a worsening pitch?

 

[Aber gas]

What would be a manageable target baring in mind there is 2 days left but a worsening pitch?

Tbh 300 is going to be pushing it , I would of thought considering the forecast .

 

[JJH]

Weather's going to have to come to our rescue here. No chance of winning this, not on a day 4/5 pitch at Headingley.

 

[JJH]

Jimmy gets the wicket of Ronchi.

Clear up the tail.

 

[JJH]

100* for Watling.

 

[Destruction]

Of fuck I forget it was a Tuesday finish, thought we only needed to survive tomorrow.

 

[Pilgrim Meister]

Game will be out of reach. When we are back in and batting, just knuckle down and bat as long as possible

 

[Reginald Fodstain]

Went down to Headingley today, t'was absolutely freezing, but great day's cricket.

 

[RavenBish]

Freezing at Trent Bridge too despite the sun.

Darren Sammy was proper brilliant, swung the bat, great bowling display and a massive showman. He was hanging around signing autographs and taking pictures for ages too afterwards, seems a top bloke. A shame he's only here for 4 games as he's cracking entertainment and exactly the sort of character Notts need. I suppose Lumb will open when he returns and Wessels will drop to be the 'finisher' though, so all is well.

Didn't see a lot of the Test today, New Zealand are fantastic. I can't see England batting out a draw unless they get a lot of help tomorrow with the weather.

 

[Saddlerrad]

Freezing at Trent Bridge too despite the sun.

Darren Sammy was proper brilliant, swung the bat, great bowling display and a massive showman. He was hanging around signing autographs and taking pictures for ages too afterwards, seems a top bloke. A shame he's only here for 4 games as he's cracking entertainment and exactly the sort of character Notts need. I suppose Lumb will open when he returns and Wessels will drop to be the 'finisher' though, so all is well.

Didn't see a lot of the Test today, New Zealand are fantastic. I can't see England batting out a draw unless they get a lot of help tomorrow with the weather.

Something I tried hard today to convey to my Grandad. They are a good side. Better and more consistent bowlers, more aggressive and versatile batsmen and the wild card in McCullum (both with the bat and the field). Simple. England aren't horrendous, but they aren't as good consistently as they played last week at Lords. I'm a big fan of Moeen, but he hasn't really held an end up very well at all since India last summer and that has left us a little bit short when we need a change. I also like Ballance, but I question his position at 3 and his form is absolutely awful at the moment. He is a young player, who will come very good in the future, but is he what England need for an Ashes summer against a couple of 90-95mph left arm pace bowlers? Hmmm.

It's no disaster. With the way this series has gone, It really wouldn't surprise me to see England bowl them out for another 30-40 tommorrow and then have a real good go at chasing the game. Bit of a shame from an entertainment point of view that the series won't be longer. But England can take some heart and tips from New Zealand on their performance here. They are number 3 in the world for numerous reasons currently. We are a side forming and about to take heed of new leadership. I can most certainly live with a 1-1 in this series and a good battle during the Ashes.

I have been very impressed by New Zealand for about 18 months now. They can take pride in their performance levels, the entertainment value and style of cricket they are currently playing. I'd sooner be averagely good but be brillantly entertaining than how we were under Flower, but painful to watch at times. Seriously.

 

[Reginald Fodstain]

Something I tried hard today to convey to my Grandad. They are a good side. Better and more consistent bowlers, more aggressive and versatile batsmen and the wild card in McCullum (both with the bat and the field). Simple. England aren't horrendous, but they aren't as good consistently as they played last week at Lords. I'm a big fan of Moeen, but he hasn't really held an end up very well at all since India last summer and that has left us a little bit short when we need a change. I also like Ballance, but I question his position at 3 and his form is absolutely awful at the moment. He is a young player, who will come very good in the future, but is he what England need for an Ashes summer against a couple of 90-95mph left arm pace bowlers? Hmmm.

Was impressed by McCullum today. Apart from one absolutely huge six off Moeen, he was uncharacteristically restrained, you might say, and played nice and sensible.

 

[Aber gas]

This test hasn't gone according to plan .but that's going to happen with a young , inexperienced side . The media can't have it both ways , last week england were the bright , exciting future of test cricket . Now they're fragile bottlers. England are neither of these things , they are a young side who need time to play together and work out how they're going to play in the future . Saying that ,there are some clear issues , bell has lost his form completely, at a time when we need him for his runs and his experience . Ali is not the answer to the spinning department . I know headingly in May is not a spinners paradise but as above posters have mentioned his inability to bowl a consistent length or hold up an end is really costing us .

 

[hodge]

This test hasn't gone according to plan .but that's going to happen with a young , inexperienced side . The media can't have it both ways , last week england were the bright , exciting future of test cricket . Now they're fragile bottlers. England are neither of these things , they are a young side who need time to play together and work out how they're going to play in the future . Saying that ,there are some clear issues , bell has lost his form completely, at a time when we need him for his runs and his experience . Ali is not the answer to the spinning department . I know headingly in May is not a spinners paradise but as above posters have mentioned his inability to bowl a consistent length or hold up an end is really costing us .

*Cough* Call up James Taylor *Cough*

 

[JJH]

Massive day this.

Realistically, we aren't going to bad out a day and a half on a day 5 pitch, so I'd have more faith in Cook's decision if they just went out there and gave it some wallop.

Can't see it happening - but importantly this morning we need to keep the target realistic, which means tying up the tail end quickly and efficiently, as they can do some real damage as shown in the previous innings.

Also - I hope they don't persist with this short ball shite to the tail Enders. It's Headingley for fuck sake, the ball is known to swing there, pitch the ball up like you've done for the other wickets you've gained. I'll never understand why short balls are bowled to tail enders who generally have no footwork and can only swing a bat - it gives them the opportunity to just throw their hands at it, and takes two potential ways of getting their wicket out of the game.

 

[hodge]

Seriously are the bowlers thinking of this strategy by themselves or is someone off pitch telling them to!? What happened during the series with their tail end should have been enough of a hint to not continue with the short into the body stuff. Bowl at the stumps and mix up your bowling with slower balls etc.



NZ declare, a fantastic display from them and a great team ethic to go by, no way should this just be a 2 match series, hope the next time they come over its a 3 match series. Surprised NZ have declared now tbh probably half hour play till lunch. Then 5 more sessions for England so a scoring rate wouldn't have to be anything out of the ordinary for England, just got to avoid losing regular wickets. Thought NZ would have kept going as they were until bowled out and try and put 500 up there as they would still have had 4 1/2 or 5 sessions to bowl England out.

 

[Skinner]

Strange declaration

 

[Pilgrim Meister]

NZ would also have the weather in mind, so a Declaration now makes sense. NZ want a result

 

[hodge]

Yeah just had a check and the rain is supposed to come in this afternoon

 

[Skinner]

Should have gone on to get a 500+ lead, England have got a chance here.

 

[Luke_1884]

Steady start.

#prayforrain

 

[RavenBish]

Big risk from NZ but teams should take risks to get a result, I think they're expecting rain this afternoon too.

England could chase this if they wanted to though. If Lyth and Cook can get a good start then it'll be all to play for tomorrow.

 

[hodge]

I'd rather see us lose and play positively trying to chase then blocking out hoping for a draw, will show we are going into the ashes with a positive attitude which is what we will need.

 

[spireite]

I'd rather see us lose and play positively trying to chase then blocking out hoping for a draw, will show we are going into the ashes with a positive attitude which is what we will need.

I agree with this. Whenever we've had success against the Aussies, it's because we've gone at 'em. The 2005 Ashes was the best of all time probably because we matched their aggression

 

[Pilgrim Meister]

Off for rain now. Hopefully its just a shower, as plenty of time to see this game out

 

[George Reilly's Hairpiece]

There's lots of rain sweeping up across Leeds according to the Rain Radar.

I'm surprised that NZ batted for as long as they did this morning. More what I'd expect from Cook rather than McCullum.

 

[Skinner]

They'll be back out at about 4:30, not a great deal of rain tomorrow either