The Cricket Thread

[Aber gas]

Craig Overton has been called up to the odi squad as cover for Jordan . Really pleased for the lad and really deserved . It can sometimes be difficult to break through as a bowler at Taunton but he's a talented lad and won't let anyone down if he plays .

 

[Super_horns]

Will he come straight in or David Willey play?

 

[Aber gas]

Bit harsh on Willey if he doesn't play having been named in the original squad . I imagine Craig has been brought in just in case anyone else gets injured and for a bit of experience of being around the england set up .

 

[silvergull]

Batting first is a brave choice this morning. Instinctively feels wrong, but we'll see.
Wood and Willey are are for the injured plunkett and Jordan. Both senior bowlers out for the series, so a chance to stake a true claim

 

[silvergull]

Both openers gone in 3 Balls. Ball is moving, and looks the wrong decision at the toss. Pitch is flat, and so batting should get easier as day goes in.

Time to regroup

 

[Saddlerrad]

I'm watching this innings so be prepared for it to be awful.

 

[spireite]

We need to step up this run rate hugely here

 

[Saddlerrad]

Morgan needs a big hundred here to make his slow scoring rate worthwhile. It's effectively a T20 game now. Say we do well and score 200 in that 20 overs, that's 365 - and not enough.

 

[Saddlerrad]

Hmmm Buttler out thrashing at a ball so wide it would have been a wide.

229-5 after 38 and I would imagine that's the chance of a competitive score (based on this series) down the pan.

320 tops.

 

[silvergull]

Hmmm Buttler out thrashing at a ball so wide it would have been a wide.

229-5 after 38 and I would imagine that's the chance of a competitive score (based on this series) down the pan.

320 tops.

We'll get to 375 which will be more than competetive I think. I also think Rashid will get a fair bit of turn.

 

[JJH]

Fantasic batting this from Stokes and Billings, very much kicking on and pushing up the run rate.

350+ is looking possible again after these last few overs.

 

[Saddlerrad]

I may have underestimated Billings. Stokes can be brillant but very unreliable. Looks good and gets out, which is why I feared we may struggle. Problem is, if these lower order guys are making it look so easy now....NZ could come out without any cloud and cream it round for 50 overs like this. (Or at a higher click than us for starters).

 

[JJH]

Billings out playing a silly shot, but still a good knock.

In comes Rashid, he can swing a few.

 

[Saddlerrad]

You just need players capable of scoring a quick 25-40 here aslong as Stokes stays in. If he gets out, we will fall easily short of a good total in comparison to the rest of the series IMO.

 

[Saddlerrad]

1st ball duck for Rashid.

290-7 from 42. Could be bowled out sub 320.

 

[JJH]

Golden duck.

All hopes lie on Stokes.

 

[Bobbin']

Great knock from Billings, pleased for him.

Bit of inexperience trying to get every ball to the boundary but did his job at number 7 well, a quick 34 from 15 balls and helped push the run rate up. Shame, a good partnership was developing there.

 

[silvergull]

Could have done with a few overs of Rashid.
Do you now look to bat 50 or keep going?! Willey can bat

 

[Saddlerrad]

Plunkett can smash it, I'd be telling Stokes to bat the 50 because he will naturally score a boundary per over and the innings lies around him batting it out, let the others take a few risks at the other end. If it comes off, you may get 370, if it doesn't and stokes bats 50 you may get 340 etc.

 

[silvergull]

plunkett isn't playing

 

[Bobbin']

Plunkett isn't playing mate.

 

[silvergull]

Stokes bowled backing away. wheeler has taken some important wickets.

 

[JJH]

Stokes gone

 

[Saddlerrad]

Oh shit yeah.

Stokes out 298-8 and game over. Stokes can be like that. Look great and get out. 320 a struggle now and 2-1 NZ barring a brillant individual bowling performance from someone.

When's the next game?

 

[JJH]

Oh shit yeah.

Stokes out 298-8 and game over. Stokes can be like that. Look great and get out. 320 a struggle now and 2-1 NZ barring a brillant individual bowling performance from someone.

When's the next game?

Wednesday I believe.

 

[JJH]

Going to be bowled out here.

 

[Saddlerrad]

Perfect, my only day of the week off!

 

[silvergull]

I have no issues with this. This is how you learn. However you look at it, we still passed 300. We've progressed well, but will stumble from time to time

 

[silvergull]

302 all out. Wrong decision at the toss, but time for our young bowlers to learn.
Clever work from Mccullum and Nz. Excellent captaincy

 

[Saddlerrad]

I have no issues with this. This is how you learn. However you look at it, we still passed 300. We've progressed well, but will stumble from time to time

Absolutely. As Nass just said, you need this experience to get better and prolong an innings more consistently. Big collapse, but it can happen in ODI cricket. 300 three times in a row is a great push on, against the second best side in the world. Some good innings again but it's going to take time to properly work out and grow in the ODI game to become a real CONSISTENT threat.

Well bowled NZ. I'll go with 303-4 in the 42nd over.

2-1 NZ, it looks a nice day on Wednesday so let's go again!