The Cricket Thread

[hodge]

Just seen the Bell drop.... wow

 

[Saddlerrad]

Just seen the Bell drop.... wow

Yep was a dolly, but Broad is just as culpable for bowling a no ball during a mid spell, it's not even like he was fresh coming on. It's more excusable when a youngster or someone with less experience does it, but Broad and Anderson bowling a no ball should happen on a once a year kind of basis.

Mark Wood's bowled excellently.

 

[hodge]

They said, something like 8 of England's 24 no balls this year have been wicket taking balls. I imagine the proportion is only that high because umpire's check when batsman are out as opposed to calling it themselves.

 

[hodge]

Is that all they have for DRS? FFS, just make all countries have the same equipment.

 

[kieran_vale]

Pleased England have another wicket but think Misbah has been stiffed there. Not sure there was anything there to overturn it.

 

[hodge]

Could hear the noise, but to say for certain it came from an edge? Not enough there to give it out for me.

 

[Baz]

England can be pretty pleased with their days work so far, getting four wickets down on the first day in Dubai is a massive bonus. If they can sneak another one or two in the final 14 overs they'll be delighted.

 

[kieran_vale]

Aye, they've stuck to their task well all day in fairness even when the wickets didn't fall. Rashid is starting to get some nice loop on his bowling and its reversing at the other end so definite positives in this last session.

 

[Saddlerrad]

England have bowled well, you would say it favours Pakistan currently (mostly due to the wicket) but if we can take a 5th with us, then it opens the door for us to try and keep them under 375. As it is, I think we've fallen away a little bit again so I'd expect Pakistan to finish 4 down.

 

[kieran_vale]

Fucking shocking that is from Bell. He needs to be taken out that slip cordon. He's done this too often. Could be very costly.

 

[Saddlerrad]

Fucking hell Ian. 2 easy catches dropped today. That one is even more vital if anything. Take 5 wickets home with us and we've done well, fresh batsmen facing a new ball tommorrow.

 

[Baz]

Pakistan have only lost 1 of the last 8 test series haven't they? Or is that just in Dubai? Either way they were always going to be a tough nut to crack, but we need to get them out for under 400 to get a positive result in this test.

 

[Matt_]

Today illustrates just how tough a place this is to play, most countries who have visited the UAE to play them in recent times have come second.

 

[ccfctommy]

Fucking hell Ian. 2 easy catches dropped today. That one is even more vital if anything. Take 5 wickets home with us and we've done well, fresh batsmen facing a new ball tommorrow.

That must be horrible in that heat. The no ball too.

 

[Destruction]

Time to put Belly out to pasture now I think, let's get the next generation bedded in before we get white washed in Australia again.

 

[hodge]

OR if Bell performs with the bat this series just move him out the slip cordon maybe?

 

[Baz]

Seems like it's been a very long morning so far :|

 

[Super_horns]

Chris Jordan in for Steve Finn - cover for the ODIs rather than tests I presume.

 

[hodge]

Would rather near enough any other seamer than Jordan being called up. Really don't rate him as an international player.

 

[hodge]

Don't get why England just haven't stuck a long off in yet, Pakistan are getting a ton of runs straight, yes they'd be able to pick off singles but they wouldn't be picking up 4's and make them work the ball elsewhere.

 

[Saddlerrad]

Stokes is bowling off-spin.

Painfully dull this is..492-4 Pakistan with tea just around the corner. We haven't given up and Cook's field settings have been decent, but we've offered zero threat and the spinners have looked like offering absolutely nothing. You can't expect much from Anderson and Co on this track. The Pakistan commentators are waffling on about how good the Pakistan top order is in the UAE - lol. If you bat even remotely competently on these tracks batting first..you could average 100. I'm fairly sure you could take a county side and play Australia on here and the county side would still get 500.

It's just a shame score board pressure and the threat of absolutely no chance of winning this game will see England's middle order collapse.

The ICC need to ban these wickets, I'm a hardcore test cricket fan and I'm nearly in tears after 10 minutes. Any floating fan would look at this and switch off immediately.

 

[hodge]

It's abysmal, it makes Taunton look like a minefield.

 

[hodge]

We're gonna win!!!

 

[Saddlerrad]

STOP THE PRESS.

Wood gets Shafiq LBW for 107.

 

[Saddlerrad]

2 wickets for Stokes, Malik out for 245 - he was dead on his feet.

2 catches for Ian Bell...

 

[Baz]

The ICC need to ban these wickets, I'm a hardcore test cricket fan and I'm nearly in tears after 10 minutes. Any floating fan would look at this and switch off immediately.

Totally agree with this. It's one thing having a flat dust bowl that bats brilliantly for 4/5 sessions but it's something completely different having a pitch that is doing nothing after 2 days. My bet is we'll see stupid cracks by the second session of day three, which Pakistan will be bowling on to a very tired England team.

 

[hodge]

Stokes with decent figures in the end, but what was that stat, something like 5 declarations for Pakistan in the last year or so in 'home' test matches? That's ridiculous

 

[hodge]

Spinners 0-284 in 64 overs..... Fatty Patel may actually get a game.

 

[Saddlerrad]

Totally agree with this. It's one thing having a flat dust bowl that bats brilliantly for 4/5 sessions but it's something completely different having a pitch that is doing nothing after 2 days. My bet is we'll see stupid cracks by the second session of day three, which Pakistan will be bowling on to a very tired England team.

I think the only thing that will change with this wicket is the chance of a little more spin and the odd one staying very low. But yeah, it's just not entertaining. Even the most traditional and attritional cricket fan won't have enjoyed this, not even remotely.

Stokes gets a 4th, decent figures for 4-57 from 17 overs. Spinners went for over 300 combined, 2 maidens and no wicket taking threat, very poor.

Pakistan declare 523-8.

IF* England can take a draw from this, there's lots to take from the game. As it is, there's an innings defeat inbound.

40-3 by the close of play with Root and Stokes at the crease.

 

[Baz]

England need to get in the shed without loss now, can't see it happening though.