The Cricket Thread

[hodge]

Ali to get out in the 20's I reckon, I reckon Cook could dig in here.

 

[hodge]

Just over 20 overs? mid 40's on the board 1 down I reckon.

 

[hodge]

I want to see more of the bird.... it was more interesting.

 

[Aber gas]

This is doing no good for Pakistani cricket in the medium/ long term. They have a rich legacy of fast bowling having produced Khan, akram, younis, ahktar and Gul amongst others. Can't see how this will continue playing on these turgid featherbeds, even the flattest dust bowls of Karachi had something for the quicks. It's a shame tbh.

 

[JJH]

Cook and Ali both through to the close unscathed.

 

[Baz]

Reaching close without loss is a good start. Need to bat out day three too but we shall see how the wicket acts up.

 

[Saddlerrad]

Need to take it session by session tommorrow. See if we can get through the first hour unscathed, then to lunch etc. I don't think the wicket will do that much different tommorrow, other than perhaps spin and bounce a little more - don't see much in it for the quicks, other than the odd bouncer/yorker from Wahab.

As it's England, I'm sure we will probably be all out just after lunch, but a positive thinking person shouldn't see 320-3 as impossible by stumps.

 

[JJH]

Really important 50* that for Bell, has battled through superbly and ground it out under some heavy pressure.

 

[kieran_vale]

I love to see England doing well which they are right now but this pitch is a disgrace. Absolutely nothing for the bowlers at all. Things like this are really bad for Test cricket.

 

[hodge]

England should just bat through and try to reach 1000

 

[Baz]

England should just bat through and try to reach 1000

Nah they haven't got enough time for that to happen they're scoring far too slow Cook scoring at 50 is brilliant compared to Bells 30

Oops cursed Bell

 

[hodge]

Well Wood's scoring well so we're all good

 

[hodge]

errrr

 

[Super_horns]

Cook with a solid captain's innings.

Him and Root should be able to build a big partnership.

 

[Ciderhead]

Fantastic from Cook yet again. Almost inevitable when he made it to the close last night that he'd go and get a big score, sums up how good he is that it was just never in doubt.

Good for Bell as well, was absolutely all over the shop when he first came in but managed to hang in there. Hopefully that will restore some much needed confidence.

What do we think from here? Bat on, push it up a notch, we could get to around 650 by close tomorrow. But let's face it, we're never bowling them out in a day on this pitch. Liking Botham's idea, just go on and on and on, don't bother with declaring and grind them into the dust.

And if Cook bats through tomorrow (and you wouldn't put it past him, if anyone can do it it's Cook) he'd be on 300 odd. Might be getting a bit carried away here but I genuinely think Lara's record could be on. You're never going to get a better chance to have a crack at it.

I'm not sure Cook would even if that scenario came up, he's the selfless type I imagine would put even the tiniest chance of team victory over personal glory. But I'd say go for it. It'd leave something memorable about a test match that's only ever going to drift towards a draw.

 

[Baz]

I don't think Lara's record would be on in all honesty. Cook would run out of partners by the time he got close going at the rate he's going. He'd need 800 balls to get to 400.

 

[hodge]

I'd just keep batting, we're never going to win, never going to lose (SHOULDN'T) so just use it as a glorified net and time in the middle and as said grind Pakistan down. Then you're either looking at some records on day 4 or nearly all out anyway and bowlers get a crack after a good rest.

 

[Modernist]

These pitches should be banned.

 

[Super_horns]

Is the situation still so bad that there is no way Pakistan can play at home?

India do and sometimes there are bombing/terrorist attacks there...

I guess its just not worth the risk?

 

[Ciderhead]

I don't think Lara's record would be on in all honesty. Cook would run out of partners by the time he got close going at the rate he's going. He'd need 800 balls to get to 400.

I don't know, he's not going too slowly. Strike rate over 50, keep that up he'd get there around tea on Day 5. Only 11 wickets in 3 days, on a pitch showing very little signs of deteriorating. You'd need 250 spread across the rest of the side, but 1 century from Root/Bairstow/Stokes/Buttler, or 2 of them get 70-80 odd... not beyond the realms of possibility...

Of course I'm being a bit tongue in cheek, it's a massive long shot (and he'll probably go and get out first ball tomorrow now!) But it is a very rare situation where there is the opportunity and the time to get such a mammoth score.

 

[Baz]

I don't know, he's not going too slowly. Strike rate over 50, keep that up he'd get there around tea on Day 5. Only 11 wickets in 3 days, on a pitch showing very little signs of deteriorating. You'd need 250 spread across the rest of the side, but 1 century from Root/Bairstow/Stokes/Buttler, or 2 of them get 70-80 odd... not beyond the realms of possibility...

Of course I'm being a bit tongue in cheek, it's a massive long shot (and he'll probably go and get out first ball tomorrow now!) But it is a very rare situation where there is the opportunity and the time to get such a mammoth score.

They'd shake hands by lunch on day 5 if England were still batting

 

[JJH]

Remarkable innings from Cook, 204* and looking strong.

 

[EricSabin]

Should just bat the next day and a half, get 80 overs into that Babar fella.

 

[JJH]

Cook's been out in the middle for bordering on 23 hours, ridiculous.

 

[Hooray]

Quite amazing that we're in the second session on Day 4, and Cook has been out there for all of it

 

[Saddlerrad]

Wahab has got it reversing and the new batsmen look a little but vulnerable currently - we may struggle to get any lead at all if this continues. Still not sure why Bairstow is in the squad, clearly he's has an amazing county season but the county circuit is so far away from any kind of good, fast, international bowling it's frightening.

Taylor would have been perfect in this scenario, slow, low run rate and England needing to push on a touch by rotating the strike and seeing if they can tire Pakistan out.

 

[Ciderhead]

Quite amazing that we're in the second session on Day 4, and Cook has been out there for all of it

Not quite, he was off for 10 minutes or so on Day 2 when he hurt his hand fielding. Lightweight

 

[EricSabin]

Has Cook been injured for any prolonged period of time before? The bloke is just a machine, doesn't even look tired (touch wood)

 

[JJH]

Cook out for 263, what an innings. Batted for 584 minutes.

 

[Ciderhead]

It was a no ball that got him, wasn't even close either. Terrible how you can't spot that at the time, let alone not even check. Something needs to be done about the no balls, get the third umpires on it or whatever.

Such a shame, he deserved to get the treble. Incredible knock.