The Cricket Thread

[Destruction]

Is it a 12.30 start?

 

[Jackinky]

1 o'clock I think.

 

[DarkSithLord]

1 o'clock I think.

Yes Correct 1 AM

 

[Saddlerrad]

Can't see us doing much, but NZ are occasionally a good candidate for a complete 'off-day'. Scotland had them worried a few days back with only 150 on the board. It's imperative we had 5-6 wickets left going into the 40th over.

 

[JonBCFC]

Massively rate new Zealand's batting, not so much bowling attack. And they have a better captain than us. We'll lose.

 

[Saddlerrad]

I think NZ have a really good ODI side, if they hit anything like form then they should get to the semi final at least and be favourites to win that. Boult and Southee are an excellent opening partnership, but if you can ride through that - there are runs to be scored.

 

[RavenBish]

Vettori is notoriously good at strangling batsman to be fair but yeah, their batting is stronger than bowling when they're on it. Williamson is probably the key, he's fucking brilliant. Having said that, they were far from impressive against Scotland.

 

[Saddlerrad]

Williamson is NZ's version of Root. Likeable young lad with good attitude, good solid young batsmen with a bit of part time off spin to boot. Both future captains.

 

[Destruction]

Yes Correct 1 AM

Aw wat, poxy time difference.

 

[DarkSithLord]

Here here Dessy. Shite aint it.

 

[Saddlerrad]

England win toss and bat first. Would rather we chased to be honest. 350 needed with our bowling attack and NZ's strong field being the batting.

 

[Saddlerrad]

Outfield seems slower than it should be.

 

[RavenBish]

Williamson is NZ's version of Root. Likeable young lad with good attitude, good solid young batsmen with a bit of part time off spin to boot. Both future captains.

He's far better than Root for me.

No idea why seamers aren't just going full & straight on these wickets, anything with any width is getting swatted away. Short boundaries here, anything under 300 is pretty pathetic.

 

[JJH]

TMS is keeping me reliably informed for the night.

 

[Saddlerrad]

We won't bat long enough to make 300. Losing wickets again all too soon. 2 crackers from Southee though.

 

[RavenBish]

Ali too late there. His problem against short deliveries causes him so many problems overall, rather infuriating for an opening batsman in limited overs to not have a decent cut or pull shot in their arsenal. Now for Root and Ballance to either start a collapse or plod on at 4 an over - classic England top order play.

Get Hales in and push Ali down to 6 again.

 

[JJH]

Here comes the latest collapse, batting paradise, and we find ourselves with the two openers being dismissed with only 7 overs gone.

Miles off the pace in this form of the game.

 

[Saddlerrad]

Bish has it nailed. We either collapse here or end up 120-2 after 35. Ballance is another no in ODI.

 

[RavenBish]

Agree 100%. I like him in general as our Test number 3 but him and Root at 3 & 4 are just indicative of how England don't 'get' modern day limited overs cricket. Their mentality, the way they stand in the crease - they're so watchful. You talk about partnerships but even if these last 10 overs together, who's the aggressor once they both get in?

 

[Saddlerrad]

He's just another, score 70 from 90 balls in the anchorman role, then get out by playing an uncomfortable looking attacking shot that run rate pressure forces. Sure, his average doesn't suffer, but the team does. This is where we miss KP. Even a power puncher like Carberry or Kieswetter. Just someone liable to score a boundary an over. Ballance and Root are the rest future, but they are ODI players of the passed.

 

[RavenBish]

The state of Ballance here, I reckon he's going to need 50 balls just to start hitting the middle of the bat. 60m boundaries and he can't even get it off the square.

Carberry wrote this morning in the Mail that he'd have Hales and Roy opening. I wouldn't call that ideal or remotely reliable but at this point I don't see what England have to lose. Ali can easily drop down the order and I can't see how dropping Root, Bell or Ballance would be any great travesty. They need to start blooding limited overs players the same way they do Test players but for some reason they're not interested in Hales and Roy because neither look like Test openers.

 

[Saddlerrad]

Ballance is all over the place. He's a walking LBW to any ball that swings back in. Being back in his crease constantly won't help.

 

[SpireiteDan]

Ballance smashing them around the park......

Is there any danger we might learn how to play ODI cricket sometime?

 

[Saddlerrad]

Ballance smashing them around the park......

Is there any danger we might learn how to play ODI cricket sometime?

No, literally never. Ever, lol.

 

[Saddlerrad]

Thank you and goodnight. Like a lamb to the slaughter. I'd have Taylor at 3 and Bopara in. Bed time.

 

[RavenBish]

I'd be mortified if I played that shot in the fucking nets. Embarrassing.

 

[SpireiteDan]

Fuck off Ballance, pointless innings.

Dig in lads, we can still claw our way towards 3 figures.

 

[RavenBish]

Morgan looking good early.

 

[RavenBish]

Ian Smith breathing incredibly loudly is making this weird viewing.

 

[RavenBish]

Ah fuck off Morgan, shite, bed time