The Cricket Thread

[Saddlerrad]

Just goes to show how costly that farcical morning session on Saturday was. England have got to 300 - which is a really fantastic effort regardless of the fact we have lost, day 5 on a wearing asian wicket. We'd have won a lot of games chasing this score on the final day in times gone by.

 

[JJH]

Hell of an effort this by Rashid and Wood.

20 overs left to bat out, highly unlikely they'll do it but they've done well to get this far.

 

[Saddlerrad]

Been impressed with Imran Khan throughout the last couple of games. Keeps it tight, bowls straight and chips in with wickets.

 

[Super_horns]

7 overs to go...can Jimmy (and Rashid) save us.

 

[JJH]

Disappointing end, no idea why Rashid played that shot.

 

[Baz]

Sounded like a right battle out there. I heard Rashid threw his wicket away but he did for a long time at the same point which is never expected of a number err 7/8. If we can win the toss in the last test we'll give them a much better game methinks.

 

[Super_horns]

Trouble is we cannot rely on Cook and Root at the top - no wonder they have back problems!

 

[mowgli]

It's clear Ali is not an opener and needs to come in at maybe no 6.

 

[Saddlerrad]

From what I've heard we were obviously treading finely, but Rashid played a stupid shot and practically handed a win to Pakistan?! Obviously, he had done very well to get us to that stage and it's not his job even remotely to be saving test matches for us with the bat - but it's unforgiveable to play a shot to a spinner 7 overs from saving a test match with no wickets in hand? Am I just being harsh or is him playing at anything not completely brain dead and just handing the opposition a win?! Surely Bob will tear him apart on the Verdict.

 

[hodge]

Chuck Hales, in Ali down to 7 and boot out Buttler

 

[Baz]

Well he lasted 172 balls and decided the ball needed to be hit. I'd say it's rather unfair on Rashid as he batted for what almost 4 hours? It's not his fault we lost this test match.

 

[Saddlerrad]

Chuck Hales, in Ali down to 7 and boot out Buttler

You'd have to drop a bowler to swap Ali for a natural batsmen, that won't happen.

Well he lasted 172 balls and decided the ball needed to be hit. I'd say it's rather unfair on Rashid as he batted for what almost 4 hours? It's not his fault we lost this test match.

Maybe I'm being harsh, but if you bat 4 hours, why take a bowler on with 7 overs to go when your playing to save a test match? He mays well not have bothered for the previous 4 hours if he was going to do that. If KP had done it, the media would be having a field day frenzy, wanking themselves into friction burn territory about KP being the maverick again.

 

[hodge]

Hales for Buttler is the swap essentially, so not overly a loss in batting ability

 

[Saddlerrad]

Hales for Buttler is the swap essentially, so not overly a loss in batting ability

I suppose that would work - but if any batsmen needs bringing in, it's Taylor not Hales. We already have enough power-hitters, we need someone who can turn strike over and battle against in spin in the middle overs - that's not Root or Cook anyway.

 

[hodge]

I suppose that would work - but if any batsmen needs bringing in, it's Taylor not Hales. We already have enough power-hitters, we need someone who can turn strike over and battle against in spin in the middle overs - that's not Root or Cook anyway.

I've said Taylor should be in from the start, but Ali can't open, he's just having no effect there

 

[Matt_]

Until England can eliminate a disastrously bad session it will continue to cost them test matches as has consistently been the case for the last couple of years.

That said this side is performing markedly better in the UAE than the, then ranked number 1 in the world, England side who last toured the UAE and this side retains a very realistic chance of levelling the series next week, particularly if Cook can win the toss and England get first innings runs on the board.

I was very much against Moeen opening before the series started and, as expected, he's shown to be not up to the job but Farbrace has given a very strong indication that he will open in the third test. To be fair I'm not sure throwing Alex Hales in now, when he's had hardly any cricket of late, would be that sensible either, but he should definitely get the job in South Africa when the make up of the side probably reverts to one spinner.

Similarly with Taylor, bringing in players late in the day with modern tour itineraries is always a gamble due to the lack of cricket between test matches, but my gut feel is Taylor may handle this situation better than some.

On the face of it England clearly need to do something to the batting with only Cook, Root and Bell performing to a good or reasonable level so far, but what and who to change? The England selectors are quite rightly against chopping and changing these days but it looks like something has to change for the third test.

Dropping Bairstow could be considered quite harsh after only five games back in the side off the back of such fabulous performances for Yorkshire last summer, I'm not sure what sort of message that would send out.

Dropping Buttler and moving Bairstow to seven is a likely option but like others I have big reservations about Bairstow's glove work with Buttler the much better keeper as things stand.

However, I'd probably go with that in order to try and strengthen the batting, but very much be on the lookup for a much better quality keeper to put pressure on Buttler when he returns as I think he is sure to do once he gets his confidence back with the bat.

So Taylor in for Buttler for me as the only change.

 

[Matt_]

You'd have to drop a bowler to swap Ali for a natural batsmen, that won't happen.




Maybe I'm being harsh, but if you bat 4 hours, why take a bowler on with 7 overs to go when your playing to save a test match? He mays well not have bothered for the previous 4 hours if he was going to do that. If KP had done it, the media would be having a field day frenzy, wanking themselves into friction burn territory about KP being the maverick again.

I think you are being harsh and the comparison with Pietersen isn't a good one in this context.

Rashid was only playing his second test match and I doubt he has ever experienced anything like the pressure of this situation before, despite being a seasoned County cricketer. If Pietersen with 100+ test matches behind him, or another very experienced England batter, had played that shot they would be far more open to criticism in my opinion as the expectations on them to handle the situation would have been different.

 

[Mark kavanagh]

I would maybe play a spinner who can turn the ball too.... Its easy to do on a wearing 4th or 5th day pitch in asia but ali and rashids combined first innings figures are 4 for about 500 not good enough on a seaming english track never mind an asian track that breaks up early due to the heat

 

[Super_horns]

Mark Wood has been ruled out so either Plunkett or Patel to come in it seems..

Will we want to go with.3 spinners and lose a pace bowler?

 

[Baz]

Can't see the point in going in with 3 spinners as it'll be too much work on the two fit seamers.

 

[Matt_]

Given the impact the England spinners have generally made in this series to date there is an argument for including more pace bowlers.

The England pace bowlers have offered Cook a very good amount of control and kept the run rate significantly lower than the two spinners so far in this series. Unless it's a raging bunsen I can't see any reason to give any consideration to including Patel.

Wood's inability to last a whole test series in a concern, but to be fair to England they are managing the situation well.

 

[mowgli]

I'm for giving Plunkett a go, no way should we play 3 spinners,
both have been whacked for a hell of a lot of runs so far.

 

[Baz]

Buttler dropped, Taylor comes in. Bairstow keeping wicket.

 

[Super_horns]

Patel in and we've taken 2 early wickets but think we have done that before - then been undone by the middle order.

 

[Baz]

Currently 116/4 so i'd still say we have the advantage so far.

 

[Saddlerrad]

147-5 at tea..Anderson and Broads figures are an outrage. We have gone full loop though, 2 dead wickets to one that is turning square before tea. We will be all out for less than 100 in one of these innings, I'm telling you now.

 

[Baz]

147-5 at tea..Anderson and Broads figures are an outrage. We have gone full loop though, 2 dead wickets to one that is turning square before tea. We will be all out for less than 100 in one of these innings, I'm telling you now.

Haha, Peter Miller aka the Cricket Geek has said if Pakistan are all out for under 200 the match will be all over by tea on Day 3 with a Pakistan victory.

 

[RavenBish]

can't believe I'm watching Samit Patel playing Test cricket. - it's kinda great though. Just a shame about Hales, bit of a pisstake actually, the poor lad will probably make his Test debut against Steyn and Morkel in Durban or something.

Fucking hell, Stokes has just nearly made the best catch ever....and dislocated his shoulder in the process. Uh ohhh.

 

[Baz]

Advantage England after day one, however I really can't imagine Stokes being able to bat at all so now they only need to take 18 wickets instead of 20. Cook will need to really dig in tomorrow to see us post a lead.

 

[Saddlerrad]

Great day for England,absolute brillance from Jimmy and Broad - they really are one of the best sets of bowlers in history. The record says everything. I still don't even remotely trust England not to be 90 all out in 1 or both of these innings, so it's still advantage Pakistan for me at this point as they have something more than an abysmal score on the board.