The Cricket Thread

[blademan89]

£50 double on van gerwen to win darts and eng to win the series. Returns me £420 im feeling very confident about it.

 

[JJH]

Fantastic effort with the ball.

They won't reach anything over 300 batting last on this pitch, should see this out from here.

 

[blademan89]

Fantastic effort with the ball.

They won't reach anything over 300 batting last on this pitch, should see this out from here.

Bearing in mind our best bowlers injured too it was a cracking effort. Although saying that broady really steps up to the plate when jimmys out roll on wednesday morning cant wait to get out there

 

[JJH]

Bearing in mind our best bowlers injured too it was a cracking effort. Although saying that broady really steps up to the plate when jimmys out roll on wednesday morning cant wait to get out there

Broad is one of the most underrated bowlers I've ever seen bowl for us, him and Anderson are a superb duo. Broad stepped up to the plate on the first couple of days and was superb with the new ball, and he did the same in The Ashes when everyone was panicking that Jimmy was out.

Moeen bowled well this morning - he's never going to be an economical bowler as he bowls far too many loose balls, but he has this nac of taking wickets and he gets a lot of spin as well.

Have fun out there mate, hope the weather holds out for ya!

 

[slaphead]

...roll on wednesday morning cant wait to get out there

Lucky bastard, wish it was me! Heard them say this morning over 10,000 are booked out from England over this series. Good effort that, though it is a very attractive to tour to go on.

 

[blademan89]

Broad is one of the most underrated bowlers I've ever seen bowl for us, him and Anderson are a superb duo. Broad stepped up to the plate on the first couple of days and was superb with the new ball, and he did the same in The Ashes when everyone was panicking that Jimmy was out.

Moeen bowled well this morning - he's never going to be an economical bowler as he bowls far too many loose balls, but he has this nac of taking wickets and he gets a lot of spin as well.

Have fun out there mate, hope the weather holds out for ya!

30 odd degrees every day forecast in cape town not too shabby.

 

[JJH]

Another fucking ridiculous dismissal for Hales. Fielder down at long on, and he couldn't resist the temptation to try and take him on.

Hales has earned his chance, but he ain't going to last long as a test opener if he keeps playing daft shots like he has in his first two innings.

 

[blademan89]

Lucky bastard, wish it was me! Heard them say this morning over 10,000 are booked out from England over this series. Good effort that, though it is a very attractive to tour to go on.

Doesnt look like theres that many in durban i expect there to be 7/8000 in cape town though.

 

[Aber gas]

Did I just see Compton unleash a reverse sweep? Good job I'm sat down

 

[hodge]

Another fucking ridiculous dismissal for Hales. Fielder down at long on, and he couldn't resist the temptation to try and take him on.

Hales has earned his chance, but he ain't going to last long as a test opener if he keeps playing daft shots like he has in his first two innings.

They tend to give each opener 7 tests, however if hales fails badly in SA don't be surprised to see Bell recalled and Compton opening, Taylor could easily play 3 allowing Bell to move back to his preferred 5 slot.

 

[kieran_vale]

SA really look out of it. Dropping a couple of sitters which is extremely unlike them.

Not pretty to watch but just keep grinding them down and then take on the likes of Abbott later on. Keep Morkel out and runs will follow from the others.

 

[JJH]

They tend to give each opener 7 tests, however if hales fails badly in SA don't be surprised to see Bell recalled and Compton opening, Taylor could easily play 3 allowing Bell to move back to his preferred 5 slot.

FWIW I'd give Hales a crack in England as well, he's never batted in SA before, but if he's to have a future as a test opener he needs to get his head down and graft for his runs, rather than playing unnecessary shots over the field every so often, and just gifting his wicket away.

 

[Saddlerrad]

Compton won't last long in this side. He's the same batsmen that eventually struggled once he got on a bat spell before. Nothing's changed with him and I'm not sure why he was recalled. Old fashioned blocker. The moving ball/good fast bowling will get him out more often than not. Cook and Compton opening is a terrible idea. 90 overs in a day, we would be lucky to be 100-0 at stumps.

 

[hodge]

Yeah I'd love to see Hales given his chance in England, tbh I'd give him the entire summer, unless someone is in insane form while the first series is on and he doesn't do well. If Compton makes runs in SA he will be around for a while, similar to going back to Trott being at 3, then Root, Taylor, Stokes and Bairstow/Buttler have some more freedom potentially if we have been fairly solid before hand. I wouldn't open with Compton either I could just see it happening.

 

[Aber gas]

I think people are being harsh on Compton tbh. He's never going to be an expansive player but he's played well and shown impressive application. I don't think his lack of flair is necessarily a issue as long as there are more aggressive players to bat around him.

 

[JJH]

De-Villiers put two catches down. Everything that could possibly have gone wrong for them today has.

 

[hodge]

De-Villiers put two catches down. Everything that could possibly have gone wrong for them today has.

 

[JJH]

Finally one sticks.

Think people are being unnecessarily harsh on Compton, he's rode his luck in both innings but has formed two decent scores and has laid a superb platform for our more explosive players to go on from here.

He fits in well at number 3, getting the balance right in the batting order.

 

[hodge]

Can we call it the Jonathan Trott role?

 

[Ciderhead]

What a good day.

Only slight criticism being we scored far too slowly in that session before tea. Rode our luck a bit with a couple of dropped catches but then once Root got in the scoring rate was always going to pick up and other than that it was pretty much faultless.

 

[Saddlerrad]

Finally one sticks.

Think people are being unnecessarily harsh on Compton, he's rode his luck in both innings but has formed two decent scores and has laid a superb platform for our more explosive players to go on from here.

He fits in well at number 3, getting the balance right in the batting order.

Yeah but today for example - his innings felt like a long haul slog. He only scored 49. It's not asif he was playing some match situation either, he played today like he has every single innings in his test/4 day career. No tempo, defensive, dull and scratchy. It's all good and well if he scores 50, but it will be him that takes the blame if England end up 40-3 on a regular basis after 30 overs, there's only so many times you can score 15 from 65 balls, get out to a good one and survive with your place intact.

Not that I'm a big hater of him, or don't think he's done okay and stuff - I just don't see why he is back in the side now as a number 3. He hasn't changed, improved or altered his game one bit since he was dropped. If he is back in the side now, then he shouldn't really have ever been dropped.

He isn't a natural, long term number 3. That's for sure. Your best player should bat at 3.

Brillant day for England. Broad and the bowlers brillant, especially without Jimmy. In Root, I'm genuinely convinced we have like a once in a lifetime kind of player. Just so consistent, so good, makes it look so easy. Hopefully Taylor can push things along tomorrow and prove some of the South Africans that thought he was nothing player wrong.

 

[Super_horns]

Ali and Broad should enjoy bowling on that pitch in the 4th innings.

 

[Aber gas]

Yeah but today for example - his innings felt like a long haul slog. He only scored 49. It's not asif he was playing some match situation either, he played today like he has every single innings in his test/4 day career. No tempo, defensive, dull and scratchy. It's all good and well if he scores 50, but it will be him that takes the blame if England end up 40-3 on a regular basis after 30 overs, there's only so many times you can score 15 from 65 balls, get out to a good one and survive with your place intact.

Not that I'm a big hater of him, or don't think he's done okay and stuff - I just don't see why he is back in the side now as a number 3. He hasn't changed, improved or altered his game one bit since he was dropped. If he is back in the side now, then he shouldn't really have ever been dropped.

He isn't a natural, long term number 3. That's for sure. Your best player should bat at 3.

Brillant day for England. Broad and the bowlers brillant, especially without Jimmy. In Root, I'm genuinely convinced we have like a once in a lifetime kind of player. Just so consistent, so good, makes it look so easy. Hopefully Taylor can push things along tomorrow and prove some of the South Africans that thought he was nothing player wrong.

Id ideally like to see Hales at 3 but unfortunately we haven't got a lot of viable alternatives to open. Compton has done well and won't let anybody down but I half agree with you that having him at 3 is a backward step despite my admiration for his grit and application. Would be interesting to see Taylor at 3 and either bringing in someone like Hildreth at 5 or playing Bairstow as a batsman and bringing in Buttler.

 

[hodge]

Yeah but today for example - his innings felt like a long haul slog. He only scored 49. It's not asif he was playing some match situation either, he played today like he has every single innings in his test/4 day career. No tempo, defensive, dull and scratchy. It's all good and well if he scores 50, but it will be him that takes the blame if England end up 40-3 on a regular basis after 30 overs, there's only so many times you can score 15 from 65 balls, get out to a good one and survive with your place intact.

Not that I'm a big hater of him, or don't think he's done okay and stuff - I just don't see why he is back in the side now as a number 3. He hasn't changed, improved or altered his game one bit since he was dropped. If he is back in the side now, then he shouldn't really have ever been dropped.

He isn't a natural, long term number 3. That's for sure. Your best player should bat at 3.

Brillant day for England. Broad and the bowlers brillant, especially without Jimmy. In Root, I'm genuinely convinced we have like a once in a lifetime kind of player. Just so consistent, so good, makes it look so easy. Hopefully Taylor can push things along tomorrow and prove some of the South Africans that thought he was nothing player wrong.

I've never gotten the 'your best player bats at 3' saying, your best player bats in the position they do best in.

As for Compton today, his strike rate today was just above 40 which tbh considering the situation wasn't terrible, with Cook and Hales falling around him he had to make sure England weren't 3 down while trying to set a total.

 

[RavenBish]

yeah your best batsman batting at 3 is bizarre nonsense. Your best batsman bats wherever he flourishes. Compton fits in well in this team - only because he's sandwiched between Hales, Root and Taylor but I'm fine with them way he batted yesterday and in the first innings. I wasn't a big fan of Compton first time around but he's clearly switched up his stance and I never saw him play a reverse sweep early in his innings in that stint either.

Disappointed with how Hales got out but it was clearly a ploy as Compton went over the top early on in the same over so they'd clearly had a word about trying to attack Piedt now the lead was big. I thought he looked confident too, Compton got away with a couple early but Hales was leaving the ball well - perfect time for him to hit a selfish 50 too, just not in his nature I suppose.

 

[Baz]

Your best batsman bats at 3 in One Day cricket not Test cricket. In Test cricket you need that balance, no point having all out attackers at 1,2,3,4,5 then having more defensive batters at 6. Compton at 3 makes sense as he doesn't give his wicket away and that can allow others to play their natural game more. Sure with Hales opening the batting you'll more than likely end up with 30 overs with Cook and Compton but hey ho needs must and all that.

 

[kieran_vale]

Looks like Steyn unlikely to bowl today. Great opportunity for England to close out RSA if they can see off Morkel.

As for batting position ABDV is by far their best batsman and rarely if ever batted at #3. Tendulkar and Lara rarely did either so am perfectly happy with Root at #4 if that's where he's most comfortable.

 

[Ciderhead]

If you're being really picky Root has had a tendency to get himself out in the 70s, 80s of late. He'd want to convert a bit more.

As for Compton, think it's alright now we've got a better balance to our batting lineup. I'd say having 2 accumulators if you like is ideal, 1 and if he gets out early you can end up a bit lightweight and prone to collapse, 3 or 4 and you find yourself getting bogged down.

In his first spell with him, Cook and Trott in the top order and Bell to come we'd struggle to get above 2 an over. Now with Hales, Root, Taylor, Stokes around him it's exactly what we need.

Still needs to grow a bit more adaptable to the situation though. The session after lunch yesterday didn't call for a 10 off 50 balls type innings. We got a bit stuck and were fortunate SA missed a few chances or we could've been 50-4 and they're right back in the game. Not saying go mental, just knock it around for a few singles, keep it ticking over

 

[Baz]

RE Root, I'm pretty sure he's got 10 50's and 3 100's this calender year that's a pretty poor conversion rate isn't it?

 

[Ciderhead]

RE Root, I'm pretty sure he's got 10 50's and 3 100's this calender year that's a pretty poor conversion rate isn't it?

Very much so. Though when your only complaint about a player is that he scores too many 50s, you know you've got a class act on your hands