The Cricket Thread

[kieran_vale]

Great little cameo here from Bairstow, played the situation perfectly.

 

[Ciderhead]

Great little cameo here from Bairstow, played the situation perfectly.

He's had a good game. Probably go under the radar because it's not all that important in the context of the game, but useful little 40 in the 1st innings to get ys to 300 and now this. Gives him a confidence boost

 

[Who Needs Mourinho]

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

Problem for Root seems to be when he has to restart his innings the next day.

 

[Baz]

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

Oh totally agree. If he can just convert a few more of those he'll be up there with the very best. I'd say currently Kane Williamson is ahead of him due to this.

 

[Saddlerrad]

To me a number 3 is someone that can come in, like Ponting did and counter attack against a still newish ball, but play the situation perfectly. Not necessarily for Root to play there, but I'd have your most dominant and important, probably best player in at 3. Compton isn't a number 3 at test level for me, he doesn't have the right flexibility to his game to do it properly over a long period of time.

I was thinking the other day that if Root can convert all his 50's to tons then he would be the best batsmen in the world by a little distance. Unfortunately he has a habbit of getting out on 70 at the moment. Teams could be in trouble if he starts converting more frequently. Great little knock from Bairstow, answering a few critics that wrote him off technically (including myself) with these kinds of knocks. Lets hope he can continue to do so.

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.

One shot in about 90 balls? My issue isn't so much with the shots he plays, it's the lack of shot he commands - he doesn't have one proper, get out of jail shot, or a proper signature shot. Eventually, he's going to have a run of batting 60 balls for 10 runs, getting a good one because he and Cook bat so slowly and England are going to be 40-3. At which point Cook won't be dropped, Hales may drop out if he isn't in form and Compton will too because he's the fall guy and the least attractive batsmen in the line up.

He isn't a long term player IMO. If he is back in now, he should never have dropped out in the first place.

 

[Who Needs Mourinho]

Well done Ben Stokes - Cook needs to start using him more.

 

[Saddlerrad]

Not a good start this.

Needed as little on the board as possible before Amla and ABDV got in. He can take the game away quickly.

 

[Saddlerrad]

Couple of big ones. Get ABDV cheap and things look rosey.

 

[RavenBish]

This should be Chris Woakes' last Test match for the foreseeable future. Give Footitt a go.

 

[Baz]

Pitch hasn't helped Woakes though. He'll be dropped for Jimmy anyway.

Away from tests did anyone see Dan Christians 6 at the Gabba that landed on the roof? Also Lyn hit a ton in reply.

 

[hodge]

Good catch from Cook that

 

[hodge]

Pitch hasn't helped Woakes though. He'll be dropped for Jimmy anyway.

Away from tests did anyone see Dan Christians 6 at the Gabba that landed on the roof? Also Lyn hit a ton in reply.

Or Andre Russell's one in practice where he put Shane Watson on the roof, think it may have been at Perth

 

[Ciderhead]

Oh totally agree. If he can just convert a few more of those he'll be up there with the very best. I'd say currently Kane Williamson is ahead of him due to this.

Yeah I'd agree with that. If I had to rank those 4 that are going to be the stars of this generation atm I think I'd go:

Williamson
Root
Smith
Kohli

Smith below Root just because a lot of his runs have come at home in series like this one against WI that aren't really a contest

 

[Super_horns]

Good to see the wickets being shared around!

Really has been a team effort.

 

[Ciderhead]

De Villiers out second ball of the day!! ​

 

[kieran_vale]

Couldn't have started this any better. Moeen doing the job with two wickets. Should be over before long now you'd think.

 

[Super_horns]

Be over in the next hour at this rate...

 

[JJH]

Perfect start.

Tie this up before lunch.

 

[kieran_vale]

Have to wonder what on earth Bavuma was thinking doing that so early in his innings on a fifth day pitch? Not good and probably won't be long for the SA team.

 

[Ciderhead]

Beauty from Finn!

 

[JJH]

What a fantastic ball that is. Off stump knocked back.

 

[Ciderhead]

Have to wonder what on earth Bavuma was thinking doing that so early in his innings on a fifth day pitch? Not good and probably won't be long for the SA team.

He does seem a bit pointless. Doesn't offer anything with the ball and they're not confident enough in his ability with the bat to even have him above a horribly out of form Duminy.

He's just there to field at short leg and make Taylor feel less inadequate

 

[Bobbin']

Are there no highlights in the evenings?

 

[Who Needs Mourinho]

Are there no highlights in the evenings?

SS4 at 6pm/8pm

 

[JJH]

Absolutely plum, completely misjudged that.

Mo's bowled superbly from around the wicket.

 

[JJH]

Get in! Deserved that has Woakes.

One to go.

 

[Skinner]

Jimmy expected back for next test, should come straight in for Woakes...

What a fantastic 5 days this has been from an England perspective.

 

[JJH]

Steyn out for the next test as well, that's another massive bonus for us.

 

[Skinner]

Yeah I'd agree with that. If I had to rank those 4 that are going to be the stars of this generation atm I think I'd go:

Williamson
Root
Smith
Kohli

Smith below Root just because a lot of his runs have come at home in series like this one against WI that aren't really a contest

Williamson has an average of 90.15 this year

But yeah, I'd go along with that order. I'd opt for Root because I'm English and Smith is detestable, summed up by sending himself in during the second innings against WI rather than others for some crease time.

 

[Who Needs Mourinho]

Woakes has been decent and deserves that wicket.

Be interesting to see who gets MOM from this one.