The Cricket Thread

[Matt_]

A good day for England, any time the opposition win the toss and bat and the day ends with them seven down is very acceptable.

I just hope this current, annoying, partnership can be broken early tomorrow and we can knock them over for around 300.

 

[Super_horns]

Amir is back playing for Pakistan after his ban for spot fixing - how do people feel about that?

As a young player does he deserve a 2nd chance or should have banned for life to set others an example?

 

[Ciderhead]

All taking a similar pattern to the Durban test so far. Hopefully we can make a better fist of our reply than SA did.

With what there's been on offer for the bowlers though feel we'll have to bat pretty damn well to get up towards 350+, even without Steyn

 

[Saddlerrad]

Terrible shot from Hales, he should have had chance to open before this series though. Hope we stick with him until the summer.

Here comes the crab.

England to struggle for 250 on this wicket. We will do well to save this test IMO.

 

[Saddlerrad]

This isn't the kind of wicket for Compton to play on.

On this wicket it's a case of 'when' not if you get one..so scoring with a 30 S/R is just going to see an innings go nowhere.

An 80 or so from Stokes or Root on here, in quicktime could be very valuable.

Don't be surprised if we end up 75-4 though before that.

 

[blademan89]

Sadlers at it again with the negativity

 

[Who Needs Mourinho]

Why does Cook keeping doing this, so frustrating.

 

[Saddlerrad]

Sadlers at it again with the negativity

It's not negativity..it's unfolding infront of your eyes.

 

[kieran_vale]

I think someone like Compton is absolutely crucial in these conditions. Against the new ball you need someone who knows how to leave the ball, forget the run rate. Against an all pace attack the way to go is wear them down.

South Africa bowling well here to be fair.

 

[Saddlerrad]

I think someone like Compton is absolutely crucial in these conditions. Against the new ball you need someone who knows how to leave the ball, forget the run rate. Against an all pace attack the way to go is wear them down.

South Africa bowling well here to be fair.

I disagree with you this time. I think your best bet on this kind of wicket, is someone that will come in and score you 80 off 90, play their shots, ride the luck and add runs quickly. Compton may bat 100 balls, but he will only score 15/20 runs and then probably get a good one and England's top order will be in the familiar position of the last 2 years. No tempo, 30 overs in and 50-3 again.

 

[Ciderhead]

Amir is back playing for Pakistan after his ban for spot fixing - how do people feel about that?

As a young player does he deserve a 2nd chance or should have banned for life to set others an example?

Deserves a 2nd chance for me. He's served 5 years which is a not too insubstantial punishment in itself.

He made a mistake but he was young, just entering into international cricket and heavily influenced by his captain. People like Butt should be thrown out for life without a doubt but Amir deserves a chance to redeem himself.

As for people like Hafeez and Azhar Ali, it's a difficult one. They're understandly angry at the damage the whole scandal did to the integrity of their country, and I can see how they'd want to move on with a completely fresh team and not get bogged down in it all again. But it seems the general wish is to allow him back into the fold so that's all digging their heels in is going to achieve now.

And I actually think reforming Amir, bringing him back in and showing the world: look he made a mistake but he recognises that and has moved beyond that, and is now committed to forging a career as a completely clean and fair sportsman, would do more to help deal with the issue than just banishing him and trying to pretend it never happened

 

[blademan89]

It's not negativity..it's unfolding infront of your eyes.

You say stuff like that every test match though. Im confident we can match there score if not at least get close.

 

[Saddlerrad]

You say stuff like that every test match though. Im confident we can match there score if not at least get close.

Not every test match.

Although there are problems with England's team that have been virtually the same for 2-3 years now. No tempo at the top, frequently digging holes regardless of personnel, constantly 50-3. England's attack looking one dimensional when it's now swinging, looking all rather samey, slower than quite a lot of attacks in the world.

I'm happy to be wrong, but I don't see it when it comes to Compton and the top 3.

 

[kieran_vale]

No problem personally with Amir being brought back. He was very young at the time and as mentioned above was heavily influenced by senior people within the team.

That said I do respect those who have an issue with him coming back. Certainly won't criticize them as the onus is on Amir to earn their trust. Hopefully he does as he looked like being a real special talent back then.

Saddler - it's about playing the game situation though. We could throw the bat like you suggest and just as easy end up like Australia did last summer at Trent Bridge and Edgbaston. Compton has Root at the other end so am sure the scoreboard will tick over anyway. Sometimes on flat decks like in Australia I would absolutely agree with you but not in this particular case.

 

[Who Needs Mourinho]

Not every test match.

Although there are problems with England's team that have been virtually the same for 2-3 years now. No tempo at the top, frequently digging holes regardless of personnel, constantly 50-3. England's attack looking one dimensional when it's now swinging, looking all rather samey, slower than quite a lot of attacks in the world.

I'm happy to be wrong, but I don't see it when it comes to Compton and the top 3.

So who comes in and who are you dropping out of Broad, Finn and Anderson?

 

[blademan89]

Not every test match.

Although there are problems with England's team that have been virtually the same for 2-3 years now. No tempo at the top, frequently digging holes regardless of personnel, constantly 50-3. England's attack looking one dimensional when it's now swinging, looking all rather samey, slower than quite a lot of attacks in the world.

I'm happy to be wrong, but I don't see it when it comes to Compton and the top 3.

I agree there are issues at the top. Cook is superb but scores slowly we havent got another opener at the minute and compton makes cook look like david warner. So if you end up with cook and compton batting you are right we could end up scoring 50 runs in a session.

 

[Ciderhead]

I disagree with you this time. I think your best bet on this kind of wicket, is someone that will come in and score you 80 off 90, play their shots, ride the luck and add runs quickly. Compton may bat 100 balls, but he will only score 15/20 runs and then probably get a good one and England's top order will be in the familiar position of the last 2 years. No tempo, 30 overs in and 50-3 again.

I don't think you want to go all out at the ball in this situation, playing a load of expansive drives and whatnot. Of course you don't want a strike rate of single figures, try and keep rotating the strike, but it's a pitch and conditions that demand being watchful and a good technique.

And it's not a complete minefield, where you know you're going to get an unplayable delivery any minute so there's no point hanging around. There's plenty in it for the bowlers but there's runs as well if you bat well

 

[Ciderhead]

That said I do respect those who have an issue with him coming back. Certainly won't criticize them as the onus is on Amir to earn their trust.

That's fair, but I think it's something that should be happening in private. A big public spat doesn't help anything

 

[Saddlerrad]

No problem personally with Amir being brought back. He was very young at the time and as mentioned above was heavily influenced by senior people within the team.

That said I do respect those who have an issue with him coming back. Certainly won't criticize them as the onus is on Amir to earn their trust. Hopefully he does as he looked like being a real special talent back then.

Saddler - it's about playing the game situation though. We could throw the bat like you suggest and just as easy end up like Australia did last summer at Trent Bridge and Edgbaston. Compton has Root at the other end so am sure the scoreboard will tick over anyway. Sometimes on flat decks like in Australia I would absolutely agree with you but not in this particular case.

Possibly. Nice bit of pace in this wicket though, I'd be tempted to try and take a chance. I think Stokes will play like he has in the last couple of games and hopefully be successful for it.

So who comes in and who are you dropping out of Broad, Finn and Anderson?

Perhaps change the make up of the side. I think Mark Wood would have been good on here. Perhaps Footitt for inswing to the right handers? Left armers seem to have something good going for them in world cricket currently. We do need to start preparing for life without Jimmy..

I don't think you want to go all out at the ball in this situation, playing a load of expansive drives and whatnot. Of course you don't want a strike rate of single figures, try and keep rotating the strike, but it's a pitch and conditions that demand being watchful and a good technique.

And it's not a complete minefield, where you know you're going to get an unplayable delivery any minute so there's no point hanging around. There's plenty in it for the bowlers but there's runs as well if you bat well

There lies the issue though. Compton plays like virtually always, as I said at the start of the series. How long is it before he gets a run of good balls or plays a poor shot, we end up 50-3 after 30 overs. The same problem we have had for 3-4 years now. Like the coach says, he wants 2 out of his top 3 to be aggressive - Compton isn't that, so I can see him being dropped if he doesn't consistently score big runs and at a decent pace.

 

[Saddlerrad]

ABDV drops Compton in the slips...big chance for them, big chance to take advantage now.

 

[kieran_vale]

Not quite sure why SA didn't go with at least one of their two most threatening bowlers after lunch. Rabada and Viljoen looked far more threatening than Morkel or Morris. Grateful they didn't mind.

 

[Saddlerrad]

God only knows how we would have batted against Steyn, Morkel, Philander and Rabada. It would have been hilariously bad.

 

[Who Needs Mourinho]

Possibly. Nice bit of pace in this wicket though, I'd be tempted to try and take a chance. I think Stokes will play like he has in the last couple of games and hopefully be successful for it.



Perhaps change the make up of the side. I think Mark Wood would have been good on here. Perhaps Footitt for inswing to the right handers? Left armers seem to have something good going for them in world cricket currently. We do need to start preparing for life without Jimmy..



There lies the issue though. Compton plays like virtually always, as I said at the start of the series. How long is it before he gets a run of good balls or plays a poor shot, we end up 50-3 after 30 overs. The same problem we have had for 3-4 years now. Like the coach says, he wants 2 out of his top 3 to be aggressive - Compton isn't that, so I can see him being dropped if he doesn't consistently score big runs and at a decent pace.

You've not answered my original question Saddler

 

[Who Needs Mourinho]

I do hope the English bowlers (Broad and Anderson mainly) are watching how Rabada and Viljoen are bowling on this wicket.

 

[Saddlerrad]

How slow is this outfield compared to yesterday



You've not answered my original question Saddler

I did..kind of. I said change the make up of the side. Drop Ali out for an extra fast bowler with pace. Plunkett/Wood/Footitt. We just need someone who can consistently swing it..OR someone who can come in and bowl at 90-95mph for 3-4 overs twice/three times a day.

 

[hodge]

Well at least Taylor is putting some effort into his shots

 

[JJH]

Taylor's just threw his bat half a mile

 

[Who Needs Mourinho]

I did..kind of. I said change the make up of the side. Drop Ali out for an extra fast bowler with pace. Plunkett/Wood/Footitt. We just need someone who can consistently swing it..OR someone who can come in and bowl at 90-95mph for 3-4 overs twice/three times a day.

I presumed you were talking in the future rather than on this wicket. Wood isn't fit, Plunkett wasn't picked and I can't see England playing 5 quicks and no spinner especially when Moeen could provide potential extra runs and have an impact in the second innings.

It might be a case of horses for courses in terms of our fast bowlers going forward if Wood can carry on progressing and hopefully Willey can improve his first class game at Yorkshire and provide another left-arm option who can also bat.

 

[JJH]

Taylor gone. This is getting embarrassing.

 

[Who Needs Mourinho]

We're in trouble now