The Cricket Thread

[Super_horns]

Pakistan left out Shaheen, Babar and Naseem Shah for the next two tests. The first two I get to a degree but Naseem was by far their best bowler. That’s utterly mental from them.

Shaking things up it seems .

Very bold calls .

 

[Jimmy Anderson]

If they are using the same pitch then it shouldn't be as flat as last week and the cracks on there should make it turn more for the spinners. Barbar Azam is a quality batter so surprised they have left him out despite his bad run. I don't know who they have called up to replace them players but there losing some good experience by leaving out azam and afridi.

 

[Super_horns]

2 changes for England .

Stokes in for Woakes
Potts for Atkinson

 

[Railway Blue]

2 changes for England .

Stokes in for Woakes
Potts for Atkinson

Surprised Atkinson has been dropped.

 

[Super_horns]

Surprised Atkinson has been dropped.

Rested maybe ?

 

[Super_horns]

Worrying mid order collapse puts Pakistan on top .

 

[Jimmy Anderson]

If England had actually won a toss for once then they would probably be ahead of the game instead of behind it. Smith and carse have probably both got get scores over 50 to get England anywhere near level to Pakistan total. I think chasing over 150 to win on this used pitch will be very difficult to do.

 

[Super_horns]

Never know with us but going to be a tough ask.

I presume we won't play any differently.

 

[Railway Blue]

Does anyone else think that Stokes, although Captain, doesn't deserve his place in the team?

 

[Railway Blue]

Never know with us but going to be a tough ask.

I presume we won't play any differently.

I'll be surprised if we get within 100 of the target. Would be happy to be proved wrong.

 

[Super_horns]

Does anyone else think that Stokes, although Captain, doesn't deserve his place in the team?

Will need to get runs and to a lesser extent wickets now to set an example.

 

[Super_horns]

Well beaten in the end.

Too easy for the Pakistan spinners.

 

[Jimmy Anderson]

If it's going be a similar spinning wicket next match, then we need play all 3 spinners Ahmed, leach and Bashir. Id also tell players like brook and smith to try play more sensibly instead of trying hit everything to the boundary.

 

[Super_horns]

India with a good of saving the test v New Zealand despite being bowled out for 46.

 

[kieran_vale]

Jamie Smith to the rescue for England before being dismissed for 91. Great knock given the score when he came in.

If the ball is grubbing along the floor in the first session of the test then that bodes well for if England have something to defend in the 4th innings.

 

[Super_horns]

We seem to struggle against the mid/lower order .

Could be our downfall .

77 runs behind .

 

[Jimmy Anderson]

Id rather have tom pope batting for england than Ollie pope

 

[Super_horns]

Conditions helped Pakistan but we can still do much better surely?

 

[kieran_vale]

Go from 823/7 in the first test to 814/40 in the following two tests. Some of this England team are really not beating the flat track bully accusations.

At the very least Pope needs to make way now for someone else.

 

[Super_horns]

Well done to NZ for a fine win in India .

 

[Railway Blue]

Id rather have tom pope batting for england than Ollie pope

He's been a bit of a failure. Could say the same for Stokes in the games he's played.

 

[Jimmy Anderson]

He's been a bit of a failure. Could say the same for Stokes in the games he's played.

The only stokes innings I've enjoyed recently from him is when he opened the batting and we chased down a smallish target to beat west indies. His performances with bat or ball when he's bowled haven't been great really. I wouldn't be selecting pope anymore but mccullum has already come out and said pope will bat at 3 in new Zealand.

 

[Super_horns]

They do like to stick with players - maybe a kind of blind faith or not sure of any alternatives?

 

[Super_horns]

Jacob Bethell called up for the NZ tour.

Looks like Smith will be missing with Cox replacing him .


https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/articles/c1e7ln7qxdvo#comments

 

[Railway Blue]

We're coming to the business end of the third edition of the Test World Cup and up until now we've not had a sniff. It tells us all we need to know that we aren't really as good as we think we are.

 

[Super_horns]

We're coming to the business end of the third edition of the Test World Cup and up until now we've not had a sniff. It tells us all we need to know that we aren't really as good as we think we are.

We lose to the decent sides or don't win (Aussies) and also get points deducted I think which don't help.

 

[Railway Blue]

I think this England team looks very weak and would expect W. Indies to win at a canter.

 

[Railway Blue]

Scoring way to slow. Slower than the test team. Too many dot balls.

 

[Railway Blue]

17 overs in and not a single six hit yet.

 

[Jimmy Anderson]

There's only 2 batters playing in salt and Cox. The rest are all-rounders or bowlers that can bat abit. West indies team is much stronger and experienced than this England team.