The Cricket Thread

[VegasII]

Cherub faced twat saying no worry about the batting

 

[dondo]

Amazon Prime. £4.99

Thanks love the cricket documentaries ?

 

[1882andallthat]

After coming home from the 2nd day at Lords, and not adding to our score on day 3 with our the last wicket going first, a 143 run win was certainly not my first thought on a betting punt. I wish it had been, the odds would have been fantastic. That said what must not be ignored is that there are only so many times our bowlers can keep digging us out of the shite as for the most part our batting was inept at best.

Whilst much has been said that the Aussies also have a poor batting record I'm not buying into that entirely. If we'd have been skittled out for 85 before lunch in an Ashes test, there's no way we would be coming back from that, and I hope Joe Root's comments about not worrying about the batting were smokescreen tongue in cheek statements because much improvement will be needed. Let's hope that was the kick up the arse we need before the Ashes begins.

 

[SteveH]

The women’s team is being given yet another cricketing lesson by Australia.
The England girls are dreadful ATM

 

[Arnoldtoo]

England squad for first Ashes Test: Joe Root (capt), Moeen Ali, James Anderson, Jofra Archer, Jonny Bairstow (wk), Stuart Broad, Rory Burns, Jos Buttler (wk), Sam Curran, Joe Denly, Jason Roy, Ben Stokes, Olly Stone, Chris Woakes.

Tough on Leach, and the top three are still cause for concern, but no surprises.

 

[mpickard2087]

Looks like it will be then:

1. Burns, 2. Roy, 3. Denly, 4. Root, 5. Bairstow, 6. Stokes, 7. Buttler, 8. Ali, 9. Woakes, 10. Broad, 11. Anderson.

Think they will hold Archer back and wait to be sure (or forced, if behind in the series...) he can bowl 15-20 overs in a day and he's fully over his side strain. Anderson will obviously get thrown back in, who knows how fit he is but lets hope he is up to speed immediately. If it rains all week then maybe it will be an all pace attack and Curran will play instead of Ali.

 

[dimiSpur]

Looks like it will be then:

1. Burns, 2. Roy, 3. Denly, 4. Root, 5. Bairstow, 6. Stokes, 7. Buttler, 8. Ali, 9. Woakes, 10. Broad, 11. Anderson.

Think they will hold Archer back and wait to be sure (or forced, if behind in the series...) he can bowl 15-20 overs in a day and he's fully over his side strain. Anderson will obviously get thrown back in, who knows how fit he is but lets hope he is up to speed immediately. If it rains all week then maybe it will be an all pace attack and Curran will play instead of Ali.

Perhaps Broad could miss out if we want Archer in. Woakes has to play at Lord's in the 2nd Test. Do we really want to bring Archer in in the 3rd Test? It might be too late.

 

[Spurs_Bear]

I wasn't really sure about the names and numbers on the players shirts for Test Cricket. But fuck me it looks fucking gash.

1-11 would have been marginally acceptable, but "Root 66" on the back of the England Test Captain's shirt? Really...?

 

[Archibald&Crooks]

"Root vegetable" would have been far more apt.

 

[jazz15c]

Feel sorry for Burns, woefully out of nick, and about to face the likes of Hazelwood and Starc, who will absolutely hoop that new rock.

I like the idea of Roy at the top, he can go at the Aussies like Tresco did in 2005. He'll either be 70* at lunch or nick off 3rd ball.

Root needs to bat at 3 and frankly it's selfish that he won't. He's the most technically proficient batsman we have (even if he does fall over if swings back in) and should be the ready to come in and steady the ship at first man down.

Leach is a better spinner than Ali, takes the ball away from the right hander, which could be crucial for Smith who plays with a closed bat-face. Ali has got the nod though as he can bat...apparently!

Keep an eye out for Marnus Labuschagne; he was the overseas pro for my club (Plymouth CC) in 2014, and the boy can play.

Can't wait for this series. Going for a 2vs2 draw

 

[dondo]

Looks like it will be then:

1. Burns, 2. Roy, 3. Denly, 4. Root, 5. Bairstow, 6. Stokes, 7. Buttler, 8. Ali, 9. Woakes, 10. Broad, 11. Anderson.

Think they will hold Archer back and wait to be sure (or forced, if behind in the series...) he can bowl 15-20 overs in a day and he's fully over his side strain. Anderson will obviously get thrown back in, who knows how fit he is but lets hope he is up to speed immediately. If it rains all week then maybe it will be an all pace attack and Curran will play instead of Ali.

Buttler will be at 5 and bairstow at 7 imo. Archer will be in to if deemed fit enough

 

[aussiespursguy]

Feel sorry for Burns, woefully out of nick, and about to face the likes of Hazelwood and Starc, who will absolutely hoop that new rock.

I like the idea of Roy at the top, he can go at the Aussies like Tresco did in 2005. He'll either be 70* at lunch or nick off 3rd ball.

Root needs to bat at 3 and frankly it's selfish that he won't. He's the most technically proficient batsman we have (even if he does fall over if swings back in) and should be the ready to come in and steady the ship at first man down.

Leach is a better spinner than Ali, takes the ball away from the right hander, which could be crucial for Smith who plays with a closed bat-face. Ali has got the nod though as he can bat...apparently!

Keep an eye out for Marnus Labuschagne; he was the overseas pro for my club (Plymouth CC) in 2014, and the boy can play.

Can't wait for this series. Going for a 2vs2 draw

I believe he has racked up serious numbers in county this season too

 

[Spurs_Bear]

I believe he has racked up serious numbers in county this season too

Was the first man to 1000 runs this year, has played well by all accounts and I think top scored in that nonsense Hick v Haddin match last week. Plus bowls leggies/pies which I guess could be an option and then you wouldn't have to use Smith.

 

[LeSoupeKitchen]

Not cricket related but another example of why I was horrified to be called a hypocrite by an aussie.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-australia-49148481

 

[theShiznit]

Rumoured that Root will bat 3 in first test.

 

[dimiSpur]

He has to bat at 3. I can't remember who said it, but it was bang on: what's the difference between coming in at 20-1 or 25-2? The extra 2-3 overs on the ball? Not going to make a big difference.

Still unsure about Roy opening. I'd prefer him at 4. Hard hands on a swinging Duke and Starc and Hazlewood coming at him? Recipe for disaster. I can see us 30-2 very often with Burns with him.

It's a toss up between Woakes and Archer. Archer has that x-factor though IMO, he'll be the one to be the lynchpin of this bowling attack once Jimmy goes, and he's potentially the best bowler in world cricket with his variation and pace. By variation I don't mean slower balls, I mean he can bowl to the pitch he's on. When conditions aren't conducive to swing bowling, I find our attack to be rather blunt. Archer however can go short on a hard pitch, and seam it around on a flat track. And that 90mph+ pace is obviously vital. Looking forward to seeing him blossom.

 

[jazz15c]

Was the first man to 1000 runs this year, has played well by all accounts and I think top scored in that nonsense Hick v Haddin match last week. Plus bowls leggies/pies which I guess could be an option and then you wouldn't have to use Smith.

Having faced him in the nets 5 years back, the leggies aren't world-beating, but certainly fall under the bracket of 'partnership breaker'. He's more than likely worked on them a lot since.
He's excellent in the field, and worked tirelessly on his batting; as in 'I need to hit 250 cover drives before going home' type of trainer.

Really hope he gets a go, but doesn't score enough to do England too much damage

 

[theShiznit]

I see it as such; Root has the best technique to survive the new ball in swinging/seaming conditions, sure he is more likely to get a ball with his name on if he comes out sooner but he is also best placed to protect the more progressive batsmen to come and therefore it is best for the team that he bats 3.

And lets face it with our top 3 (if Roy doesn't come off) its just as likely he'll be in a few balls later anyway.

 

[glospur]

Wow. A lot of talk here that Mitchell Starc has been dropped for the first test.

The line up predicted by reliable media folk:

1. Warner 2. Bancroft 3. Khawaja 4. Smith 5. Head 6. Wade 7. Paine 8. Pattinson 9. Cummins 10. Lyon 11. Hazlewood.

If true, it would certainly be a risk considering Pattinson's injury history and the lack of an all-rounder to bowl 10-12 overs an innings in that team.

 

[Arnoldtoo]

Wow. A lot of talk here that Mitchell Starc has been dropped for the first test.

The line up predicted by reliable media folk:

1. Warner 2. Bancroft 3. Khawaja 4. Smith 5. Head 6. Wade 7. Paine 8. Pattinson 9. Cummins 10. Lyon 11. Hazlewood.

If true, it would certainly be a risk considering Pattinson's injury history and the lack of an all-rounder to bowl 10-12 overs an innings in that team.

Yeah, but don't forget: when Australia are bowling, it will be at England's batsmen!