The Cricket Thread

[buckley]

As for Archer in the next test unless he can have the discipline to bowl line and length on a regular basis and use the bouncer or Knuckle ball as an unexpected delivery I would go with Wood . But as I say Archer if he can be disciplined .
I found with all his ability we were not getting the best out of him when he was bowling 6 different deliveries in the same over .
Discipline was good enough for Hadlee and Mc gragh and the likes and they took many hundreds of wickets the Aussie did not even bowl bouncers that I can recall.Having said all that Archer has got everything it takes to make him one of the best but I don't think he can conform I really really hope I am wrong.

 

[southlondonyiddo]

As for Archer in the next test unless he can have the discipline to bowl line and length on a regular basis and use the bouncer or Knuckle ball as an unexpected delivery I would go with Wood . But as I say Archer if he can be disciplined .
I found with all his ability we were not getting the best out of him when he was bowling 6 different deliveries in the same over .
Discipline was good enough for Hadlee and Mc gragh and the likes and they took many hundreds of wickets the Aussie did not even bowl bouncers that I can recall.Having said all that Archer has got everything it takes to make him one of the best but I don't think he can conform I really really hope I am wrong.

I couldn’t agree more but we could and hopefully will be proved wrong. (for England’s Test cricket sake)

He’s been brought up on the white ball game, he clearly loves it and is a brilliant bowler in that format

I actually have no idea why he’s even bothering with Test Cricket the money these top players make from the one day stuff now. Why the hell would you want to put your body through the hell of Test Cricket?

In one day cricket eventually you have to go after the bowling and the field placings and the way the wickets are set up is completely different

He loves mixing it up. Doesn’t want to bowl flat out 93mph every ball. All bowlers have a different personality. Some just want to bowl as fast as they can virtually every single ball.

Archer strikes me as someone who generally wants to bowl flat out 70-80% of the time, even less on wickets where he really needs to bend his back

Don’t get me wrong, he’s still done well up to now because he’s unbelievably gifted but if he wants to be an absolute superstar (which he could be) in Test Cricket then he'll need to bowl 4-6 over spells at 90-95% as quick as he can.

At the moment he definitely doesn’t want to do that, nor does it come naturally. Whether he can change or really want to is the million dollar question

McGrath/ Hadlee etc didn’t have genuine pace as their weapons. Archers strength in test cricket is his express pace in the right areas with that occasional brilliantly disguised slower one

 

[$hoguN]

Looking forward to when we start picking Foakes as the Wicket keeper tbh

 

[midoshairband]

Banton has had a brilliant Big Bash. a top 3 of Roy, Bairstow, Banton could do some real damage in the T20 World Cup.

 

[Arnoldtoo]

117-2 at tea.

Good to see them digging in and not throwing silly wickets away. But at tea? It's a bit slow, innit.

 

[midoshairband]

Pope is looking like the new Ian Bell.

 

[VegasII]

Pope is looking like the new Ian Bell.

Ginger?

 

[Arnoldtoo]

Pope is looking like the new Ian Bell.

Not a bad one to look like!

 

[dondo]

Decent day from England good to see them dig in. I know the top 3 didn’t push on to get individual big scores but it’s nice to not be 10-2 every innings and having Root and Stokes facing the new ball all the time

 

[midoshairband]

Decent day from England good to see them dig in. I know the top 3 didn’t push on to get individual big scores but it’s nice to not be 10-2 every innings and having Root and Stokes facing the new ball all the time

something that annoyed me a bit was the Sky comms (Hussain I think) being critical of the scoring rate from the top 3. I mean, they just can’t win - slated for being 30/3 every innings, or slated for being cautious and trying to set a platform.

personally, I’m happy with the top 3 digging in a wearing the bowlers down as much as possible. particularly if the wicket isn’t a belter.

 

[Monkeyman]

something that annoyed me a bit was the Sky comms (Hussain I think) being critical of the scoring rate from the top 3. I mean, they just can’t win - slated for being 30/3 every innings, or slated for being cautious and trying to set a platform.

personally, I’m happy with the top 3 digging in a wearing the bowlers down as much as possible. particularly if the wicket isn’t a belter.

Yeah, we've been 3 (or more) down in no time far too often in recent years. I am more than happy for our top 3 to see off the new ball and not worry about the run rate. Look at the innings Stokes was able to play last test for example, he could not have done that if the top 3 had not set a solid platform.

Also the more I see of Ollie Pope the more I like him. Hope he gets a big score tomorrow.

 

[southlondonyiddo]

As said Pope looks like a player. Also saw an interview with Zak Crawley who came across as a very impressive young man

It was a really good partnership after coming together on about 140-4. More of the same would be lovely tomorrow

Also a big game for Dom Bess in the next few days on this wicket. Hope he surprises me and does the business

 

[Deleted member 27995]

I'm watching the cricket.

Not sure how many more sports governing bodies can ruin if I am honest while overlooking things that have blighted the various sports for years.

At least while I watch Cricket I can multitask!

 

[cider spurs]

Banton has had a brilliant Big Bash. a top 3 of Roy, Bairstow, Banton could do some real damage in the T20 World Cup.

Posted this back in May.

Finally. Somerset win, first trophy since 2005.

Bowlers set us up with a good shout.

As for our batting...

Tom Banton opened and got us off to a very good start. Only 20 years old, but he's starting to live up to the hype, Edwards' balling for Hampshire might have been quick, but ended up leg side all too often in the opening exchanges.

But Banton didn't need an invitation, and twatted that ball time after time. I can see why many pundits are comparing him to one Kevin Pietersen.

Add to this the old stalwarts Trego and Hildreth coming in and producing their usual telepathic, rapid running between the wickets and we were well on our way.

Excellent effort.

Hampshire 244-8
Somerset 245-4

For those not aware of Tom Banton...

https://www.google.com/amp/www.espncricinfo.com/story/_/id/26812210/tipped-new-kp-following-buttler-path-tom-banton-ready-make-name-himself?platform=a

 

[karennina]

That extra wide over from Rabada didn't seem very useful.

 

[stonecolddeanaustin]

And this is a classic example of why the start of the innings is all about staying in. Tire the bowlers out, wear the (2nd!) new ball out and you can make hay when that's done. Should end up in a very commanding position now.

 

[Arnoldtoo]

Well played Mr Stokes.

 

[southlondonyiddo]

Well played Mr Stokes.

Not bad is he. I’d persevere with him for while! Not sure about his patterned pants though!

187* run partnership is lovely. These 2 look like they enjoy batting together

 

[SE Spurs]

Great morning for England. Stokes on fire, another fantastic ton, and Pope not far behind.

Well on top at the moment.

 

[Archibald&Crooks]

We're starting to look like we've got the beginnings of a team developing here. Having said that, it still wouldn't surprise me if we were all out for under 400

The England cricket team, I would say they were cricket's version of 'spursy' but that's New Zealand.