The cricket thread

guitars4you · July 2023

scrumhalf said:

Why hasn't Wood had a bowl yet?

Butcher just talked about it on sky
it should reverse swing shortly and he is then fresh n ready to try and get the best from that

munckee · July 2023

As much as it pains me to say this, for all our talk of being the better side the reality of our current situation isn’t luck.

We failed to bowl out the first test, failed to bat out the second won the third and we’re on top of the fourth but rain is rain. That meant we couldn’t win it and now we are in a position where we had an almost sure thing total and we’ve let the Aussies back in today.

Our previous performance means even if this gets rained off we’ve lost 2-1.

I’m beginning to think maybe we aren’t the better side.

guitars4you · July 2023

Anyone else got a bad feeling about this

scrumhalf · July 2023

guitars4you said:

Anyone else got a bad feeling about this

Yes.

Our bowling attack has had Stokes removed, Moeem crocked and now it looks like Woody isn't going to be able to join in.

Aus need 249 on a placid wicket with ten wickets in hand and their openers well set. It's probably tipped in their favour, unless Broad signs off with another big haul.

Hattigol · July 2023

I've changed my mind about the rain being a bad thing

westford · July 2023

I had my first go at playing cricket today. I was fairly crap but it was fun.

chris78 · July 2023

guitars4you said:

Anyone else got a bad feeling about this

We’re still in don’t panic territory but it’s one of those moments where we have a one paced attack lacking a quality spinner.

Anyone know why Sam Curran isn’t an automatic pick? I’d kill for a left arm golden arm who swings it.

guitars4you · July 2023

chris78 said:

guitars4you said:

Anyone else got a bad feeling about this

We’re still in don’t panic territory but it’s one of those moments where we have a one paced attack lacking a quality spinner.

Anyone know why Sam Curran isn’t an automatic pick? I’d kill for a left arm golden arm who swings it.

I would tend to agree with you about Sam - But with Stokes in the all rounder position, as a none bowler it now means we have no space for an additional all rounder - Stokes at 3, to bat only, will allow Sam a place

I dare say the balance of the side will change shortly - No Broad, no Ali (assume) question marks for Anderson and probably the same for Woakes on an overseas tour - Batting looks okay, so changes afoot ref the bowling line up

RandallFlagg · July 2023

Fairy tales rarely happen, so Stuart Broad going out in a blaze of glory may not be on the cards. Taking 10 wickets in a day on this pitch, with some showers potentially disrupting play, looks challenging, we could see England go out with a whimper.

Hopefully some magic will happen, there will be some wickets during the day, but will it be enough?

crunchman · July 2023

chris78 said:

guitars4you said:

Anyone else got a bad feeling about this

We’re still in don’t panic territory but it’s one of those moments where we have a one paced attack lacking a quality spinner.

Anyone know why Sam Curran isn’t an automatic pick? I’d kill for a left arm golden arm who swings it.

He hasn't cut it at test level.

His batting average is only 24.7 so he's not good enough to be genuine allrounder and bat in the top 7. His bowling average is 35.5 so he's not good enough as a bowler to play as a specialist bowler.

I don't think he has the pace to ever make it at test level as a front line bowler. If he can improve his batting so he's worth a place in the top 7, you could play four specialist bowlers plus him and Root, which would give you a well balanced bowling attack.

I don't know how interested he would be in playing tests either. He's in demand in 2020 cricket, and he's good at that. Going on test tours might reduce his income significantly.

Edit: Long term Rehan Ahmed looks a good bet to fill the allrounder role.

guitars4you · July 2023

Rain likely to ensure a draw which will suit the Aussies - But based on needing 146 to win, with 7 wickets left, they are in the driving seat - Credit to them for achieving a potential win - If rain kills the game and we had a moral win at OT, then the Aussies deserve the same moral victory at the Oval

Amazing what goes around come around - Starc and now Stokes with a 'dropped' catch - Was it 2005 when we tagged Shane Warne with dropping the Ashes at the Oval - Ditto Stokes ?

chris78 · July 2023

Come on - he's just turned 25 and not played a test in almost 2 years.
You're writing off a guy based on performances up to the age of 23?
Look at how he's improved in the short form - he's now arguably the best death bowler in the world.

Hattigol · July 2023

You'd expect the tradition of throwing the caught ball high up in the air to end fairly soon now.

SMITH OUT. This is on, isn't it?

Hattigol · July 2023

However this finishes, this series has been absolutely bloody ace.

RandallFlagg · July 2023

Just when you think we are lapsing to meandering session after session, more twists and turns. Test Match cricket is wonderful!

In football you get 90 minutes and maybe 3 or 4 moments of elation or misery per game, in Test Match cricket you get 40, 20 wickets per team with some exceptional batting, 6s and 4s in-between, bang for buck!

Love it

crunchman · July 2023

chris78 said:

Come on - he's just turned 25 and not played a test in almost 2 years.
You're writing off a guy based on performances up to the age of 23?
Look at how he's improved in the short form - he's now arguably the best death bowler in the world.

He might come back, but if he does he's either got to be capable of averaging 30 plus with the bat, or to add 3mph of pace.

Bowling in test cricket is a different game. You have to have penetration, and you can't rely on batsmen taking huge risks like they do at the death in one day cricket.

guitars4you · July 2023

So many twists and turns - Have to go out now and still 2 wickets needed - Didn't see this on the horizon around 12/noon

guitars4you · July 2023

Love R5 and TMS with a host of stats they come up with

Woakes only 3rd English man to take 6 wickets in a match, in 3 consecutive ashes matches, at home - The other two are Bedser and Laker

RandallFlagg · July 2023

Broady does his switch the bails thing and takes what may be his last wicket next ball! What is that all about? Psychology? It's uncanny

Nitefly · July 2023

55 runs vs 1 wicket!

RandallFlagg · July 2023

Incredible, what a way to go out, last match, last ball, wicket. Legend.

Nitefly · July 2023

Ya beauty!

mikeyrob73 · July 2023

Amazing
take a bow Stuart Broad
fantastic way to bow out

scrumhalf · July 2023

Who writes his scripts?

Let's not allow Moeen's contribution to be forgotten.

And now, because someone at the ECB has their head stuck up their arse, no more home tests until next year.

No test cricket in August, it beggars belief.

guitars4you · July 2023

Great to see last wicket was Carey - caught Bairstow and bowled Broad- fitting in more ways than one !!

great to see Warner and Broad share a hug and a smile

RandallFlagg · July 2023

I feel so sad it's over, I think this has been the best Ashes I've watched, and I've watched more of this series than ever before as I took a lot of holiday days off work. Been on the radio on the way home from work on other days. Brilliant stuff.

sev112 · July 2023

Day 1 to Day 25 was fabulous, never seen anything like it

the man of the series was Woakes, then Root and Starc. How very interesting - I would never have imagined that having watched every day of the series, but you can see from the Stats. crawley and Khawaja, Harry Brook, Bairstow not in the run for the awards

But I do think Australia will be more than kicking themselves - 10 wickets lost 50 runs short in one day to give away a 3-1 series win

chris78 · July 2023

Never underestimate the pressure of chasing.

crunchman · July 2023

I think Broad is bowling better than he ever has. To get that swing in that last spell with an old ball was seriously impressive. He was getting it through at 86mph as well.

guitars4you · July 2023

RandallFlagg said:

I feel so sad it's over, I think this has been the best Ashes I've watched, and I've watched more of this series than ever before as I took a lot of holiday days off work. Been on the radio on the way home from work on other days. Brilliant stuff.

I always use to think that the end of summer coincided with the end of the test match series - The Hundred has now killed that thought pattern - Pity it was rammed into such a small schedule and no ODI as well - Great series - Great spectacle - The game of cricket has benefited from such a series - But don't let the Hundred become the priority of the cricketing summer

Howdy, Stranger!

Categories

In this Discussion

Become a Subscriber!

The cricket thread

Comments