The cricket thread

RandallFlagg · August 2019

scrumhalf said:

I take my hat off to the people who've gone to the game today in fancy dress. Some of them have really gone the extra mile.

I've just seen the 1966 world cup team (complete with a bloke in a Bobby Charlton wig) chase someone dressed as the Jules Rimet trophy and lift him up.

Genius.

It's great isn't it. I saw the inflatable Donald Trump running along really fast earlier waggling his arms, really funny.

earwighoney · August 2019

scrumhalf said:

I take my hat off to the people who've gone to the game today in fancy dress. Some of them have really gone the extra mile.

It's not something you really see in many other places in the world. In Australia, there are always some spectators dressed as Richie Benaud but not really much to compete with creativity for fancy dress like today. I liked the guys dressed as cardinals & the Pope.

The best of them all though is Cookie Monster & his GF Minnie Mouse, as they go to see a lot of Test cricket and Bumble seems to lose his mind with joy when he sees them.

Heartfeltdawn said:

earwighoney said:

Another umpiring howler.

I've been a cricket fan for a long time but I cannot recall a time where the umpiring has been to such a poor ramshackle amateur and idiotic standard.

England tour to Pakistan 1987.

Ha ha. Yeah, well remembered.

Heartfeltdawn said:
Burns capitalised on the luck and I'm glad for his and England's sake that he has scored runs. I'm just saying that some of the articles coming out reviewing his knock saying that he's cracked the opening problem for England is incredibly premature when we've seen other players score centuries and get dumped quickly and when he's opening up with a chap who hasn't yet nailed down his position.

Partly the problem is that first class cricket isn't structured so that players can produce a mass of runs. When someone was in form in the past, you'd have a clear run of games. Now it's far more patchy. It's been a tough year for batsmen in Div 1, I think only one double ton so far this season.

Bairstow's a bit like Hick in that his feet aren't great at moving early in his innings. Ends in a bad position and so gets bowled a lot. I think he's safe for now but should he floor a chance or two, miss a stumping perhaps, the pressure will be right back on him.

Yeah I agree with all your points.

Agree about the overeagerness to see Burns as a solution to the opening problems. Media and ex players have been making statements of such a nature for a long time though.

Talking of footwork, have you had a chance to see much of Bancroft at the crease? His back foot in particular is so incredibly suspect, he seems to fall over himself with every ball. Is he really the best other Australian opener there is?

RandallFlagg · August 2019

Moeen slight reprieve for his duck with that wicket

sixstringsupplies · August 2019

RandallFlagg said:

Moeen slight reprieve for his duck with that wicket

He's getting milked though for very easy runs. Steve Smith is so good. I wonder if he'll get out for less than 50 in this whole series.

Schnozz · August 2019

Not looking good atm

RandallFlagg · August 2019

Schnozz said:

Not looking good atm

Looks plenty good. Aus are only 43-3 in their 2nd innings at stumps. Fresh bowlers in the morning and things should happen. keep them under 150 and we have a game on, challenging but do-able.

England just need to figure Steve Smith out, he's nigh on impossible to get out.

If Aus get to 200 ahead then it may be out of reach for England.

guitars4you · August 2019

RandallFlagg said:

Schnozz said:

Not looking good atm

Looks plenty good. Aus are only 43-3 in their 2nd innings at stumps. Fresh bowlers in the morning and things should happen. keep them under 150 and we have a game on, challenging but do-able.

England just need to figure Steve Smith out, he's nigh on impossible to get out.

If Aus get to 200 ahead then it may be out of reach for England.

agree about close of play coming at a good time today - Freshen up the bowlers for tomorrow and look at plans for Smith, even if it is run restricting for an hour

Heartfeltdawn · August 2019

earwighoney said:

Yeah I agree with all your points.

Agree about the overeagerness to see Burns as a solution to the opening problems. Media and ex players have been making statements of such a nature for a long time though.

Talking of footwork, have you had a chance to see much of Bancroft at the crease? His back foot in particular is so incredibly suspect, he seems to fall over himself with every ball. Is he really the best other Australian opener there is?

I was very happy when Bancroft got his ban because it meant he didn't play for Somerset. He's got an odd technique when it comes to balls coming into him that he plays leg side. Stuff like glances to fine leg, the way he got out to Moeen, something looks wrong. His recent form for Durham was good and he made runs in that Australian squad match and that's got him ahead of the like of Marcus Harris in the final squad and ahead of Joe Burns in the pre-squad announcement trials. Harris has the better technique to my mind.

Really surprised they didn't pick Labuschagne as he's been in stellar form for Glamorgan and he would offer another bowling options with his leg breaks.

Heartfeltdawn · August 2019

RandallFlagg said:

Schnozz said:

Not looking good atm

Looks plenty good. Aus are only 43-3 in their 2nd innings at stumps. Fresh bowlers in the morning and things should happen. keep them under 150 and we have a game on, challenging but do-able.

England just need to figure Steve Smith out, he's nigh on impossible to get out.

If Aus get to 200 ahead then it may be out of reach for England.

Weather will be on our side for the first part of the day. Scheduled to piss it down from about 2pm and on Monday morning as well. Don't really fancy us chasing 200 on a drying breaking up Brum track.

crunchman · August 2019

Heartfeltdawn said:

Weather will be on our side for the first part of the day. Scheduled to piss it down from about 2pm and on Monday morning as well. Don't really fancy us chasing 200 on a drying breaking up Brum track.

Might end up chasing a lot more than 200. Haven't got a clue how they are going to get Smith out, and we are dependent on Moeen, who is going at over 5 an over. We finished the day with Root bowling. That says it all. How many times have I said we should have played Leach.

RandallFlagg · August 2019

crunchman said:

Heartfeltdawn said:

Weather will be on our side for the first part of the day. Scheduled to piss it down from about 2pm and on Monday morning as well. Don't really fancy us chasing 200 on a drying breaking up Brum track.

Might end up chasing a lot more than 200. Haven't got a clue how they are going to get Smith out, and we are dependent on Moeen, who is going at over 5 an over. We finished the day with Root bowling. That says it all. How many times have I said we should have played Leach.

In the first innings Broad bowled 2 Yorkers at Smith that had him looking uncomfortable and the 3rd ball castled him. Worth a go again.

Heartfeltdawn · August 2019

Mark Ramprakash on the BBC today:

""We had numerous discussions about how to get him out - the problem is on this type of surface, which is fairly benign, with not much pace or late movement, he is very unorthodox and very difficult to tie down," he said.

"Bowlers don't like bowling a lot of deliveries outside off stump that are just left so they target the stumps but, with Smith, if you bowl at the stumps he just picks you off to the leg side."

Ignoring Ramps saying what bowlers don't like doing (weird considering he played with Angus Fraser who was line and length personified), Smith wins by making the bowlers change their plan through a lack of patience. Sometimes you just have to bore someone out. A bit like this...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gRJWQajiRGE

scrumhalf · August 2019

If they can't get him out then dry him up and get the others out.

Simple.

I should take over from Trevor Bayliss.

IF Smith is still there at lunch it's going to mean a substantial target.

RandallFlagg · August 2019

20-30% chance of rain through Sunday and up to 50% on Monday. I reckon the Hollies stand revellers will be singing "it's gonna rain in a minute" by the afternoon if Steve Smith is still in.

The Aussies will need some wet & dry paper on day 5 if the rain comes.

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scrumhalf · August 2019

Hmm, opening with Moeen trying to decapitate Smith.

sixstringsupplies · August 2019

Is Woakes injured? Mind boggling that he hasn't bowled.

Heartfeltdawn · August 2019

Our first choice spinner who wasn't our first choice spinner a couple of years ago according to the coach is being outbowled by a part-timer.

Our first choice keeper who isn't close to being our best gloveman in the squad, let alone the country, is missing vital stumpings.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UAFtT5zuoSM

scrumhalf · August 2019

We've got our best bowler crocked. Our keeper/batsman isn't getting runs. Our offspinning batsman isn't spinning it too well and isn't getting runs.

Meanwhile, nobody who could come in has played any red ball cricket for...?

axisus · August 2019

Hats off to Smith, he is a fine batsman even if he has dubious scruples.

Utterly mad to destroy his reputation in the way that he did ...

RandallFlagg · August 2019

We could be looking at what number do Aus declare on two avoid the draw and give themselves enough time.

earwighoney · August 2019

axisus said:

Hats off to Smith, he is a fine batsman even if he has dubious scruples.

Utterly mad to destroy his reputation in the way that he did ...

He thought he could get away with it as he did before.

Many seem to forget 'Brainfadegate' when he'd have a look at Lehmann in the crowd to whether he should review or not.

scrumhalf · August 2019

Is it now a question of looking forward to some rain?

Or maybe George Davis has been a naughty boy again.

Heartfeltdawn · August 2019

Andrew Sampson: "Steve Smith averages 71.8 since he scored his first Test hundred. He has scored his 25 hundreds in his last 54 Tests."

His rivals over their last 54 Tests:

Root: 9 centuries, 4308 runs at 45.

Kohli: 20 centuries, 5035 runs at 57.87.

Williamson: 17 centuries, 5092 runs at 61.

crunchman · August 2019

Watching Moeen bowl is painful.

scrumhalf · August 2019

In a properly-structured season Moeen could go back to his county and get some overs under his belt.

I can't see any point in him going back to T20. The one day game is killing test cricket.

sixstringsupplies · August 2019

Joe Root takes the ball which is only 5 overs old.
didnt think we’d be praying for rain when AUS were 122-8 on day one.

I’d tell Jason Roy to play his natural game. Try and get off to flyer. England won’t last the day, better off trying to knock the runs off.

RandallFlagg · August 2019

sixstringsupplies said:

Joe Root takes the ball which is only 5 overs old.
didnt think we’d be praying for rain when AUS were 122-8 on day one.

I’d tell Jason Roy to play his natural game. Try and get off to flyer. England won’t last the day, better off trying to knock the runs off.

340 and counting? can't see England chasing that down in Test conditions. I would let the openers try and fly but at 5 down play for the draw and pray for rain.

RandallFlagg · August 2019

Shane Warne on commentary, I could punch his hair weaved, plastic surgery ridden, botox filled head. He was talking complete bollocks earlier. He thinks he's such a playboy, drooling over Isa Guha with the occasional smarmy comment.

Teetonetal · August 2019

gotta question why Bairstow is keeping. How much has he done over the summer?

RandallFlagg · August 2019

This has been a tricky test for England, not the expected Edgbaston romp, they've missed James Anderson and with Moeen not firing it's been a weaker than normal bowling attack.

Early days but I sense this may be a harder set of home Ashes Tests than England have been used to over the last few series.

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