The cricket thread

RandallFlagg

scrumhalf said:

We've dried up the runs but aren't bowling enough wicket-taking balls. Aussies seem to be happy not scoring, compare that to our batsmen who seem to want to hit the cover off the ball after a few dots. 

Proper Test batting, block and leave in the tricky periods, keep patient and then put the bad balls away when the conditions change. The runs will accumulate.

scrumhalf

Rain, and probably for at least the next couple of hours.

Bah!

Heartfeltdawn

From one of the Crizbuzz journalists:

"This is why England shouldn’t be trusted with proper quicks Australia’s pace collective bowl to standard fields knowing speed causes misjudgements in traditional areas (outside off, even standard set-ups). England have a leg slip short leg, not-so-short leg, catching mid on..."

A pitch like this, a climate like this, you don't have to reinvent the wheel. Look at how Hazlewood bowled first up. 

Heartfeltdawn

guitars4you said:

RandallFlagg said:

 2 wickets since I typed my pessimistic diatribe above! I should be pessimistic more often.

I'm on the radio today, so no Sky - But it sounds like an initial poor opening spell by our bowlers - Archer looks a big prospect, but he needs to tighten up his line/length, but hopefully that will come - Early days for him, but already you have a feeling we are putting all our hopes on him 

Horses of courses - the Cricinfo article on why Pattinson got dropped out for Lords and Hazlewood came back in shows the level of thought Langer and his team are putting into all of this. 

https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/_/id/27394783/cherry-ripe-josh-hazlewood-brings-peak-precision

earwighoney

Heartfeltdawn said:

From one of the Crizbuzz journalists:

"This is why England shouldn’t be trusted with proper quicks Australia’s pace collective bowl to standard fields knowing speed causes misjudgements in traditional areas (outside off, even standard set-ups). England have a leg slip short leg, not-so-short leg, catching mid on..."

A pitch like this, a climate like this, you don't have to reinvent the wheel. Look at how Hazlewood bowled first up. 

Joe Root seems to have learnt from the Alistair Cook school of captaincy...

It's quite incredible how easy a ride the both of them seem to be given by commentators whilst the test matches are taking place. 

Nitefly

Comment from the BBC live text page:  "Why don't we play cricket in the summer?"

RandallFlagg

All fears, doubts and frustrations aside, England did well to get 3 wickets this morning. The bowlers will be fresh tomorrow after those relatively light duties. Game is still winnable. If England can get another 3 down fairly quickly then Jofra could bounce out the tail and it is possible Steve Smith could be choked for partners and with some good fortune England could go back out to bat with a lead.

Alternatively... 

Jalapeno

earwighoney said:

Heartfeltdawn said:

From one of the Crizbuzz journalists:

"This is why England shouldn’t be trusted with proper quicks Australia’s pace collective bowl to standard fields knowing speed causes misjudgements in traditional areas (outside off, even standard set-ups). England have a leg slip short leg, not-so-short leg, catching mid on..."

A pitch like this, a climate like this, you don't have to reinvent the wheel. Look at how Hazlewood bowled first up. 

Joe Root seems to have learnt from the Alistair Cook school of captaincy...

It's quite incredible how easy a ride the both of them seem to be given by commentators whilst the test matches are taking place. 

Sky don't hold back.

scrumhalf

Since Duncan Fletcher, who worked with his captains, we seem to have had a succession of captains who have worked for a coach. 

guitars4you

Just seen a load of Stats on Sky regarding S Smith

Deliveries on target and his strike rate is over 120 - 97% of these are on the leg side - That is some statement

Deliveries not on target, all down the off side and his strike rate is around 30 - with only 3% of runs on the off side

So line, length outside the offside is required and starve him - Obviously you can sneak in the 'surprise' delivery - And make Smith step out of his comfort zone

Barely seen a yorker to him - barely seen a slow ball to him - So no variation, other than a few bad balls

Maybe it is not as easy as above, but surely it beats feeding him his stable diet

crunchman

Bit worried they are going to over bowl Archer and run him into the ground.

RandallFlagg

I've not seen such aggressive bowling from and England player as this from Jofra Archer, 95-96mph, a battered and bruised Steve Smith taken off injured after being hit hard twice.

It's dirty, raw and thrilling, no-one wants to see a repeat of the horrific fatality of Phillip Hughes but to see an England bowler serving up real pace bouncers to the Aussies instead of the other way around is refreshing. 

England are bowling well and keeping Aus under control

RandallFlagg

crunchman said:

Bit worried they are going to over bowl Archer and run him into the ground.

Agreed, but he still seems fresh after this many overs. Get the new ball and give Broad & Woakes the next 10 overs.

earwighoney

RandallFlagg said:

I've not seen such aggressive bowling from and England player as this from Jofra Archer, 95-96mph, a battered and bruised Steve Smith taken off injured after being hit hard twice.

It's dirty, raw and thrilling, no-one wants to see a repeat of the horrific fatality of Phillip Hughes but to see an England bowler serving up real pace bouncers to the Aussies instead of the other way around is refreshing. 

IMO after reading Langer's comments regarding Archer earlier this week they gave the impression they weren't taking his abilities seriously and there's a chance they weren't respecting Archer at the crease, which can be a very dangerous thing to do. 

scrumhalf

Blimey, Smith's coming back out.

Bring Jofra back on? 

RandallFlagg

scrumhalf said:

Blimey, Smith's coming back out.

Bring Jofra back on? 

Yep, keep the foot on the throat until it's dead. That would be the Aussie way. Does Root have that ruthless streak?

RandallFlagg

earwighoney said:

RandallFlagg said:

I've not seen such aggressive bowling from and England player as this from Jofra Archer, 95-96mph, a battered and bruised Steve Smith taken off injured after being hit hard twice.

It's dirty, raw and thrilling, no-one wants to see a repeat of the horrific fatality of Phillip Hughes but to see an England bowler serving up real pace bouncers to the Aussies instead of the other way around is refreshing. 

IMO after reading Langer's comments regarding Archer earlier this week they gave the impression they weren't taking his abilities seriously and there's a chance they weren't respecting Archer at the crease, which can be a very dangerous thing to do. 

the pre-Ashes hype over Archer has been justified. He brings a new dimension and has had the Aussies bent sideways. He has potential for game changing spells, and England will need them to get this series.

This late on day 4 with 2 innings left I can't see a result here but it's been good cricket.

scrumhalf

First innings lead of eight. Four sessions, two innings.

Could be very tight. 

Jason Roy - don't repeat your first innings effort. 

RandallFlagg

Unless Aus now blow England out in a session or 2!

earwighoney

Roy out for 2.  He's shaping to be the very worst of the all the terrible openers England have gone through recently. 

Now Root's out first ball.  Awful, awful, awful.