The cricket thread

Hattigol

Looking great but an impending inevitability that the weather is going to shaft England again. 

A 2 1 win to the Aussies really won't seem like a fair result but that's what the history books will show.

Hattigol

Broady retiring.
Let's hope the weather lets England finish in style...

RandallFlagg

I bet David Warner is relieved ,although it's possible neither would have made it to the next Ashes anyway I guess.

i have only really followed cricket with serious interest since around 2009 and that was the first Ashes series I really followed, so Stuart Broad has been a mainstay in the England team all the time I've followed them. It feels quite a changing of the guard and a sad moment with Broady leaving the game. I wonder if he will do some stints on commentary? 

How long before Jimmy goes?, he's had a quiet series.

chris78

I’m quite emotional abroad Broady calling it a day. I’m sure he’ll have a commentary box career, but he’s the type of competitive cricketer I love. Totally the end of an era not having Broad and Jimmy in the same team. We’ve been privileged to see the very best seamers who have ever played for England. There have been faster, but there haven’t been two more skilful bowlers in the history of the game who kept working hard to get better.
Im pleased Broady has gone out at the absolute top, but he’s irreplaceable.

guitars4you

I bet the Aussies will give him a guard of honour today when they walk out this morning

But come on Stuart - One last time, before we celebrate - Inc the wicket of Warner for nostalgia - 

scrumhalf

Lovely six from Broad. 

guitars4you

Broad now the 5th best six hitter for England

KP the only ‘batsman’ on that list - I dare say you can guess the other 3

guitars4you

scrumhalf said:

Lovely six from Broad. 

And the last time he scored a run for England 

guitars4you

chris78 said:

I’m quite emotional abroad Broady calling it a day. I’m sure he’ll have a commentary box career, but he’s the type of competitive cricketer I love. Totally the end of an era not having Broad and Jimmy in the same team. We’ve been privileged to see the very best seamers who have ever played for England. There have been faster, but there haven’t been two more skilful bowlers in the history of the game who kept working hard to get better.
Im pleased Broady has gone out at the absolute top, but he’s irreplaceable.

Agree - Central contracts and regular rest from county cricket has certainly allowed for a longer career - Their own fitness plan/desire has also helped- Never the regular/long term injury that plights so many bowlers 

Compare Broad v Truman - Broad played over 100 more test matches but in his full career Fred bowled nearly twice as many deliveries around 50k v 99k - Fred took over twice as many career wickets 

scrumhalf

Why hasn't Wood had a bowl yet? 

guitars4you

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

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

Anyone else got a bad feeling about this 

scrumhalf

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

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

westford

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

chris78

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

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

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

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.