******Cricket Thread******

[ancoats]

Bastard weather! Looks grim for tomorrow the forecast.

root knew this and still had his thumb up his arse

 

[cleavers]

England missed the trick by batting for too long in the first innings. 450 to 470ish should have been enough.

Correct, getting them in earlier could have made the difference.

 

[Tim of the Oak]

England missed the trick by batting for too long in the first innings. 450 to 470ish should have been enough. They only bowled 10.4 overs on day 2 against pakistan. Knowing that forecast was bad for day 4 and 5, batting out nearly 2 days on a flat deck was a poor and defensive move.

If it rains all day tomorrow then we would have had to declare the best part of 2 sessions earlier to probably bowl Pakistan out twice so you would need to knock 200 or so off England’s total. If the weather is bad then declaring at 450 to 470 wouldn’t have made that much of a difference. The dropped catches have been more significant but the weather has been the biggest factor.

 

[Tim of the Oak]

Correct, getting them in earlier could have made the difference.

I don’t agree. We only have Pakistan 2 wickets down in the second innings that indicates they would have batted past our total if we had declared a lot earlier. Root’s declaration was designed to demoralise the Pakistan team and that would have won the game by now but for dropping catches, poor weather and some resilient batting.

 

[cleavers]

I don’t agree. We only have Pakistan 2 wickets down in the second innings that indicates they would have batted past our total if we had declared a lot earlier. Root’s declaration was designed to demoralise the Pakistan team and that would have won the game by now but for dropping catches, poor weather and some resilient batting.

Well had we had them in 40 minutes earlier on Saturday, we might have had them out by lunch yesterday, giving us far more time today to do the job, and they might have been more demoralised already.

They were 75 for 5 early yesterday, after which they batted well, but if we'd had another 40 minutes they might not have made batting their first innings into yesterday, and we might have had a couple of hours more of their second innings yesterday in difficult batting conditions.

It doesn't matter now, because barring a miracle weather wise tomorrow it's a draw, and Root knew this on Saturday, once Buttler was out he should have declared for me, he almost always plays too safe.

 

[Tim of the Oak]

Well had we had them in 40 minutes earlier on Saturday, we might have had them out by lunch yesterday, giving us far more time today to do the job, and they might have been more demoralised already.

They were 75 for 5 early yesterday, after which they batted well, but if we'd had another 40 minutes they might not have made batting their first innings into yesterday, and we might have had a couple of hours more of their second innings yesterday in difficult batting conditions.

It doesn't matter now, because barring a miracle weather wise tomorrow it's a draw, and Root knew this on Saturday, once Buttler was out he should have declared for me, he almost always plays too safe.

That’s a lot of ifs. Root gave enough time for our two in form strike bowlers to have a proper crack at the Pakistan top order. Throughout the match the new ball has been a threat forabkut a dozen overs and then the conditions have favoured the batsmen. He would have been cognisant if not burning out Anderson and Broad with us needing to collect 20 catches.

If we had just taken the routine catches and got the full days play today that was more or less forecast a couple of days ago, we would have probably gone 2 nil up today. Tuesday was always looking very dodgy in terms of weather but the game might have been all over today with better fielding and a bit of luck.

Root comes in for a lot of stick on here and I am not close enough to the England set up to know whether he is good, bad or mediocre as skipper. I think the Test Match Special Team said we were on our best ever run of results in home test series but I know we tend to be lacking on tour.

 

[cleavers]

That’s a lot of ifs. Root gave enough time for our two in form strike bowlers to have a proper crack at the Pakistan top order. Throughout the match the new ball has been a threat forabkut a dozen overs and then the conditions have favoured the batsmen. He would have been cognisant if not burning out Anderson and Broad with us needing to collect 20 catches.

If we had just taken the routine catches and got the full days play today that was more or less forecast a couple of days ago, we would have probably gone 2 nil up today. Tuesday was always looking very dodgy in terms of weather but the game might have been all over today with better fielding and a bit of luck.

Root comes in for a lot of stick on here and I am not close enough to the England set up to know whether he is good, bad or mediocre as skipper. I think the Test Match Special Team said we were on our best ever run of results in home test series but I know we tend to be lacking on tour.

We keep having bad hours, have done all summer in every match.

I don't think it would have been a great risk to declare at 500/520, it's unusual for a second innings to be better than the first so 283+220 would have worked, even 280+250 would have left us probably only needing a few to win, and they might not have got 280 in the first had we got at them earlier, anyway it's all hypothetical now, with tonight's and tomorrow's rain, it's unlikely there'll be enough play tomorrow to get 8 wickets.

 

[Citizen in Pakistan]

If it rains all day tomorrow then we would have had to declare the best part of 2 sessions earlier to probably bowl Pakistan out twice so you would need to knock 200 or so off England’s total. If the weather is bad then declaring at 450 to 470 wouldn’t have made that much of a difference. The dropped catches have been more significant but the weather has been the biggest factor.

Eng were 330 for 4 at close on day one. Take half hour to settle in, you still have 90 minutes in day 2 session 1 to play agreesively and post a score of 450ish. For further assurance they could have played half an more after lunch but that's about it.

I am all for batting once if you are in commanding position but it would work only if you were in a place like dubai or Abu Dhabi where you are almost guaranteed 5 days of cricket. To do that when rain interruption is a real threat is a negative move imo and since there is also a small matter of test championship, this draw could make the difference in whether eng plays the final or not.

I hope we just get enough play for Anderson to get his 600th

 

[jimharri]

If you get the weather we've had all night, and it generally travels west to east, you'll get sod all play today. It's pissed down and been blowing a gale/storm all night.

 

[DMA's]

We have won 3 test series in a row including one over in South Africa and people still moan! Incredible really.

we are a young side who are improving, to blame this draw on root is ridiculous. The pitch is very flat once the ball goes soft so even if we declared earlier there is no guarantee we would get Pakistan out twice for less than 450 which could have left a very awkward total for us to chase on a day 5 pitch (weather permitting obviously)

 

[MillionMilesAway]

If it rains all day tomorrow then we would have had to declare the best part of 2 sessions earlier to probably bowl Pakistan out twice so you would need to knock 200 or so off England’s total. If the weather is bad then declaring at 450 to 470 wouldn’t have made that much of a difference. The dropped catches have been more significant but the weather has been the biggest factor.

I think there was more interest in not losing the match, and thus winning the series, than winning the match.
I can't see how they would have declared before Buttler was out, which would have only been 10 overs saved.

 

[Tim of the Oak]

Eng were 330 for 4 at close on day one. Take half hour to settle in, you still have 90 minutes in day 2 session 1 to play agreesively and post a score of 450ish. For further assurance they could have played half an more after lunch but that's about it.

I am all for batting once if you are in commanding position but it would work only if you were in a place like dubai or Abu Dhabi where you are almost guaranteed 5 days of cricket. To do that when rain interruption is a real threat is a negative move imo and since there is also a small matter of test championship, this draw could make the difference in whether eng plays the final or not.

I hope we just get enough play for Anderson to get his 600th

we are one nil up in the series so there was no point in giving Pakistan the chance to set us a Ricky total by declaring early IMHO. IIRC, Steve Waugh’s great Aussie team batted the opposition into the dust and that’s what the 583 was designed to do.

I know this is a fairly young and inexperienced Pakistan team but I’ve seen Pakistan win or draw many tests over the years from difficult positions. I would rather have taken the declaration that guaranteed us the series win and put us in a dominant position to win 2 nil but for dropped catches and very poor weather.

 

[Tim of the Oak]

I think there was more interest in not losing the match, and thus winning the series, than winning the match.
I can't see how they would have declared before Buttler was out, which would have only been 10 overs saved.

I agree mate. I think England would have been conscious that Pakistan have a good record against us and the series win was the priority.

 

[cleavers]

I can't see how they would have declared before Buttler was out, which would have only been 10 overs saved.

That 10 overs could have been crucial though, I'll be surprised if there's any play today, but fingers crossed as the rain seems to have cleared earlier than forecast.

 

[jimharri]

That 10 overs could have been crucial though, I'll be surprised if there's any play today, but fingers crossed as the rain seems to have cleared earlier than forecast.

If they don't get back on, I wouldn't like to be one of those who spilled chances off Jimmy yesterday. He could well end up stuck on 599. There's no guarantee of tours going ahead, so it could be next summer before he'd get the opportunity to nab number 600. And will he be picked in a year's time?

 

[Gabriel]

If they don't get back on, I wouldn't like to be one of those who spilled chances off Jimmy yesterday. He could well end up stuck on 599. There's no guarantee of tours going ahead, so it could be next summer before he'd get the opportunity to nab number 600. And will he be picked in a year's time?

He just needs to tell the media that he fears his place might be in jeopardy if his performances don’t improve...

 

[TheRemainsOfTheDave]

If they don't get back on, I wouldn't like to be one of those who spilled chances off Jimmy yesterday. He could well end up stuck on 599. There's no guarantee of tours going ahead, so it could be next summer before he'd get the opportunity to nab number 600. And will he be picked in a year's time?

Yes.

 

[MillionMilesAway]

That 10 overs could have been crucial though, I'll be surprised if there's any play today, but fingers crossed as the rain seems to have cleared earlier than forecast.

Sure, it was barmy not to declare then. Baffling.

 

[crooky]

If he finishes on 599 then so be it. At the end of the day he’s been a fabulous bowler over the last 15+ years and one less wicket than 600 is hardly going to taint his illustrious career in any way.

 

[cleavers]

Play to start shortly, potentially 42 overs.