Cricket Thread

[red 2 hats]

England have been woeful with the bat, the ball and in the field, mentally weak and battered by a far superior team.

 

[M18CTID]

I’ve got tickets for day 3 at Headingley next week. The way we’re playing, I’ll be aiming to score a century before lunch.

A century of pints that is!

 

[dadnlad]

Why is Ward going on about the ball the Aussies picked, surely it’s all to do with how they are using it?

it was the clouds now bright sunshine make you're minds up

 

[Lovebitesandeveryfing]

Stopping for drinks. This is a bit like stopping for drinks when you're in the tumbril on your way to the guillotine.

 

[Postman Pep]

Big fear before the series was the respective attacks. If you reverse the circumstances at Edgbaston and we were 8 down needing 52 and they had a new ball to take would we get over the line?
Not excusing the various fuck ups within each game but when it comes to the crunch in the fourth innings the gulf is there for all to see.

 

[Citizen Mike]

To be fair, it would be a totally different prospect if Archer, Wood and Stone had been fit.

When is Archer ever fit? His career is over before it has begun

 

[awest]

I think we declared way too soon in the first test. that arrogant decision will cost us dearly in this series.

 

[Ajm1985]

I suppose the only real question, then, is “Have England been creating an illusion for the last twelve months or so?” This Australia side is a useful side, even a good one, but far from the classic Australia sides of the past. And they are making England look like absolute chumps.

I'm not going to defend the atrocious batting in the first innings and I think England have been poor this test - but I wouldn't downplay this Aussie team too much.

Cummins is no1 ranked bowler in the world, 220+ wickets at 21 average, him, Hazelwood and Starc (who on his day can bowl 90mph+ deliveries that swing round corners) are probably among the very best Aussie attacks of the past 20-30 years. With a fit Lyon, they are really excellent.

Steve Smith is an all time great, Labuschagne has an average over 50, and Warner & Khawaja have 40 centuries between them. They are a really good team and we should have beat them last test but this has been a difference in class.

 

[dadnlad]

When is Archer ever fit? His career is over before it has begun

he's very rich though

 

[Gabriel]

Looking ahead to Thursday, it's almost inevitable that England will now have to make changes. I reckon the orange should be in jeopardy, the green might be out through injury, and the blue are probably safe.

Ben Duckett
Zak Crawley
Ollie Pope
Joe Root
Harry Brook
Ben Stokes(c)
Jonny Bairstow(wk)
Stuart Broad
Josh Tongue
Ollie Robinson
James Anderson

Not sure they will make as many as 4 changes, though, especially if one or two have to miss out through injury.