Cricket Thread

[Dr Jacoby]

How does Smith not fit in this ?

Whoops!

 

[urban genie]

shirley Buttler or Foakes need to now be considered over bairstow

 

[bavarian blue]

Did anybody spot the lad in a City shirt sat on a roof next to the ground.

Michael Vaughan mentioned his retro City shirt.

 

[SkyBlueFlux]

Khawaja, Labuschagne (his stats do seem inflated though), Hazelwood and Green are all quality players.

Carey is also an excellent wicket keeper (though he’s a typical bogan ****). Doesn’t matter if he bats ducks every innings for me, he’s worth 3-4 wickets a test.

 

[Lovebitesandeveryfing]

Convicts heads are seriously fucked now . Ramp up the pressure and the verbals proper Manc style at Old Trafford and these Aussie cry babies will crumble……

Nah, it'll be close, one way or the other, right through to the bitter end.
It's a great series, got to admit it. It's had everything.

 

[trueblue1972]

They're a good team. I never put that in question. I stand by my judgement that — as a whole unit — they are not fit to hold a candle to the great Australian teams of the past, and I'm specifically referring to the period approximately ’95 to 2005. I'm not even sure that they're better than — or as good as — the Australian team of Bill Lawry, the Chappell brothers and the like, if we want to go back that far. Mitchell Starc's a fine quick bowler. Cummins can bowl, and then some. Nathan Lyon's a wily fox. Smith when he's on song is one of the top two or three batsmen in the world (he's not on song at present). Excuse me, but Lillee and Thommo at their height were a force of nature. A tornado in human form. I don't think I've ever seen such a fearsome pairing, in any team. The England team that played against them was shellshocked, blown to smithereens.
Others will have other opinions, of course.
I well know that they're classed number one by the ICC, and (for what it's worth) they've just beaten India in a one-off. That's more of a reflection on the competition. Nobody is outstanding at present. England should and could have done better against them on our own turf. It's been close, even today. I don't expect England to win the Ashes, but it would be a better reflection of the real forces of the two teams if it were levelled.

Whilst they may not have the X factor that they have had in the past in the bowling , they are a very solid outfit and the batsmens averages speak for themselves , imho way above us on paper . Loosing Lyon is a big issue for them. However, he gave them the balance and control that allowed them to dominate games . He is no Warne ( X factor previously mentioned ) by any stretch of imagination but a vital cog of the team that can't be understated .
That being said, we could quite easily have won the ashes by now if we had used a little more nous , it's been a riveting series so far , and I fully expect that to continue

 

[TonyColemansbagofapples]

Foakes needs to replace Bairstow and Anderson for Robinson if he is not fully fit. Root should go in at 3.

 

[Gundoggin]

Nah, it'll be close, one way or the other, right through to the bitter end.
It's a great series, got to admit it. It's had everything.

Aussie convicts had the series sewn up before they got carried away with themselves like they do the big headed cheating cunts . Gobshites of the highest order ! Different gravy now ! England selectors need to get it 100% right now , Bairstow out proper keeper in ……

 

[Gundoggin]

Foakes needs to replace Bairstow and Anderson for Robinson if he is not fully fit. Root should go in at 3.

Difficult one with Anderson , he has had his time but he knows Old Trafford like nobody else . Huge decision !

 

[TonyColemansbagofapples]

True. Time also catching up with Broad. Due to constant injuries for the pace bowlers, I reckon a little more rotation is necessary. Stokes' inability to bowl sufficient overs puts extra strain on them too. What would we give for a really top notch slow bowler (Warne or even a Lyon).