Cricket Thread

[MeatnSpudsMCFC]

Australia look so confident they’ve gone full T20 on us this morning. Bloody marvellous.

 

[Summerbuzz]

Adjusting to 2-0 and a long, dull summer here.

 

[Gabriel]

In the late 90s and early noughties, the English team was often comprehensively outplayed by a series of great Australian teams: the teams of Gilchrist, Hayden, Ponting, Langer, McGrath, Warne, etc. You could sort of accept it, because Australia was blowing pretty much everyone away at the time. Except maybe India in India — a notoriously hard place to win a series in.
Sorry, but this is not one of the great Australian teams. They may be world champions, according to what happened in a one-off against India, but they are simply not a great team. They're a good team, that carries on the tradition of not wanting to lose against the poms.
This is what kills me in this situation. England really should be able to beat this team. They have absolutely shot themselves in the foot.

That's true enough, but at the same time, and in fairness, this is not a great England team either. It has one genuinely great batsman and two bowlers whose powers are on the wane. I would say the play and result so far is probably par for the state of both teams.

 

[blue moony]

Not only is Oli Robinson one dislikable scrote
.. he is also bang average

 

[BringBackSwales]

Here at old Trafford, the weather is dross. Last time for play is 9.29pm, for a 5 over game. Very unlikely.

Any idea if we get some or all of our money back and if so how do we go about it?

 

[Gabriel]

Any idea if we get some or all of our money back and if so how do we go about it?

See here perhaps.
Good luck.

 

[Lovebitesandeveryfing]

That's true enough, but at the same time, and in fairness, this is not a great England team either. It has one genuinely great batsman and two bowlers whose powers are on the wane. I would say the play and result so far is probably par for the state of both teams.

I accept that (I think you're being a little bit hard on the batting — great, no, but several good batsmen, who are not delivering at present; the bowling is a serious worry, granted). But this should be closer than it is. The first test was a fair reflection of the margins between the two teams.
This one is not going to be close. England are going to be smashed, I believe. Then we shall see whether they can pick themselves up in the last three tests. It's ominous, because if there's one team that thrives on momentum, it is the Aussies.

 

[Gabriel]

I accept that (I think you're being a little bit hard on the batting — great, no, but several good batsmen, who are not delivering at present; the bowling is a serious worry, granted). But this should be closer than it is. The first test was a fair reflection of the margins between the two teams.
This one is not going to be close. England are going to be smashed, I believe. Then we shall see whether they can pick themselves up in the last three tests. It's ominous, because if there's one team that thrives on momentum, it is the Aussies.

I'd like to think objective rather than hard. Neither English opener is entirely secure in his position, Pope is a 4 batting at 3 and has concentration problems, Brook has only played 8 Tests, Stokes is in dreadful form, and Bairstow is probably batting too low so finds himself with a longish tail. He might be better coming in ahead of Stokes at present. Root is a great but the rest all have work to do.

The first Test was incredibly close and this one will hinge on whether England bat sensibly in the fourth innings.

 

[Corky]

See here perhaps.
Good luck.

There automatic refunds are no good, I want to post the tickets to Corby and get a cheque.

I made a few quid buying people's tickets on rain affected days doing that, the June 2004 ODI v NZ and the Friday of test in Aug 2004 v WI both at OT, in pubs around Portland Street.

 

[blue moony]

I'm sorry but for a professional representing your country , Johnny Bairstow is a disgrace ..

Overweight, not agile enough....

He should ve dropped and told yo sort his shit out

For a professional athlete in this day and age to be that out of shape when they have every thing they need to hand not to be is frankly disgusting ....

 

[Betterdeedthan red]

I'm sorry but for a professional representing your country , Johnny Bairstow is a disgrace ..

Overweight, not agile enough....

He should ve dropped and told yo sort his shit out

For a professional athlete in this day and age to be that out of shape when they have every thing they need to hand not to be is frankly disgusting ....

Luke Shaw

 

[The Light Was Yellow Sir]

I'm sorry but for a professional representing your country , Johnny Bairstow is a disgrace ..

Overweight, not agile enough....

He should ve dropped and told yo sort his shit out

For a professional athlete in this day and age to be that out of shape when they have every thing they need to hand not to be is frankly disgusting ....

It’s more the people picking him who need to sort their shit out.

 

[Gabriel]

I'm sorry but for a professional representing your country , Johnny Bairstow is a disgrace ..

Overweight, not agile enough....

He should ve dropped and told yo sort his shit out

For a professional athlete in this day and age to be that out of shape when they have every thing they need to hand not to be is frankly disgusting ....

Not sure he's regained full fitness after having broken his leg. The question of agility is probably less to do with his weight, though, and more to do with his lack of time keeping wicket in the full format. England knew that coming into the series, however.

 

[blue moony]

It’s more the people picking him who need to sort their shit

Not sure he's regained full fitness after having broken his leg. The question of agility is probably less to do with his weight, though, and more to do with his lack of time keeping wicket in the full format. England knew that coming into the series, however.

Maybe the case but it certainly won't help his case ,especially recovering from an injury

No excuse to be that out of shape for a international player, he needs dropping

 

[Gray]

I accept that (I think you're being a little bit hard on the batting — great, no, but several good batsmen, who are not delivering at present; the bowling is a serious worry, granted). But this should be closer than it is. The first test was a fair reflection of the margins between the two teams.
This one is not going to be close. England are going to be smashed, I believe. Then we shall see whether they can pick themselves up in the last three tests. It's ominous, because if there's one team that thrives on momentum, it is the Aussies.

And to think England won the toss!

 

[waspish]

Looking at 550 Aussies will get and we can’t chase that so we playing to survive something we don’t do! 0-2 down

 

[bigstanhibbert]

Completely blame Bairstow and stokes for this








should have let the oil protestors wreck the fucking pitch

Hopefully the George Davis campaigners will be able to break in overnight, think it is the only chance we have

 

[Brewster's millions]

I'm sorry but for a professional representing your country , Johnny Bairstow is a disgrace ..

Overweight, not agile enough....

He should ve dropped and told yo sort his shit out

For a professional athlete in this day and age to be that out of shape when they have every thing they need to hand not to be is frankly disgusting ....

He objects to being fat shamed, apparently, so we just have to let him wobble around keep wicket like a 70 year old.

Shouldn’t be anywhere near the team.

 

[Don Karleone]

Too easy this

 

[balotellishaircut]

Unfortunately I can’t see anything but 2 nil, scoreboard pressure and fatigue are going to kill England here, we need a miracle.