England cricket 2019 (16 Viewers)

[Macca]

Best player not English. Fastest bowler not English. Says it all

 

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[Grendel]

The best Australian batsman in this game isn’t Australian but I don’t think they care very much

 

[Macca]

The best Australian batsman in this game isn’t Australian but I don’t think they care very much

More concerning that a country of 50 million has to look elsewhere to raise a team of 11 and still get embarrassed. Granted I’m incredibly pissed off and probably not thinking rationally!

 

[Grendel]

More concerning that a country of 50 million has to look elsewhere to raise a team of 11 and still get embarrassed. Granted I’m incredibly pissed off and probably not thinking rationally!

There’s actually not that much between the teams and one of the issues we have is that we set ourselves to win the World Cup - Australia I think had this as a priority

That said both teams look well below world levels as batting units - I don’t think I’ve seen such poor batting from both teams in ashes cricket for some time. Take smith out and it’s been pretty dire all round

The scheduling is stupid as well - cramming 5 tests into such a short time frame after a World Cup is madness

 

[Macca]

I think that’s what’s most frustrating that the opposition is so average. You are right though the World Cup was given priority

 

[Sky_Blue_Dreamer]

Disagree, the hardest balls to face tend to be those swinging away outside off stump at a decent length. If anything you are less likely to play at snorters going straight at the stumps and so unless they are LBW addicts like Shane Watson a few years ago it's best saved for the tail or an occasional surprise weapon. What is really missing is a wise old head a la Cook to bide his time and avoid the suicidal stuff on show

When I say aim at the stumps I'm not saying just bowl as hard and straight as possible. I'm talking the "bowl top of off stump" and look for movement away to clip an edge, with the occasional one dragging back to either go lbw or to inside edge onto the stumps. At least make them think about playing it. Bowl it wide of off stump and unless you're an England batsman it gets left.

 

[Sky_Blue_Dreamer]

Leach - fucking hell hes a number 11 and was shuffling all over the place that’s the point you bowl straight at him

Chasing runs? We did the opposite which is why Denly perished and burns hates stuff round his head

I give up you are beyond reason

If we were doing the opposite of chasing runs why the hell are we wafting a bat at stuff two stumps wide of off (or wider in Stokes case)?

Aus second innings. Labuschagne. Batted as un-limited overs as can be. Showed how test batting should be done. Left everything he had to. Scored when he could. Got lucky with a few balls but when you've faced a lot of them you're going to need to from time to time. Difference is he didn't PUSH his luck like England did. His strike rate is low for modern cricket. But he's still at the crease and has another half century to his name - 3 in 3 now. And he's only playing because of injury to Australia's top batsman. He's spent much of the summer playing county cricket - might be why he's got the knack for building an innings rather than smack-bang-wallop everyone else is trying.

As for the captain debate - Archer cramped up most likely due to being over-bowled. Again on TMS they said one of the problems of batsmen captaining is they can't appreciate the amount of energy it takes to bowl at real pace for prolonged periods so they over-use players and injuries occur. Boycott said he did it, Vaughan said he did as well. If Stokes wasn't such a machine he'd probably do himslef a mischief too. He may well suffer for it later on in life though.

 

[Brighton Sky Blue]

When I say aim at the stumps I'm not saying just bowl as hard and straight as possible. I'm talking the "bowl top of off stump" and look for movement away to clip an edge, with the occasional one dragging back to either go lbw or to inside edge onto the stumps. At least make them think about playing it. Bowl it wide of off stump and unless you're an England batsman it gets left.

I could re-watch Stokes countless times and never understand what he was thinking. Reminds me of when Pietersen somehow got himself out sweeping something similarly wide of off. All you've got to do is turn up and this England side turns over

 

[Gazolba]

Best player not English. Fastest bowler not English. Says it all

Australia do it too.
Labuschagne is South African.
He's been their best batsman since Smith was injured.

 

[Gazolba]

England 134 for 2 and needing 225 to win.
It's possible but unlikely.
I'd continue batting for a draw and only start lashing out if the target is within reach with a few wickets left.

 

[Otis]

England 134 for 2 and needing 225 to win.
It's possible but unlikely.
I'd continue batting for a draw and only start lashing out if the target is within reach with a few wickets left.

Almost impossible I would say.

We are not even half way there yet.

Aussies should still win this one quite easily.

 

[chiefdave]

It's possible but unlikely.

Hugely unlikely given Englands habit for 1 wicket to quickly lead to 3 or 4. Even if the current two both manage tons you're likely to need 2 of Stokes, Butler and Bairstow to chip in and our batting doesn't have that consistency.

Still worth a go. Plenty of time so just keep batting sensibly and see what happens.

 

[Otis]

Ummm....and we can't bat for a draw. There are still two days left after this. We bat for two days we will win.

 

[Grendel]

How on earth is root still there batting at number 3

 

[Brighton Sky Blue]

Ummm....and we can't bat for a draw. There are still two days left after this. We bat for two days we will win.

Curious how when the match is basically over they find some backbone. Makes the first innings all the more frustrating

 

[Grendel]

Curious how when the match is basically over they find some backbone. Makes the first innings all the more frustrating

The first innings was down to a bit of a freak and root going early - once he’s around for s bit the field gets less confident and the bowlers tire in the heat Root does not lack backbone

 

[Brighton Sky Blue]

The first innings was down to a bit of a freak and root going early - once he’s around for s bit the field gets less confident and the bowlers tire in the heat Root does not lack backbone

It isn't Root I was referring to. The 1st innings collapse wasn't a freak it's been happening to England sides for donkey's years

 

[Grendel]

It isn't Root I was referring to. The 1st innings collapse wasn't a freak it's been happening to England sides for donkey's years

To that magnitude it hasn’t and we just don’t have openers equipped for test cricket - honestly I’d be looking at forcing root to open

 

[Brighton Sky Blue]

To that magnitude it hasn’t and we just don’t have openers equipped for test cricket - honestly I’d be looking at forcing root to open

It just happened at a lower starting point than usual. Roy needs to be put out of his misery and yes, Root surely would be a better option

 

[Brighton Sky Blue]

Now time to see if Stokes can avoid a repeat of his Day 2 insanity

 

[Otis]

Now time to see if Stokes can avoid a repeat of his Day 2 insanity

That was a really wide one he chased there.

 

[Brighton Sky Blue]

That was a really wide one he chased there.

Hopefully Root told him not to fuck about at the crease on arrival

 

[Macca]

When players have the attitude that they have taken unfair stick when consistently underperforming then you see the problem

 

[SIR ERNIE]

Good to see that Botham's still the all-round sportsman.

 

[Grendel]

Well England have just got themselves bogged down

When you are not making any runs at all the field doesn’t panic and eventually you get a crazy shot like that

 

[SIR ERNIE]

Bairstow's come in and taken the game to the Aussie bowlers. Different game now.

 

[Otis]

Still think we may end up short. These two need to stay in I think.

 

[Grendel]

Bairstow's come in and taken the game to the Aussie bowlers. Different game now.

He’s gone but Buttler needs to have same mindset and play for runs

 

[Otis]

He’s gone but Buttler needs to have same mindset and play for runs

Or maybe not.....

Down to Woakes now.

Think this may be over soon if we aren't careful.

 

[Paul Anthony]

It was going not too bad, but hey. Let's find new ways of giving away stupid wickets, shall we?

 

[Grendel]

Or maybe not.....

Down to Woakes now.

Think this may be over soon if we aren't careful.

It’s down to stokes. If he’s in for another hour it’s close

 

[Otis]

It’s down to stokes. If he’s in for another hour it’s close

Yes, I know that. I mean Woakes has to stay with him. Down to Woakes to stay there. The only one left capable I think, unless Leech has another mesmerising performance.

 

[Otis]

That's it I think.7 down.

 

[Paul Anthony]

So, that's another stupid shot. Another stupid wicket gone. Just stay in. Is it really that hard to understand?

 

[Grendel]

So, that's another stupid shot. Another stupid wicket gone. Just stay in. Is it rely that hard to understand?

Woakes is done for. He thinks he’s getting a short ball every time and he’s shot