The Cricket Thread

[kieran_vale]

Root survives after being stumped on a no ball. Definitely his match to cash in with at least a double.

South Africa have been very sloppy in the field, not like them at all.

 

[SMH]

The man is fucking incredible. The best batsmen this country will ever produce

He's the only man in the modern era who will ever have a chance or the ability to beat Cook's test runs record. Ballance on the other hand will be the modern day Graeme Hick.

 

[Luke_1884]

Root gone for 190, he'll be disappointed but a good delivery from Morkel.

Dawson pretty much straight out, terrible 5 minutes for England.

 

[slaphead]

So much for Dawson being able to bat. Part of me hopes he gets smashed all round Lords as well, just so the selectors end this infatuation with bowlers who bat once and for all and just pick the best man for the job.

 

[RavenBish]

He's got 0-110 written all over him. South Africa's biggest weapon as they can milk him easily for 5/6 an over. Never a Test player and a selection 10x worse than the infamous Pattinson one - I genuinely believe he's an only very marginally better bowler than Root

 

[Aber gas]

He's got 0-110 written all over him. South Africa's biggest weapon as they can milk him easily for 5/6 an over. Never a Test player and a selection 10x worse than the infamous Pattinson one - I genuinely believe he's an only very marginally better bowler than Root

I think you're being unusually charitable. I'd take Root bowling over this pointless nonsense anytime.

 

[Super_horns]

]Rabada is banned for the 2nd test.

 

[George Reilly's Hairpiece]

We've got Moen Ali at 7. We don't need batting depth. Rashid should have played, and maybe I'm biased, but Jack Leach should have been the finger spinner next off the taxi rank.

Might operate well in conducive conditions only, but it's spinning sideways on day 2 at Lords.

 

[SMH]

Tom Curran brilliant for Surrey at Chelmsford, pretty much won them the game on his own at the end. I'll be really surprised if he's not playing regularly for England this time next year.

 

[RavenBish]

We've got Moen Ali at 7. We don't need batting depth. Rashid should have played

and the weirdest thing is that Rashid actually gives you batting depth as well - he's a more than adequate number 8.

 

[slaphead]

Rashid had been getting some tap in the County game though. There was some speculation yesterday on TMS that Dawson was Joe Roots pick, and he doesn't see eye to eye with Rashid.

 

[RavenBish]

Flintoff is as insufferable on commentary as you'd imagine

 

[RavenBish]

That's the worst thing I've seen on a cricket pitch, if Fletcher isn't seriously injured he'll be very lucky. Even if he's fine, the shock of seeing that will mean the next 17 overs will be a bit strange if the game goes ahead.

 

[Super_horns]

Sounds awful - apprantley he walked off though?

 

[Pilgrim Meister]

Good day for England. Cook getting into form, can see him getting 100 tomorrow with Root coming out and putting on a few runs until he declares just before tea

 

[RavenBish]

could do with one partnership to take the game away from South Africa ideally - anything over 300 will be a tough chase on this pitch.

 

[Pilgrim Meister]

Another 100 runs will be enough. Shame about this morning's collapse

 

[kieran_vale]

How on earth did Philander drop that? Some real clangers from SA in the field and that has really been the difference in the two teams.

 

[Dave]

Can this Dawson bat?

 

[Saddlerrad]

Pretty hard pitch to bat on, so 300+ would be a solid chase. This morning has been lame however and just as everyone knew, Cook, Jennings and Ballance as a top 3, all left handers, 3 of the most boring players anywhere on the circuit to watch in terms of taking it to be the bowler won't work. Get a right hander with a better SR somewhere between them.

 

[Luke_1884]

Well this is disappointing.

 

[kieran_vale]

Big collapse but I think England already have enough. Hopefully Bairstow can have a little cameo after lunch just to get it over 300.

 

[Pilgrim Meister]

All over. 233 all out.

SA 331 to win

 

[Pilgrim Meister]

12-2

 

[kieran_vale]

Duminy gone now, perfect session for England. Pretty dumb cricket from Duminy given it was right on tea to be fair.

 

[RavenBish]

smart of South Africa to let Dawson get a couple of wickets and keep him in the team for the next test.

 

[kieran_vale]

6 down. Obviously a lot of luck with the De Kock dismissal but how good a cricketer has Moeen Ali become now. Should be over tonight.

 

[RavenBish]

Great stuff from Ali this - Warne was banging on earlier that Maharaj's deliveries were turning most when under 50mph and Ali's come out, dropped his pace right down to that mark and it's working wonders. Clearly a bit of a spinner's wet dream this wicket mind.

 

[Pilgrim Meister]

SA now 8 down

 

[Dave]

Australia need 42 from 20.

Perry 70* and dropped a few balls ago. This women's cricket is alright.