The Cricket Thread

[Super_horns]

Thanks to our spinners the Aussies are struggling..

 

[Pyeman]

Not really much you can say in response to that. Must have missed the bit where he put his hands in front of his face. I only saw him stretch his arm out and divert the ball with his hand when it was a good two foot away from his face. Double contact ting?

Do you genuinely believe that from that range, at that speed, he had time to make a conscious decision to stop the ball?

 

[Matt_]

People who think it was some sort of concious decision by Stokes, and he wasn't even looking at the ball at the time FFS, should be made to stand 12-15 yards away from someone as they hurl a hard cricket ball at them at full pelt.

 

[Abertawe]

Do you genuinely believe that from that range, at that speed, he had time to make a conscious decision to stop the ball?

Nope, I never said he did.

He was guilty of lacking skill. He lost his bearings and instinctively stretched his arm. It was a wicket for the Aussies hence the dismissal was correct.

 

[Pyeman]

Nope, I never said he did.

He was guilty of lacking skill. He lost his bearings and instinctively stretched his arm. It was a wicket for the Aussies hence the dismissal was correct.

You contradict yourself [or simply don't understand the rules].

The rule states he has to have willfully stopped the ball from hitting the stumps. By your own admission, he did it instinctively. It can't be both instinctively and willfully. Willfully implies intention. A lack of skill isn't enough to warrant him losing his wicket.

 

[Abertawe]

Lack of will to develop skill, deserves everything he gets.

 

[lordofthepies]

He'll be remembered far more for this than for any of his fine innings this summer that's for sure.

Definitely not.

 

[JJH]

2 wickets in 2 balls turns this game on its head!

210-6 after 40, Aussies seemingly gone for it too early.

 

[JJH]

Hales out for a duck. He's having a torrid series.

 

[Super_horns]

Willey should be a first choice in the ODI side surely?

Just lost Taylor now for 41 so 3 down - going to be tough?

 

[JJH]

That is the most remarkable catch I have ever seen. Absolutely unbelievable.

Take a bow son.

 

[Super_horns]

Decider at Old Trafford Sunday - good effort by Morgan/Taylor and co.

 

[JJH]

300 chased down, series equalled.

Down to Sunday then.

 

[Pyeman]

Lack of will to develop skill, deserves everything he gets.

There's so much wrong with this statement, I'm going to assume you're just on a wind up.

I'm only sorry I didn't realise sooner.

 

[Super_horns]

3 down already...

 

[Pilgrim Meister]

4 down now (effectively 5)

Throwing it away

 

[Pilgrim Meister]

6 down + Morgan

 

[Super_horns]

Not dealt with the bowling of Hastings and Marsh.

 

[Pilgrim Meister]

138 all out. Shamefull

Time to turn over to Super Sunday

 

[Matt_]

Very sad news today that Brian Close has passed away aged 84.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cricket/34244820

A real legend of the game, hard as nails but also as astute a captain as there has been during recent decades. Also a mentor for many of the young Yorkshire players who progressed to the England side during his time at the Yorkshire academy.

I'll never forget the battering he took from the Windies quicks in the 1970s, pre helmet and chest guard days, when he took numerous blows to the body but hardly flinched.

The footage of that is on youtube somewhere.

 

[Super_horns]

Also on the BBC:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cricket/34244256

 

[hodge]

Hales, Ansari and Taylor on UAE tour

 

[Super_horns]

No Lyth so another change alongside Cook.

At this rate the captain will be playing with a whole team of openers in his career!

 

[Super_horns]

Ansari

Maybe not..unlucky lad if he is out!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cricket/34262165

 

[Matt_]

A little surprised to see Taylor selected, I'm guessing the selectors rate his ability to play spin. Maybe more based on his ODI showings that he county form as that is rather distorted by one massive innings this season. Good luck to the lad nevertheless as he's waiting a while to get another chance.

Ansari strikes me as a bits and pieces player, I'm not convinced he'll be good enough with either bat or ball to make the step up, but to be fair there aren't many specialists spinners making a pressing case for selection although I doubt it will be long before Crane comes into the reckoning.

 

[Saddlerrad]

Not seen much of Ansari to be honest, so can't really comment. He strikes me as you say Matt as a player that is okay at a lot of things, rather than being specifically good or outstanding at something. We already have a few players like that. Correct decision for Hales and Taylor to go. Hales has waited long enough for his chance to go out and prove that he can be a destructive test batsmen. I think he will do well and grow as a player in the role so it's a good thing as far as I'm concerned. Questions over the technique perhaps? I actually think he will do well in places like the UAE because of the lack of swing as an opener and his ability to hit the ball hard on sluggish surfaces.

I rate Taylor. Think he's a good player of spin and proved that he could rotate the strike on the ODI tour of Sri Lanka last year. He's a good long term option and he's captained England teams twice recently. It's nice to have quite a few options in the middle order, all relatively young in terms of the average test batsmen too. I actually think we will win quite comfortably in the UAE providing Rashid and Ali take enough wickets.

 

[Matt_]

I've read some articles today suggesting that Hales might not play in the UAE with Moeen to open. Personally I don't like short term selection decisions like that as Mooen will be found wanting if he opens in South Africa. The better option for me is to open with Hales all winter to give him a proper chance and, in order to play two spinners in the UAE if required, move Moeen up to five. That said I don't think it's as nailed on that we will actually play two spinners in the UAE as is expected by many.

 

[Saddlerrad]

I've read some articles today suggesting that Hales might not play in the UAE with Moeen to open. Personally I don't like short term selection decisions like that as Mooen will be found wanting if he opens in South Africa. The better option for me is to open with Hales all winter to give him a proper chance and, in order to play two spinners in the UAE if required, move Moeen up to five. That said I don't think it's as nailed on that we will actually play two spinners in the UAE as is expected by many.

If we don't, everyone in control wants stringing up and sacking.

 

[Ciderhead]

I actually think we will win quite comfortably in the UAE providing Rashid and Ali take enough wickets.

That's a big statement to make given Pakistan have never lost there! I'd say out of the 3 series: Ashes, this and SA - this is the toughest. We've always struggled against spin in the sub-continent and this Yasir Shah seems a real talent.

Personally I'd go for Ali to open. I take Matt's point but Hales has also shown some technical deficiencies against pace so you could argue that swings both ways. And we simply must play 2 spinners, so if we don't go for that someone else would have to give way, and I'm not sure who that would be. Probably the third seamer, but I'd like us to have as much bowling depth as possible, given the pitches aren't likely to best suit Broad and Anderson and our spinners are both inexperienced

 

[Aber gas]

I think a lot depends on Bell , is he up for the South african tour ? If he is then Ali at 5 with hales opening . If not Ali to open with hales at 3 . Either way moeen has to bat higher than 8 in the uae .