The Cricket Thread

Great advertisement for Test cricket this… with the series decided, would not mind Eng going for the jugular and lose this…

Btw, am I the only one who can see some likes on the pitch - almost like tractor marks ..
Disappointing from a Kiwi pov. But there's been some excellent cricket. Southee's bowling in the 1st innings was simply outstanding!
The lines were the 1st thing I noticed and was amazed they didn't affect the bounce -but they didn't.
 
100 runs to win… 8 wickets in hand.. free entry for crowds with local boy reverse flicking sixes… what a time for test cricket.


Given Rohit Sharma is down with Covid, Looking forward to Stokes v Kohli next week. Neither will back down. Sounds more like a boxing ring than cricket
 
100 runs to win… 8 wickets in hand.. free entry for crowds with local boy reverse flicking sixes… what a time for test cricket.
...
Over by lunch? Certainly by Tea. Free entry is pretty much the norm in such circumstances. Interesting 'entertainment' (perhaps even in the match) though.
 
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Utterly amazing series, test crickets definitely changing........

Bairstow finally looks at home, Leach has a role, Pope done well, Potts been a great addition. Great start for Stokes and Root just carries on and on. Be interesting to see how it develops, team is far from the finished product but a massive massive turn around

Spare a thought for Boult, Mitchell and Blundell, hard to believe they are on the end of a 3-0 defeat the way the three of them have played this summer
 
Utterly amazing series, test crickets definitely changing........

Bairstow finally looks at home, Leach has a role, Pope done well, Potts been a great addition. Great start for Stokes and Root just carries on and on. Be interesting to see how it develops, team is far from the finished product but a massive massive turn around

Spare a thought for Boult, Mitchell and Blundell, hard to believe they are on the end of a 3-0 defeat the way the three of them have played this summer

I guess until he faces true pace on quick wickets and he can’t go at the ball with such hard hands

Flourish’s in one day mode

need to find another opener as well
 
I guess until he faces true pace on quick wickets and he can’t go at the ball with such hard hands

Flourish’s in one day mode

need to find another opener as well


Definitely in form and in favourable conditions but credit where its due, been sensational last 2 tests.

This approach is definitely going to have its off days/matches for both individuals and the team, be interesting to see how they react when they do

Definitely still need one more at the top, if not a couple. Crawley got 1 last chance against india I expect but with this new approach surely Buttler be opening against the Saffers later in the summer :)
 
Definitely in form and in favourable conditions but credit where its due, been sensational last 2 tests.

This approach is definitely going to have its off days/matches for both individuals and the team, be interesting to see how they react when they do

Definitely still need one more at the top, if not a couple. Crawley got 1 last chance against india I expect but with this new approach surely Buttler be opening against the Saffers later in the summer :)
Conditions so favourable the team were 55-6!?!?!

Agree that Crawley is on borrowed time but not sure if Buttler still plays red ball cricket? Promote Pope (he is almost an opener) and bring in Harry Brooks in middle order
 
Conditions so favourable the team were 55-6!?!?!

Agree that Crawley is on borrowed time but not sure if Buttler still plays red ball cricket? Promote Pope (he is almost an opener) and bring in Harry Brooks in middle order


Yeah bar one spell when the overheads were different, the conditions across the series have been favourable for attacking batting. That and the fact NZ only picked 3 bowlers and their main 2 had bowled all the overs at that point when they had England 55-6

Pope almost an opener? He was a number 5 just 3 games ago lol

The Buttler comment was slightly tongue in cheek haha, albeit not playing red ball cricket doesnt seem a prerequisite based on Bairstow ;)
 
I'll never get the Bairstow dislike. I've always felt he's struggled to transition from one day technique back to test but when he's put the time in to the long form he always does well.
He's got ticker, never moans at being up and down the order, gloves on and gloves off and averages mid 30's before this burst (probably higher now).
Fair play if someone amazing was knocking on the door to displace him but there just hasn't been.
 
The Buttler comment was slightly tongue in cheek haha, albeit not playing red ball cricket doesnt seem a prerequisite based on Bairstow ;)
I honestly wouldn't rule it out. Buttler opening for the test team would certainly make statement.
 
I'll never get the Bairstow dislike.

He's got ticker, never moans at being up and down the order, gloves on and gloves off

I think this is the point - right back to the very start of his Test career, he has been messed around royally by the selectors, in and out of the side, specialist bat then keeper, up and down the order. If you contrast his treatment with that offered Buttler, for whom the selectors jacket bent over backwards on numerous occasions, it's not hard to see why he has slightly underacheived. I don't think there has been a massive change in his mindset per se, but i suspect he has been told at the start of the Summer that he is first name on the teamsheet, which will have been a big deal for him.
 
I admit that I would never have kept Leech in. Lads done well in a more attacking role. Moeen Ali would have been my spinner or I would have told Root he was going to bowl more overs and played Brooks.

Potts has been a super addition.

If this mentality continues then England will do well with the players they have. The Aussie side of 1995-2004 played balls out cricket. Tried to win every game. Having 3 of the best cricketers ever admittedly did help but that pressure being put back on the opposition paid huge dividends.

Looking forward to the rest of the summer.
 
Was at work all day, so could not follow the cricket. Checked thrice
1) rain
2) india something like 50/5
3) EoD Indian 300+

Is everyone now playing this Bazball (no idea what it means)
 
Was at work all day, so could not follow the cricket. Checked thrice
1) rain
2) india something like 50/5
3) EoD Indian 300+

Is everyone now playing this Bazball (no idea what it means)

Massive come down for Leach, he got destroyed
by Pant.
 
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