Cricket 2015

[IOWFOX]

Well i reckon that is the series over after that session. If only Broad and Anderson could bowl all day long.

[Guest MattP]

Doesn't look promising so far, think we're about done with the whole Moeen experiment as well, Rashid looks the better option from now on in terms of spin.

[leicsmac]

We miss Swann so much it isn't even funny.

 

Still, we'll batter this lot on green tops next year - that's if they don't have a hissy fit and forfeit one or two of the matches first of course.

[Bobby Hundreds]

Doesn't look promising so far, think we're about done with the whole Moeen experiment as well, Rashid looks the better option from now on in terms of spin.

 

I think Ali has got a place as a lower order batter and occasional tweak, Patel shouldn't play again mind.

 

We need to identify who our front line finger spinner is going to be though and quickly.

[Guest MattP]

I think Ali has got a place as a lower order batter and occasional tweak, Patel shouldn't play again mind.

 

We need to identify who our front line finger spinner is going to be though and quickly.

 

We are going to have to choose one spinner for the forseeable future, we've got a 5 match series in South Africa and then 7 matches at home. we won't be needing a second spinner again until India away late 2016.

 

I only see a future for Ali if he opens or if we dump Rashid so he's the sole spinner, it we play them both with a new opener it means we have no spot for Wood or Finn and that doesn't make any sense to me on our pitches or South African ones, Root can do that job, we might even go with 5 fast bowlers if you include Stokes for the winter.

 

Cook

New Opener

Bell

Root

Taylor

Bairstow

Stokes

Rashid/Ali/Finn

Broad

Wood

Anderson

[Brainy]

Hate to sound like a typical negative supporter but I can't be the only one who's surprised we collapsed this morning? Did it a lot the past year losing 4/5/6 wickets in the first session

[Guest MattP]

Stokes should get a special mention today, came out to bat with ligament damage, didn't get any runs but got through 9 balls that enabled Broad to put another 10 on at the other end.

[fuchsntf]

Hate to sound like a typical negative supporter but I can't be the only one who's surprised we collapsed this morning? Did it a lot the past year losing 4/5/6 wickets in the first session

Its something in the British character, we can start and go with the flow, but once there is an interruption, the discipline and concentation deserts us.50 years of top days, strewn with middle order collapses.Once maybe every 5 years we hold on.

This morning after a great 76 and thoughtfull 30+, Taylor and Bairstow needed to hold out like the Pakistanis have done, in their awkward moments through the series.

This weakness, no matter what generation, will keeps us forever from , or give us only short possesion of the n01 spot.

[Guest MattP]

Broad and Anderson on this test combined are 52-31-83-8 - that is unreal on this pitch.

What are we gonna do when they are gone?

[purpleronnie]

Broad and Anderson on this test combined are 52-31-83-8 - that is unreal on this pitch.

What are we gonna do when they are gone?

That's been my concern for sometime matt, they're so superior to our other seam bowlers that we'll be a poor bowling side when they have retired.  Of course Broad should be around for quite some time yet.

[Corky]

Broad and Anderson on this test combined are 52-31-83-8 - that is unreal on this pitch.

What are we gonna do when they are gone?

 

I think Finn has the capability, Wood looks decent but we need a third seamer really and I'm not sure who is out there. Willey maybe?

[chrishlcfc]

Trouble is there is no real quality fast bowlers about in the county scene currently, I mean Rushworth has been leading wicket taker the last 2 years in the championship I think and he is a steady bowler but not test class. It is a major concern think Finn is good but injury prone, Wood is injured a hell of a lot. Think Fisher is a big hope for the future but that's 5 years down the line, used to like Meaker but hes lost the plot and is a hypochondriac who thinks he is injured when he actually isn't.

[Guest]

Can't see England chasing 250+ to win this one so they'll need a big first session today to try and cut the required total down to sub 220. Not sure I can see it though they very much had a window going into Day 3 where they could push on and get a massive lead. Reckon Pakistan win by at least 30 runs. 

[Guest MattP]

Good start today (Anderson who else?)

We should be able to still chase anything under 200 but wouldn't want anymore than that under pressure.

[surrifox]

I think it's gone now

[Guest MattP]

Need this new ball ASAP. The spinners have given up trying to take wickets, just bowling around the wicket to right handers to try and stop the scoring.

One huge dart in a few hours but if we don't pick up 2-3 wickets any if hope of winning looks to be gone.

[surrifox]

It's been a great knock to be fair

[surrifox]

Smith and Warner captain and vice captain of Australia now

[Crinklyfox]

Pakistan spinners are different class to ours. Not surprising as in the sub-continent spin tends to be more effective than fast bowling on most pitches.

We've been second best in the series and I believe it's mainly down to that factor.

[Bobby Hundreds]

Pakistan spinners are different class to ours. Not surprising as in the sub-continent spin tends to be more effective than fast bowling on most pitches.

We've been second best in the series and I believe it's mainly down to that factor.

 

I think we've been slightly unlucky, a fair few decisions have gone against us including the tosses. Hafeez was given out for next to nothing yesterday!

[Guest MattP]

Too many chances thrown away this morning and lack of a decent spinner absolutely killing us, I said that's the end of Moeen yesterday but that nmight be premature watching how awful Rashid was today on a pitch made for him. Huge innings for Mo now as well.

All said and done it's 284 to win, not impossible but very difficult with effectively Stokes out, wwe'll need a big one from Cook, Bel or Root I think.

[Ross-Kemp]

Like Tuffers said on TMS this morning, what's the difference between 1-0 & 2-0, I'd much rather we went for it for what's left of today and tomorrow.

We've got the batsmen capable of hitting a big score in Cook, Ali, Root, Bairstow, Taylor and even Patel / Rashid.

I think it's time to start preparing county pitches to turn a little more, A) to aid the development of young English spinners and B) to help batsmen learn how to play against it.

[Guest MattP]

They did a fantastic segment on the verdict last night regarding why we aren't producing quality spinners anymore, the main conclusions they came too.

1. Two division cricket, means crucial late season matches need results and seam friendly pitches.

2. Best time for spin is hot weather in late July and August - the time we now play loads of T20 and ODI cricket.

3. T20 and ODI cricket is making spinners bowl different, faster as they are worried about getting smashed out the ground.

They did big up a guy called Mason Crane though at Hampshire, next big thing apparantly, if someone can come through they've got a first team slot for as long as they want it.

[Bobby Hundreds]

3. T20 and ODI cricket is making spinners bowl different, faster as they are worried about getting smashed out the ground.

 

 

I think this is key. They fire it in and don't let the ball do anything too much even off a conducive surface.

[leicsmac]

We've had no manner of luck at all with marginal decisions this Test. Pakistani batsmen getting the benefit of Umpires Call on DRS because they weren't given, our ones getting shafted because we were.