The Official Cricket Thread

[Gumboot]

I didn't see any of the first day, but looking at Cricinfo I was surprised at the high number of extras England have conceded so far - 36 in just 83 overs, including a ridiculous 12 no-balls (6 by Robinson!). And 13 byes...there must've been an awful lot of ragged bowling.

[Guy Smiley]

I am kind of freaking out.

I have checked cricinfo 3 times today - first time Khawaja went first refresh, second time Labuschagne went out on the first refresh - and now Head and Green went.

I may be a god.

I had a day like that on PR years ago. Took about 6 wickets in a ODI. When you're hot, you're hot.

[handyman]

Kevin Pietersen not at all impressed with the England effort.

[tabascoboy]

Been raining all morning so no idea yet, when play might start - but conditions really should help the bowlers once they do get started, you'd think...

[clydecloggie]

Been raining all morning so no idea yet, when play might start - but conditions really should help the bowlers once they do get started, you'd think...

Like yesterday, you mean?

[Sandstorm]

Been raining all morning so no idea yet, when play might start - but conditions really should help the bowlers once they do get started, you'd think...

Like yesterday, you mean?

Can't have the ball moving around too much, Bairstow won't catch it.

[tabascoboy]

Been raining all morning so no idea yet, when play might start - but conditions really should help the bowlers once they do get started, you'd think...

Like yesterday, you mean?

Shh, let's try and be positive

[Deepsouth]

Steve Smith scores his 32nd Test ton. Some kind of batsman

If he was English they would have awarded him a Dukedom by now

[Guy Smiley]

Steve Smith scores his 32nd Test ton. Some kind of batsman

If he was English they would have awarded him a Dukedom by now

[Biffer]

England have had the better of the morning, let’s see how the rest of the day goes.

[SaintK]

Steve Smith scores his 32nd Test ton. Some kind of batsman

If he was English they would have awarded him a Dukedom by now

Quite!!!
Cheating cunt should have been banned for life!!!!

[tabascoboy]

England have had the better of the morning, let’s see how the rest of the day goes.

I'm sure they'd have settled for 416 all out before the start of play, good morning's work

[inactionman]

Crawley's hit a few nice drives in the last couple of overs - but they looked a teensy bit uppish and aerial to me.

It could just be I'm never quite comfortable watching Crawley bat even though stylistically there's shades of the Gowers about him.

[Thor Sedan]

Perfect batting conditions now.

400 doesn't look like enough.

[inactionman]

God almighty, Labuschagne talks some dull shite.

[inactionman]

Ah, and there's the Crawley wicket-throwaway.

[Biffer]

Shocker from Crawley.

[Sandstorm]

God almighty, Labuschagne talks some dull shite.

He has 20 bats and about a hundred pairs of gloves on tour according to Ponting. Of course he isn't going to interesting to talk to live.

[Biffer]

God almighty, Labuschagne talks some dull shite.

He has 20 bats and about a hundred pairs of gloves on tour according to Ponting. Of course he isn't going to interesting to talk to live.

Yeah, he and Smith are a couple of slightly odd guys.

Lyon off with what looks like a calf injury. That’s massive if it stops him bowling.

[JM2K6]

Argh. Pope too early on a huge hook shot. It was pretty rank stuff from Green and there to be hit, but England have not looked that convincing this morning playing those sorts of shots.

[Rhubarb & Custard]

Ah, and there's the Crawley wicket-throwaway.

And then a 3rd wicket given away, but the no ball works its wonders

[Rhubarb & Custard]

Argh. Pope too early on a huge hook shot. It was pretty rank stuff from Green and there to be hit, but England have not looked that convincing this morning playing those sorts of shots.

Bazball for all it's successes may need a plan B for no/minimal slips and lots of men on the boundary

[JM2K6]

Argh. Pope too early on a huge hook shot. It was pretty rank stuff from Green and there to be hit, but England have not looked that convincing this morning playing those sorts of shots.

Bazball for all it's successes may need a plan B for no/minimal slips and lots of men on the boundary

Yeah, and it's a pretty obvious plan B - a single off every ball with no danger

[Paddington Bear]

This is so stupid. Two set bats give it away. They have no spinner now and will be shagged if we just ignore this. Ffs

[Sandstorm]

Bazball getting shagged by the short ball. 0-2 in the series coming up.

[Biffer]

Argh. Pope too early on a huge hook shot. It was pretty rank stuff from Green and there to be hit, but England have not looked that convincing this morning playing those sorts of shots.

Bazball for all it's successes may need a plan B for no/minimal slips and lots of men on the boundary

Yeah, and it's a pretty obvious plan B - a single off every ball with no danger

Yeah, dot it around, four or five an over.

[tabascoboy]

'#brainless' is trending

[Paddington Bear]

English cricket rarely reaches English rugby ‘teapot in danger of being thrown across room’ levels of stupidity but here we are

[SaintK]

'#brainless' is trending

Absolutely fucking stupid

[Sandstorm]

Brook going for T20 19th-over slogging now.

[JM2K6]

What do people make of that catch? Looks to me that he had grasped it in a couple of fingers before the ball hit the ground and it was then dislodged but never then hit the ground again. Is holding is between your pinkie and your ring finger enough for it to be "held" before solid contact with the grass? I don't know the laws around this.

[tabascoboy]

What do people make of that catch? Looks to me that he had grasped it in a couple of fingers before the ball hit the ground and it was then dislodged but never then hit the ground again. Is holding is between your pinkie and your ring finger enough for it to be "held" before solid contact with the grass? I don't know the laws around this.

It's been demonstrated before now that TV camera angles can make a legitimate catch look like its hit the ground. A close call but you win some, you lose some.

[JM2K6]

What do people make of that catch? Looks to me that he had grasped it in a couple of fingers before the ball hit the ground and it was then dislodged but never then hit the ground again. Is holding is between your pinkie and your ring finger enough for it to be "held" before solid contact with the grass? I don't know the laws around this.

It's been demonstrated before now that TV camera angles can make a legitimate catch look like its hit the ground. A close call but you win some, you lose some.

No, I know, but this wasn't a case of the foreshortening effect or the ball appearing to bounce into the hands. A completely different question.

[inactionman]

What do people make of that catch? Looks to me that he had grasped it in a couple of fingers before the ball hit the ground and it was then dislodged but never then hit the ground again. Is holding is between your pinkie and your ring finger enough for it to be "held" before solid contact with the grass? I don't know the laws around this.

I've not seen it yet, but given the context it's clearly cheating

[Hal Jordan]

What is this CricViz bullshit that the TMS text update on BBC keeps gibbering about?

[JM2K6]

What do people make of that catch? Looks to me that he had grasped it in a couple of fingers before the ball hit the ground and it was then dislodged but never then hit the ground again. Is holding is between your pinkie and your ring finger enough for it to be "held" before solid contact with the grass? I don't know the laws around this.

I've not seen it yet, but given the context it's clearly cheating

Well yes, he's an Aussie.

It was weird and I'm not sure I'm doing it justice with the description.

[JM2K6]

What is this CricViz bullshit that the TMS text update on BBC keeps gibbering about?

Just a dumb win prediction thing.

[mos_eisely_]

[Paddington Bear]

Really shouldn’t get dragged into this being a binary debate. Batting positively and taking risks is not the same as being stupid.
Batting time and being patient is not the same as being dull/passive/shit.

England up to c.180 today were superb. Positive, aggressive but calculated. The way we played the bumpers was downright stupid and should be called out. With Lyon’s injury that could have been the hour we buried this test. Instead, I’d say we’re behind. The best batsman in England lasted what 19 balls and was out to the most obvious bumper trap in history twice

[Grandpa]

Interesting that according to Duckett, the players play how they want to play.. there is no prescription. They are just told to bat without fear.. and they can interpret that how they like...

And today... we saw Duckett, Pope and Root bat like excitable novices who couldn't resist a hook or pull... and then Stokes came in and patiently batted sensibly...

So Bazball gives you licence to play how you like... and you can either play like an idiot.. or make a name for yourself... up to you...

Let's hope all the idiots are already out...