The New Cricket Thread

[Guest Pistonbroke]

Two and a half hour session under lights coming up.

 

Big big session for England... these night sessions can be a bit mad.

 

Wickets turn matches, hopefully we can get a few early ones and turn the tide. Great Saturday Night viewing for you lot Down Under! 

[Jose Jones]

Odd decision to bowl.

 

Yes, it was overcast, but I wonder whether it was more to avoid batting.

 

Wouldn't surprise if 4 or 5 wickets fall in last session under the full lights.

 

6 or 7 down won't be enough to justify bowling though.

I reckon they knew they’d definitely get to bowl with the new ball and a session under the lights and it was as simple as that.

[Guest Pistonbroke]

Anderson strikes straight after lunch, 139/3. Kahwaja flashes at a ball and is caught well in the Gully by Vince. 

[Jairzinho]

First time I've watched more than two minutes of the series and I'commentating I've got some woman that insists on calling it the "dinner break", Graeme BANTER Swann, and now Ponting (actually far less irritating than the other two).

 

Fucking shit coverage this compared to Sky.

[s(k)aturation]

Game on now, with all Australian heavyweight bats gone.

 

Well bowled, Overton, lad.

[Guest Pistonbroke]

Massive wicket, Overton gets his first test match wicket and it's Smith. 161/4 and the picture changes. 

[Guest Pistonbroke]

Game on now, with all Australian heavyweight bats gone.

 

Well bowled, Overton, lad.

 

He deserved a wicket as he has bowled well on debut, far better than Ball did in the first test. 

[Guest Pistonbroke]

This Handscomb lad won#t last much longer if he doesn't sort his footwork out, he's all over the place on the crease. 

[Jairzinho]

Fuck. Missed the Smith wicket.

 

Where did Handscomb learn to play cricket? France?

[Ian Sea]

I reckon they knew they’d definitely get to bowl with the new ball and a session under the lights and it was as simple as that.

And there was rain around first thing so as close to English conditions as you could get in Australia. Bowling made complete sense and we've done ok, a bit more luck and they'd be 7 or 8 down. We beat the bat quite a few times early on.

[Guest Pistonbroke]

KP on commentary, mute. 

[LF:D]

First time I've watched more than two minutes of the series and I'commentating I've got some woman that insists on calling it the "dinner break", Graeme BANTER Swann, and now Ponting (actually far less irritating than the other two).

 

Fucking shit coverage this compared to Sky.

 

 

I really like Ponting as a pundit, he was boss for Sky too.

 

As for the rest of the coverage - I agree, very poor compared to Sky.

[Brownie]

England have been toothless since the Smith wicket. Game has gotten away from them, the Aussies will win at a canter from here.

[Brownie]

And the frustrating thing is, this isn’t even a very good Australian side. Very beatable, but England have been shite.

[LF:D]

Really think England missed a trick with the squad they selected.

 

Broad and Anderson are solid - although Anderson's record in Australia is moderate.

 

But you look at Australia's attack and they have pace that batsman don't like.  

 

England just selected more bowlers which are similar (but nowhere nears as good) as Broad and Anderson in Ball & Overton.  Woakes deservedly got on the tour based on his past 2 years.

 

But with Finn getting injured, who has been patchy for the last few years.  I think England really needed someone like Wood to offer some more pace and threat.  The other thing I like about Wood is he can reverse the ball which might be crucial over the series.  

 

Wood had a poor summer.  But are Ball, Overton better than him and will be more effective than him? I don't think so.

[Guest Pistonbroke]

Aussie's day, but the slow run rate means they are not out of sight. Need to get a few early wickets with the new ball tomorrow and the whole thing could change. Set up nicely. 

[Brownie]

Wood isn’t fit enough mate. Without his pace he’s average and in the summer he was carrying an injury so struggled.

 

Not at all surprised they didn’t pick him but they should have looked at someone like Plunkett.

[lifetime fan]

I really like Ponting as a pundit, he was boss for Sky too.

 

As for the rest of the coverage - I agree, very poor compared to Sky.

Can’t stand Ponting.

 

Mark Nicholas is fucking ace though.

[LF:D]

Wood isn’t fit enough mate. Without his pace he’s average and in the summer he was carrying an injury so struggled.

 

Not at all surprised they didn’t pick him but they should have looked at someone like Plunkett.

 

Oh right.

 

I saw he lost half of his central contract and now only has the ODI part.  Thought he was just out of favour, didn't realise he wasn't fit.

 

Plunkett would have been better, as he has some pace and a bit about him.  Although not sure how much red ball (although they're playing with a pink ball more like a white one it seems currently) cricket he has been playing.

 

When you see what Harmison and even Tremlett have done to them in the past in Australia with some pace and bounce.  We've gone with a squad that has none of that! 

[LF:D]

I do feel sorry for Root.

 

A the beginning of the day it felt like good conditions to bowl.  Then you factor in the lights coming on later.  It was meant to feel more like an English weather day than Australian one.  So I don't think he made a poor choice, just don't think England did enough with it and the conditions weren't as favourable as we all thought they'd might be. 

[Brownie]

Oh right.

 

I saw he lost half of his central contract and now only has the ODI part. Thought he was just out of favour, didn't realise he wasn't fit.

 

Plunkett would have been better, as he has some pace and a bit about him. Although not sure how much red ball (although they're playing with a pink ball more like a white one it seems currently) cricket he has been playing.

 

When you see what Harmison and even Tremlett have done to them in the past in Australia with some pace and bounce. We've gone with a squad that has none of that!

Exactly.

 

Plunkett would have been a bit of a left-field selection but he has something different and that’s what you need.

 

We’re going to get battered in this series when we really shouldn’t.

[LF:D]

Plunkett would have been a bit of a left-field selection

 

England have made enough of them over the years which have made much less sense!

[A_S]

Massive first session. One thing England managed ok was keep the run rate in check. New ball today, Smith and Warner out, score not out of hand.

 

Overton looked good too, not even counting the wicket. What was the reasoning behind Ball over him in Brisbane?

 

It's good to hear most are happy with a bit of sledging. Anyone who has walked to the middle surrounded by a chirpy opposition on a roll after a few quick wickets, knows what the mental side of the game is all about.

 

This is the pinnacle of the game, as far as I'm concerned. Let them go, the umpires have the authority to step in and act if it goes too far.

[Ian Sea]

Massive first session. One thing England managed ok was keep the run rate in check. New ball today, Smith and Warner out, score not out of hand.

 

Overton looked good too, not even counting the wicket. What was the reasoning behind Ball over him in Brisbane?

 

It's good to hear most are happy with a bit of sledging. Anyone who has walked to the middle surrounded by a chirpy opposition on a roll after a few quick wickets, knows what the mental side of the game is all about.

 

This is the pinnacle of the game, as far as I'm concerned. Let them go, the umpires have the authority to step in and act if it goes too far.

Ball is quicker than Overton apparently. Not that you could tell from the pitch at the Gabba.

[s(k)aturation]

Broad looking extremely dangerous early on.