The Official Cricket Thread

[Manny]

Bullshit, that. Fuck all evidence he caught it cleanly.

[RedKnight]

Yeah but Hales isn't covering himself in glory with the shot is he?

[Manny]

Probably not. Feel a bit for him though, he's not catching a break.

 

I'll admit I've a certain bias towards Hales. He could probably make a fucking fortune as a T20/IPL mercenary but he seems to respect the game and values Tests as the true measure of his ability. For that reason, I hope he makes it - but it does look like he's on borrowed time now.

[Frankenhooker]

Cook gone. How many do we think Vince will get ? I'm going for 34.

[Frankenhooker]

And now Root.

[Manny]

Traditional final Test eye-off-the-ball shite from England, this.

[Jairzinho]

Wahab bowling very well though.

 

Vince needs a double hundred in the second innings to save his international career.

[Ian Sea]

Great delivery to get Vince.

[RedKnight]

Vince and Hales aren't up to test cricket.

[Ian Sea]

Vince and Hales aren't up to test cricket.

 

I'd stick with Hales for a while, more because of the lack of an obvious alternative it has to be said, but he has played the odd decent innings. Vince and Ballance have to go for me though. I'd like us to play Cook, Hales, Root, Bairstow, Borthwick, Stokes and Buttler in our next Test.

[Jairzinho]

Hales would be the first to go, for me. Doesn't look remotely like a test opener. 

 

Questions about pretty much everyone bar Cook, Root, and Bairstow though.

[lifetime fan]

Balance gone.

[lifetime fan]

Vince isn't even close to be deserving of his place in this side.

 

If there was a decent opening prospect I'd like to see Hales drop down the order and replace Vince - I've no idea of who would be able to open though.

[lifetime fan]

Fuck that was close.

[Jairzinho]

It doesn't need to be a "prospect". Just take someone from the Championship that clearly has the tools to open the batting. 

 

Amir doing a pretty decent impression of Wasim Akram at the moment.

[lifetime fan]

It doesn't need to be a "prospect". Just take someone from the Championship that clearly has the tools to open the batting. 

 

Amir doing a pretty decent impression of Wasim Akram at the moment.

 

 

When I said 'prospect' I meant someone capable of opening the batting in test cricket, not a youngster, if that makes sense.

[lifetime fan]

Ali droppped.

[Jairzinho]

When I said 'prospect' I meant someone capable of opening the batting in test cricket, not a youngster, if that makes sense.

 

Yeah, I get you, mate.

 

Can't be long before someone like Gubbins or Stoneman gets a go for Hales.

 

I'd like to see Hildreth come in for Vince.

[Spy Bee]

Yeah, I get you, mate.

 

Can't be long before someone like Gubbins or Stoneman gets a go for Hales.

 

I'd like to see Hildreth come in for Vince.

What about moving everyone up the order and bring Rashid in? You can't drop Ali the way he's playing, but we'd have even more depth in bowling and the batting wouldn't be affected.

[Ian Sea]

What about moving everyone up the order and bring Rashid in? You can't drop Ali the way he's playing, but we'd have even more depth in bowling and the batting wouldn't be affected.

I think that's what will happen in Bangladesh and India, as we tried last winter. It could work as long as we don't make Ali open again.

[Jairzinho]

What about moving everyone up the order and bring Rashid in? You can't drop Ali the way he's playing, but we'd have even more depth in bowling and the batting wouldn't be affected.

 

Number seven and eight look more competent batsmen than half the top six at the moment so I'd have no problem with that happening, especially as Rashid is a very good batsman anyway.

 

I'd make more than one change though. Bin all of Hales, Ballance, and Vince. Rashid in. Stokes back in. Then a proper opener.

 

Gubbins/Stoneman

Cook

Root

Bairstow

Ali

Stokes

Woakes

Rashid

Broad

Finn (Or someone else)

Anderson

 

Something like that.

[Guest LFD]

Broad might as well bat at 11.  Since that ball went through his helmet he can't bat for shit.  He's scared of the ball.

[Spy Bee]

I don't get chance to watch much county, are Gubbins and/or Stoneman ready?

[Jairzinho]

I don't get chance to watch much county, are Gubbins and/or Stoneman ready?

 

No way of telling without playing them. Stoneman is the more experienced player of the two, so perhaps he'd get a go first.

 

They're both considerably better openers than Hales in the longer form of the game.

[Rico1304]

Broad might as well bat at 11. Since that ball went through his helmet he can't bat for shit. He's scared of the ball.

So he's in for his bowling - not many tests are won by 20 runs.