The Official Cricket Thread

[Ian Sea]

England vs Pakistan starts tomorrow morning.

 

Wonder if England will go with two spinners? Hope they do as the pitches sound lifeless.

 

Guess they also need to decide between Finn or Tremlett - I'd go for Tremlett personally.

 

I'd like to see us go with 2 spinners as well but I don't think we will. I reckon we'll go with Anderson, Broad, Finn and Swann. Personally, I'd pick 5 bowlers and woud probably go with Tremlett too, although his bowling style might not suit the pitches out there.

 

Choosing which batsman to leave out would be difficult; on form it should probably be Pietersen but I guess Morgan is bottom of the pecking order, yet he's a great player of spin.

[RobbieOR]

Monty hasnt played for England since the Ashes in 09 in Cardiff. I'd be very surprised if he was picked even though he took wickets in the warm up game.

[Ian Sea]

Monty hasnt played for England since the Ashes in 09 in Cardiff. I'd be very surprised if he was picked even though he took wickets in the warm up game.

 

He was in the Ashes squad last winter though, he's still very much part of things. We haven't played in conditions that warrant 2 spinners for a few years, I think he's very much in contention for a place at some point in the series.

[lifetime fan]

I'd go with 2 spinners but we won't.

 

I'd go with Tremlett over Finn as although the pitches wont suit his natural game we need a variety in our attack.

[Vincent Vega]

It's a real shame Bresnan is injured as he has proved to be the one bowler to find any life in flat pitches and bowled brilliantly in Bangladesh.

 

I reckon it will be a tight series with England to just edge it.

[lifetime fan]

It's a real shame Bresnan is injured as he has proved to be the one bowler to find any life in flat pitches and bowled brilliantly in Bangladesh.

 

I reckon it will be a tight series with England to just edge it.

 

Bresnan is an odd bowler.

 

No life in the pitch and he's the best we've got. Any assistance to the bowlers and he's the least efective.

 

To remain Number 1 I still think we need better than him.

[Guest LFD]

Reverse swing might be important, but I think only Anderson is capable of getting it. Tremlett, Finn and Broad aren't exactly kn own for reserve swinging the ball - another reason why Bresnan is good on lifeless pitches.

 

Two spinners has to be considered.

[lifetime fan]

Reverse swing might be important, but I think only Anderson is capable of getting it. Tremlett, Finn and Broad aren't exactly kn own for reserve swinging the ball - another reason why Bresnan is good on lifeless pitches.

 

Two spinners has to be considered.

 

Tremlett has extra bounce, even on a dead pitch, Broad was outstanding the last series he played and Finn would be the unlucky one for me.

 

He's expensive but takes wickets.

[lifetime fan]

England have been piss poor this morning.

[lifetime fan]

Fuck sake 42-4.

[lifetime fan]

Kev gone.

[banger]

Fucking hell 43-5

[lifetime fan]

Fucking hell 43-5

 

Pakistan have been very good, better than I expected actually.

[banger]

Well , they either misread the pitch and elected to bat , or the batsmen have got it horribly wrong .

[lifetime fan]

Well , they either misread the pitch and elected to bat , or the batsmen have got it horribly wrong .

 

The pitch is a belter.

 

No excuses there.

[Vincent Vega]

Well I didn't see that coming. I know they're a bit out of practice after having 3 months of but they seem to have completely under-estimated a Pakistan side who are the most improved test team over the last 12 months. I really hope that number one position hasn't gone to their heads.

 

The good thing about this England team in the last few years is that they fight back hard if they have a bad day, lets hope we see that in this match.

[Yozzer]

We've been in this position before against Pakistan, I think we were 100 odd for 7 in the last series. Broad came out and had the game of his life and got something like 150, we need somebody to have that type of innings now.

[lifetime fan]

Morgan gone.

[lifetime fan]

Fuck me Broad was lucky.

[Jairzinho]

Not sure why anyone was surprised about Pakistan. They've been excellent for the last six months.

[RobbieOR]

138 runs in just two sessions of cricket is awful. Didnt expect this when I woke up at all.

[Jairzinho]

We did pick two spinners, right?

[Vincent Vega]

We did pick two spinners, right?

 

No.

 

Michael Vaughan makes an interesting point on the BBC's coverage on their website:

 

"This England team has not faced a great spinner yet until this Test. If they don't learn quickly, Ajmal could win the series for Pakistan."

[Jairzinho]

Just got his 6th. He's top class.

[RobbieOR]

9 down.

 

Looked Dodgy. England have no reviews left though.