The Official Cricket Thread

[Jairzinho]

Your ire should be aimed at your captain.

 

Send him an abusive tweet.

 

There wasn't any ire there. I found your post funny.

 

I'm, happily, not a Twitter user.

[Major Tom]

Everyone I have heard expertly commenting on this game at the ground is assuming that the weather will play a part.

 

I'm sure the captains are aware of it and are assuming weather intervention, rather than not.

 

McCullum is a noted risk taker.  I think it was an extremely conservative declaration, for him.

 

But what is the point in taking the risk of losing here? NZ have pretty much batted England out of the game and have 5 sessions in which to bowl them out. Why would McCullum even give them a sniff?

[Jairzinho]

 

McCullum is a noted risk taker.  I think it was an extremely conservative declaration, for him.

 

It didn't use up much time though, did it?

 

Last night I expected him to declare just before lunch today, and he actually declared slightly earlier than that. They just went at eight an over (or whatever it was) this morning.

 

I honestly can't see it making the blindest bit of difference. They could have declared last night, or not even bothered at all (they'd have been all out within five overs the way they were batting).

[Major Tom]

There wasn't any ire there. I found your post funny.

 

Oh. Well, that's good. It wasn't remotely serious.

[s(k)aturation]

But what is the point in taking the risk of losing here? NZ have pretty much batted England out of the game and have 5 sessions in which to bowl them out. Why would McCullum even give them a sniff?

 

Because the way he captains and his teams play to win, from the off, often gives teams a sniff.

 

He'd just as soon lose as draw, I think, if it meant having more of a chance to win.  He doesn't seem to me to be the type to fuss about the difference between a 0-1 or 0-2 loss.

 

It just seems uncharacteristic, aside from the rights or wrongs of it.

[s(k)aturation]

It didn't use up much time though, did it?

 

Last night I expected him to declare just before lunch today, and he actually declared slightly earlier than that. They just went at eight an over (or whatever it was) this morning.

 

I honestly can't see it making the blindest bit of difference. They could have declared last night, or not even bothered at all (they'd have been all out within five overs the way they were batting).

 

I hope it doesn't make any difference either.

NZ deserve to win, and have been the better side over the two games.

[Jairzinho]

 

NZ deserve to win, and have been the better side over the two games.

 

Agreed.

[Major Tom]

Because the way he captains and his teams play to win, from the off, often gives teams a sniff.

 

Indeed. But he doesn't need to give England a sniff here. He has got plenty of time to bowl them out.

[s(k)aturation]

I hope so.

[A_S]

I think the declaration was spot on. Over 5 sessions to bowl a team out. Say you lose even 2 sessions to weather, that still leaves more than a day on a pitch starting to play a few tricks. 

[s(k)aturation]

Well, there's the two sessions lost... 

[Jairzinho]

A heroic series win for England.

[Son of L8]

Seen on the BBC: "Joe Root: England can chase 455 to win"

 

.....

 

 

[s(k)aturation]

Dare I say, still wondering whether a declaration half an hour earlier may have eked out a couple of wickets and made NZ's last day task easier.

[Jairzinho]

I think when you're into the realm of predicting the exact amount of time lost for English weather you're possibly being a bit harsh on the captain.

[s(k)aturation]

Michael Holding was specifically citing the potential weather and questioning their captain on air yesterday morning.

I thought he had a good point.

 

It will only matter if they have England 8 or 9 down at the end, so yes it's a fine line and I'm nit-picking. 

 

By the way, I think McCullum is terrific for the game.

[Redder Lurtz]

Is it worth me going tomorrow? I have a day spare and it's only up the road.

[s(k)aturation]

I'd go.

[Jose Jones]

Should be a good day's cricket if it doesn't rain.

Would be even better if England needed 80 less runs.

[Redder Lurtz]

Cocknobs. Suddenly been dumped with a shedload of work to do so I'll have to have it on tv instead while I work.

[Guest Pistonbroke]

2 down already, Lyth out for 24 and Ballance out cheaply, he and Bell are a major worry at the top of the order. Bell is just out of nick but Ballance is not a number 3, he looked comfortable further down the order but lost at no 3.

 

Bell just out now for fucking 1 to a stupid shot, gifted his wicket yet again. England 62/3 and staring at a huge defeat. 

[Guest Pistonbroke]

Root out for a duck, 62/4. Unbelievable catch at short leg from Latham with a touch of luck as it just smashed into his cheast and he grasped it. We are fucked big style here. 

[Jairzinho]

This is going well.

[Major Tom]

Yeah, Ballance and Bell are a real worry. 5/6/7/8 looks very good - if Ali can hold his place as a spinner - but 3 and 4 are a concern for England.

[Guest Pistonbroke]

Craig has 2 for 5 off 9 overs and he's bowled fucking shite.