The Cricket Thread

[Deutsch Wolf]

Superb day, think we have more than enough already.

 

[Sniffer]

Superb day, think we have more than enough already.

If Pakistan can score the highest total of the game on a wearing pitch then it’ll be some performance. We’ve probably enough now but plenty of time to get a few more just to make sure.

 

[Dinowolf]

There are three days left so I don't think there will be a declaration soon.
Make the lead 350+ first if possible, and win the series.

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

No, we won't declare, there isn't any point. Just Pakistan are very unlikely to make 280 let alone anything else on top.

 

[Dinowolf]

Stumps Day 3 198-4
Pakistan need 157 runs and we need 6 wickets with 2 days to go

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

Another cracker of a test match. Proper cricket.

 

[Carrotdude]

Brilliant match, 2 wins in a row in Pakistan for the first time ever and a series win. Thought that would be a lot more comfortable when we set the target but they almost did it

 

[Tony Towner]

Jack Leach owes the quicks a large Pepsi

 

[jd1981]

Any sub continental series victory is nothing to be overlooked, Jack Leach has been excellent didn’t realise he’d shot past a 100 test wickets so fair play.

 

[Tony Towner]

I don't want to turn this into a particular debate about Leach, he's the best spin bowler we have which highlights the lack of an environment we provide for specialist spinners to develop in England. Just that you'd expect your lead spinner to bowl you to victory in a 4th innings in the sub continent not your quicks.

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

2-169 in the fourth innings across both games. He is what he is though.

 

[North Shropshire Lad]

I agree about Leach in general as I'm not a massive fan but it a low bar.

In his defence (to the comment about being expected to spin us to victory in the fourth innings) it was only a Day 3 pitch when the final innings started and we were probably 100 short of what we should have got with the bat* to have really exerted scoreboard pressure.

*I think we were probably too cavalier in the first innings [I appreciate this is an unfashionable comment] and folded 30 or 40 short of what we should have got in the second. Leach himself reverse sweeping and missing his first ball at number 10 when there was a batsman well set at the other end being a good example.

Great test match again clearly though and I'm delighted because it's by far and away my preferred format.

 

[Johnny75]

I agree about Leach in general as I'm not a massive fan but it a low bar.

In his defence (to the comment about being expected to spin us to victory in the fourth innings) it was only a Day 3 pitch when the final innings started and we were probably 100 short of what we should have got with the bat* to have really exerted scoreboard pressure.

*I think we were probably too cavalier in the first innings [I appreciate this is an unfashionable comment] and folded 30 or 40 short of what we should have got in the second. Leach himself reverse sweeping and missing his first ball at number 10 when there was a batsman well set at the other end being a good example.

Great test match again clearly though and I'm delighted because it's by far and away my preferred format.

You’re going to be forever disappointed if you think we should be more conservative and that we’re too cavalier under this management.

That’s 8 wins out of 9 for Stokes now.

 

[BillyDee]

It's absolutely fantastic to finally have a positive approach after previous captains (particularly Cook, absolutely dreadful).
Day 3 pitch for the 4th innings, yes, but 7 wickets taken by a debutant spinner in the first...

 

[North Shropshire Lad]

I knew my comment would get this reaction but what I mean/meant is that given that we were 'able' to score at the pace we did in the first innings, 280 was below what we should have got. 350 in a session and a half longer would have put much more pressure on Pakistan later in the game.
I'm not though trying to diminish or dismiss the way we are currently playing in any way as it's clearly working and is incredibly exciting. If we are constantly looking to improve though, I think the way we approached the first innings in this match could have been better. The pitch clearly was different here to the road in Rawalpindi.

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

I've more of an issue with the two nonsense run outs in the second dig tbf... (plus Jacks was a complete waste of time in this game, if he isn't going to bowl - 8 overs in the entire match - then he shouldn't be playing because he absolutely is not one of the best seven batsmen in the country).

Pretty evident that we're always going to give ourselves maximum time to take 20 wickets in these conditions, the only way to do that if we're batting first is to play on fast forward. The thing is it's actually playing to our strengths with the players we have.

 

[sycophantia]

What ever the pros and cons of this style, it makes test cricket really exciting every game for people like me I.e. part time cricket fans.

 

[North Shropshire Lad]

The run outs were just ridiculous. Wickets are difficult to get in the sub continent so giving them away is foolish. As to I thought was the decision to continue with a part time keeper if your second/third choice spinner doesn't bowl. It hasn't cost us this match but given the conditions, where chances are at a premium and when spin is going to play a big part, then a full time, top drawer, keeper makes a massive difference - even just in the mindset of the opposition batsman.

 

[Tony Towner]

We didn't play 'properly' in either innings really. As a guess we gave them 2/3 of their wickets rather than them getting us out. However, how many times have we seen us playing properly and rolled out in those type of conditions for 150 or thereabouts?

It's unconventional and just as with the 50 over team there will be disasters along the way, but it's on the whole the right thing to do.

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

The run outs were just ridiculous. Wickets are difficult to get in the sub continent so giving them away is foolish. As to I thought was the decision to continue with a part time keeper if your second/third choice spinner doesn't bowl. It hasn't cost us this match but given the conditions, where chances are at a premium and when spin is going to play a big part, then a full time, top drawer, keeper makes a massive difference - even just in the mindset of the opposition batsman.

I think Foakes is a better batsman than Jacks too at the moment.

Maybe they intended for him to bowl plenty when they picked the team but it certainly didn't pan out that way.