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Cricket - England vs Pakistan.

Red Astaire

Member Of 'The Toilets At The Harry Fan Club..
Member
Watching this with interest - The return of Amir. I was there at Lords that day when the news came out that he was caught up in the spot fixing thing. Trott got into a brawl with one of the Pakistan players in the warm up that went sort of unnoticed by the media. Then there was a palpable feeling of general hooliganism coming from all the Pakistan fans. I've never seen such a weird atmosphere at the cricket (let alone Lords!)

Anyway Pakistan all out for 339. England about to start their innings. Conditions look better for bowling today than yesterday. I have a feeling Amir is going to tear through England. We'll see I guess.
 
England 153-4 at tea. Cook holding it up as per, although got lucky with a couple of dropped catches. Fairly even?
 
Yep congrats to Pakistan. Thoroughly deserved. Shah was a complete revelation! Loved watching a proper leggy spin it like a boss. Finn will be rightly dropped. Offered nothing at all and looks well out of sorts. Stokes and Jimmy back for Old Trafford - Plus those Mancs have no compunction into preparing a pitch to suit the swing. Really looking forward to the next test. :)
 
Yep congrats to Pakistan. Thoroughly deserved. Shah was a complete revelation! Loved watching a proper leggy spin it like a boss. Finn will be rightly dropped. Offered nothing at all and looks well out of sorts. Stokes and Jimmy back for Old Trafford - Plus those Mancs have no compunction into preparing a pitch to suit the swing. Really looking forward to the next test. :)


Fastest bounciest pitch in the UK, if it was me I wouldn't be dropping Finn. Didn't bowl that badly in the second innings. The batters let us down in this match.
 
Fastest bounciest pitch in the UK, if it was me I wouldn't be dropping Finn. Didn't bowl that badly in the second innings. The batters let us down in this match.
I get where you are coming from but respectfully disagree. Finn didn't take one wicket. He's looked woefully out of form all summer. He did bowl better in the second innings but not good enough for me. Woakes has surely cemented his place and Stokes and Jimmy are obviously back in. Be interesting to see what the selectors think as as you say his action does kind of suit Old Trafford.
 
I get where you are coming from but respectfully disagree. Finn didn't take one wicket. He's looked woefully out of form all summer. He did bowl better in the second innings but not good enough for me. Woakes has surely cemented his place and Stokes and Jimmy are obviously back in. Be interesting to see what the selectors think as as you say his action does kind of suit Old Trafford.

RA its all opinions innit, just good to debate a bit of cricket for a change! Ben is going to be so important for us I wouldn't rush him back yet. I see he has bowled a few overs this weekend but I would give him another CC match to get his rhythm back. Last thing we need is for him to break down and I wouldn't pick him as a batter. Same goes for Jimmy, let them ease themselves back in, Tests are incredibly intense physically for bowlers.
 
RA its all opinions innit, just good to debate a bit of cricket for a change! Ben is going to be so important for us I wouldn't rush him back yet. I see he has bowled a few overs this weekend but I would give him another CC match to get his rhythm back. Last thing we need is for him to break down and I wouldn't pick him as a batter. Same goes for Jimmy, let them ease themselves back in, Tests are incredibly intense physically for bowlers.
Tricky one isn't it mate. This match has got off to cracking start. Full of questions and lots to debate. I will say that seeing we are one down in a four test series we need to have our main front line players firing. They both played first class cricket on the weekend so they can't be that fragile. Brilliant fun to watch though.
 
I'm torn - batters let us down - i'm really not convinced by the return of GB, although he is definitely worth persevering with after his first few tests. So hard to see where we need to change. I almost think i'd prefer to see Rashid over Ali as a spinner but Ali's batting has kept him in that role to an extent.

I think Finn and Ball are at risk of being replaced by Jimmy. Most likely to be Ball out, Jimmy in I think. If it wasn't Old Trafford I don't think Jimmy would be rested another game but I think he'll be straight back in.
 
Lovely - Won the toss and are going to bat. Jimmy and Stokes back in. Boss!
 
Gives us a better chance against Yasir, coz it does spin here.
He's amazing I have to say. Pitch looks to be a prime batting track but with the top order being as fragile as they are this first session will be crucial.
 
He's amazing I have to say. Pitch looks to be a prime batting track but with the top order being as fragile as they are this first session will be crucial.

I had a busy work day yesterday and didn't see much but the bounce seemed particularly low although coming onto the bat nicely. I wonder did the recent concerts affect the pitch, did they mention this on Sky?
 
Child free, test match on, no disturbances and England in a great position.

Bat until tea, then come out take out some more overs, declare and put them in for a couple of hours against Broad and Anderson. Let's test their backbone.
 
I had a busy work day yesterday and didn't see much but the bounce seemed particularly low although coming onto the bat nicely. I wonder did the recent concerts affect the pitch, did they mention this on Sky?
They did. We need to bat until the evening session, then put them under an intense period of pressure from Jimmy and Broad. The pitch is starting to do things and will only worsen. We need them to follow on and take out the need for us to bat that much in any 4th innings.

They can't win from this position IMO.
 
I'd have declared at 600. Just another psychological barrier.

And Jimmy looks fired up. Great start on his line and length.
 
At work and missed today, but what a player Joe Root is! Amazing player in all formats, in 20 years time I am sure we will look back at a great of the game.
 
I'd have declared at 600. Just another psychological barrier.

And Jimmy looks fired up. Great start on his line and length.

Yup 400 to avoid the follow on just feels more imposing than 389, there were 4 more balls in the over so no time lost if Moeen had a crack to get us over 600
 
Yup 400 to avoid the follow on just feels more imposing than 389, there were 4 more balls in the over so no time lost if Moeen had a crack to get us over 600
Yeah, agreed. But we are nit picking really.

I think Cook is a good captain and great player. I'm not going down the Piers Morgan route of picking up on anything to denigrate him.
 
Not sure why they've not enforced the follow on unless the bowlers are absolutely goosed?
 
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