The Cricket Thread

[Ian]

https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/...-b1799539.html

Since the mid-1990s, England have gradually accumulated knowledge around reverse swing in Asia. What began as basic trial and error, such as Darren Gough thinking sweat from your back was best because it was “heavier”, has developed into databases in the hard drives and minds of every ECB branded laptop and cricketer.

Also:

If you want a measure of Jimmy's effectiveness these conditions, beyond an average of 30.09 thanks to a remarkable three for 17 overall, try this one on for size: since his debut in May 2003, India have lost 10 at home, and he's played in four of them.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I've never heard that story before but it's the most Darren Gough story imaginable.

[niko_cee]

Anderson and Bess out, along with Archer.

Mo and Bloakesy in to lengthen the batting to an improbable degree?

[Jimmy Floyd]

Mo for sure, would Broad/Woakes not be a bit one paced? Unless the latter has learned the secrets of man's red fire / reverse swing in the nets.

[niko_cee]

Yeah, no penetration but then is Olly Stone going to do much?

[igor_balis]

Yeah, no penetration but then is Olly Stone going to do much?

[Queenslander]

Christian Vieri has put his hand up to play cricket for Italy.

https://www.foxsports.com.au/cricket...ed0f228c0c6f77

In a parrallel universe he scored 100 goals for the Socceroos

[Danny]

Kohli reviewing a clean bowled?

Edit: seems like the umpire wanted to review it. Less enjoyable.

[Max Power]

Looking at the state of the pitch on the first day this is already looking like a match winning innings from Rohit.

[Ian]

Kohli reviewing a clean bowled?

His reaction was incredible. The thermonuclear levels of seethe, the amount of time it took him to stop asking about it and walk.

He's cleaned you out, mate.

[Jimmy Floyd]

He did the same thing when Adil Rashid bowled him in the World Cup. I think if you have the level of sauce and God complex that he must have then it just comes with the territory.

[niko_cee]

This is more like it. Toiling. Hopefully the pitch goes backwards or else this could be tricky.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Don't worry, Jar Jar Burns will fire a similar quickfire double ton to the one Rohit is in the process of compiling.

[niko_cee]

Can you show me an angle where i can give him not out please.

[niko_cee]

That's a disgraceful decision.

Stump cam showed you could see the line at all times, so his foot by definition couldn't have been over it.

[Max Power]

That was clearly out. Even with DRS home umpires can still have an impact

[Kikó]

Well at least Rohit's out now.

[Max Power]

What a joke

[niko_cee]

This is now beyond unbelievable.

[Kikó]

Lol what the actual fuck.

[niko_cee]

Surely the balcony has to have a word here?

[Kikó]

Guess we just have to bowl them.

[Max Power]

At least the cheating hasn’t cost much in the way of runs.

[niko_cee]

Done.

We're going to get every single decision against us on the field in this, and apparently most of them in the booth as well.

[niko_cee]

It's easy to say those things didn't have a big bearing on the game, but can we at least have our lost review back?

[niko_cee]

Also doesn't help that the third umpire looks like Ravi Shastri's brother.

[Max Power]

Hilarious how the Indian commentators were deathly silent during that whilst Butcher slowly lost his mind.

Found their voice now as Rishabh Pant cracks a boundary through backward point.

[thommo]

Lord Root, we need you again.

I don't want to keep banging the drum, but the lbw of Burns seemed a little off when watching it live. Maybe I'm just looking too hard for a shit decision after yesterday's debacle.

[Ian]

Turned the TV on there to see Olly Stone limbering up for a knock and let out an audible "Oh no" at how bad our score much be.

[Jimmy Floyd]

We might be getting beat, but Foakes is donning the match (again) so who is really winning?

[niko_cee]

Hopefully they stay on the snakepit path and we sneak a toss next time.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Not sure a toss would have saved us here, our spinners give up too many freebies.

[Max Power]

Avoided the follow on

Would have taken 1-1 going into a day-night test tbf

[niko_cee]

Not sure a toss would have saved us here, our spinners give up too many freebies.

Yeah, that stat about Bess bowling 12 full bungers in 8 overs or whatever it was in the last test was a bit

[Kikó]

Third umpire is doing well again.

[Danny]

Foakes with more stumpings today than Buttler has in his test career.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Cricket should just be Ben Foakes really. Rest of the participants are just padding it out.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Meh, he'll always be Trashwin in my heart.

[Max Power]

Probably proves it’s not a complete minefield/disgrace to cricket pitch. We just didn’t play very well.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Nothing wrong with turning decks, you just have to have good spinners, and people who have ever batted on one in their lives.

My club has a notoriously turning deck (for southern England) and opposition / umpires always leave in floods of tears as if it's some kind of affront to cricket. I see most of our mainstream media did the same about this deck. Some cats are black, some cats are tabby. Variety is the spice of life.

[niko_cee]

That may be true, but decks that explode on Day 1 and games that barely make it past Day 3 shouldn't really be encouraged. I always hark back to it, but when it was too good for the seamers that one time ever at Sabina Park or wherever it was the match was called off within an hour or so. Obviously local conditions dictate to some extent, but it probably shouldn't start ragging square until at least the third or fourth day really. Overhead conditions stuff things up a bit in the temperate regions of the world.

[Jimmy Floyd]

That may be true, but decks that explode on Day 1 and games that barely make it past Day 3 shouldn't really be encouraged.

Why not? (unless you're a stadium CEO)

[Jimmy Floyd]

13.5
6
Ashwin to Lawrence, SIX runs

This is the point when I start wishing I was working from home.

[thommo]

Two balls before, Lawrence backed away as Ashwin was about to bowl too.

[thommo]

Once again, Kohli acting the cunt. I'm not sure there's a more dislikeable chap in international cricket right now, maybe Warner as the only one to push him close.

[niko_cee]

Why not? (unless you're a stadium CEO)

Mostly, from a personal perspective, I just like seeing games go five days. The more you condense it the less chance there is for any interesting narratives to develop, the writing is on the wall from the outset.

Maybe I'll be proved wrong and there will be a blitz of counter-attacking brilliance tomorrow.

[Jimmy Floyd]

So do I but a few spitting turners don't do any harm and I think this is more interesting cricket than that played on the Australian megahighways.

[niko_cee]

Yeah, there's definitely a balance, but they probably had it right with the last pitch more than this one.

[Ian]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/56097118

Between this and it coming out they'd asked him to stay, and thus showing loads of faith in the spinners they'll have out there, it's fair to say this has been handled brilliantly.

[Jimmy Floyd]

It's part of the problem when you hand matters of complex personnel and welfare issues over to (not to denigrate him at all) Joe Root. Guy's a cricketer, he shouldn't have to make such decisions or indeed be publicly accountable for them.