Cricket: Random Discussion Thread

Bethell is only in because Jordan Cox has a thumb injury. First time I've seen him and he looks real class, and only 21. I'd be shocked if he didn't nail down a regular spot.

England need to declare here 366 lead is plenty

Benefit of the doubt to the batsman seems to have been thrown to the wayside

no point though, unless there's bad weather predicted? only day 2.

I reckon they'll aim to get another 80 and declare with 10 overs to go.

Apparently day 3 is best to bat on. No rush here. Trying to rush things here last time didn't work out so well.

That was Marnus until recently.

Now I jinxed him his average has begun its downhill trajectory. Only 61.62 now.

Exactly.
The kid has barely played 20 tests. Let's just enjoy it while it lasts and see where his after 50.

For all his undoubted class Bethell looks quite vulnerable outside off. :(

Root brings up his century with a ramp lol.

****ing root bringing up his hundred with a reverse scoop trying to make me have a heart attack

follows it with the most gorgeous straight drive of the year

Root has scored 19 test centuries since Jan 2021. one test to go this year - would be incredible if he got to 20.

England play the most tests by far but still...19 100s in 54 tests is a remarkable rate. One of his few 'faults' earlier in his career was not converting 50s to 100s but he's addressed that admirably in recent times

how do the Kiwis serve this bullshit up after playing so well in India? Of course there's an adjustment in conditions but it's a home series ffs

Anyone got big issues with NZ cricket ATM - beat India over there and can't beat England at home and meanwhile the player whose head I have been calling for in Southee continues to play for the country bowling 125km/hr pies - what is going on here?

There’s a fair amount of Andrew Flintoff about Carse’s bowling action

Yep its frustrating, before the India series many had been calling for Stead's head and now its time for him to step down.

Why Southee gets a farewell tour, when Wagner was coldly dropped is beyond me too.

Is Reddy the best bowling all-rounder India can up with in a country its size - he is not going to last long with his medium pacers especially playing in India - where is your bulky Rana type that can bat too

Can I just say is Ben Stokes the last warrior of the game? He plays with that much knee strapping and for him to bowl it must take a tremendous toll on his body that would take him a while after each tour to recover from - his greatest test will be the Ashes next summer in Australia and particularly at a humid Gabba and on the Gabba today - very moist and humid day with lots of showers. I think the umpires should play through the showers today because they will be short but the likelihood of that happening is slim. They will take the players off for sure

Showers look to be about 30 mins away from the Gabba - ok so India are going to get the advantage of first go at the pitch but when it rains the ball will get soggy so hopefully neutralise that advantage? Aus just needs to see off those first few overs before the rain gets here.

Also how does James Anderson retire and walk straight into the fast bowling coach? Does the guy just want to be continuously involved in the national team for 30 years?

Weather forecast for Brisbane suggests there’s a good chance of just the 2nd drawn Test match since July last year.

These days, Tests rarely go past 4 days let alone 5 and end up drawn.

i did a double take the other day. i was up early, the cricket was on, our lead was 450 or so in the third innings of the match vs nz and it was coming to the close of play

i was thinking we might as we keep going and bat half of the following morning session, that'll give us five and a half sessions to bowl them out, plenty of time

turns out it was day 2

Seriously how is Ben Stokes bowling 23 overs

And I'm going tomorrow when the forecast was 2mm - it is now up to 15mm. Oh well - I'll start drinking early and make sure to stop off at the German club if it gets rained out again

the blue sky and perfectly manicured field in nz just looks so ****ing gorgeous. how dare kiwis have such things

crawley may not be in the top 100 opening test batsmen oat but when he scores 16 off the second over including back to back sweet cover drives, you cant help but feel a slight tightness in the trousers area