Cricket

[matt83]

I mean, Crawley, come on. The guy has some talent to get 250 in a test but I can’t remember there ever being a player who falls to a plan so regularly.

[chaddyrovers]

Crawley got a very good ball to get out to. 

Pope looks very like Ian Bell with those cover drives today

[chaddyrovers]

someone on here a few weeks asked why so many of our fast bowlers were breaking down with Injuries lot. Here is Darren Gough's take on these injuries problems

Darren Gough delivers verdict on England's fast bowling injury crisis with nine stars out (msn.com)

[jim mk2]

A good bowler will always get Crawley out. The lad is a walking wicket at Test level. England batting for a draw from here. 

[matt83]

The statistician on TMS said that of batsmen with more than 20 tests, Crawley has a higher % of caught behind square than any other player. 20% of the balls he faces, he either nicks or plays at and misses and from the 29 innings since his 267, he’s been out for single figures in 18 of them.

Unfortunately his main scoring shot is a high risk shot and he’s not very good at it. A big issue for him going forward. If he addresses the shot that mostly gets him out by putting it back in his locker it’ll dry up his runs. 

Edited June 11, 2022 by matt83

[Tormund]

Joe Root, best in the world. Sheer class to watch. 

[chaddyrovers]

delighted for Ollie Pope to get his first century in England. talent there time to make that into loads of runs. 

Joe Root is just run machine. That's 10 century in last 18 months whilst Kane Williamson, Virat Kohli and Steve Smith have none in the last 18 months. Joe Root is the best batsman in the world. Those stats back that up

[Gav]

On 02/06/2022 at 17:38, jim mk2 said:

Pope - no hope. He and Crawley are so vulnerable outside off stump. No patience whatsoever. One-day players

 

On 02/06/2022 at 18:36, jim mk2 said:

RIP Test cricket. 

Some superb test match cricket over the past few days, quality batting on both sides, Pope showing the quality he was picked for. Looks like draw unless the runs can come quickly for England right now. 

Always best to keep the powder dry I'd say.

Come on England. 

Edited June 12, 2022 by Gav

[matt83]

Stupid from stokes. It’s not t20. Long tail and he’s just given his wicket away slogging. Got with 2 including one a couple of balls earlier. 

[Gav]

36 minutes ago, matt83 said:

Stupid from stokes. It’s not t20. Long tail and he’s just given his wicket away slogging. Got with 2 including one a couple of balls earlier. 

I heard Nassar speaking when McCullum was appointed and he said we'd not be playing from draws, we're playing to win. I guess Stokes was staying true to that philosophy, we needed quick runs to win this game, hopefully we'll get enough to draw it now.

[matt83]

31 minutes ago, Gav said:

I heard Nassar speaking when McCullum was appointed and he said we'd not be playing from draws, we're playing to win. I guess Stokes was staying true to that philosophy, we needed quick runs to win this game, hopefully we'll get enough to draw it now.

Worrying philosophy. Play the game and situation that’s in front of you. This England side will lose far more trying to recklessly chase wins. Phrases like “play more shots” and “positive cricket” fill me with dread. Exact opposite of what Crawley needs to do. And Bairstow. And Stokes. How about phrases like play the situation, occupy the crease, bat time are what I’d like to hear in test cricket. There’s 2 other formats for the other stuff.

By and large done well this innings but had so many let offs slogging. About 5 top edges either been dropped or fallen kindly. 

[den]

Playing positive cricket is absolutely the way to go. Being positive from the start of a game to the end is the approach of winners in any sport.

It has to be controlled though. It hasn’t to be reckless. Stokes probably strayed into the reckless catageory today.

 

[chaddyrovers]

3 hours ago, matt83 said:

Stupid from stokes. It’s not t20. Long tail and he’s just given his wicket away slogging. Got with 2 including one a couple of balls earlier. 

Stokes was trying to get quick runs and put England into where we might only have to bat once. Stokes as Captain is right man to do this. Root is scoring quickly. If we bat all tomorrow we will probably be 200 runs ahead and leaving New Zealand to survive on the last day. Pitch is now spinning and I wonder if New Zealand will regret not playing their front line spinner now?

2 hours ago, Gav said:

I heard Nassar speaking when McCullum was appointed and he said we'd not be playing from draws, we're playing to win. I guess Stokes was staying true to that philosophy, we needed quick runs to win this game, hopefully we'll get enough to draw it now.

They been discussing it during the test matches and before each day of play. They want to play positive cricket but not all out attack

1 hour ago, matt83 said:

Worrying philosophy. Play the game and situation that’s in front of you. This England side will lose far more trying to recklessly chase wins. Phrases like “play more shots” and “positive cricket” fill me with dread. Exact opposite of what Crawley needs to do. And Bairstow. And Stokes. How about phrases like play the situation, occupy the crease, bat time are what I’d like to hear in test cricket. There’s 2 other formats for the other stuff.

By and large done well this innings but had so many let offs slogging. About 5 top edges either been dropped or fallen kindly. 

how many catches did England drop? 

Both teams have dropped catches. Sky Commentary team have explained why this might be the case

Edited June 12, 2022 by chaddyrovers

[jim mk2]

Good innings by Root and Pope but Pope still has it all to prove. Today was just  his 2nd century in 24 Tests, on a flat track on which more than 1,000 runs have been scored in two innings, and he averages around only 30 in Test cricket. The best players are in the 40s. A nice player to watch when he's in full flow and conditions are easy but he needs to make runs on a difficult track against top class bowling to become a fully fledged Test player 

[Exiled_Rover]

3 hours ago, den said:

Playing positive cricket is absolutely the way to go. Being positive from the start of a game to the end is the approach of winners in any sport.

It has to be controlled though. It hasn’t to be reckless. Stokes probably strayed into the reckless catageory today.

 

Probably?

He mistimed a slog that luckily fell between fielders. Then he slogged one into the stands for 6. Then he mistimed another slog, this time to a fielder.

All in the same over. Calm bloody down - we were 150+ behind at that point. 

[chaddyrovers]

England only 14 runs behind now. England have batted very well. Now the pitch is spinning and swinging cos there is cloud cover. 

[chaddyrovers]

what a shocking leave by the Kiwi captain and Anderson hits Middle and off. 1 down already

[Gav]

First hour here is crucial, polish of the last 3 NZ wickets and the run chase is on.

Come on England. 

[Gav]

Well they're all out in the first hour more or less, leaving us 299 to win, they got away from us sadly.

We are about to see if Brendon McCullums "win and not draw" philosophy comes into play. 

[47er]

Well we got them out in an hour and a quarter but they probably got too many? Have to chase it. Pope,Stokes and Root good enough though.

[only2garners]

In other news Lancashire's new boy Will Williams has just ripped through Warwickshire's middle order with 3 wickets leaving them on 95-5 and 101 ahead.

[Riversider28]

England in a spot of bother now with Pope and Root gone in quick succession. Up to Bairstow and Stokes, when he comes in, to bat sensibly. We still have a good chance of winning this match. 

[Gav]

England still attacking here, need 140 to win.

If they lose another wicket I think they'll shut up shop.

Come on England.

[Gav]

Make that 105 to win - Bairstow is smashing them into the stands, tremendous stuff.

[chaddyrovers]

what a magnificent performance by this England team. 

Bairstow and Stokes have played excellent today.

England have played attacking cricket but sensible and not reckless