England Test Cricket Thread - Summer 2016

[spikeyhead]

That was close, winning when there was only about 100 overs left in the match.

[Murph7355]

spikeyhead said:

That was close, winning when there was only about 100 overs left in the match.

[Smollet]

Pakistan win toss and bowl. No team that batted first has won since 2005

[Gargamel]

We should drop Root, terrible performance

Ticking over OK at the moment, 143/3 is OK, would be great if Vince and Ballance make a decent stand. 60 ish so far, two lads with something to prove.

[hornetrider]

Gargamel said:

two lads with something to prove.

Indeed. These boys need to make a score, and as Boycs and Vic alluded to earlier, today would be a very good day.

[Gargamel]

Well it won't be Vince anyway - which is a shame, as I rate him the more capable of the two.

Come on YJB....lets have some attack and elan

[Challo]

Gargamel said:

Well it won't be Vince anyway - which is a shame, as I rate him the more capable of the two.

Come on YJB....lets have some attack and elan

Vince just cant help himself and always nicks off. At least he got a couple of runs today, but you know he will always give his wicket away.

Day 3 could be a cracker.

[dav123a]

Gargamel said:

Well it won't be Vince anyway - which is a shame, as I rate him the more capable of the two.

Come on YJB....lets have some attack and elan

I think Ballance has a better chance of doing business for England. Even with his struggles with that the bat he averages near 50 in tests , I've not seen much of Vince to think he will be about in a year or so.

[Murph7355]

Just when you think it all be wrapped up before the final test...

Hales? Hmmmm.

Vince almost equally so.

Not the best first innings but Ballance and Moeen did well.

Was looking very dicey at one point but 297 might not be a bad score. Let's see how our bowling attack goes tomorrow...

[Challo]

dav123a said:

Gargamel said:

Well it won't be Vince anyway - which is a shame, as I rate him the more capable of the two.

Come on YJB....lets have some attack and elan

I think Ballance has a better chance of doing business for England. Even with his struggles with that the bat he averages near 50 in tests , I've not seen much of Vince to think he will be about in a year or so.

I was thinking the same about Ballance. Not my favourite player but maybe coming in later down the order might work for him. Gives us someone who doesn't mind sticking around and getting the hard runs.

[spikeyhead]

Brilliant test batting from Pakistan today.

[Amirhussain]

spikeyhead said:

Brilliant test batting from Pakistan today.

Wicket on the last ball of the day. When Anderson got Hafeez in the first over I thought this is it, Pakistan will be skittled out cheaply.

Misbah will be crucial tomorrow, him and Younis Khan need good scores tomorrow.

Anderson needs to calm down a little...

[greygoose]

Seemed to be a huge number of empty seats in the stands on the highlights, can't they do cheaper seat prices to boost attendance or free entry for kids as it is the summer holidays?

[Murph7355]

greygoose said:

Seemed to be a huge number of empty seats in the stands on the highlights, can't they do cheaper seat prices to boost attendance or free entry for kids as it is the summer holidays?

Am not sure ticket prices are the only barrier. Mid-week may be difficult for many, taking time off work etc.

Pre-lunch sessions tomorrow will be important. Some sloppy fielding by England. But it's still all to play for.

[Nom de ploom]

best part of the cricket this morning was hearing about blowers doing jaegerbombs out with vauhgnie last night....

been a poor morning.

bowling to short, no variation in pace, no yorkers....very samey...

[hornetrider]

Good test cricket from the tourists though. Trundling along at under three, digging in for the long haul.

8 down now mind with a lead of 71. If we can tickle these last few out for not very much it's very much game on.

[hornetrider]

Lead of 103. Dare I suggest we need to be about level or just in the lead and no more than 2 down at stumps.

[steveT350C]

I heard Atherton at lunch say that only 3% of teams that go into 2nd innings with deficit of 100+ runs go on to win the match.

A fully firing England could be in that 3%, but they not fully firing in this test.

[spikeyhead]

17 ahead without losing a wicket.

How well will the pitch hold up? Looking like a good test this.

[hornetrider]

spikeyhead said:

17 ahead without losing a wicket.

How well will the pitch hold up? Looking like a good test this.

Isn't it. Cracking session from England there. Favourites now I'd say.