The Cricket Thread

[dondo]

Good to see Root has not broken lockdown rules by going to see a hairdresser, by the state of his barnet. Nearly as bad as the cut I did on my boys yesterday

 

[Spurs_Bear]

Good to see Root has not broken lockdown rules by going to see a hairdresser, by the state of his barnet. Nearly as bad as the cut I did on my boys yesterday

Yeah I’m not sure what looked worse, his Alice band monstrosity or this close shave with a lawnmower that he’s sporting.

 

[UncleBuck]

Joe Root, take a bow son. Phenomenal!

 

[Arnoldtoo]

He can't win, can he!

But seriously,

150 n.o. Phenomenal.

I know it's absolutely not as easy as simply copying what he's doing, but the others should be watching and learning.

 

[SargeantMeatCurtains]

Mark Wood. Thick as shit.

 

[SargeantMeatCurtains]

Horrendous way to get out after such a good knock. Credit to Sri Lanka for never switching off, though.

 

[Arnoldtoo]

Apologies to Bess, he batted really well. Not so much Wood; stupid shot.

And hats off to Root. Magnificent and so unlucky. Deserved another double hundred.

 

[SE Spurs]

What an innings from Root, absolutely immense. Very unfortunate way to get out, but a great bit of fielding it has to be said.

Getting somewhere near parity was a must. But the final innings for England may be very tough.

 

[Buggsy61]

Absolute madness from Wood and the glance to Root to gauge his reaction said it all and hope it didn’t break Roots concentration.
I too have been a big critic of Root as captain but his class and quality as a batsman was never in doubt. Maybe covid gave him the refresher break he needed.
Still an uphill battle and won’t be easy batting against the spinners on the final day.
Some good test cricket going on at present - shame no one in the grounds to see it

 

[Ravabelly]

At the moment, this is my team for the first test at the GABBA. Would love @aussiespursguy to have a go...

Burns
Sibley
Crawley
Root
Stokes
Lawrence / Pope
Buttler
Bess
Archer
Broad
Anderson

Can't really disagree with that.

.....But if, and I apreciate it's a big 'if', Dan Lawrence can cement a spot in the team, would it be madness to play without a specialist spinner and rely on the 'more than useful' spin of Lawrence and Root?!

Could potentially allow us to play Wood plus the three you have named.... or a 7th specialist batsman, I.e. play Lawrence AND Pope...

Burns
Sibley
Crawley
Root
Stokes
Lawrence / Pope
Buttler
Archer
Broad
Wood
Anderson

Or

Burns
Sibley
Crawley
Root
Stokes
Lawrence
Pope
Buttler
Archer
Broad
Anderson

 

[Spurs_Bear]

Well this is setting up...nicely? Or for England to be 38 all out?

 

[Arnoldtoo]

Getting harder by the minute.

The spinners have got the wickets but I don't see anything like the same threat from them as from Embuldeniya.

 

[midoshairband]

Well this is setting up...nicely? Or for England to be 38 all out?

Sri Lanka have already got 70 too many.

great fightback from the spinners though. this no10 is batting well, probably taken it away from us again, but you never know. bit disappointed with the field settings in the last 40 odd mins.

edit: as I write, Root has a wicket!

 

[Arnoldtoo]

Make that 2!

So 164 to win. Who's your money on? If Root goes cheaply, I worry!

 

[Archibald&Crooks]

Sri Lanka at 3/1 is too attractive to turn down.

 

[Buggsy61]

Make that 2!

So 164 to win. Who's your money on? If Root goes cheaply, I worry!

Has to be Sri Lanka unfortunately. Defending like a crab is not an option on this pitch and I am sure england will be positive as a result so should be over quite quickly either way.

 

[Wsussexspur]

Big big wicket for Sri Lanka. Have feeling our long tale is going to do for us in this test.

 

[midoshairband]

Big big wicket for Sri Lanka. Have feeling our long tale is going to do for us in this test.

yep. with Root and Bairstow gone, 80 odd seems like a lot of runs to get from here!

 

[Wsussexspur]

yep. with Root and Bairstow gone, 80 odd seems like a lot of runs to get from here!

Certainly need two solid partnerships from next two wickets.
Not many runs From Buttler downwards. Also effectively playing two number 11s in Anderson and Leach.

 

[dirtyh]

you know it's going to be down to anderson don't you? nailed on.