The Cricket Thread

[funkycoldmedina]

Harry Brook is some player though. Where the hell did he come from? I don't pay enough attention to the county game so hadn't really heard his name until the pre-WC 20/20 series in Pakistan.

He's always been well regarded at Yorkshire. He was England U19 captain but struggled in a poor Yorkshire batting line up. In the 2021 season he started to fulfil his promise but mainly with solid scores without dictating but that changed this season when the tons started to come

 

[midoshairband]

Brook is going to be a superstar. all formats, genuine star.

 

[PCozzie]

He's always been well regarded at Yorkshire. He was England U19 captain but struggled in a poor Yorkshire batting line up. In the 2021 season he started to fulfil his promise but mainly with solid scores without dictating but that changed this season when the tons started to come

Cheers. He's a proper talent.

 

[PCozzie]

Brook is going to be a superstar. all formats, genuine star.

That lofted drive. Zero effort, maximum technique.

 

[funkycoldmedina]

Cheers. He's a proper talent.

He's one of those players you could tell was going to be quality from being a teen, he just stood out

 

[funkycoldmedina]

A bit like Root was

 

[midoshairband]

zero complaints from me about Stokes. he sacrificing himself in some ways to really push the positive intent message.

plus, in this game, we're in such a good position it can be afforded.

this is brilliant cricket to watch.

 

[PCozzie]

Might just be the Spurs fan in me but amongst all the fireworks and ridiculous shot making, 342 doesn't seem like nearly to defend in 120 overs.

The pitch is still doing next to nothing, Pakistan have some world class batsmen and England are not stacked with strike bowlers. Less than three an over seems very gettable. They aren't going to try to win it by lunch tomorrow. Need a couple of early wickets because if Pakistan are 100-0 at close of play we could be in trouble.

 

[midoshairband]

great attacking declaration.

very much worth risking a loss to try and force a win on a tough bowling deck.

as McCullum has repeatedly said, they're not here for a draw, and if Pakistan are good enough to chase it, then fair play.

 

[funkycoldmedina]

great attacking declaration.

very much worth risking a loss to try and force a win on a tough bowling deck.

as McCullum has repeatedly said, they're not here for a draw, and if Pakistan are good enough to chase it, then fair play.

I felt like they could have had a blast with Livingstone for 5 overs to try and get another 30 on the board

 

[midoshairband]

I felt like they could have had a blast with Livingstone for 5 overs to try and get another 30 on the board

Livingstone could hardly walk. The bowlers had hardly had their feet up for two days.

in their first innings Pakistan got to 343 off 95 overs, so in terms of scoring rate, it's a brilliant declaration.

no point whatsoever in investing 5 days watching this game to have a draw at the end.

i would have opened with Leach or Jacks though, see what the new ball does with spin.

 

[PCozzie]

great attacking declaration.

very much worth risking a loss to try and force a win on a tough bowling deck.

as McCullum has repeatedly said, they're not here for a draw, and if Pakistan are good enough to chase it, then fair play.

Yeah I don't mind giving Pakistan a 20% chance of the win in order to force a result, but I feel we've given them a 50/50 chance, if not better. They need take no risks at all and can cruise to victory at 3 singles an over. Remember, it's only England who are not interested in the draw.

 

[midoshairband]

Yeah I don't mind giving Pakistan a 20% chance of the win in order to force a result, but I feel we've given them a 50/50 chance, if not better. They need take no risks at all and can cruise to victory at 3 singles an over. Remember, it's only England who are not interested in the draw.

understand what you're saying, guess we just have differing approaches to sport, i'd much rather risk a loss to try and win in a game like this ?

 

[PCozzie]

understand what you're saying, guess we just have differing approaches to sport, i'd much rather risk a loss to try and win in a game like this ?

Not at all! I like the new positive approach, and I'm willing to risk defeat too. I'm probably just not completely on board with taking the draw entirely out of the equation in the first test of a series.

Well we've got one of those couple of wickets now, so maybe what do I know!

 

[chavkev]

This is exactly what test cricket needs. This England era will likely not be the best test team in the world, but I think that they are going to completely change the dynamics of test cricket.

It's going to be a lot of fun watching and I hope that they don't go into their shells against Australia.

 

[midoshairband]

Not at all! I like the new positive approach, and I'm willing to risk defeat too. I'm probably just not completely on board with taking the draw entirely out of the equation in the first test of a series.

Well we've got one of those couple of wickets now, so maybe what do I know!

yea sorry, didn't mean to make that quite so condescending.

i suppose by taking the draw out of it we are dragging the other sides with us.

if one side takes one result out of the equation and drags the other side into result cricket against their wishes, it might draw out more mistakes ?.

plus this is bloody fun to watch!

 

[midoshairband]

Babar gone!

 

[rightwayup]

Unless you have plenty of time, a good declaration needs to give the oppo a sniff. Also if you are not afraid to lose you will play much freer and win more matches. Look how much better England and Tottenham play with the handbrake off.

 

[Dunc2610]

What they've said a few times now is Bazball is allowing the players to play without fear of failure. Take Australia from circa '99 -' 08...that team didn't play with a fear of losing wickets or even matches, they took to the field backing themselves and their ability and played to win. That's what England need to do, a result of that is exciting test cricket, which as a by product is sorely needed by the game.

 

[southlondonyiddo]

Hats off to this new regime. Turned a horrendously boring Test Match surface into a spectacle on day 5

It was the perfect declaration asking Pakistan to get 340odd at around 3.5 per over - definitely dangled the carrot

Didn’t agree with Gower though, who said, we offered the entire vegetable patch with that declaration!!