The Cricket Thread

[midoshairband]

If Buttler comes in when we're 320-5 you would see a different player, problem is with his lack of success/confidence when he's usually coming in at 80-5 he cant play his natural game. I'm not a fan of Jos the keeper but will defend him to an extent. At the moment though, we either need a player coming in at 7 who can guts it out for a bit or someone who can come in and get a run-a-ball 100. At the moment, and pretty much for a lot of the time since his return, he hasn't been either of those players.

And I'm prepared for the repercussions on this but genuinely there is no better gloveman in WORLD cricket than Foakes.

agreed that Foakes is a phenomenal keeper.

I think that's what they envisaged for Buttler - coming in with runs on the board, and being able to play his natural game and really take the game away from the oppo by scoring quickly. it just has't worked like that - i sort of want him to play like that whatever the situation, as that's his game.

 

[Wsussexspur]

Attritional think some up the England innings so far.

 

[southlondonyiddo]

Attritional think some up the England innings so far.

Come on this is Test Match cricket.

This is how you are supposed to bat for the most part. Wear out the bowlers, build a total of 450+
Try and bat for only one innings for about 2 days and create massive scoreboard pressure for the opposition

This is how you win test matches. It’s not always pretty or wham bam thank you mam but it’s what cricket is all about

Chess in white. Not some Mickey Mouse pyjama 20/20 rounders game!

 

[midoshairband]

Attritional think some up the England innings so far.

I'm glad we can now see that England can bat this way. they do need to be able to go through the gears at some point though, but i think that will (hopefully) naturally happen with Pope/Buttler.

 

[Wsussexspur]

Come on this is Test Match cricket.

This is how you are supposed to bat for the most part. Wear out the bowlers, build a total of 450+
Try and bat for only one innings for about 2 days and create massive scoreboard pressure for the opposition

This is how you win test matches. It’s not always pretty or wham bam thank you mam but it’s what cricket is all about

Chess in white. Not some Mickey Mouse pyjama 20/20 rounders game!

Dont get me wrong not moaning fully agree!

 

[Wsussexspur]

I'm glad we can now see that England can bat this way. they do need to be able to go through the gears at some point though, but i think that will (hopefully) naturally happen with Pope/Buttler.

Exactly its something we have missed for past 4/5 years

 

[Arnoldtoo]

Bloody well played both Sibley & Stokes. Test cricket at its best. 1 more run (at least) please, Ben!

 

[Spurs_Bear]

agreed that Foakes is a phenomenal keeper.

I think that's what they envisaged for Buttler - coming in with runs on the board, and being able to play his natural game and really take the game away from the oppo by scoring quickly. it just has't worked like that - i sort of want him to play like that whatever the situation, as that's his game.

100% this. They envisaged Buttler being Gilchrist, which his talent would allow him to be (Gilly was a better keeper IMO) but he doesn't have the benefit of Hayden, Langer, Ponting, Waugh x 2 having already put 300 on the board before he comes in.

 

[SE Spurs]

Another ton from Stokes. Gotta agree with Rob Key that Stokes is the best cricketer in the world.

Excellent bowler and fielder. And can play any type of innings with the bat.

 

[southlondonyiddo]

Sibley has done a fantastic job for his team and got himself a great 100

Needs to pull a hamstring now....

 

[midoshairband]

Buttler looks nervous. feeling the pressure? he’s usually ice-cold!

 

[Arnoldtoo]

Buttler looks nervous. feeling the pressure? he’s usually ice-cold!

Not surprised. If he fails today, the calls to drop him are likely to become irresistible.

 

[southlondonyiddo]

Buttler looks nervous. feeling the pressure? he’s usually ice-cold!

Has always struck me as being bit nervous when batting in test cricket. Rarely, whatever the situation, have I seen him play as freely as I have in one day cricket

I take onboard he doesn’t normally come to the crease in as good a position as Gilchrist did but I still maintain this format of the game just does not suit him

His record, average, scoring rate etc etc in ODI to Test backs that up

 

[Spurs_Bear]

I'm going hugely against the grain on Sibley. Yesterday was world class, but today rubbish, we needed to be bowling at West Indies for an hour tonight with a score of 500 on the board. He was 86* over night off 250 balls and then took another 120 to get 34 additional runs. I'm with Michael Holding, having got us into a great position overnight it wasn't very good today at all, and now the pressure is on Buttler et al when in reality it should have been off them.

They flashed a stat up earlier on and his S/R in T20 matches is over 120 so it's not like he cant score quickly!

 

[southlondonyiddo]

I'm going hugely against the grain on Sibley. Yesterday was world class, but today rubbish, we needed to be bowling at West Indies for an hour tonight with a score of 500 on the board. He was 86* over night off 250 balls and then took another 120 to get 34 additional runs. I'm with Michael Holding, having got us into a great position overnight it wasn't very good today at all, and now the pressure is on Buttler et al when in reality it should have been off them.

They flashed a stat up earlier on and his S/R in T20 matches is over 120 so it's not like he cant score quickly!

I’ve got no issues with Sibley up until lunch today. After lunch and when you could see Stokes turn the switch then Sibley needed to get on with it or get out

He tried to get on with it but 'tried to' isn’t good enough and cost us 45mins or so of runs and momentum which actually could have led to Stokes getting himself out!

I saw the T20 stats too so as you say he can play differently just not in the same innings...

Plus in his defence (a little) it’s not an easy wicket to smash it around (especially when that isn’t your natural game) even if you’ve been in for a week and seeing it like a beach ball!!

Also not sure you need 500+ with this wicket. Looks good to bowl on to me and if it keeps swinging all match it’s not easy at all

Curran, Woakes & Bess should be licking their lips...

 

[Arnoldtoo]

When do we declare? I said 450 - 500 a couple of pages back but I thought that would give us at least an hour at them today and we're behind schedule on that. 450? Or when Buttler's out if sooner, perhaps? If we don't win this match we can't win the series, and tomorrow's forecast isn't pretty.

 

[southlondonyiddo]

When do we declare? I said 450 - 500 a couple of pages back but I thought that would give us at least an hour at them today and we're behind schedule on that. 450? Or when Buttler's out if sooner, perhaps? If we don't win this match we can't win the series, and tomorrow's forecast isn't pretty.

Another 10 overs max imo

 

[Arnoldtoo]

Another 10 overs max imo

Well it wasn't when Buttler was out!

Edit: Or Curran!

 

[Arnoldtoo]

Another 10 overs max imo

I wasn't counting but I reckon you were about right. Gives us, what, 15 or so overs at them, light permitting?

 

[southlondonyiddo]

I wasn't counting but I reckon you were about right. Gives us, what, 15 or so overs at them, light permitting?

??

Yep, thought that’s what he was looking for