The cricket thread

Heartfeltdawn

scrumhalf said:

If Jimmy is crocked I worry about Stokes as the fourth seamer in a weakened attack, especially as you'd expect the Aussies to be steaming at the next Test.

Your comments about playng in the CC take me back to the days when Tests weren't played back-to-back and international playewrs played for their counties as a matter of course in the week-and-a-half we used to have betwen Tests. It was possible to go back to your county and get a bit of rhythm back in your game.

It was also possible for overworked bowlers to get completely frazzled. In 1989 Neil Foster was opening the England attack and playing domestic cricket. He bowled 4280 balls in first class cricket that year, over 700 overs. He also bowled 1277 balls in List A cricket. In total, he was over 900 overs for the summer. Angus Fraser was a young man who made his Test debut that year. He bowled 4783 balls in first class cricket and 1168 in Lisa A cricket, 5991 deliveries, 9 deliveries short of hitting the 1000 over mark for the summer. 

By comparison, Jimmy Anderson in 2014 over the duration of the domestic season bowled 2764 deliveries in first class cricket and 474 in List A cricket. For the 2014, Charlie Shreck bowled most first class deliveries (3360) and James Tredwell bowled the most Lisa A deliveries (822). Added together, 4182 deliveries, under 700 overs, which gives you an idea of the sort of workloads seamers like Foster and Fraser had in 1989 compared to seamers now. 

It's all about getting the balance right. Stuart Broad has on more than one occasion used CC cricket very well to get his rhythm back and to get some miles into his legs. All the training in the world can't compensate for actual deliveries. YEars ago at uni, one of the Worcestershire bowlers trained with us after a back injury. He had to change his action after a stress fracture. Muscle memory is important for a batsman but it's even more important for a bowler. A batsman can get away with a quick eye: a bowler can't. Everything has to sync up irrespective of whether you're coming in off a Holdingesque long run or seven paces as a slow bowler. 

crunchman

121 to win makes me nervous.  Aussies were all out for 111 at Headingley in 81.

scrumhalf

All done!

Heartfeltdawn

And still a crap decision at the toss. Well done, Mr Clarke. Sod all runs, a bad call, and you shelled a catch today. 

Man of the Match: Peter Nevill purely for making Warne STFU about the dropping of Haddin. 

Dopesick

I'd probably have to give MOTM to Finn because of the way he ran through the middle order yesterday, effectively ending the match there and then.

Certainly won't be a bloody batsman that's for sure.

scrumhalf

Here we go again.

Cook wins the toss and puts the Aussies in. Wood in for Anderson, Aussies swap one Marsh for another.

Let battle commence.

crunchman

Only having 4 bowlers is a bit of a risk for the Aussies - especially the way they have sprayed it around a bit.

The England top order need to play a bit of attritional cricket when they bat.  Let's see if Mitch can still bounce it at 90 plus mph when he's in his 23rd over.

Teetonetal

Wow, 3 down already...

lloyd

Make that 4!

Heartfeltdawn

Absolutely crucial toss to win. If anyone is a fan of facial tics, they'd do well to see Michael Atherton talking to Michael Clarke after the toss. He looked and sounded absolutely wired. 

lloyd

23 for 5......

lloyd

Just heard on the wireless that's the earliest a 5th wicket has fallen in any test match.....

lloyd

Jesus

Bidley

Me and a few mates from have tickets to go to the fifth day... I know precious little about cricket (I'm just going for the piss up) but it doesn't look promising for our day out.

lloyd

Bidley said:

Me and a few mates from have tickets to go to the fifth day... I know precious little about cricket (I'm just going for the piss up) but it doesn't look promising for our day out.

Might not get a second!

lloyd

Bloody hell, Finn just rattled off stump, 33-7.

scrumhalf

Wow, what a first hour. Broad gets a five-fer in just over half an hour.

Gobsmacked.

iseverynamegone

Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha

That's all I got.

crunchman

I've been following England too long and I'm worried we'll find some way to foul it up.  We still have to bat.

Teetonetal

crunchman said:

I've been following England too long and I'm worried we'll find some way to foul it up.  We still have to bat.

You would hope that out of 22 batsmen at least one would make a score... odds now heavily in favor of that one being english... still if the ball is moving around alot then I wouldn't bet against oz being back in by close..

TMS seem to suggest the ball is not moving as much as last test and it's just poor batting.

Stuart Broad, does seem to have this in him though. Imagine if he could harness this for double the amount of time, he'd be up there as one of the greats.