The cricket thread

pigface

Did anyone else just hear Lloyd referring to the umpire's ball-measuring thing as 'his ringpiece'?

guitars4you

Unless England collapse, then surely this is heading for a draw - So we need to bat with a purpose today as we have almost zero chance of a win - The batting line up for this test, other than Root, has no guarantees of a regular place - They all need to prove themselves in order to establish themselves as part of the team - 2 have failed already in this innings - So Burns, Lawrence + Pope need to earn some brownie points - Weak tail and Bracey surely knows he is only keeping the gloves warm for a day or so 

crunchman

If Foakes hadn't got injured, Bracey would probaby have been playing as an opener anyway.

The way Sibley is playing at the moment, Bracey will probably end up opening later in the summer.

Stuckfast

Crawley certainly didn't do himself any favours with that shot.

scrumhalf

Oh arse, Root goes first ball of the day.

We could be following on at this rate. 

Heartfeltdawn

See, things can get back to normal after Covid!

Copy and paste that a few times this year...

Heartfeltdawn

Stuckfast said:

Crawley certainly didn't do himself any favours with that shot.

Dan Lawrence: just what and see what I've got in the locker.

Heartfeltdawn

Dear BBC,

Our batting is not thin. We have 7 batters in the side. It is inexperienced and mostly lacking consistent success at the top level. Whining about our tail being longer than usual simply deflects from the problems. Bemoaning a lack of Woakes is stupid.

scrumhalf

Follow-on avoided, although I'm not sure that the Kiwis would have batted again. Robinson's batting is better than some of his specialist teammates. 

Teetonetal

Century for Burns... Good to see someone simply hanging in there. Lot more fight from the rest required though.

pedalo

Good to discover a cricket thread here. Last year it felt weird with no fans there, more so than any sport so it has felt good to see a few people there for this. Enjoyed watching Burns this afternoon while slouched on the couch after too much sun. Gonna go to Headingley tomorrow for the final day vs Sussex and the first cricket match I’ve attended in almost two years. Then going to Durham vs Yorkshire on Friday! 

Stuckfast

The frustrating thing is that our batsmen face bowlers like Southee day in, day out in county cricket and don't get out the same way. I'm sure Bracey wouldn't have missed that one if it had been sent down by Josh Davey or Tim Murtagh. And Lawrence and Crawley would have been perfectly happy to leave those balls all day long in the Championship.

guitars4you

Looks like the weather might help us tomorrow - Amazing how quick the thoughts of a nice summer can sink so quickly 

guitars4you

pedalo said:

Good to discover a cricket thread here. Last year it felt weird with no fans there, more so than any sport so it has felt good to see a few people there for this. Enjoyed watching Burns this afternoon while slouched on the couch after too much sun. Gonna go to Headingley tomorrow for the final day vs Sussex and the first cricket match I’ve attended in almost two years. Then going to Durham vs Yorkshire on Friday! 

feel sorry for Malan - 199 and out - Hope Yorkshire can wrap it up for a win

Heartfeltdawn

Stuckfast said:

The frustrating thing is that our batsmen face bowlers like Southee day in, day out in county cricket and don't get out the same way. I'm sure Bracey wouldn't have missed that one if it had been sent down by Josh Davey or Tim Murtagh. 

Given that Murts got 5 for 13 against England two years ago at Lords, I'm not so sure...

pedalo

guitars4you said:

pedalo said:

Good to discover a cricket thread here. Last year it felt weird with no fans there, more so than any sport so it has felt good to see a few people there for this. Enjoyed watching Burns this afternoon while slouched on the couch after too much sun. Gonna go to Headingley tomorrow for the final day vs Sussex and the first cricket match I’ve attended in almost two years. Then going to Durham vs Yorkshire on Friday! 

feel sorry for Malan - 199 and out - Hope Yorkshire can wrap it up for a win

Yeah that’s gutting! He must be knocking on the door of the Test squad. Rain in the air here as well so we better get on with it!

Stuckfast

Hope the rain stays away, I'm making my debut for the Over 50s today!

Heartfeltdawn

Stuckfast said:

Hope the rain stays away, I'm making my debut for the Over 50s today!

Who are you playing and where? I was thinking about that for the future. Another six years to go... 

crunchman

Andy Zaltzmann on TMS:

This is the second time in 10 Tests England's opening stand has lasted more than 12 overs.

scrumhalf

Oh for heaven's sake just shake hands and pull up the stumps. No point in dragging this out any more.