The Cricket Thread

I wasn’t being sarcastic! He goes for runs but then bowls magic balls. Like Mitchell Starc but a lot slower. And right-handed. And English.

Okay not that much like Mitchell Starc.

Splendid, what a finish.

Drumstick wrote::lol:

Rashid is in the team because a) he is one of our best spinners and b) to get him used to test match cricket before the SL and WI tours where he will definitely be bowling a lot. This is basically a warm up for those series.

Also in terms of the wickets he does take, there's very much a quality over quantity, i.e he tends to take big wickets at key times. Kohli a few times this series, Pant and Rahul in this match etc. He goes for runs but gets wickets.

Quite happy for Rahul because he is such a quality player.

I agree with you on Rashid's qualities but bit seems like Root doesn't half of the time. He just doesn't seem to trust him.

Sam Curran, MotS.

But of course it made perfect sense to drop him for the third game. Remind me which one England lost again?

That was one hell of a test match and one hell of a series. How India came out on the rough end of a 4-1 result still amazes me. Jimmy is absolute class, nice to see him as the greatest pace bowler in test history. Well deserved.

Rex Kramer wrote:I agree with you on Rashid's qualities but bit seems like Root doesn't half of the time. He just doesn't seem to trust him.

That's the problem with any spinner, the captain has to be willing to sacrifice some runs to get them in the game. In a game like today where England had to defend a massive 460-odd, it's easy. It's more difficult when you don't have many runs in hand and you have to go for aggressive fielding placements and go all in. Cook was poor in this regard after Swann retired.

Balladeer wrote:I wasn’t being sarcastic! He goes for runs but then bowls magic balls. Like Mitchell Starc but a lot slower. And right-handed. And English.

Okay not that much like Mitchell Starc.

I know, it was more of a general comment rather than a direct response.

Rex Kramer wrote:That was one hell of a test match and one hell of a series. How India came out on the rough end of a 4-1 result still amazes me. Jimmy is absolute class, nice to see him as the greatest pace bowler in test history. Well deserved.

Agreed, I'm not sure India deserved to lose 4-1, each match aside from the Lords's test seemed to be like a pendulum with the upper hand swinging from side to side, session after session. One of the best test series in a long time.

I think everyone will agree with that last bit. Top cricket.

Soooooo, Sri Lanka! Anybody got any opener suggestions besides Burns? Anybody know why the flying feck Ed Smith is rumoured to be looking at Joe Denly to open...?

Burns got another ton today. Did you hear the interview he did with Aggers on TMS t'other day? Quite informative but only to a point.

Jennings will keep his spot by the sounds of it.

Didn't get around to listening to it, must admit.

Vince at 3 sounds likely as well. Fun* times!

Balladeer wrote:Didn't get around to listening to it, must admit.

Vince at 3 sounds likely as well. Fun* times!

Really? I have not heard that.

To be fair, he’ll be in the squad. Might or might not play.

So we're really looking at an XI of: Burns, Jennings, Vince, Root, Bairstow, Stokes, Buttler, Moeen, Curran, Rashid, Leach, Anderson.

Except that's 12 players. The Moeen at 3 experiment will have to continue, sorry Mini E.

Burns, Jennings, Moeen, Root, Bairstow, Stokes, Buttler, Curran, Rashid, Leach, Anderson.

Though I still think that team would get beat in SL.

TalkSport has won the rights to the overseas tour to South Africa next year.

Drumstick wrote:TalkSport has won the rights to the overseas tour to South Africa next year.

Honestly hate this. Absolutely awful.

However: T20 Finals Day today. Up the sharks.

Whee, adverts for power tools and aggressive commentary posturing here we come!

That midstep run-out

The test squad for SL is due to be announced this afternoon. I look forward to the omission of Rory Burns and the inclusion of James Vince.

Joe Denly lads!

Some good news: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/45725890

Sri Lanka v England: TMS launches Cricket Social for England tour

Stars of Test Match Special will present a new, interactive cricket show during England's tour of Sri Lanka.

The Cricket Social will be streamed on the BBC Sport website and app and will feature Jonathan Agnew, Michael Vaughan, James Anderson, Ebony Rainford-Brent, Phil Tufnell and Andy Zaltzman.

The show will complement the popular live text service on the BBC Sport website and app and will allow fans to get directly involved with the coverage.

It will be just one of a number of ways that the BBC will provide coverage of the tour, which begins on Wednesday, 10 October with the first one-day international in Dambulla.

There will be live updates from reporters at the matches in Sri Lanka on BBC Radio 5 live and other outlets and the day's action will be rounded up in the definitive TMS podcast with cricket correspondent Agnew and former England captain Vaughan.

Ben Gallop, head of BBC Radio and Digital Sport, said: "We know how popular the BBC Sport website is as a way for fans to follow the cricket.

"We want to build on that and we're delighted our new show, the Cricket Social, will give fans a chance to hear their favourite TMS broadcasters, like Aggers and Michael Vaughan, give their expert view on England's tour of Sri Lanka and take part in discussions around all the big issues in the sport."

England play five one-day internationals, one Twenty20 and three Tests in Sri Lanka. The first Cricket Social will be during the first ODI on 10 October.

It has been pointed out that the BBC was very very anti-Test Match Sofa at the time. Of course, they’ve now got their founder in the commentary box...

Anyone got any thoughts about that squad then? Jennings or Denly to open? And will they actually play Olly Stone, or will they be afraid to and just pack three rfms and Sam Curran? (And Curran only begrudgingly?)

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