The Cricket Thread

Is that Salt of Sussex you are referring to? Or another opener? Forget comment!!! It is Sibley but you may have noticed that Salt has also been in good form. It Will be interesting to see if he gets called up for the Lions to see if he can make the highest level.

 

I noticed Archer did a phenominal amout of bowling compared with the other England pace bowlers. We need to use him in short 6 over bursts, unless the guy has the stamina of Mo Farah. Great to see Leach picking up 3 wickets as well. IMO having a high quality spinner is essential for any bowling attack regardless of the pitch as he asks batsmen different questions. As we know, Murali and Warne picked up wickets on many a seam friendly pitch, whilst Michael Holding ripped through England´s batting at the Oval on the flattest of pitches in 1984. High class bowling wins matches.

 

Cant see australia failing to win 1 more match though . Hope I am wrong though .

 

Unlike you J

 

H 327 - 8 lunch Abbot 55 no and Stevenson 42 no

 

H 367 ao and Tea

 

He’s out - thank **** for that!
England have a chance now.

 

Ignoring the effect on Australia, this was the right decision for Smith. After he was out in the last Test he could be seen blinking strangely in the players' box and then he woke up feeling sick the next day....should he even have played again that day? I understand the player's feelings, but seemed risky to me.

He is the best batsman in the Australian side and his absence may (or may not) improve England's chances, but the first priority is always the player's health.

 

I’d rather he was playing, as you want to compete and play against the best. But yes, absolutely the correct decision (and no, he shouldn’t have gone out there again).

 

Other sports have stricter criteria than cricket regarding concussion protocols. It would be inconceivable that a rugby player would play again so soon, so for a cricketer to risk being hit on the head a second time is unthinkable.

 

Facing probably the most menacing quick in cricket without an arm guard and neck protection, brave or foolhardy? I'll go for the latter not just from the injury point of view but his team is deprived of his services and the spectators of a great contest between two fine players.

 

What kind of wicket is that at Kent? Kent something like 28-8 in their second innings. If Essex are bowled out for a small score in their second innings, and lose the match (fingers crossed for you Chilco as your guys might get a draw), does anyone think Kent will be docked points and if so, how many, as the pitch seems to be unplayable unless of course their batsmen have been to the Middlesex school of batting?

 

Surrey 490 - 5 COP

 

Use Archer the same was Hampshire used Fidel Edwards at The Oval

 

Come on Summerzet. 250 is the target.

 

Kent 40 all out and lost the game.

Having supported Kent for years I would say it is diabolical batting rather than the state of the pitch.

Honestly a combination of supporting saints and Kent is not a good one.

 

Imagine Derek Underwood on that wicket!!! The thought is insane!!!! Possibly a case of por batting but maybe given the summer in the UK, there are times when perhaps batting is awkward if there is any juice in it. I suppose the pitch was much drier by the time Essex got in for their second innings.

 

No rain forecast tomorrow. Looks like we sent Abell and Davies in as nightwatchmen for the 2.5 overs tonight, it will be interesting how they get on, until Banton and Babar take over. Come on boys!

 

Roy passed a concussion test after being hit in the neck in the nets, but will be assessed tomorrow. Difficult to say how missed he'd be if he dropped out.....no denying that he has done less than shine, but we know he is a good batsman and sometimes you have to show patience.

 

After 221 not out today, young Ollie Pope has been called up as stand-by for Roy.

Great to see him back in the selectors minds but I fear if he did come in for Roy we would face the same problem as having a fantastic batsman at no.4 try (and fail) to be an opener.