The Cricket Thread

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Whilst they had time to kill the commentators have been discussing a no ball for what seems like hours (probably not). Once again slo-mo throws up as many problems as it solves. Slo-mo on low catches is a nightmare in close calls....often the fielder knows he has caught it and yet there is a strange bending effect that denies he has. And I find it really annoying when the umpires call for a run out to be checked when it isn't even close. Their confidence in their own judgement is all to pot. And because of the possibility of checking on no balls is there if a wicket is taken, they don't even look for no balls during play...and missed a load of them yesterday. I actually like the use of DRS in cricket generally because of the nature of the game, but stop all this nitpicking about close decisions....will always be an opinion in the end. Nothing is perfect.

 

No wickets yet , windies doing OK , time to worry ?

 

Powell gone for 23.

 

Broad fumbled a catch there, but the ball went through his hands and hit the stumps...catching Hope out of his crease.

 

It was Kyle Hope backing up, a heartbreaking way to get out.

(Stifles a snigger)

 

Was K. Hope....have changed post. Still funny on 3rd watch.

 

Anyone else getting jittery ? Not sure about the draw now .

 

They are going to do this !

 

Each innings was getting better...so never going to be good to bowl on. We need a few wickets because the Windies aren't as good in depth as we are. A couple of wickets could make a big difference....otherwise they have a chance.

 

less than 200 now , with 8 wickets in hand .

 

If this was a one-day game you'd fancy WIndies every time to make this chase.


2nd new ball could be crucial this evening

 

At least England declared in time to give them a chance of a win. May not work out for us, but showed they had confidence in themselves. Lose this and then slaughter the Windies in the final Test....easy.

 

If we lose , and I think we will , at least we declared and made a game of it , all credit to the Windies , they need and deserve this IMHO .

 

Brathwaite falls 5 runs short of becoming the first batsman ever to score a hundred in both innings of a first class game at Headingley. Shame.

 

Got to feel a little bit sorry for Kraig Brathwaite, he would have been the first person ever to score a century in both innings in a first class match at Headingly, but got bamboozled into driving at a ball from Moeen that did just enough, caught by Stokes for 95.

 

Agree - I hope if we lose that Root doesn't get criticised for the declaration. It's what's made today so interesting, rather than giving WIndies only the option to try and defend to save a draw

 

Root is still learning the business of Test Match captaincy, and apart from a slight blip at Tent Bridge against South Africa has made a pretty good fist of it so far. His main issue has been the top order batsmen not performing, rather than his own decision-making.

 

Chase out, just what the game needed to keep the tension up!

 

Good catch from sub.

I remember Australia complaining about us putting a sub on who was a well known specialist fielder...England's answer was that they were hardly likely to put a sub on who was a poor fielder.