The Cricket Thread

  • Please bear with us on the new site integration and fixing any known bugs over the coming days. If you can not log in please try resetting your password and check your spam box. If you have tried these steps and are still struggling email [email protected] with your username/registered email address
  • Log in now to remove adverts - no adverts at all to registered members!
As a person from well beyond the general audience for cricket, I have to admit that the rules are fairly easy to comprehend, but "drill him in the neck" is the hardest bit to internalize. I'm not criticizing Archer at all; it's just the only sport I've encountered where rendering someone unable to play the sport is an actual goal.
 
Archer's intention wasn't to injure Smith, but to keep him honest. Smith is a top class batsman...not a village cricketer. Pretty sure he would have avoided the ball on 99% of occasions. Bowlers have always thrown down balls that are virtually unplayable just to unsettle batsmen. Wearing helmets have two effects...one good, one bad...reduces risk of injury whilst encouraging bowlers to take a pop.
 
  • Like
Reactions: fatletiss
Archer's intention wasn't to injure Smith, but to keep him honest. Smith is a top class batsman...not a village cricketer. Pretty sure he would have avoided the ball on 99% of occasions. Bowlers have always thrown down balls that are virtually unplayable just to unsettle batsmen. Wearing helmets have two effects...one good, one bad...reduces risk of injury whilst encouraging bowlers to take a pop.

I remember the West Indies in 1976 when they arrived with an avalanche of fast bowlers - Roberts, Holding and Daniel. They sent down a lot of short pitched deliveries but came to a gentleman´s agreement not to send bouncers to tailenders. Enter Roberts the batsman to face Snow who sent down a médium paced bouncer. Andy saw the funny side of things and smiled.
 
I remember the West Indies in 1976 when they arrived with an avalanche of fast bowlers - Roberts, Holding and Daniel. They sent down a lot of short pitched deliveries but came to a gentleman´s agreement not to send bouncers to tailenders. Enter Roberts the batsman to face Snow who sent down a médium paced bouncer. Andy saw the funny side of things and smiled.
It was mentioned on Sky that the convention of not bowling bouncers at other bowlers has long gone. I suspect because bowlers now are more competent batsmen than they used to be...you don't get into an international side now without being able to bat to a reasonable standard....or at least duck and sway to a reasonable standard. :)
 
As a person from well beyond the general audience for cricket, I have to admit that the rules are fairly easy to comprehend, but "drill him in the neck" is the hardest bit to internalize. I'm not criticizing Archer at all; it's just the only sport I've encountered where rendering someone unable to play the sport is an actual goal.
Never seen a boxing match, I’m guessing!

As has been said, the intention isn’t directly to injure the batsman, but to force him into a defensive use of the hands and bat that will lead to him getting caught. Top class batters will duck and weave, or, like Botham in 1981, nonchalantly hit the ball for six.

As a former bowler, I could never understand why anyone should ever consider being a batsman, as the bowler always has another chance.
 
Us winning the match was probably always the least likely outcome over night (ignoring a tie), but it certainly is now with this rain delay.

Surely only two results are now possible: a draw (if we don't collapse), or a win for Australia (if we do collapse).

Jimmy not yet fit enough to feature for Lancs today, so that must put his availability for the 4th test under serious doubt.
 
Us winning the match was probably always the least likely outcome over night (ignoring a tie), but it certainly is now with this rain delay.

Surely only two results are now possible: a draw (if we don't collapse), or a win for Australia (if we do collapse).

Jimmy not yet fit enough to feature for Lancs today, so that must put his availability for the 4th test under serious doubt.

Who would he come in for in the current 11? If fit. Surely, Leach deserves an extended stay in the team. Only one I can think of is Stokes as a bowler. Woakes is bowling well, as is Broad, while Archer is making many demands on the Australian batsmen.
 
I wonder if we were tempted to ask Morris to play for us in this match. Or maybe if we did, but he declined.

As it is, I'm hoping for an XI of Holland, Organ, Vince, Northeast, Rilee, Donald, Dawson, McManus, Barker, Abbott, Fidel. A very deep batting line-up, but still five bowling options (plus Organ).

But until then, England get underway.
 
Steve Smith woke up unwell this morning and won't take part in this game. Australia have put forward a concussion substitute request....new on me, but apparently the sub will be able to bat and bowl and not just field. The sub has to be a like for like substitution....so not fast bowler replacing a batsman.
 
Steve Smith woke up unwell this morning and won't take part in this game. Australia have put forward a concussion substitute request....new on me, but apparently the sub will be able to bat and bowl and not just field. The sub has to be a like for like substitution....so not fast bowler replacing a batsman.
New concussion laws were brought a few months ago. If a player has to leave the game through concussion then a substitute player can replace him and take full part in the game.
 
New concussion laws were brought a few months ago. If a player has to leave the game through concussion then a substitute player can replace him and take full part in the game.
And I believe it also means that Smith won’t be available to play in the next Test either.

Such a pity :)
 
Buttler holes out at deep square,161-5, lead by 169.

A quick 50 partnership between Bairstow and Stokes would be nice!