Cricket Thread

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postieboy Aug 2017 7:18pm, 29 Aug 2017 4,719 posts	0 postieboy Well done the West Indies, Caribbean cricket isn't dead after all. I hope Root isn't given a hard time over the declaration, it's the bowlers who should be answering the questions. Also serves us right for dropping Toby Roland-Jones, he didn't deserve it. Chris Woakes should have stayed in county cricket to build up fitness and form before the Ashes.
Atonal Miserabilist (AFKA TRO) Aug 2017 9:23pm, 29 Aug 2017 15,377 posts	0 Atonal Miserabilist (AFKA TRO) Agree Postie seam bowlers all pretty much the same and just the one spin option. No plan B if it wasn't doing much. TRJ dropped for doing nothing wrong, Woakes short of a gallop. Real damage though was that disgraceful batting effort first innings.
Derby Tup Aug 2017 10:01pm, 29 Aug 2017 23,484 posts	0 Derby Tup Great results for romantics. I've no problem with Joe's declaration. Good test match
GregP Aug 2017 10:24pm, 29 Aug 2017 95,522 posts	0 GregP Agree with all three posts above mine. Meanwhile, two more days of rain at Chelmsford will get us a draw. That'll do.
Badger Aug 2017 10:54pm, 29 Aug 2017 8,663 posts	0 Badger The problem was absolutely not the declaration. Dropped catches might've had more to do with it. I think the team were complacent in the first and fourth innings - the first Test made them think it'd be easy, all day to take 10 for less than 320 looked pretty doable.
Crash Hamster Aug 2017 9:28am, 30 Aug 2017 936 posts	0 Crash Hamster No problems with the declaration, it was well judged and I hope we'll see more of those. At least 4 catches went down on the last day; I ope we'll see much less of that. I don't even think we bowled badly. Woakes was short of pace, but all the seamers beat the bat and Moeen got some turn. Windies played very well in the fourth innings, we were poor in the first innings and that ultimately cost us.
Atonal Miserabilist (AFKA TRO) Aug 2017 9:37am, 30 Aug 2017 15,380 posts	0 Atonal Miserabilist (AFKA TRO) Fear is that next time Root faces a declaration decision he goes to 20 minutes before tea on day 5; I hope not. Declaration was the right call at the time; our best chance of winning. He could have batted on (a moot point - we were 8 down and could have been bowled out in the next over or 2), the test could have petered to a tame draw and he would be carted for being negative. Trouble is we thought the Windies would capitulate like Australia did vs Bangladesh...:-)
Wriggling Snake Aug 2017 10:14am, 30 Aug 2017 16,145 posts	0 Wriggling Snake Even Boycs says the declaration was fine, 99 times out of a hundred England would have won. It does beg a few questions though. On a good wicket we struggled to get anyone out. I can't see Anderson doing well in Australia, Broad will be fine due to his height. Were they complacent, I though Woakes was in to see how he is going, i.e. The selectors/captain thought England would roll them over (you COULD argue that but I would say complacent, very good teams ram home an advantage. Moeen, he sounded as if he bowled ok, underused if anything. He could still do well In Australia due tot he bounce. Malan, Stoneman fought it out well, Taxi for Westley. TRJ looks better right now than Woakes, but Woakes at 9 is amazing, we might well need that batting. I still think Aus fast bowling will do for us down under.
fetcheveryone Aug 2017 10:52am, 30 Aug 2017 18,559 posts	0 fetcheveryone Wow: theguardian.com
Fenland (Fenners) Runner Aug 2017 10:58am, 30 Aug 2017 13,369 posts	0 Fenland (Fenners) Runner Part of me suspiciously wonders if England cricketers are part of a betting scam. However perhaps the truth is that they over estimate their limited abilities.