England Cricket chat

[muckthenuts]

Pakistan have a big opportunity here to rack up 500+. New ball seems to be doing about as much as the old one. Pitch is a road.

[muckthenuts]

With 20 wickets to fall to cause a result and a pitch that isn't really doing anything this contest now looks like a draw. Cook won't be making any aggressive declarations on this surface and will be looking for a lead of 350 or so. Great fightback from the captain and Hales though, always a big pressure situation when you're facing a 3 figure deficit but they made it look truly easy.

[TightEnd]

Alex Hales refunded a fan after only 81 overs were bowled on Day 3 at Edgbaston Full story: http://bbc.in/2aVN7Vf

[TightEnd]

So sky did this



i would need Kane Williamson in though

last night

Kane Williamson becomes youngest to score a century against every other Test nation

Click to see full-size image.

Williamson scores 100s against all teams - In 91 innings - Age of 25 years, 364 days - 2012 days from debut - In 14 100s

Click to see full-size image.

[rinswun]

That world XI is a joke. Can't have a guy in as a keeper who doesn't keep. Williamson and Steyn obvious omissions. Stokes potentially not even the best all rounder in the England team, let alone the world.

[HutchGF]

Had a fantastic day at Edgbaston on Friday. Was in the 'rowdy' stand that was doing all the singing. Was a really great atmosphere all day and plenty of action in the *cough* 81 overs played. Went with my brother who really isn't a huge cricket fan but comes to the odd T20 etc and I was a little worried that the pace of the game might not be quick enough for him but he really enjoyed it as well.

[horseplayer]

We are still a very very good side

Superb perfomance

[WotRTheChances]

That world XI is a joke. Can't have a guy in as a keeper who doesn't keep. Williamson and Steyn obvious omissions. Stokes potentially not even the best all rounder in the England team, let alone the world.

I think it's almost exactly the same XI i'd pick. Openers are pretty clear-cut. Batsmen you have to pick 3 from Smith, Root, Williamson, Kohli, Amla. I think for tests i'd pick the first 3 and leave out Virat, alternatively leave out Smith. Big fan of both Root and Williamson.

As for the keeper there aren't really any stand-out 'pure' keepers, but AB has done the job quite a lot and he has to be in the side anyway, so i'm happy with that.

Can't think of many better all-rounders than Stokes in world cricket at the moment, Mitch Marsh? Shakib? Woakes? There are very few genuine all-rounders out there at the moment.

Ashwin has to be in there as the #1 ranked bowler in tests, Starc is the best seamer in the world imo, does a lot with the new ball at pace and knocks over tails for fun. Anderson's skills with a moving ball are unparralelled, but you have to balance that with the issues he comes across playing in the sub-continent. Equally i'm not sure Yasir Shah is a real world-beater outside of the UAE, maybe i'd go with Anderson and Boult/Broad/Steyn, but I feel like Steyn is on the way down from his peak.

Cook
Warner
Root
Williamson
Smith
de Villiers
Stokes
Ashwin
Broad
Starc
Anderson

(probable slight England bias)

[TightEnd]

liked this one from yesterday

Click to see full-size image.

[horseplayer]

https://t.co/1LY7IjhA4P

[TightEnd]

[TightEnd]

spin trouble

Click to see full-size image.

[HutchGF]

Surely we have to rethink Ballance and Vince. Entirely unconvincing all Summer.

I'm open to suggestions on England's new middle order?

[rinswun]

Surely we have to rethink Ballance and Vince. Entirely unconvincing all Summer.

I'm open to suggestions on England's new middle order?

Hales, Vince and Balance all out for the winter.

[HutchGF]

Surely we have to rethink Ballance and Vince. Entirely unconvincing all Summer.

I'm open to suggestions on England's new middle order?

Hales, Vince and Balance all out for the winter.

I think they might persist with Hales, but definitely agree on Vince and Ballance. Who do you think is likely to replace them? The temptation must be there to bring back Jos Buttler and play Bairstow as a batsman higher up the order. I'm a bit out of touch with County Cricket at the moment, are there any promising English middle order batsmen shining?