Cricket

collapse before tea and india can have this wrapped up by end of play no probs

I think the weather forecasts would put this down as a draw, but if they somehow get a lead of 240 odd then I don't think it'll be particularly easy...

Indeed, business as usual,
except Root might be considered 'set' and expected to get a century rather than a good fifty.

Siraj isn't half gobby

Roooooooot

Amazing the amount of shit he gets considering he's one of our greatest ever batsmen

And effectively a one-man top order...

Alex Hales boxed twice in two balls (pun not intended) last night. I was crying.

https://twitter.com/TheCricketerMag/status/1424481173682671616

I played yesterday. third over, the skip moved me to midwicket and three balls later the batsman smacked one straight at me, which i shelled. balls. i was first change at the other end. second ball i bowled was slapped straight down my throat at speed, which i also shelled, and in process went over on my ankle. fuck right off. i have two dropped catched in about four balls and a massive blue cankle for my troubles.

cricket is shit.

Amazing how once you've shelled one, it follows you round. That bloody little red thing knows... it knows!

i am normally pretty cool with bowling shit or batting like a fanny, but dropping catches really pisses me off. i was celebrating the first one before it even hit my hands. the second one was unlucky.

Straya really can’t play spin, can they?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/58169608

(I daren't utter this out loud...)

i've only been following the scores and not the play. the results don't look great! the pitches must be slow as fuck...

That's about the size of it, yes. I don't think they are even televising it in Aus. I just caught the result and some highlights on the net.

What a mess - there's a significant element of bad luck here, to be missing Stokes, Woakes, Archer and Stone all at one time for the variety of reasons they are off is very unfortunate, to add Broad and possibly Anderson to that is just brutal. If Jimmy can pull through (and play a full part) then Anderson, Robinson, Curran, Wood and Moeen is a fine attack. I like Mahmood as well, and if he comes in for Anderson that's not a disaster but it is a seriously weakened line-up and you'd not fancy our chances unless one of them really catches fire and takes a cheap-ish 5fer in the first innings to get us into the game. Hameed and Pope need to come in. Crawley, Sibley and Lawrence look shot - for now, I think at least 1 of them will end up having a long career. My team would be: Hameed, Burns, Bairstow, Root, Pope, Butler, Ali, Curran, Robinson, Mahmood, Wood. Swap Mahmood for Anderson, but don't take any risks if thee injury could be aggravated.

Oh - I'd be playing Malan instead of Bairstow if I could, but he's not in the squad so trying to play with what the selectors have made available...

I agree on Malan for Bairstow or any other of the struggling middle order.

I think Overton deserves a shot, he had average 13 a wicket in the county championship over the last 2 seasons whilst also getting 30 with the bat, so not really sure what else he can do to earn a shot. He has added a bit more pace since he last played for England too.

Overton

Yes! Catches better than this shower too.

True. Genuine all rounder in the slips.

If he’s not going to play, then could do with him back at Somerset.

Somerset players doing pretty well in the silly hundred thing too.

Lammonby played well last night, Banton currently smashing it and Smeed has been a revelation. Could be out too 3 for the next 10 years…!

India's game to lose, really. Ah.

Perhaps the lowered expectations will help?

Trying to be optimistic...

Trying to be optimistic...

Hameed at 3. Anderson starts. That should help?

Hameeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeed

Yes. With humid conditions and some recent rain, could be a decent day for bowlers.