The Cricket Thread

[hodge]

Gower said if weather doesn't interrupt then this series will almost definitely break the record for a 5 match series

 

[lordofthepies]

I think India v Australia in 2013 has the record at the moment with 3,274 runs. It was technically a 7 match series, but 2 were washed out completely so only had 5 matches. I don't know how many runs have been scored so far, but it's going to be a close thing.

 

[hodge]

2676 so potential is there

 

[Matt_]

http://www.espncricinfo.com/the-ashes-2015/content/story/889003.html

Great to see Mark Footitt selected in the England pre Ashes training squad today.

 

[Ciderhead]

From what I've heard it's more because they want to practise against a left-armer than him being genuinely close to a starting berth but a good opportunity for him to show what he's got nonetheless.

 

[Super_horns]

Early morning rain tomorrow at CLS but should be ok after that for the decider:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/2650628

 

[Super_horns]

Buttler out injured so Bairstow comes in...

One off change for the latter to impress...

 

[silvergull]

Delayed start. Glad we're not risking Buttler. Split webbing is painful and the ashes are around the corner.
should swing early on (or as much as the kookaburra can swing...) so great toss to win. Willey to strike early

 

[silvergull]

Nothing in it for the bowlers. The kookoburra is, as ever, a pathetic ball. Pitch is slow which may make timings a run chase tough. Need to hope Rashid finds some turn

 

[JJH]

Williamson gone. Big wicket that - need to get rid of Taylor fairly quickly as well.

 

[DarkSithLord]

Williamson gone for 50. 102-2 after 20.

 

[silvergull]

Beautiful bowling from Rashid. Would love for him to be involved in the ashes. Far more threatening that Ali. I appreciate he bowls too many bad balls, but his wicket taking could be vital vs the Aussie tail.

 

[JJH]

Rashid gets Santner coming down the wicket and bamboozles him with the leg spin.

Another big wicket, and a well deserved wicket for him, he's bowled very well this innings.

 

[Pilgrim Meister]

Another wicket gone. NZ down to 5 now

 

[Pilgrim Meister]

NZ now 6 down. Looking good for England so far

 

[Pilgrim Meister]

NZ 219-7

 

[silvergull]

Ronchi now goes. It means two things. We won't equal the Aussie record of 5 300+ scores. It also means a relatively small chase, which I absolutely hate.

 

[DarkSithLord]

Poor final over from Finn.

 

[JJH]

Bit of a blow that in the final over, very respectable score that in the end from NZ. Bowled pretty well generally, and we have a great chance to round off the series with a victory here.

 

[Modernist]

When will we learn to bowl yorkers?

Still should win but we don't half make it hard for ourselves with the lack of focus at key moments.

 

[Skinner]

Cricket shouldn't be played up north

 

[Modernist]

Cricket shouldn't be played up north

That's what I keep saying.

 

[Super_horns]

Rain going to be the winner?

Shame but maybe a draw is fair.

 

[silvergull]

Duckworth lewis strikes again. Idiotic and unfair target. From 5.6 rr to well over 7?! Chasing 200ish in 26 overs when New Zealand only got 80 more in the full 50

 

[Saddlerrad]

Utter bullshit the D/L method. Complete and utter bullshit. How is that even fair? Why are England penalised because it rained?

 

[RavenBish]

Not a fan of Duckworth Lewis but 192 off 26 doesn't seem to bad on the face of it if you assume NZ's score was slightly above par for the conditions.

You'd fancy is to chase it down given the reduced overs, the form they're in and how deep in the order we bat too but...this is England

 

[silvergull]

Pro rota, 369 to win! Great bowking performance made redundant by an archaic system

 

[Skinner]

Nah man, rain has been at fault for two of our losses in this series now

 

[RavenBish]

That is revolting Eoin

 

[JJH]

Fuck right off.

This will be the second game of this series that we've lost because of this fucking ridiculous method. 3 down for 20, Root and Morgan both gone, it's looking unlikely.

Fucking ridiculous, how have they worked out that we have to score on the upside of 7 an over, when they didn't go above 5 and a half for the whole of their innings???

Absolute joke.