Opinion Cricket thread

[Twinkletoes]

I've enjoyed the series so far, though mostly for the Aussie bowling, you make a lot of good points. Can't agree with Stokes being a comparative loss to Smith. Smith has averaged 65 runs in the past two years. Stokes 37. It would be like us missing Khawaja IMO.

If anything they've missed Stokes' bowling but you're right, his batting stats are nothing to write home about. He does offer the counter punch (pun intended) their brittle middle order has lacked, but that's all on the batting front.

 

[Heaps of fun]

If anything they've missed Stokes' bowling but you're right, his batting stats are nothing to write home about. He does offer the counter punch (pun intended) their brittle middle order has lacked, but that's all on the batting front.

The only player on the English team that comes close to Smith is Root. If you're talking about an all-rounder that is a talisman of the team maybe England without Stokes would be us without Starc.

 

[Twinkletoes]

The only player on the English team that comes close to Smith is Root. If you're talking about an all-rounder that is a talisman of the team maybe England without Stokes would be us without Starc.

On current batting form I'd say Cummins would probably be a better comparison.

 

[roo blitz]

I've enjoyed the series so far, though mostly for the Aussie bowling, you make a lot of good points. Can't agree with Stokes being a comparative loss to Smith. Smith has averaged 65 runs in the past two years. Stokes 37. It would be like us missing Khawaja IMO.

Stokes is a big game player and like Botham or Flintoff it was not the averages that really matters. Stokes is capable of smashing 254 like he did against South Africa in Gilchrist style or taking 6 wickets for very little when the ball is swinging like it did in Adelaide under light in Aussie 2nd innings. Also his catching is brilliant. Personally I think he is much better than Flintoff and will be up there with Botham if all goes well before he retires.

 

[roo blitz]

Stokes also gives the poms a real depth in their batting allowing Ali to bat at 8 and Woakes who is no mug with the bat at 9. Without him the whole team is thrown out of wack. All rounders really shape the make up of a team allowing an extra bowler. That's why Aussies are keen to get Mitch Marsh back as a allrounder to help support 4 front line bowlers. On his day Stokes turns matches like Gilchrist and his batting is getting better and better. He used to struggle against spin but is so much better playing it now. A quick 100 in Brisbane when poms were 4-250 in first innings or in 2nd innings in Adelaide and series could have been turns on its head. Remember his 100 against Mitch Johnson in Perth in his 2nd test. That takes ability. He is a match winner. Match winners are not as consistant as others and averages may be less but they win you a lot more matches. Poms walk 10 feet taller when he is in the team.

 

[roo blitz]

The only player on the English team that comes close to Smith is Root. If you're talking about an all-rounder that is a talisman of the team maybe England without Stokes would be us without Starc.

Roots problem is he doesn't convert 50s into 100s otherwise he would be right up there with Smith

 

[Rad Roo]

Both teams r decent teams. At home hard to beat, on the road.....capitulate at the first sight of trouble. There is no world beating team today. Look at india with all their glitz and pomp. They go south africa on green surface with extreme bounce, wont end well.

 

[Mav]

Bloody hell!

Sun investigation smashes bookies’ multi-million pound plot to rig third Ashes test

http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport...t/news-story/b9f9b563b4843d7fd0c8c86e90dace35

 

[DarkPhoenix]

Bloody hell!

Sun investigation smashes bookies’ multi-million pound plot to rig third Ashes test

http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport...t/news-story/b9f9b563b4843d7fd0c8c86e90dace35

Absolutely massive.

Seems to instigate certain Aussie players are in on it.

Even with match fixing England have lost 2 in a row!

 

[Kanga Glory]

that's the end of Cook's test career

 

[DarkPhoenix]

Some absolutely ripping bouncers today

 

[Mav]

Absolutely massive.

Seems to instigate certain Aussie players are in on it.

Even with match fixing England have lost 2 in a row!

Start of this over Bairstow singles for a drink...a couple of overs after tea!!! Then couple of balls later Hazlewood bowls a no ball!!!!!! They’re all in on it!!

 

[SpiderBurton22]

Watching the first instalment of Forged in Fire. Been a great watch for old cricket tragics. How much of a legend is Thommo? Had me pissing myself.

 

[DarkPhoenix]

Where was this bowling 150 runs ago?

 

[DarkPhoenix]

https://www.foxsports.com.au/cricke...e/news-story/438ec0241842abcede544c98b04ff243

Ah yes, but it's the Aussies sledges that are the issue right?

 

[Heaps of fun]

Kanga Marsh creaming them today.

 

[DaveyBoy123]

Some amazing stats & records concerning Steve Smith's last 4 years in this article:

http://www.espncricinfo.com/story/_/id/21780489/steven-smith-glorious-four-year-run

 

[DarkPhoenix]

Incredible batting by Smith.

150 coming up and hitting 3 runs off every 4 balls, just an incredible rate.

 

[koshari]

Ian chappel after smiths last 4 when he finds the gap. "He uses his hands to manouver the bat" ...who would have thaught?

 

[DaveyBoy123]

It's rare that a team that is still 50 odd runs behind (and in exactly the same position as their opposition was) play as if they're 200 runs ahead! That's what is happening right now.

 

[DarkPhoenix]

AHAHAHAHA

They lost their second review on a no ball.

Looked to be going down leg too

Edit: Apparently they may keep the review, still funny, they reviewed to give us a run.

 

[Hojuman]

Both batting beautifully. 400 up. 500 not far away. Ashes in our keeping by Monday evening. Poms looking crushed.

 

[DaveyBoy123]

Both batting beautifully. 400 up. 500 not far away. Ashes in our keeping by Monday evening. Poms looking crushed.

The forecast for days 4 & 5 ain't great, from memory... So a draw is still a huge possibility here if this pitch continues to be a road.

 

[Hojuman]

The forecast for days 4 & 5 ain't great, from memory... So a draw is still a huge possibility here if this pitch continues to be a road.

Ah. Wasn't aware of the weather forecast D.B. Not flash ?

 

[DaveyBoy123]

Ah. Wasn't aware of the weather forecast D.B. Not flash ?

Sunday: 90% chance of rain... 4-10 mms
Monday: Ditto

Although, the rain looks mainly forecast for later Sunday into Monday morning. So maybe they still get 4 sessions out of 6.