England vs New Zealand | 2nd Test | Leeds | May 29-Jun 2, 2015

[Sherlock]

Well played NZ. Barring a rain dance, I can't see anything but a NZ victory here.

Good to see everyone's 2nd/3rd favourite team do well

 

[CricketAnalyst]

Umm, yes it is. Some balls are steepling and some are shooting along the deck. 339 has never been possible.

I just don't credit that fundamentals suddenly change so that tailenders can hit 86 off 9 overs one moment, and precisely the next moment, it's apparently impossible for a side to score 339.

You won't realize it for years, but you and [MENTION=132916]Junaids[/MENTION], are trapped in a mental model that is no longer valid. Or to be precise your mental model for evaluating cricket was over-specific to certain types of conditions such that you've assumed those conditions to be all that exists. It seems literally impossible for you guys to contemplate different tactics or strategic approaches.

 

[Amjid Javed]

Hope kiwis can wrap this game up and we get no more rain

 

[Robert]

I just don't credit that fundamentals suddenly change so that tailenders can hit 86 off 9 overs one moment, and precisely the next moment, it's apparently impossible for a side to score 339.

Well, it is not "Precisely the next moment" - it is a different day and some rain got on the pitch, and the weather conditions changed. Perhaps as an Indian citizen you are not aware of the changes to some English wickets over five days. We don't assume the conditions to be all that exists - but we have a very good idea of what is happening right here and right now, based on decades of watching cricket in England.

 

[Bilal7]

It's no different from 500 in the first innings against the same attack. Earlier pitch deterioration was a huge factor. It isn't anymore.

So please tell me why these professionals don't realize this? You're not out there, you haven't felt the pitch and you haven't faced a single delivery from Boult. It is obviously very hard, deterioration or not, which is why scoring 400+ in the fourth innings is near-impossible.

Ballance is in no sort of form at the moment. I expect the cries for KP will restart soon.

Surely not Ballance. That would be something you would expect from the wrist-slitting Pakistan fans, not the English. If anything, it should be Bell who should be sacked, he's a lot older and is over the hill now.

Big test for Buttler and Moeen here. If they can help Cook draw this test match, their places in the Ashes will be sealed.

 

[Junaids]

I just don't credit that fundamentals suddenly change so that tailenders can hit 86 off 9 overs one moment, and precisely the next moment, it's apparently impossible for a side to score 339.

You won't realize it for years, but you and [MENTION=132916]Junaids[/MENTION], are trapped in a mental model that is no longer valid. Or to be precise your mental model for evaluating cricket was over-specific to certain types of conditions such that you've assumed those conditions to be all that exists. It seems literally impossible for you guys to contemplate different tactics or strategic approaches.

Funnily enough, watching Brendon McCullum convert almost-certain victory into defeat in the first match has just added to my conviction that your sort of tactics at the higher level of Test cricket are a surefire way to do worse than you would with tried-and-tested tactics.

In life it's generally bad for any one of us to assume that we are smarter than everyone else. (Even though I am!)

People have been playing Test cricket for many years. And the reason why fourth innings chases remain as elusive as ever is because modern batsmen are better at playing nonsense shots like ramps and other garbage that belongs in a circus or a special needs school, but are actually inferior in terms of sound technique and are worse at avoiding dismissal by probing bowling.

So teams are still no more likely than before to secure a win by chasing an impossible target of 350 or more. But they are less likely to survive and draw the match.

Which means that fourth innings chases are no easier now than they used to be.

 

[CricketAnalyst]

So please tell me why these professionals don't realize this? You're not out there, you haven't felt the pitch and you haven't faced a single delivery from Boult. It is obviously very hard, deterioration or not, which is why scoring 400+ in the fourth innings is near-impossible.



Surely not Ballance. That would be something you would expect from the wrist-slitting Pakistan fans, not the English. If anything, it should be Bell who should be sacked, he's a lot older and is over the hill now.

Big test for Buttler and Moeen here. If they can help Cook draw this test match, their places in the Ashes will be sealed.

If you think professionals never get anything wrong, you're beyond help and you won't ever realize what groupthink is or how it works. It doesn't matter whether I faced Boult; the point is these are people who are perfectly capable of facing Boult. When NZ tailenders can hit bowlers all over the place 10 minutes before the 4th innings started, there is no gremlin that will suddenly make batting impossible.

It's just in the head; and YES, I am saying the professionals are stupid and wrong, and that I'm right. If you think pros are always right, there's no point continuing the discussion, and no reason for you to even provide an argument.

 

[Robert]

Hardly any spectators in the ground. That's disappointing. A combination of:

- manky weather
- no chance of an England win (Leeds fans know their stuff)
- Kiwis

 

[CricketAnalyst]

Funnily enough, watching Brendon McCullum convert almost-certain victory into defeat in the first match has just added to my conviction that your sort of tactics at the higher level of Test cricket are a surefire way to do worse than you would with tried-and-tested tactics.

In life it's generally bad for any one of us to assume that we are smarter than everyone else. (Even though I am!)

People have been playing Test cricket for many years. And the reason why fourth innings chases remain as elusive as ever is because modern batsmen are better at playing nonsense shots like ramps and other garbage that belongs in a circus or a special needs school, but are actually inferior in terms of sound technique and are worse at avoiding dismissal by probing bowling.

So teams are still no more likely than before to secure a win by chasing an impossible target of 350 or more. But they are less likely to survive and draw the match.

Which means that fourth innings chases are no easier now than they used to be.

The biggest problem here is that evidence is very difficult to come by. We'll have to wait for teams to start hitting for my hypothesis to be tested; the one time it happened this year, India threw away an easy win. Time will tell though. It's very telling that for all these stats, no captain is setting targets below 400 if the required run rate is below 4.

 

[Boxer]

2nd session starts...another 5 required.

 

[Junaids]

Ballance is in no sort of form at the moment. I expect the cries for KP will restart soon.

Gary Ballance has never achieved anything against a top attack. He has just filled his boots against no-hoper attacks like India, Sri Lanka and the West Indies.

And Ian Bell has 55 runs in his last 8 Test wickets.

The argument for Kevin Pietersen is a purely merit-based cricket argument - he offers more to the middle-order for the 5 Ashes Tests than the failing Ballance and/or Bell do.

And the argument against Kevin Pietersen is purely one of grown-ups being able to tolerate the presence of a person they dislike in the team.

It's a no-brainer really. But no brains will be precisely what will prevail, and four weeks from now [MENTION=132373]Convict[/MENTION] and [MENTION=8418]Random Aussie[/MENTION] will be laughing at Bell and Ballance getting out cheaply.

 

[Boxer]

Can Captain Cook produce a match saving innings.

 

[Bilal7]

If you think professionals never get anything wrong, you're beyond help and you won't ever realize what groupthink is or how it works. It doesn't matter whether I faced Boult; the point is these are people who are perfectly capable of facing Boult. When NZ tailenders can hit bowlers all over the place 10 minutes before the 4th innings started, there is no gremlin that will suddenly make batting impossible.

It's just in the head; and YES, I am saying the professionals are stupid and wrong, and that I'm right. If you think pros are always right, there's no point continuing the discussion, and no reason for you to even provide an argument.

No need to get cranky and throw out personal insults. Professionals don't always get things right but their opinions and decisions are obviously more respected because they are the ones out there doing whatever it is that we're discussing. When we look at the number of big fourth innings' targets that have been set and then realize that only a handful have been chased down in the long history of test cricket, it is quite clear that chasing in the fourth innings is very difficult.

It's just in the head

And this is somehow, something trivial? We have had surgeons causing death because they couldn't keep their hands stable due to pressure, Spec Ops who didn't defuse a bomb in time because they were nervous, pilots who couldn't land a plane properly due to pressure. Does this mean that their jobs were easy? You're talking as if another batting unit would have chased this total down but that is rubbish. Every human being feels pressure and even if you were a professional and playing for England right now, you would not have played the way you're talking about.

I am saying the professionals are stupid and wrong, and that I'm right.

I'm sorry but this is an idiotic comment and makes you come across as highly egotistical. No, the professionals are not stupid or wrong, they just have a better perspective of this entire situation. This can be backed up by historical results and isn't similar to criticizing a selection blunder or performances.

 

[Junaids]

Can Captain Cook produce a match saving innings.

I can't stand the man, between his Bambi-murdering hobbies and his contempt for England's supporters in blocking the return of our best batsman for nearly 50 years.

But he is playing absolutely beautifully at the moment. I didn't think he could still bat so well. I think he's a rubbish captain and a pretty disappointing human being (yes, I remember the stories of him skipping Australia as a youth having amassed vast numbers of parking tickets in Perth which he failed to pay) but he is pretty much the perfect opening batsman.

 

[CricketAnalyst]

No need to get cranky and throw out personal insults. Professionals don't always get things right but their opinions and decisions are obviously more respected because they are the ones out there doing whatever it is that we're discussing. When we look at the number of big fourth innings' targets that have been set and then realize that only a handful have been chased down in the long history of test cricket, it is quite clear that chasing in the fourth innings is very difficult.



And this is somehow, something trivial? We have had surgeons causing death because they couldn't keep their hands stable due to pressure, Spec Ops who didn't defuse a bomb in time because they were nervous, pilots who couldn't land a plane properly due to pressure. Does this mean that their jobs were easy? You're talking as if another batting unit would have chased this total down but that is rubbish. Every human being feels pressure and even if you were a professional and playing for England right now, you would not have played the way you're talking about.



I'm sorry but this is an idiotic comment and makes you come across as highly egotistical. No, the professionals are not stupid or wrong, they just have a better perspective of this entire situation. This can be backed up by historical results and isn't similar to criticizing a selection blunder or performances.

Sorry it wasn't intended as an insult at all. I'm not at all cranky at you; sorry if it came across that way.

It's in the head, is not trivial, but it's important to realize that the moment people change their mind results will also change.

It's not egotistical to say that you can be right when others are wrong; it's just open-minded to the possibility that Status Quo is wrong. Professionals as a community are wrong all the time. I can give you 60 examples of this, starting with things like doctors saying smoking cigars is good for your health. Professionals are right more often than not, but that's no reason to ignore evidence when someone says they are.

 

[Robert]

Can Captain Cook produce a match saving innings.

He can, but I don't expect the wickie and bowlers to hang around with him.

 

[MarkCooper]

I am so sad I may cry. Oh well.

 

[Bilal7]

Sorry it wasn't intended as an insult at all. I'm not at all cranky at you; sorry if it came across that way.

It's in the head, is not trivial, but it's important to realize that the moment people change their mind results will also change.

It's not egotistical to say that you can be right when others are wrong; it's just open-minded to the possibility that Status Quo is wrong. Professionals as a community are wrong all the time. I can give you 60 examples of this, starting with things like doctors saying smoking cigars is good for your health. Professionals are right more often than not, but that's no reason to ignore evidence when someone says they are.

Changing your mindset is easier said than done. Like I said, if it was that easy, all these cricketers who have backroom staff that includes psychologists would have sorted out their problems. That is not the case. Crumbling under the pressure of the fourth innings is indeed a big part of why it is so tough to chase in that innings, that isn't something you can just erase.

Claiming that you are right when the entire cricketing community thinks else-wise and the evidence that you talk about, also confirms that the vast majority of professionals and fans are correct, does make you egotistical and slightly delusional.

What would you call me if I say that the earth is flat and that all the astronauts who have gone out in space are wrong, idiotic and stupid? So is everyone else who believes them? All that I have as proof is my limited perspective of the piece of ground that I am standing on.

 

[Boxer]

He can, but I don't expect the wickie and bowlers to hang around with him.

if Buttler can last until tea, we will have an interesting situation

 

[Boxer]

I am so sad I may cry. Oh well.

..hold back your tears a little longer

 

[CricketAnalyst]

Changing your mindset is easier said than done. Like I said, if it was that easy, all these cricketers who have backroom staff that includes psychologists would have sorted out their problems. That is not the case. Crumbling under the pressure of the fourth innings is indeed a big part of why it is so tough to chase in that innings, that isn't something you can just erase.

Claiming that you are right when the entire cricketing community thinks else-wise and the evidence that you talk about, also confirms that the vast majority of professionals and fans are correct, does make you egotistical and slightly delusional.

What would you call me if I say that the earth is flat and that all the astronauts who have gone out in space are wrong, idiotic and stupid? So is everyone else who believes them? All that I have as proof is my limited perspective of the piece of ground that I am standing on.

Galileo was also persecuted for saying the earth revolved around the sun.

Doctors used to say tobacco was good for your health.

Doctors also said women were clinically incapable of rational thought.

They also said, drinking Guinness during pregnancy was good for women.

Scientists also said there was no such thing as Global Warming.

Scientists said four-minute miles were not possible.

Experts said aeroplanes were impossible.

If you want I can literally give you a 100 more examples.

Will you say that everyone who disagreed with these people was egotistic and delusional?

Please do answer that last question

 

[honeybadger]

9000 Test runs for Cook

 

[Junaids]

So [MENTION=135134]CricketAnalyst[/MENTION],
You are saying that something which hasn't happened will be possible in the future. Like running a 1 minute mile or humans having three heads.

Doesn't that make you CricketFantasist, rather than CricketAnalyst?

 

[MarkCooper]

Test match defeats hurt for a long while. ODI's and T20 defeats fade within hours. Says something about the appeal of Tests.

 

[honeybadger]

England will grit it out. Craig is not good enough to keep probing over longer spells.

 

[Bilal7]

Galileo was also persecuted for saying the earth revolved around the sun.

Doctors used to say tobacco was good for your health.

Doctors also said women were clinically incapable of rational thought.

They also said, drinking Guinness during pregnancy was good for women.

Scientists also said there was no such thing as Global Warming.

Scientists said four-minute miles were not possible.

Experts said aeroplanes were impossible.

If you want I can literally give you a 100 more examples.

Will you say that everyone who disagreed with these people was egotistic and delusional?

Please do answer that last question

No, people like Galileo had genuine arguments and were experts in the field themselves. They were also able to have discussions without saying that people who disagreed with them were "beyond help".

Please tell me about the level of cricket that you have played, the number of cricketers that you have interviewed first-hand, how many matches you have umpired in or anything else that makes your opinion more valid than the facts and the opinions of experts who have actually done all the above.

I have answered you question, won't you offer me the same courtesy?

What would you call me if I say that the earth is flat and that all the astronauts who have gone out in space are wrong, idiotic and stupid?

 

[Junaids]

Looks plumb.

We're in trouble now.

 

[honeybadger]

Its a wrap.

 

[f.b.m]

Very inconsiderate of Cook to get out before I fall asleep.

 

[Bilal7]

Awww.... Cookie is gone. Umpire's call is rough.

Come on Moeen Ali, you've been here before.

 

[Boxer]

I can't stand the man, between his Bambi-murdering hobbies and his contempt for England's supporters in blocking the return of our best batsman for nearly 50 years.

But he is playing absolutely beautifully at the moment. I didn't think he could still bat so well. I think he's a rubbish captain and a pretty disappointing human being (yes, I remember the stories of him skipping Australia as a youth having amassed vast numbers of parking tickets in Perth which he failed to pay) but he is pretty much the perfect opening batsman.

......... you cursed him, he was looking good to save this match

 

[Markhor]

What a rubbish review, that was plumb !

 

[Junaids]

Respect to Alastair Cook - he has lasted 739 balls in 4 innings and averaged 77.25.

You cannot ask for more from a Test batsman.

The perfect opening batsman. Just a shame that the dumb-headed insistence on not picking the best middle-order batsman is compromising the team's chance of building on that.

 

[honeybadger]

Williamson has this uncanny ability to provide breakthroughs.

 

[Markhor]

Hardly any spectators in the ground. That's disappointing. A combination of:

- manky weather
- no chance of an England win (Leeds fans know their stuff)
- Kiwis

30mph winds outside Robert, I may love my cricket but I ain't stepping out in this climate !

 

[JaDed]

What a rubbish review, that was plumb !

Nope it was outside the line if umpire had given not out it would had probably stayed not out incase of review.

 

[Junaids]

I still haven't given up on the rain saving us.

 

[Bilal7]

You would probably say to each other that "The tail-ender is in" when Ali walks in, in order to get into his head.

 

[fasihulhaq94]

McCullum layeth thy Smackdown

 

[Bilal7]

It would be sad if the Kiwi aggression was smothered by the English defense. However, Pakistan need England to win both their upcoming series so they grant them more points when another whitewash ensues, in the desert.

 

[CricketAnalyst]

No, people like Galileo had genuine arguments and were experts in the field themselves. They were also able to have discussions without saying that people who disagreed with them were "beyond help".

Please tell me about the level of cricket that you have played, the number of cricketers that you have interviewed first-hand, how many matches you have umpired in or anything else that makes your opinion more valid than the facts and the opinions of experts who have actually done all the above.

I have answered you question, won't you offer me the same courtesy?

I am a cricket analyst myself. Analysis of the game does not require me to have played professionally, and I'm not going to admit that it does until you give some reasoning for that. I've watched almost every game of cricket played at a competitive professional level that's been shown on TV for the last couple of years, I've tracked player performances and maintained a mountain of data. Just because I'm not a pro cricketer does not make my analysis less valid.

Opinions are to be tested by the validity of the predictions flowing from them. Much more than anyone else here, I am willing to provide actual predictions and compare them with experts or bookmakers projections; I already know for a quantifiable fact tha my assessments are better than those of many so-called experts.

What you are doing is an appeal to authority.

This is what the Wiki Page on this says:

Argument from authority, also authoritative argument and appeal to authority, is a common form of argument which leads to a logical fallacy when used in argumentative reasoning.[1]

In informal reasoning, the appeal to authority is a form of argument attempting to establish a statistical syllogism.[2] The appeal to authority relies on an argument of the form:[3]

A is an authority on a particular topic
A says something about that topic
A is probably correct
Fallacious examples of using the appeal include any appeal to authority used in the context of logical reasoning, and appealing to the position of an authority or authorities to dismiss evidence,[2][4][5][6] as authorities can come to the wrong judgments through error, bias, dishonesty, or falling prey to groupthink. Thus, the appeal to authority is not a generally reliable argument for establishing facts

 

[Lurker_Ind]

Terrible from Moeen Ali. Worst way to get out.

 

[ssuhaide]

Nope it was outside the line if umpire had given not out it would had probably stayed not out incase of review.

To be honest during normal speed I thought it was plumb. As did all the commentators in the Sky TV studios. Fair enough.

Moeen Ali out. Terrible match for him. Real questions on whether he should be in the test side come the Ashes.

 

[Lurker_Ind]

NZ have been the better side in this entire Test series. England are lucky to have it 1-1.

 

[Boxer]

NZ have been the better side in this entire Test series. England are lucky to have it 1-1.

yes NZ has been more competitive then Indians

 

[Cricketrenew]

Umpire Ravi giving LBW's now look at Cooks decision and the two he gave not for Moeen in NZ first innings.
Very inconsistent decisions.

Never mind its about to rain very soon.

 

[Bilal7]

I am a cricket analyst myself. Analysis of the game does not require me to have played professionally, and I'm not going to admit that it does until you give some reasoning for that. I've watched almost every game of cricket played at a competitive professional level that's been shown on TV for the last couple of years, I've tracked player performances and maintained a mountain of data. Just because I'm not a pro cricketer does not make my analysis less valid.

Opinions are to be tested by the validity of the predictions flowing from them. Much more than anyone else here, I am willing to provide actual predictions and compare them with experts or bookmakers projections; I already know for a quantifiable fact tha my assessments are better than those of many so-called experts.

What you are doing is an appeal to authority.

This is what the Wiki Page on this says:

Argument from authority, also authoritative argument and appeal to authority, is a common form of argument which leads to a logical fallacy when used in argumentative reasoning.[1]

In informal reasoning, the appeal to authority is a form of argument attempting to establish a statistical syllogism.[2] The appeal to authority relies on an argument of the form:[3]

A is an authority on a particular topic
A says something about that topic
A is probably correct
Fallacious examples of using the appeal include any appeal to authority used in the context of logical reasoning, and appealing to the position of an authority or authorities to dismiss evidence,[2][4][5][6] as authorities can come to the wrong judgments through error, bias, dishonesty, or falling prey to groupthink. Thus, the appeal to authority is not a generally reliable argument for establishing facts

You're just stroking you ego here, nothing more. You are not better than those experts because if you were, you would on Sky doing analyzing why Moeen Ali left that delivery and not sitting at home. Or you would be writing articles for cricinfo if TV isn't your thing.

I have no more to say to you.

 

[Markhor]

To be honest during normal speed I thought it was plumb. As did all the commentators in the Sky TV studios. Fair enough.

Moeen Ali out. Terrible match for him. Real questions on whether he should be in the test side come the Ashes.

Was about to say the same, in real time he looked out.

Anyway England 7 down now - only a matter of time now...

 

[Bilal7]

Really disappointing from Moeen Ali. That ball did move in quite a bit but come on, that was too close. If he's dropped for the Ashes series, I wouldn't be surprised at this point BUT I still think that he's the best spin option that England currently have and that he will improve once he's treated like a quality player by his captain.

He shouldn't be picked for the ODI series against New Zealand and should instead join Saeed Ajmal at Worcestershire and get some bowling rhythm going.

 

[leatherface58]

Duplicate Amla bhai exposed brutally in this series. What the hell was that?

 

[Neferpitou]

New Zealand paying for their over-aggressiveness again. Sorry but 41 of 28 in Test match context is a rubbish innings for a number 5 when you are only starting to recover from a very poor start, that too as captain.

You will always struggle in a Test match if you play 72 overs only in your first innings, even if you score 350 which is not a bad total by any means, but by batting for such a short time period, you allow the other team ample time.

Unless they collapse in spectacular fashion from here on, England are well ahead in this game and the only too possible outcomes are either an England win or a draw. England are too seasoned in Test cricket to allow New Zealand back in the game after domination for 4 days, like New Zealand did at Lord's.

England have schooled New Zealand this series in how proper Test cricket is played, and the assessment that McCullum is a poor Test captain definitely has merit.

Meanwhile Mamoon is nowhere to be seen after his grand predictions.

 

[Junaids]

Buttler may well have broken a finger there. Five weeks before The Ashes.

 

[Bilal7]

Except Cook and Ballance, every English batsman has gifted their wicket to the bowlers.

 

[Boxer]

Duplicate Amla bhai exposed brutally in this series. What the hell was that?

ha ha ha
you make it sound like selfie bhai's obsession

 

[Cricketrenew]

To be honest during normal speed I thought it was plumb. As did all the commentators in the Sky TV studios. Fair enough.

Moeen Ali out. Terrible match for him. Real questions on whether he should be in the test side come the Ashes.

I think he will be dropped, and really I am big fan but his bowling hasn't improved as much as I was hoping.
This match he hasn't been very lucky about 3 catches dropped of his bowling two out decisions the #
umpire decided were not out!

I would still drop him..........as who ever is the spin bowler will get wacked, Moeen is the only real option though.

 

[Robert]

There is now spin, variable bounce and seam movement. Yikes. Silly Chef for not batting first.

Both skippers have inserted the other side, and both have lost (probably).

Win the toss. Bat. Simple as.

 

[CricketAnalyst]

You're just stroking you ego here, nothing more. You are not better than those experts because if you were, you would on Sky doing analyzing why Moeen Ali left that delivery and not sitting at home. Or you would be writing articles for cricinfo if TV isn't your thing.

I have no more to say to you.

No, I'm not sitting on Sky because to do so you have to jump through a million hoops and spend a long time building a reputation and ticking boxes. I don't care about that. In my line of work, accuracy is all that matters and its of no consequence whether anyone agrees or not. Markets will do what they will irrespective of what anyone has to say about the topic.

I deliberately avoid positions like Sky commentator where you are to be judged on how much you adhere to consensus rather than how right you are. Finally, I am not an expert on why Mooen Ali left that delivery. My thing is analyzing strategy, tactics and patterns; not bio-mechanics. I am the first to admit that it when it comes to bio-mechancial stuff like how to hit or throw a ball, I'm not even close to any of the commentators. When it comes to cricket analysis though, that's the least important thing; that's how modern sport is; Mourinho doesn't tell his players how to kick a ball.

 

[Lurker_Ind]

NZ should pepper Broad with bouncers. He is extremely poor player of short pitched stuff.

 

[sensible-indian-fan]

Really disappointing from Moeen Ali. That ball did move in quite a bit but come on, that was too close. If he's dropped for the Ashes series, I wouldn't be surprised at this point BUT I still think that he's the best spin option that England currently have and that he will improve once he's treated like a quality player by his captain.

He shouldn't be picked for the ODI series against New Zealand and should instead join Saeed Ajmal at Worcestershire and get some bowling rhythm going.

Against India, there was life in his bowling.

Here there is no life.

Did he come from a minor injury or so?

 

[CricketAnalyst]

You're just stroking you ego here, nothing more. You are not better than those experts because if you were, you would on Sky doing analyzing why Moeen Ali left that delivery and not sitting at home. Or you would be writing articles for cricinfo if TV isn't your thing.

I have no more to say to you.

Also, don't be so sure I haven't written Cricinfo articles.

 

[Boxer]

There is now spin, variable bounce and seam movement. Yikes. Silly Chef for not batting first.

Both skippers have inserted the other side, and both have lost (probably).

Win the toss. Bat. Simple as.

Chef did the right thing, sad clouderson couldn't pick up more after the clouds disappeared.

 

[Markhor]

BUT I still think that he's the best spin option that England currently have and that he will improve once he's treated like a quality player by his captain.

What about Adil Rashid ? He was in the West Indies squad but had a poor tour match and then was sidelined completely. Took 46 wickets at an average of 26 last county season.

I think England are playing one too many all-rounder. They should make a decision - Stokes or Moeen. Australia don't play spin that well anyway so England would be better served picking a specialist spinner so either Adil Rashid or Simon Kerrigan who whilst had a horrible debut has come back well in county cricket.

 

[honeybadger]

Except Cook and Ballance, every English batsman has gifted their wicket to the bowlers.

I don't know, man. Even Ballance gifted it.

 

[sensible-indian-fan]

Very inconsiderate of Cook to get out before I fall asleep.

)

Bro you should post more often here.

 

[Bilal7]

Against India, there was life in his bowling.

Here there is no life.

Did he come from a minor injury or so?

He was injured and missed England's last game of the WC and the first test against West Indies. He was recalled prematurely and had little to no exposure to test cricket before playing that test match against the Windies. His spin bowling isn't the biggest problem because he will get better control once he finds his rhythm but there is no such excuse available for his batting.

I'm a fan of him so I hope he gets back in form soon enough.

 

[Lurker_Ind]

Against India, there was life in his bowling.

Here there is no life.

Did he come from a minor injury or so?

Moeen Ali was turning the ball considerably at speed against India. Something Panesar did successfully too. Indians tried to be aggressive against him and he fooled a lot of batsmen with his turn.

Yeah, for some reason, Ali is not able to get the turn at all. His batting also looks very suspicious against fast bowlers.

 

[sensible-indian-fan]

Moeen Ali was turning the ball considerably at speed against India. Something Panesar did successfully too. Indians tried to be aggressive against him and he fooled a lot of batsmen with his turn.

Yeah, for some reason, Ali is not able to get the turn at all. His batting also looks very suspicious against fast bowlers.

Moeen was good there but the way we played him was an exhibition of how not to bat.

We even made Jordan look like a legend in that series.

We simply gave up. The last Test innings of that tour starting from Gambhir run out was so embarrassing.

I wish I can forget that humiliation.

 

[Cricketrenew]

I think England should go in with two spinners. Shock and Awe the Aussies.

Cook
Moeen
J Taylor
Bell/KP if only
Root
Stokes
Buttler
Rashid
Broad/Willey
Wood
Anderson

 

[Bilal7]

What about Adil Rashid ? He was in the West Indies squad but had a poor tour match and then was sidelined completely. Took 46 wickets at an average of 26 last county season.

I think England are playing one too many all-rounder. They should make a decision - Stokes or Moeen. Australia don't play spin that well anyway so England would be better served picking a specialist spinner so either Adil Rashid or Simon Kerrigan who whilst had a horrible debut has come back well in county cricket.

I would never give a leg-spinner his debut against Australia, in an Ashes test match. George Dobell wrote a good piece recently and explained that Adil throws down a four-ball every over and is generally, expensive. It wouldn't be a bad call to give him a go and I can see the change happening but I'd keep my expectations low.

I don't know, man. Even Ballance gifted it.

That was a nice delivery. Full and swinging in.

 

[Bilal7]

I think England should go in with two spinners. Shock and Awe the Aussies.

Cook
Moeen
J Taylor
Bell/KP if only
Root
Stokes
Buttler
Rashid
Broad/Willey
Wood
Anderson

Why would you drop Lyth? He's been good. Ali should be batting higher when he's found his form and a space become available. Right now, he can't.

 

[Cricketrenew]

Why would you drop Lyth? He's been good. Ali should be batting higher when he's found his form and a space become available. Right now, he can't.

Lyth has had a ok match but against Aussies he won't do much like Balance.
Unfair on him but too win hard decisions need to be made.
Moeen is not a number eight he needs to play the new ball and open.

 

[Cricketrenew]

Why would you drop Lyth? He's been good. Ali should be batting higher when he's found his form and a space become available. Right now, he can't.

Also don't forget when Cook and Lyth first innings the sun was shining and had best conditions
but still they scored sooooo slow the only made 160....whilst NZ had scored 300ish in the same time.

 

[Neferpitou]

yes@@@@@@@@!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

 

[Robert]

Moeen is not a number eight he needs to play the new ball and open.

Not in tests. I'm not convinced that he is a test player with bat or ball. Starting to think of him as a bitsa....

 

[Markhor]

Guys you cannot understate the meltdown if/when England lose here.

There will be FUME. A generally anti-Cook media will have a field day here and Cook will certainly have his head called for.

 

[Boxer]

 

[Statsman]

Whippy's 230 A/o prediction close to fruition.

 

[Cricketrenew]

Not in tests. I'm not convinced that he is a test player with bat or ball. Starting to think of him as a bitsa....

I think his bowling is not good as it should be now but his batting is good and proactive. He needs to open or not play.
In this test his bowling figures would be a lot better if catches were caught or the LBW's went in his favour.

I would drop him if he doesn't open. I can't see any other good spinners though.

 

[Boxer]

Buttler doing a MacCullum

 

[Markhor]

It begins

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">And forgive me if I don't join in all the Cook run milestone eulogies - he banned the one guy who could beat him!</p>— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) <a href="https://twitter.com/piersmorgan/status/605731479952326658">June 2, 2015</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

And that's tea.