Cricket fred

[Banquo]

I wonder if Bairstow had in mind at this point of an innings (a in wickets down) we'd normally be somewhat closer to 80 overs and getting the reviews back. It was a very quick decision to review based on not a lot, he might even have just panicked

he's not big on logic behind the stumps either. Its good to have drive and be voluble as a keeper, but prone to the Amygdala hijack or summat

[Banquo]

a lead of more than 20 looks dubious now. Shouldn't really criticise Stokes. But..

[Banquo]

a lead of more than 20 looks dubious now. Shouldn't really criticise Stokes. But..

gawd....be a nice time for Broad to rediscover an appetite for batting. Moeen can be a tad frustrating, but consistent in the way he plays I spose.

[Banquo]

at least Broad has finally contributed...good lad. 50 plus lead is good from where we are an hour ago

[Banquo]

Broad will be mightily hacked off.....7th dropped chance this series. Stokes surprisingly.

[Banquo]

Broad so unlucky

[Banquo]

blimey a worse review than YJB can normally manage

[Banquo]

good heart from windies, poor reviews and loss of temper from an excited Jimmy

[Digby]

good heart from windies, poor reviews and loss of temper from an excited Jimmy

Was that the panto you're running on the wicket Jimmy, oh no I'm not, oh yes you were...

(if anyone hasn't seen it he was clearly running onto the wicket where they're not allowed so the umpire was quite right)

[Banquo]

good heart from windies, poor reviews and loss of temper from an excited Jimmy

Was that the panto you're running on the wicket Jimmy, oh no I'm not, oh yes you were...

(if anyone hasn't seen it he was clearly running onto the wicket where they're not allowed so the umpire was quite right)

yep, and he was still 'dissenting' at the end.

Weather looks good for today, so England need to take wickets early on to avoid a run chase of 200++

[Digby]

Jimmy was clearly in the wrong and could easily lose some of his match fee at the very least. Maybe the umpires will let him off knowing sometimes players lose their rag a little. Given he's in the news for 500 test wickets, and what an achievement that is, I don't know cricket will want to change that story but if he repeats that behaviour today I don't see they'd have a choice

[WaspInWales]

107 to win.

Amazingly, the match could still go either way.

[Banquo]

Rashid has become a seriously good one day bowler.

[Mellsblue]

Rashid has become a seriously good one day bowler.

He has. Hard work will always improve a player. He's Adil-igent trainer.

[Banquo]

Rashid has become a seriously good one day bowler.

He has. Hard work will always improve a player. He's Adil-igent trainer.

Mikey Brown will be in a spin over that, and kick you in the googlies

[Digby]

Well that's not very clever Mr Stokes.

[Banquo]

Well that's not very clever Mr Stokes.

....though released without charge.....but agreed, Looks like Mr Hales is in more bother

[Banquo]

dodgy looking ashes squad I have to say; Stoneman, Ballance, Vince, Malan all look at best average, and Ballances selection borders on nuts.

Not sure why you wouldn't take Buttler, and push Bairstow up to bolster the middle order, and don't get why Rashid isn't there tbh.

Oz aren't very strong either, but this squad won't worry them much.

[Stom]

dodgy looking ashes squad I have to say; Stoneman, Ballance, Vince, Malan all look at best average, and Ballances selection borders on nuts.

Not sure why you wouldn't take Buttler, and push Bairstow up to bolster the middle order, and don't get why Rashid isn't there tbh.

Oz aren't very strong either, but this squad won't worry them much.

I think Ballance COULD be a good no5. But he's no no3, that's for sure. I would still rather see everyone move up one, though, and for us to bring in another spinner at 8/9/10.

Our 11 is not a bad 11 at all, it just has the predictable 3 weaknesses.

Vince I don't get.

[Banquo]

dodgy looking ashes squad I have to say; Stoneman, Ballance, Vince, Malan all look at best average, and Ballances selection borders on nuts.

Not sure why you wouldn't take Buttler, and push Bairstow up to bolster the middle order, and don't get why Rashid isn't there tbh.

Oz aren't very strong either, but this squad won't worry them much.

I think Ballance COULD be a good no5. But he's no no3, that's for sure. I would still rather see everyone move up one, though, and for us to bring in another spinner at 8/9/10.

Our 11 is not a bad 11 at all, it just has the predictable 3 weaknesses.

Vince I don't get.

If you have 3 weaknesses, that's pretty significant, as they are all in the top 5! 60% of the top 5, great than 25% of the team. That takes a lot of masking!

I'd also argue Broad needs a very quick return to form, and Anderson needs to bowl better than ever before In Oz.

3,5 all they have to do is bowl fast yorkers at Ballance, and he's gone.

The upside is that Cook has done well in Oz (tour before last), Root is world class, as is an on form and not in prison Stokes; YJB needs to bat for longer. If Moeen can try and eliminate the brainfarts whilst still being an attacking cricketer, that would help. All our class players need to over-achieve imo, to compensate for a top order and third seamer that will be attacked remorselessly......and Root will be targeted, suspect with a lot of chin music.

Mind, as before, Oz aren't that much to be scared of, they have similar issues, truth be known- if they can get and keep their best bowlers fit, it'll be uphill for us.

[Discreet Hooker]

I see Michael Vaughan has been suggesting Stokes needs to change his life style . He's had warnings already as we know and if his character is as aggressive off the field as on , then late night drinking and bumping into drunks ain't doing him any favours .

[fivepointer]

The video of the Stokes incident isn't great viewing. Whatever the Police decide to do - and there does look to be strong grounds for a charge - the ECB will have to take some disciplinary action.

[Big D]

I see Michael Vaughan has been suggesting Stokes needs to change his life style . He's had warnings already as we know and if his character is as aggressive off the field as on , then late night drinking and bumping into drunks ain't doing him any favours .

He could do with having a word with the PCA president. He knows a thing or two about over coming issues with the booze. I think Flintoff is now practically tea total actually.

The video of the Stokes incident isn't great viewing. Whatever the Police decide to do - and there does look to be strong grounds for a charge - the ECB will have to take some disciplinary action.

I think he'd have gotten away with it (and a slap on the wrist/fined by the ECB) if he had stopped before the last few punches but I guess when you are as an aggressive personality as him when the red mist descends all bets are off for him trying to retain any composure. Which begs the question why get into that position in the 1st place.

[Stom]

I see Michael Vaughan has been suggesting Stokes needs to change his life style . He's had warnings already as we know and if his character is as aggressive off the field as on , then late night drinking and bumping into drunks ain't doing him any favours .

He could do with having a word with the PCA president. He knows a thing or two about over coming issues with the booze. I think Flintoff is now practically tea total actually.

The video of the Stokes incident isn't great viewing. Whatever the Police decide to do - and there does look to be strong grounds for a charge - the ECB will have to take some disciplinary action.

I think he'd have gotten away with it (and a slap on the wrist/fined by the ECB) if he had stopped before the last few punches but I guess when you are as an aggressive personality as him when the red mist descends all bets are off for him trying to retain any composure. Which begs the question why get into that position in the 1st place.

And why didn't Alex Hales step in more forcibly...

[Big D]

I see Michael Vaughan has been suggesting Stokes needs to change his life style . He's had warnings already as we know and if his character is as aggressive off the field as on , then late night drinking and bumping into drunks ain't doing him any favours .

He could do with having a word with the PCA president. He knows a thing or two about over coming issues with the booze. I think Flintoff is now practically tea total actually.

The video of the Stokes incident isn't great viewing. Whatever the Police decide to do - and there does look to be strong grounds for a charge - the ECB will have to take some disciplinary action.

I think he'd have gotten away with it (and a slap on the wrist/fined by the ECB) if he had stopped before the last few punches but I guess when you are as an aggressive personality as him when the red mist descends all bets are off for him trying to retain any composure. Which begs the question why get into that position in the 1st place.

And why didn't Alex Hales step in more forcibly...

Not sure you cam punish Hales for not forcibly splitting it up to be honest.