Official Cricket Thread

[Secret Squirrel]

So unnecessary from Jimmy haha. Great effort for the last two wickets though

 

[Dan]

Huge wicket for Broad.

 

[AllThingsPurple]

Nasty blow that.

 

[SymbiantXenos]

13 overs lost.

 

[Browny]

Ali is on borrowed time. In hindsight I'd rather see a left armer (Leach is the front runner, otherwise Bess). And Bairstow had better pull his finger out; he only has so much goodwill, and Foakes is a better keeper.

 

[Hamchan]

Test still feels close.

Once again we rely on Steve Smith to carry us.

 

[Window]

Test still feels close.

Once again we rely on Steve Smith to carry us.

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He seems to be the sole specialist bat in the team. Everyone else is barely getting into double digits. Hopefully Head stays with him.

 

[Hamchan]

Gosh sure hope someone besides Steve Smith can stand up today. Too sad otherwise.

 

[Rabalder.]

Head looks vulnerable early here.

 

[Hamchan]

Wow the English fans here must have had an aneurysm seeing Root try to get the ball changed.

 

[Jodez99]

Haha they complained again

 

[Rabalder.]

This is fucking nonsense. Wasting so much time.

 

[Window]

Wonder why they haven't brought on Woakes yet.

 

[AllThingsPurple]

Denly looking more dangerous than moeen.

 

[Deleted member 31104]

Judging by this pitch, Australia are going to need a lead of at least 220 which is still miles off. The 2nd highest successful chase at Edgbaston is 207, the highest is 281 (although Australia got 280 in 2005 falling 3 short of a target of 283).

 

[Deleted member 31104]

Wow the English fans here must have had an aneurysm seeing Root try to get the ball changed.

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England are notorious ball moaners, they were trying to get it changed constantly during Smith and Siddles partnership on the first day. Every team does it, sometimes the ball does go right out of shape and it's deemed unfair to continue with it. The ball shouldn't be getting changed because it's gone a bit soft.

 

[Joe Spangle]

Missed yesterday. Match looks nicely poised today.

Denly looking useful.

 

[Deleted member 31104]

Denly looks very dangerous.

 

[Rabalder.]

Big breakthrough

 

[Joe Spangle]

Needed a wicket.

 

[Hamchan]

Right before lunch. Worst timing Head!

 

[Deleted member 31104]

That was terrible from Head. Now it's Wade then Paine then the Tail, and yes it'll be that quick

 

[Deleted member 31104]

I mean it's such a low percentage shot at that length

 

[Window]

Head keeps doing this, getting out after getting a good start.

 

[bomma man]

Ironically, it feels like Head has a history of pre lunch brain explosions

 

[Deleted member 31104]

Wade is a bit of a mental midget, so I don't expect him to hang around.

 

[Deleted member 31104]

Yeah, Wade isn't going be here long if he keeps sweeping out of the rough.

 

[Deleted member 31104]

So the Head wicket should have been a no ball.

Edit: maybe not on that angle

 

[Rabalder.]

So the Head wicket should have been a no ball.

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I really don't think so.

 

[Window]

I don't get this. Is Woakes injured?

 

[crazy monkey]

Smith is freaking legend.

 

[SymbiantXenos]

This test is looking like a draw. Smith is a great batsman. Shame he's a cheat

 

[Hamchan]

Steve Smith is our king.

Fuck, how is he so good at batting.

 

[Window]

He's just so good at accumulating runs. Who would have imagined he would turn out to be such an immense batsmen when he first started? If he keeps this up for 40-60 more matches he'd easily be the second best bat since The Don.

 

[Hamchan]

Steve Smith being the second best test batsman ever means we should bring in more Shane Warne leg spin wannabes. It's obviously working.

 

[Window]

Reverse sweep in a test at this point in time.

 

[Window]

Oh and I didn't realise Cook had retired until this game. He was still fairly young. Why did he retire? It looks like he had a terrible 2018 but one bad year alone surely isn't cause enough to retire. Guess he had enough of international cricket?

 

[Window]

Doesn't deserve the booing.

 

[Hamchan]

Smith has done his job and done it superbly. Australia in a great position now.

How can anyone boo him after that effort. Though I welcome England fans to keep trying. It's clearly affecting him since he seems to get out in the nervous 140s.

 

[Joe Spangle]

Smith has done his job and done it superbly. Australia in a great position now.

How can anyone boo him after that effort.

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I think he's going to get boo'd no matter how well he plays. Eventually it will become more tongue in cheek but he'll still get the fallout from cheating for a long time to come.

Two terrific innings from him. Puts AUS in the driving seat.

 

[Rabalder.]

Smith has done his job and done it superbly. Australia in a great position now.

How can anyone boo him after that effort. Though I welcome England fans to keep trying. It's clearly affecting him since he seems to get out in the nervous 140s.

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Pretty easy when he's a cheating cunt.

Australia should win this now, weather permitting. Fantastic 2nd innings.

 

[Zvonimir Boban]

How can anyone boo him after that effort.

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Because it's funny.

 

[Hamchan]

Because it's funny.

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To be honest I find it funny too. Only because it's the English doing it and Smith just tonked these English cunts for a double 140.

Now if the Australian crowd ends up booing him this summer then it'll be a legitimate sad sight. Which isn't out of the realm of possibility.

 

[Hamchan]

Matty Wade has certainly justified his selection with his knock here.

Though to be fair he justified selection a year ago, the selectors just never selected him.

 

[Window]

So Australia to declare at the end of day's play today? I reckon England have it in them to bat out a day, so this is likely ending in a draw.

 

[Rabalder.]

So Australia to declare at the end of day's play today? I reckon England have it in them to bat out a day, so this is likely ending in a draw.

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How's the weather looking tomorrow?

 

[Window]

How's the weather looking tomorrow?

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No idea but I think I heard the comms say there maybe some rain forecast for tomorrow?

 

[Rabalder.]

No idea but I think I heard the comms say there maybe some rain forecast for tomorrow?

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I'd heard that the weather is meant to get worse progressively. Any stoppages tomorrow and a draw is nailed on.

 

[Zvonimir Boban]

So Australia to declare at the end of day's play today? I reckon England have it in them to bat out a day, so this is likely ending in a draw.

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Nah, Australia should declare with enough time left to bowl at England for 7-8 overs minimum. They've already got enough runs on the board to make an England victory more or less impossible

 

[Hamchan]

Moeen Ali has been pretty trash today. I have far more faith in Lyon to produce good bowling on this pitch.