4th test Manchester

[LJP1786]

Best day for England this series. Superb batting. Great balance in the approach

Ali was brilliant coming in after Duckett went very very early.

Then after that it just got better and better. 180+ tomorrow and get them in!

 

[chopsfc007]

Do any even exist?

I can think of one certain crystal palace fan currently banned on here who does

 

[rentaghost]

Hopefully he gets a good few more big scores then to sort his average out. Disagree with 35 being acceptable mind - should be around 40 for a competent opening bat.

Vaughan and Strauss averaged 40 and Atherton 37 and they were amongst our best. He’s a long way from that but certainly capable of finishing his career in the mid 30s. He’s as good as we have and while he’s no world beater he’s not the utter plank you make out he is.

 

[NorthCountryBoy]

They should do run penalties. I must admit as a paying spectator the overate only bothers me when I’ve seen a shit days cricket. The 80 odd overs we are generally seeing these days are pure entertainment. It doesn’t excuse it though.

Just in advance of tomorrow, I’m up for a first innings declaration if and when 150-200 ahead as a one-off given the weather. As I remember us arguing that plenty in the first test

 

[essex boy]

How would you classify a world beater? I would not give him that status but how many cricketers in our lifetime have left the Aussies out on their backsides chasing shadows, not many? It is very hard to do and he showed a glimpse of threatening to do it in one of the tests in Aus last time when I think he got 70 odd

In the last 20 years or so I can remember Flintoff at home, Vaughan at home, Wood away and Cook away basically taking it to the Aussies and showing it what it takes to almost beat them on their own

 

[NorthCountryBoy]

Good shout.

That's all it should be all the time. That said if people are prepared to pay £100+ then they'll keep on charging it

Cricket doesn’t run on fresh air though mate. The grass roots needs funding, along with the players’ salaries to stop them disappearing the the T20 gravy train like the smaller countries.

You could get an Old Trafford ticket for tomorrow for £65 from memory, which I think is a bargain in 2023.

 

[CraigyLee]

How would you classify a world beater? I would not give him that status but how many cricketers in our lifetime have left the Aussies out on their backsides chasing shadows, not many? It is very hard to do and he showed a glimpse of threatening to do it in one of the tests in Aus last time when I think he got 70 odd

In the last 20 years or so I can remember Flintoff at home, Vaughan at home, Wood away and Cook away basically taking it to the Aussies and showing it what it takes to almost beat them on their own

Love him or hate him KP changed everything against them

 

[essex boy]

Love him or hate him KP changed everything against them

Agreed good shout. Was it an innings at the Oval from memory

 

[Ghfd]

By the way, I spotted an old fella with a new safc top on a few times today

anyone off here ?

 

[CraigyLee]

Agreed good shout. Was it an innings at the Oval from memory

Yeah superb but he also came out on his debut at Lords and tried to get after them hitting McGrath back over his head for 6

The innings at the oval and his 200 at Adelaide

 

[rentaghost]

How would you classify a world beater? I would not give him that status but how many cricketers in our lifetime have left the Aussies out on their backsides chasing shadows, not many? It is very hard to do and he showed a glimpse of threatening to do it in one of the tests in Aus last time when I think he got 70 odd

In the last 20 years or so I can remember Flintoff at home, Vaughan at home, Wood away and Cook away basically taking it to the Aussies and showing it what it takes to almost beat them on their own

Atm Crawley can put himself alongside Mark Butcher but Butchers was a match winning knock.

 

[essex boy]

Atm Crawley can put himself alongside Mark Butcher but Butchers was a match winning knock.

On the basis it was a dead Ashes rubber would you not put this higher with an Ashes on the line and a potential 3 day test in the offing?

 

[nandos sonic sauce]

Layer of clingfilm should sort it!!

I'll ask Mrs sauce to do it , as if my work sandwiches are anything to go by, then my cling filming isn't up to scratch

 

[Yankee]

One of those very rare days when you get to watch England absolutely own Australia. I’ve been at work so I’m going to watch all 8 hours now.

Yes it was delightful seeing the Aussie bowlers absolutely knackered at the end of play

 

[rentaghost]

On the basis it was a dead Ashes rubber would you not put this higher with an Ashes on the line and a potential 3 day test in the offing?

If we win I would. Nasser double hundred in a winning test match? Pietersen’s knock trumps everything really securing an Ashes win.

 

[Lawrenceslongthrowin]

How would you classify a world beater? I would not give him that status but how many cricketers in our lifetime have left the Aussies out on their backsides chasing shadows, not many? It is very hard to do and he showed a glimpse of threatening to do it in one of the tests in Aus last time when I think he got 70 odd

In the last 20 years or so I can remember Flintoff at home, Vaughan at home, Wood away and Cook away basically taking it to the Aussies and showing it what it takes to almost beat them on their own

Vaughan in 2002 away to aus was superb iirc

 

[FatCat2402]

If we win I would. Nasser double hundred in a winning test match? Pietersen’s knock trumps everything really securing an Ashes win.

Warne's drop off KP was incredible. I miss Warne on commentary mind, he was such a great bloke. I'd imagine the Sky crowd really get upset when their thoughts turn to him. It seems so unfair that he's no longer around.

 

[Lawrenceslongthrowin]

Warne's drop off KP was incredible. I miss Warne on commentary mind, he was such a great bloke. I'd imagine the Sky crowd really get upset when their thoughts turn to him. It seems so unfair that he's no longer around.

Was dropped about 5 times wasn’t he

 

[essex boy]

If we win I would. Nasser double hundred in a winning test match? Pietersen’s knock trumps everything really securing an Ashes win.

Would you not say Cook in Australia in 2010 trumps everything? Consistency over a series (766 runs at 127 average) whilst winning in Australia. The last side to do this was in 1986 some 24 years earlier so history not on his side

 

[Sea to Shining Sea]

How would you classify a world beater? I would not give him that status but how many cricketers in our lifetime have left the Aussies out on their backsides chasing shadows, not many? It is very hard to do and he showed a glimpse of threatening to do it in one of the tests in Aus last time when I think he got 70 odd

In the last 20 years or so I can remember Flintoff at home, Vaughan at home, Wood away and Cook away basically taking it to the Aussies and showing it what it takes to almost beat them on their own

Ian Bell in 2013. Up there with Cook and Vaughan. And done with serious style and grace.