comment by Emile Death Rowe (TCM) (U8959)
posted 31 minutes ago
he doesn't seem like someone who is looking to make any adjustments.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I mean, he's been pretty open about this

Lanky tw@

Y'know, I kinda hold it against England that they're spoiling the novelty of these glorious sessions where it seems like a boundary jamboree. It used to be a rare pleasure. Now it's so routine it's almost - ALMOST - not fun any more

comment by Emile Death Rowe (TCM) (U8959)
posted 16 minutes ago
Our top 3 will struggle against the Aussies I feel. Crawley for obvious reasons, Aussies will target Duckett I think with back of a length deliveries high up towards his left shoulder and bank on his will to get bat on ball. It's a definite weakness of his. Pope despite his class seems very fidgety when he first comes in no matter who he's up against.

However hopefully all 3 will make contributions throughout but Root, Brook, Stokes and Bairstow will be the key with the bat. Contributions from the top 3 will be a bonus.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I think you're spot on here. It's the obvious approach for any bat who likes playing square of the wicket - I guess the only risk for the Aussies is bowling wides/no-balls considering their attack is so tall and Duckett so short. They can probably just bang it in on a length and it'll count as a bouncer

And I think you're right about Pope particularly against 90s pace. He loves playing late and loves playing spin, and he's used to cashing in against low-80s County bowlers. Don't get me wrong, the guy is class. But he does get a bit flustered when the bowlers are really hammering it in

I don't have an issue with back of length bowling against England. Its Starc with the full ball.. If the top order get their feet in the wrong place be plenty if Lbws and bowled

How to make this game last 5 days, surely no advantage to England to finish in 3 days

That stat about how little ducket has left is insane.

Leading by 150 and theres only been 4 sessions of the game so far.. wish this was Australia we were playing and not Ireland.

Duckett really does have a weirdly square, flat head

Just watch the management sell this as another game where Crawley set the tone with early aggression, without him the other bats wouldn't have had the platform to play so freely, etc etc etc

When you can just guarantee every other bar will outscore him

Bat*

Yet another one of those "match-defining contributions" where his contribution was measurably less than basically every other player's

It’s a massive fack you to every other player that has been playing county cricket or been dropped for England. It’s not like it’s a top England player in a really bad patch, it’s a bloke with an incredibly shiiiiiit career.

Ton up Popey

A ton for Pope too.

England 329-1.

Time to up the run rate now

Do England bat out there innings or declare ?

comment by Blue Heaven (U20912)
posted 13 minutes ago
A ton for Pope too.

England 329-1.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Wouldn't have been possible without Crawley's Match-Defining Contribution (TM) though

comment by Dave&Danny COYH (U4428)
posted 54 minutes ago
How to make this game last 5 days, surely no advantage to England to finish in 3 days
----------------------------------------------------------------------
It's only a 4 day game so it'll be a draw if we make it last 5 . We do want more draws afterall.

No idea what Stokes is thinking, maybe just happy to let the 2 guys bat for a while. Duckett may well accelerate again if he gets to 200 and Pope may well decide to go after everything soon as well.

I wouldn't be surprised to see Brook promoted to 4 and really go berserk as Root nor Stokes will get much out of batting in this situation and then maybe let Bairstow have a slog before declaring.

comment by Neo (U9135)
posted 5 minutes ago
Time to up the run rate now
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Need a 6. Amazing there's been only been one 6 in this innings.

Duckett gone. England bang in trouble.

comment by Kobbie The King Mainoo (U10026)
posted 29 minutes ago
It’s a massive fack you to every other player that has been playing county cricket or been dropped for England. It’s not like it’s a top England player in a really bad patch, it’s a bloke with an incredibly shiiiiiit career.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Can only assume Creepy has some photo evidence that can't be shared in the public domain. Seems to be the one major blindspot that the current regime have.

Isn’t his dad mates with Rob Key?

Even if he's not, Key has been mentoring him for years. Don't know if it's full-scale nepotism or just plain favouritism but it's one if not both

I thought his dad was Rob Key?