Cricket Thread - England win T20 World Cup

[Sirloin]

They have Will Jacks at number 8. This is the most defensive England line up they’ve played in years. Aggression is playing more bowlers over batsmen and not making questionable declarations.

[feltmonkey]

But the point isn't to be aggressive - it's to be entertaining, even if that means somewhat sabotaging your own results. This is cricket run by two madmen who are focused on saving test cricket by making it strange, wild, and unpredictable. I think it's only a matter of time before the team comes out in fancy dress.

[Sirloin]

Then why aren’t they playing bears in at least half the batting slots?

[feltmonkey]

2 minutes ago, Sirloin said:

Then why aren’t they playing bears in at least half the batting slots?

 

Yet.

[merman]

Australia declared TWICE in their First Test against the West Indies, winning by 164 runs.

 

Test Cricket is definitely much better when sides don’t play for the draw.

[feltmonkey]

Great review! That is a huge moment.

[feltmonkey]

Next ball hits the stumps and the bails stay on!  How???

[Gotters]

Still not got a clue if this will be the first time ever a team batting first scores 600+ and loses or a glorious balls out declaration win.

 

With the wickets falling the likelihood of a Pakistan  win seems diminishing and them trying for the draw likely.

[milko]

oh wow they got Azhar, that actually ought to do it. Amazing stuff today!

[feltmonkey]

Olly Robinson!

 

7 down!

[feltmonkey]

What a catch by Pope!

[milko]

it's gonna turn out we've put sandpaper on Leach's head or something, how's it swinging so much? Jeez Naseem can't last much longer against this, surely?

[feltmonkey]

He won't have to now. Maybe two more overs at most and then it'll be down to the spinners as the light fades. That one that went between keeper and first slip will be the decisive moment.

[feltmonkey]

Out! Review! Oh my god!

 

Edit - OUT!  

 

Wow, what a win.

[feltmonkey]

We cut it pretty fine. Perhaps that declaration came a few overs too late.  

[Sirloin]

Well that told me, still think it was a silly declaration.

[feltmonkey]

Olly Robinson gets man of the match. Surely it should have been Brooks?

[milko]

1 hour ago, Sirloin said:

Well that told me, still think it was a silly declaration.

 

according to logic and common sense almost certainly, but with Bazball and Ben Stokes Bending Reality To His Will, those are out the window!

 

Did not see a finish like that coming after the first day or two's play, amazing stuff.

[feltmonkey]

The one thing that made you think there might be a result was the run-rate England scored at in the first innings right from the start. They identified what the barrier to victory would be, and batted to overcome that. They were thinking about winning the game, and working towards that, from ball one.

[MarkN]

Wow! Got up late after a late night to see the result. Fantastic performance. Will have to read up the match reports, but listening to the post-match analysis and interviews show this to be something really special.

 

Next one in 3 days time...

[footle]

40 minutes ago, Sirloin said:

Well that told me, still think it was a silly declaration.

yeah they should have declared a couple of overs earlier before tea and cut the target Pakistan needed to achieve by about thirty. Given themselves those additional two overs in the light contingency :-!?!?!?!

 

the fact I’m barely exaggerating on the change in target is just nuts.

[Gabe]

921 runs in 136 overs. That is just 

 

I love the positive attitude though. I've said many times before that, as Warne always said, great teams have to be prepared to lose in order to win - and Stokes is completely living that mantra. England are going to lose - and that's okay. Even if it's the Ashes, if they lose playing like that I honestly think the media will not be too hard on them. This team wants to entertain and the players are responding; Anderson must be wishing he was 10 years younger to grow with this side.

 

Incredible performance from both sides.

[Pete]

Gutted I completely missed this test match, madness.

[milko]

under 300 all out in fairly short order... is this the downside of bazball or will Pakistan also struggle?

[Gabe]

Well losses will come, there's no doubt about that, but as a fan, if it is entertaining then I can take it. 

[milko]

eh, it's not over yet! Think it's very much in the balance still and batting fourth on this pitch could be a horror. I think a year or so ago England would've been out as quickly but for a good 100-150 fewer runs.

[Gabe]

Oh, I was talking more generally than just about this match. I agree, a lot can still happen.

[milko]

yeah at some point they're going to get rolled for <100 in both innings I'm sure. Probably in the Ashes, because that's when it'd hurt most!

[feltmonkey]

I think England will lose this one, but it will be because Pakistan have better spin bowlers than us rather than because of the attacking approach when batting. 281 in a day and a half would have been better than what England did today in the context of this match, as it would have forced Pakistan to bat on an older pitch, but it's very easy to try to bat time and end up not scoring any runs.

[Stopharage]

This is a pitiful morning for Pakistan, Root has just got 2 wickets with very average balls and the batting has looked pretty inept.