*Official* Fourth Test at Headingley

[GIMH]

Shame, another batsman that deserved a 100. Great knock Pup. Has really upped it this series. They should start calling him Big Dog now.

Not attacking you, but I was just about to post about how I don't really buy it when commentators say batsmen deserved a hundred. If you deserve a hundred then ****ing score one hey.

 

[pasag]

Surprised the Australians amongst us are still up - not a very interesting mornings cricket at all

Only 10 pm.

Clarke

Another top innings from him.

 

[Craig]

So is Strauss captain because he is the only viable option?

 

[wpdavid]

Damn.

Yeah, you're in real trouble now.

I still reckon Aus have a good shout at a two-day win if they declare at lunch.

 

[GIMH]

So is Strauss captain because he is the only viable option?

Pretty much yeah

 

[FaaipDeOiad]

Haha, because it's only ever the English who do that, and of course how well Strauss captains is completely relevant to how good a skipper Ponting is. Strauss's captaincy has been caned by about 80% of the English posters all series.

I was kidding obviously. It's only relevant to Ponting insofar as he gets a lot of crap for being a poor captain, not just on this site, while his opposite number in this series has been far worse, and this session was a prime example of that. He's got plenty of weaknesses, but he's not the worst around.

 

[morgieb]

Damn. Clarke was sooo close to getting 4 centuries in 4 tests.

 

[Craig]

Don't think Strauss's captaincy is relevant to how England are doing tbh. The whole bowl-short-at-Clarke plan was horrendous though.

And picking Harmison was not wise.

 

[GIMH]

I was kidding obviously. It's only relevant to Ponting insofar as he gets a lot of crap for being a poor captain, not just on this site, while his opposite number in this series has been far worse, and this session was a prime example of that. He's got plenty of weaknesses, but he's not the worst around.

I know, I know. But Strauss gets a lot of flak too.

 

[wpdavid]

So is Strauss captain because he is the only viable option?

Yes. And he did well enough when he captained the side in 2006 tbf.

 

[Uppercut]

Watching Onions bowl makes you wonder whose decision it was for Broad to bowl so wide of off stump. If it was Strauss, surely Onions would be doing the same.

Nah it was definitely Strauss's idea. Rob them of momentum for a few overs and get them back under some kind of control then start bowling properly again.

Don't really agree with it though.

 

[GIMH]

Onions should be looking at a nice central contract sometime soon. Will be in the team for some time to come I reckon.

 

[Uppercut]

And picking Harmison was not wise.

Yeah, was that Strauss's call? I was thinking that but didn't want to sound like a broken record. The guy's absolutely useless.

 

[Ikki]

Not attacking you, but I was just about to post about how I don't really buy it when commentators say batsmen deserved a hundred. If you deserve a hundred then ****ing score one hey.

Yeah, I know what you mean. But it's funny how someone who scores a 100 seems to get that extra bit of praise when Clarke is only 7 runs less. It's usually the mark of a quality innings. And yet he played a very important innings even if it was not 100 runs or more.

 

[GIMH]

Sidebottom would have been alright here, god damn

BTW, sorry if it's already been discussed, but who would have played if Prior was unable to keep?

 

[Craig]

Yeah, was that Strauss's call? I was thinking that but didn't want to sound like a broken record. The guy's absolutely useless.

I have no idea so I'm just speculating, but you would think Strauss would have some say when it comes to picking the team. It is his arse on the line if the team turns up looking like they never played cricket in their lives.

 

[GIMH]

Yeah, I know what you mean. But it's funny how someone who scores a 100 seems to get that extra bit of praise when Clarke is only 7 runs less. It's usually the mark of a quality innings. And yet he played a very important innings even if it was not 100 runs or more.

Yeah agree with that. Sometimes even a 60 can be much more useful than a 100, depending on the match.

 

[JBH001]

Strauss being way too defensive, even with a new batsman.

 

[wpdavid]

Sidebottom would have been alright here, god damn

BTW, sorry if it's already been discussed, but who would have played if Prior was unable to keep?

Trott.

Plus someone else.

 

[wpdavid]

Strauss being way too defensive, even with a new batsman.

.. just before lunch. He really doesn't get it, does he?