1st Test, Edgbaston, Birmingham

[OverratedSanity]

kohli would have nicked behind for 20 in these conditions, and would have burned up a review too

He had his fair share of luck but how can anyone still say this after the England tour he had? He was a million miles ahead of anyone else on show from both teams.

 

[NotMcKenzie]

I have to since no one here offers any sort of nuanced knee-jerk perspective on the topic of umpiring.

Actually, that's unfair, because they are often paragraphs of writing. Perhaps defensive?


IMO your defences of poor umpiring tend to have a sort-of feeling to them rather similar to the, "Who are you?! When did you play international cricket?!"-type response, where everything becomes are sort of hidden thing only known to the elect ("You don't know what I have to deal with") whereas the results are really more interpretable to outsider with knowledge of the game than one may want to admit.

That's the vibe I often get from them anyway.


Also, your much-parodied mentioning of paperwork also showed a tendency to try multiply the number of jobs at any one time: if one was thinking of that out in the field (with everything happening normally) it shows a lack of organisation in more than one way.

 

[Daemon]

He had his fair share of luck but how can anyone still say this after the England tour he had? He was a million miles ahead of anyone else on show from both teams.

To me it was a proper display of the importance of mental strength. Without that absymal failure earlier in England, he'd have never had the series he did.

That partnership with Umesh was just sheer brilliance.

 

[Woodster]

Both Kohli and Smith are outstanding batsmen (obviously), Kohli being the more pleasing on the eye makes it easy to suggest that the uglier batsman in Smith has the capability to dig in more, in the past that’s probably been perfectly true, not quite so much these days for me. The strategy, and its implementation, that Kohli employed last summer showed what a class act he is and he’s not just going to nick off when Jimmy’s swinging it about. Not much between them for me.

 

[NotMcKenzie]

Also, Siddle—no. 10—has been as long (by balls) as four of our top six 'batsmen'.

 

[cnerd123]

He had his fair share of luck but how can anyone still say this after the England tour he had? He was a million miles ahead of anyone else on show from both teams.

just going off his recent WC form tbf. he was immense in England

 

[OverratedSanity]

Both Kohli and Smith are outstanding batsmen (obviously), Kohli being the more pleasing on the eye makes it easy to suggest that the uglier batsman in Smith has the capability to dig in more, in the past that’s probably been perfectly true, not quite so much these days for me. The strategy, and its implementation, that Kohli employed last summer showed what a class act he is and he’s not just going to nick off when Jimmy’s swinging it about. Not much between them for me.

Kohli since mid 2016 or so has been every bit as good as Smith imo. Runs everywhere with a kind of Smith-like ruthlessness.

Smith has been at that level since 2014 or so, though, which is crazy. Easily the most dominant stretch I've seen from any batsman. Even Ponting wasnt this good. It's beyond the point of being remarkable to being mundane and routine.

 

[BSM]

In one respect I get what you mean. But Ali is only being used to help rotate the other bowlers....something Denly or Root could have done just as well (probably even better - bearing in mind Root outbowled him during his last 2 bowling spells).

Think you're both seriously overestimating the skills of Denly and Root and underestimating the skills of Ali here. Ali has 150+ international wickets at about 36 while the former two have remained part timers for a reason. If the pitch breaks up and spin becomes valuable, no way would Root and Denly be able to utilise it. Ali will use it better, and has done it before, especially in England

 

[OverratedSanity]

Btw, why isnt Joe Burns playing. He's the one who I think has been most hard done by these last few years. Hasnt done much wrong when he's been picked. Certainly think he's more competent than Bancroft.

 

[flibbertyjibber]

Btw, why isnt Joe Burns playing. He's the one who I think has been most hard done by these last few years. Hasnt done much wrong when he's been picked. Certainly think he's more competent than Bancroft.

Ask Langer.

Probably wore socks.

 

[Niall]

Think you're both seriously overestimating the skills of Denly and Root and underestimating the skills of Ali here. Ali has 150+ international wickets at about 36 while the former two have remained part timers for a reason. If the pitch breaks up and spin becomes valuable, no way would Root and Denly be able to utilise it. Ali will use it better, and has done it before, especially in England

I said it earlier, England learned the hard way last year,,,you don't drop Ali in England.

 

[OverratedSanity]

I said it earlier, England learned the hard way last year,,,you don't drop Ali in England.

We probably would've managed atleast a drawn series if he hadnt played. Thoroughly predictable that he tore us a new one when he was brought back.

 

[Spark]

Kohli since mid 2016 or so has been every bit as good as Smith imo. Runs everywhere with a kind of Smith-like ruthlessness.

Smith has been at that level since 2014 or so, though, which is crazy. Easily the most dominant stretch I've seen from any batsman. Even Ponting wasnt this good. It's beyond the point of being remarkable to being mundane and routine.

Kohli's ruthlessness and Smith's ruthlessness are different IMO. Kohli is like a lot of other great batsmen, only just a little more, whereas Smith is kind of uncanny.

 

[trundler]

You guys have freaky memories when it comes to series. I cant recall specific instances that well and I think I've got a good memory.

 

[BSM]

Both Kohli and Smith are outstanding, but Smith just seems on another level in tests. In similar conditions last year, I always thought we had a chance to get Kohli out but Smith (and I know this is based on only one innings) looks invincible. His record is also ridiculous (not to say Kohli's isn't outstanding) and if he maintains it until he retires (i.e, if he averages 60 or just under with 11,000+ runs he will surely go down as not only an atg (both will be) but possibly the atg no.4

 

[fredfertang]

These numbers on the back of the shirts do annoy me - totally unnecessary

 

[flibbertyjibber]

These numbers on the back of the shirts do annoy me - totally unnecessary

What you got to say about Lancy's finest throwing in an injury on Yorkshire Day?

 

[mr_mister]

A lot of people were speculating that Smith had lost it based on that half finished SA series, despite having averages like 75 since that 2014/15 India series

Good to see him prove peeps wrong

 

[BSM]

We probably would've managed atleast a drawn series if he hadnt played. Thoroughly predictable that he tore us a new one when he was brought back.

Could have gone on to win I reckon. It was the 4th test that he tore through India when they were about 120-3 in response to our 240 in the first innings weren't they? There was a really ominous momentum shift in the series building until that spell

 

[NUFAN]

This has been a decent partnership. Wow thats maybe the shot of the series.