4th Test at Old Trafford, Manchester

[Starfighter]

When he’s nervous and/or starting out, he moves around a lot more. He also seems to consciously moderate it when he realises he’s moving too much and it’s effecting his position at release.

No, I'm talking about the stuff that he used to do between the balls, like when he'd touch his head then the top of each pad etc. etc, not the moving around the crease. Doesn't seem to do those as much any more.

 

[aussie tragic]

He'll be the fastest to 7000 by a decent amount at this rate.

6678 runs so far in his 121st innings. Hammond fastest to 7000 with 131 innings, while fastest Aussie is Hayden with 142 innings, so yeah

Of course that man Don Bradman is the fastest to 6996 runs in 80 innings

 

[Woodster]

Smith continues his unbelievable series with yet another hundred. Will never enjoy watching him play but you have to have plenty of respect for the consistent way he accumulates runs, resolves problems, maintains immense concentration and never gets bored of scoring runs. Another top and controlled knock.

 

[Burgey]

I love watching him manipulate the ball into gaps. The way he moves his wrists and hands around the ball is different to anyone I’ve seen before

 

[hazsa19]

The most predictable ton ever scored? All the rest of their batsman really need to do is stay in for a bit. I don’t think we’ve bowled particularly well to him tbh and Root’s captaincy is shiyte, but fair play he’s a batting machine and will surely see that they at least retain the Ashes.

 

[trundler]

Both Smith and Kohli have better conversion rates than Hammond.

 

[the big bambino]

Poor defensive techniques partially, with no front foot movement, and the bowlers who are causing the trouble are the ones who can take the ball away from the lefties, emphasised by more bowling friendly pitches recently. I personally think that close to the stumps over the wicket is still the best line, but hardly anyone bowls from the requisite position any more.

Whats been really tragic is the batsmen who've missed straight ones to be bowled or lbw. I mean Warner was in two minds against Broad but at least he was playing in the zone where the away ball could cause doubt in a batsman's mind. When a ball is angled closer to the stumps instead of close to off stump, it is on a line that makes it difficult to move away. In the air at least. So our lefties are getting out to balls on a line where the away movement should not be such a confusing factor.

 

[Starfighter]

It feels like England only have two bowlers, Broad and Archer. Seen a heck of a lot of them.

 

[Woodster]

I love watching him manipulate the ball into gaps. The way he moves his wrists and hands around the ball is different to anyone I’ve seen before

There’s no doubt there’s a huge amount of skill in what he does and of course it’s effective. As a spectacle though, it’s not for me, but each to their own.

 

[aussie tragic]

With 69 overs bowled by lunch we have effectively 51overs lost to rain so far

 

[Starfighter]

Oh dear me.

 

[King Pietersen]

It feels like England only have two bowlers, Broad and Archer. Seen a heck of a lot of them.

Overton's bowled as many as Archer

 

[aussie tragic]

Haha, Roy drops a sitter

 

[Spark]

If you're gonna mouth off in the slips, might want to hold onto them when they come

 

[King Pietersen]

Oh **** off Roy.

 

[trundler]

Roy must be averaging sub zero with these drops

 

[Woodster]

Straight forward chance that’s should have comfortably been taken. Broad swinging it appreciably here!

 

[Spark]

More swing than at any stage in the game with a 70old over ball, no less

 

[Spark]

Holy ****, over 100 catches?

 

[social]

The most predictable ton ever scored? All the rest of their batsman really need to do is stay in for a bit. I don’t think we’ve bowled particularly well to him tbh and Root’s captaincy is shiyte, but fair play he’s a batting machine and will surely see that they at least retain the Ashes.

He’s scored a few but there was one in India on a difficult pitch where you knew that he was going big right from the outset