*Official* First Test (Edgbaston, Birmingham) 16–20 June

[Burgey]

In completely irrelevant news, I have a bloody HIIT class booked for 6:10am and it’s going to be a cast iron bitch getting up for it

 

[Spark]

I know he timed it fine but that front foot prod from Green just doesn't look right.

Yeah it feels like his back foot goes back towards square leg at the point of contact for some reason. It's subtle but it's definitely there, whatever it is.

EDIT: Having said that I think that just might be his technique, because in Ahmedebad he was doing the same thing and his driving was a feature there. Still, I'd be throwing in plenty of wide sucker balls if I'm England.

 

[shortpitched713]

In completely irrelevant news, I have a bloody HIIT class booked for 6:10am and it’s going to be a cast iron bitch getting up for it

So at your age, going up the stairs, I take it?

 

[Burgey]

So at your age, going up the stairs, I take it?

Happy to have you join in if you like

 

[TheJediBrah]

I know he timed it fine but that front foot prod from Green just doesn't look right.

Nothing he does looks right. Always seems to be fundamentally unbalanced at the crease

 

[Burgey]

Robinson once again having a crack at the brown Muslim guy.

 

[OverratedSanity]

Yeah it feels like his back foot goes back towards square leg at the point of contact for some reason. It's subtle but it's definitely there, whatever it is.

That and for some reason on a lot of balls on off/marginally outside off, his stride is straight down the middle of the pitch when it should be going across. Ends up playing loosely with his hands.

 

[Spark]

Nothing he does looks right. Always seems to be fundamentally unbalanced at the crease

Guys that tall aren't really meant to be good batsmen tbf.

 

[Burgey]

Nothing he does looks right. Always seems to be fundamentally unbalanced at the crease

Tall players so often look that way but he’s a deadset baby giraffe

 

[TheJediBrah]

In completely irrelevant news, I have a bloody HIIT class booked for 6:10am and it’s going to be a cast iron bitch getting up for it

Easy fix. Don't go. Competent men shouldn't be going to group fitness classes

 

[trundler]

Easy fix. Don't go. Competent men shouldn't be going to group fitness classes

TJB, how many angry Facebook comments did you post when Gillette made that ad?

 

[Burgey]

Easy fix. Don't go. Competent men shouldn't be going to group fitness classes

It’s well worth it

 

[Spark]

That and for some reason on a lot of balls on off/marginally outside off, his stride is straight down the middle of the pitch when it should be going across. Ends up playing loosely with his hands.

It's pretty clear that his sheer reach was able to compensate for a lot of that at lower levels simply because he could drive balls on the half volley which would be good length to most others. Whether it's a deficiency that costs him at Test level or if he can fix it (if it matters at all), I guess we'll see. It's probably not an accident that he's looked much better with the bat in the subcontinent than in Australia so far.

 

[CartyDurham]

Khwaja 50 up

he has been the real thing in both innings

without him England may have won

 

[social]

Green should feel free to plonk Moeen into whatever counts as the local river soon

He’s got so much power that hitting the ball over the bowler’s head is less risky than giving him too much respect

 

[Nintendo]

Batted Susan, need to double it.

 

[Kraken]

Double up here Uz

 

[Burgey]

Honestly one of the great career reincarnations

 

[Spark]

Green should feel free to plonk Moeen into whatever counts as the local river soon

He’s got so much power that hitting the ball over the bowler’s head is less risky than giving him too much respect

Why? There's no real rush here and Moeen will bowl enough filth occasionally that there's no need to force the issue.

 

[MW1304]

Where does calling Khawaja Susan come from? Australia may have question to answer on this one