*Official* Second Test (Lord's, London) 28 June–2 July

[Spark]

Extremely is an extreme word.

Ball-striking wise yeah he's as good as it gets. More to Test batting than whacking Pakistan and NZ bowlers through the line though.

 

[Saket1209]

Apart from Stokes all other are really going according to the bazball plan.

 

[Burgey]

He's clearly extremely talented but he does have to deal with whatever's happened to him in this game with the short ball, because the real fear is that it messes up his footwork to the full balls too.

You need to have some semblance of a defensive game to be a medium-long term success in test cricket though, and I’ve barely see him play a defensive shot in the first two tests. The bloke is a terrific ball striker but three for **** all late day four with the ball moving around is a time to be compact. He’s as loose as a goose

 

[kevinw]

Hopefully Robinson and Crawley shut the eff up now. Only trash talk if you can back it up.

 

[Burgey]

Stokes you coward, have a go!

 

[Saket1209]

Stokes you coward, have a go!

frightened to face the aussies

 

[kevinw]

And how does a black eye make Handsome Pat even more handsome?

 

[Coronis]

Stokes you coward, have a go!

S P O O K E D
P
O
O
K
E
D

 

[GIMH]

Stokes you coward, have a go!

He’s just hit your premier spinner for six you oaf

 

[wpdavid]

Hopefully Robinson and Crawley shut the eff up now. Only trash talk if you can back it up.

Agreed. Barring an almost biblical recovery by England, the post-match interviews should be quite something to behold.

 

[fredfertang]

I suppose we shouldn't forget Headingley 2019

 

[R!TTER]

The fear of failure above all is a great leveler, you can say f*** all in front of the world or even your team but out in the middle no one likes to lose! In fact most players would dread it, especially when expectations are high.

 

[Burgey]

Stokes’ knee looks really bad out there. He hit that six and really propped on it afterwards. That was a long spell for a bloke carrying chronic tendinitis

 

[Saket1209]

Australia is actually playing more attacking cricket than england

 

[Burgey]

He’s just hit your premier spinner for six you oaf

Finally he listened to a knowledgeable cricket mind

 

[Socerer 01]

will Stokes play the next test if he aggravates this further

 

[grecian]

My side for the third Test, FWIW (absolutely nothing ftr)

Bairstow
Duckett
Pope
Root
Brook
Foakes
Dawson, possibly Ahmed
Woakes
Robinson
Broad
Wood

Stokes isn't bloody fit and Crawley is useless. But that side has much more balance. Tongue unlucky. may choose him over Robinson or Wood if he's not fit.

 

[GIMH]

My side for the third Test, FWIW (absolutely nothing ftr)

Bairstow
Duckett
Pope
Root
Brook
Foakes
Dawson, possibly Ahmed
Woakes
Robinson
Broad
Wood

Stokes isn't bloody fit and Crawley is useless. But that side has much more balance. Tongue unlucky. may choose him over Robinson or Wood if he's not fit.

Foakes at six, have you been drinking?

 

[Socerer 01]

Foakes at six, have you been drinking?

if Woakes bat 8 why not

 

[Woodster]

Australia is actually playing more attacking cricket than england

Funny that with England being 71-4 chasing 371!