International cricket thread

Tend to agree, WI V Eng overwhelmingly likely to be draw, England will probably bat for an hour or two and then put Windies in and try bowl them out but on that pitch with England's bowling line up it's hard to see them forcing the win.

Sri Lanka have bowled quite well against India, but India have been able to score but no one has made a substantial big score yet.

Australia V Pakistan has been a bit like the EngWI match, slow and attritional. Khawaja has scored another century, he's had a great few months. Smith missed out on a century once more, for someone who have a brilliant 50 to 100 conversion rates, he's struggled to do that in recent times. Australia well on top though.

Nice innings all told by Dan Lawrence. Not secure in his spot in the team but he was willing to give his wicket away for the team and managed a decent 37. Root hit another century and he needed that after a fairly quiet Ashes from him.

Not sure what England need here as the West Indies in all honesty could slog and then put up shop if they got 5 down as you won't get wickets on this pitch conventionally.

Good declaration this, it's gettable at just over 4 per over but in going for it do the WI run the risk of losing? It's not a great England attack so the WI may gamble but I think they'll play it safe...

Northamptonshire legend Curtly. I quite like a few of the West Indian commentators/former players.

England appeal for a stumping… decision of not out given, Brathwaites foot was behind the line but it didn’t look grounded… close but no interest in exhausting technology to prove either way… just ‘not out and get on with it’….

Massive appeal for LBW, umpire says no… players around the bat including the bowler implore Root to review with 1000% enthusiasm … Root refuses even though he was not in the best position to decide… adamant… review shows it’s out, hitting leg stump three quarters ways up… Joe.. tut tut…you need wickets, those placed better were convinced..that has to be good enough to check… poor captaincy yet again. Got to listen to lead.

The DRS ball tracking for that shout looked wrong to me. Umpire's call at best I thought. Only having one review left does that. Haven't been watching all day so don't know how bad the other reviews were to lose them.

Campbell and Blackwood tried to make it semi exciting with those terrible shots. Needed more rubbish cricket like that on this pitch with no Mark Wood to avoid a draw.

Root has more interest in getting the ball changed with a few overs to go then he does checking DRS for a wicket. Brain dead stuff.

Harmisson calling Roots captaincy as relates to his use of Stokes and not offer the handshake as ‘madness’ , as a bowler he is perplexed…he’s hammering Roots captaincy..correctly

6 wickets needed in 7 overs, give it up Joe.

root now arguing correctly with umpires, DRS shows a catch but the 3rd umpire reckons it’s bat hitting ground, it’s not..bat hits ground and ball hits bat. Clear deviation

6 wickets in 4 overs and still…and bowling Dan Lawrence hahaha

6 wickets in 3 overs and still…and bowling Jack Leach.

6 wickets in 2 overs and still… Jesus.

joe shakes hands needing 6 wickets with 5 deliveries remaining.

India firmly in control in Bengaluru, Sri Lanka batting was woeful - 109 all out.

Australia putting on a big score v Pakistan, Kwaja eventually out for 160, Carey has hit a half-century, he needed those runs.

The wait for 71 has turned into a long one for Virat hasn't it. Lean time for Smith as well. Williamson is injured a lot nowadays. Root has been piling up hundreds, think it's 7 and 8 since Kohli and Smith respectively.

Big turnaround in two years. Root needed one in Australia, it's something people will always be able to say about him. Like they do about Ponting in India for example. Although Root has done a lot better in Australia than that.

Bat once and hope the pitch comes to them I guess. Especially with a proper leg spinner in the team now. Its hard to see them getting into a position to make them follow on given how comfortable batting looks currently.

Is that not an argument then for batting on and taking time out the game. Its not a straightforward decision. If there's turn later it will be fine.

My position around declarations is give the people making the decision the benefit of the doubt that they might know a thing or two about the game. And not get too upset about it. So often I've seen contentious declarations turn out fine and you wonder what all the fuss was about.

548/9…

Only tactical ambition here I can think of is Cummins trying to tire the Pakistani team out, all this time bowling and fielding in heat around or over 30 degrees… cannot be easy..

declaration at 556/9… Pakistan look relieved…

Pakistan going alright this time round. Four sessions left, two down and 400 still needed. From the bit I've been watching spin looked a lot easier than pace to deal with.

Terribe decision for Azhar Ali. Can't be too upset at the umpire when he didn't take the option to review it himself.

Babar and Rizwan will run out of overs to win this. Thought they've been positive and tried to score, it hasn't been all out blocking. Scoring at the rate needed just wasn't possible I think. Make no mistake batting all day and saving this was the aim and they've been excellent.