The Cricket Thread

While the England batsmen leave their brains in the changing room it doesn’t really matter who’s bowling for Australia.

This isn’t positive intent. It’s a complete collective failure to understand how the opposition are trying to get them out, and walking blindly into the trap.

Ben Duckett never leaves the ball. Incredible really.

Just to add to that, he'd left the ball 12 times in 12 tests before today .

Could have started better.

Starting to think this could be Jimmy's last test.

Yeah me too. And Ollie Robinson isn't looking a natural successor either

So does the umpire call 'ovet' after every ball to signify the play is dead?

Having heard about the incident before I saw it, I was surprised how clear cut it was. It’s utterly brainless by Bairstow.

Massively enjoying Lords in full feral mode though.

I've been surprised how smiley everyone has been for a test and a half. That might stop for a bit.

I didn't see the run out but it sounds far less controversial than the crowd think. Apparently Bairstow has been wandering a lot.

Technically there’s not an issue. It’s more “spirit of the game” stuff, really. And we shouldn’t expect the Aussies to do anything sportsmanlike.

Still expecting England to throw it away though

Can someone explain to me how you know it is ok to walk down the wicket? Never played cricket so I genuinely have no idea what happens.

When are batsmen ever ok to walk down the wicket, what's the trigger point that makes it ok?

I’m ok with players being fair game if they’re out of their crease when the ball is in play. This one, in itself, looks a bit scummy.. he wasn’t trying to gain an advantage (not like batsmen starting their run early and then crying when they get Mankad’d). If his other wandering was the same kind of thing… just going for a stroll before the ball is officially dead… I’d definitely call it unsportsmanlike, and wouldn’t want my team to do it.

But if my team did it to tilt an Ashes test in their favour, I’d get over it. Rules is rules, innit.