I like the background burble!
It's just a preference! I'm not sat here tearing my hair out and decrying the coverage as "unwatchable" I assure you
I like the background burble!
An after-tea windies battling collapse of 6 for 60 has given England a sniff after yesterday being lost to rain and strong resistance in the first two sessions today.
Apparently the only occasion in Test history for a batsman to both score 250 runs and take 5 wickets in the same match. Plus two catches, by the way.And Stokes taking 5 wickets in the match as well as scores of 176 and 78 not out. What a guy.
County cricket (of sorts) back today! Yay!
And in a friendly Yorkshire are thrashing Lancashire. Un-yay.
Bothamesque in performanceApparently the only occasion in Test history for a batsman to both score 250 runs and take 5 wickets in the same match. Plus two catches, by the way.
Also on TMS was the question as to whether a match between Lancashire and Yorkshire could ever be described as a friendly .... Michael Vaughan very firmly said "No!".
A much better looking score after being 280-8. Some early wickets for England will set this up quite nicely.
Plus 2 ODIs against Ireland before then (not forgetting the return of county cricket)WI 129 all out. 5 for Woakes in the final innings and 10 for Broad in the match. England come back to win the series 2-1.
England will be playing Pakistan in the first test a week tomorrow.
I agree about the need for solidity of the openers, something we haven't really had since the Strauss / Cook pairing a decade ago. Since then we've tried quick-scoring openers, and it generally hasn't gone well, crash bang wallop and out.I think the selectors were right to seek solid opening batting - openers in a 5-day game are the pioneers testing out conditions and wearing down ball and bowlers to make it easier for following batsmen. It's very different from a one-day game*. The initial play of an opener needs to be defensive - about staying in more than scoring runs. The problem is that they haven't found consistency in that solidity - normally one of the two will get out early.
I agree about the need for solidity of the openers, something we haven't really had since the Strauss / Cook pairing a decade ago. Since then we've tried quick-scoring openers, and it generally hasn't gone well, crash bang wallop and out.
3 actually (thursday, saturday, tuesday)Plus 2 ODIs against Ireland before then (not forgetting the return of county cricket)
After several months of famine, cricket is coming thick and fast now!
Which were the unexpected ones?Day 2 of the Test Match at Old Trafford saw Pakistan take four of the England first innings wickets, including expected and unexpected ones.
Stokes....considering good weather forecasted tomorrow.Which were the unexpected ones?