Cricket

[ainsworth74]

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

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

It was good to see the recovery from the fall of the third wicket yesterday at Old Trafford, passing the 200 mark with a good stand.

 

[si404]

Archer has been given a fine and a written warning: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/53456667

Arguably the bigger punishment is the sitting out this test in isolation - the rest of the team, rather than viewing him as some sort of traitor to the team, are concerned for his state of mind. And there's the question of whether the not being able to join training will make it harder for him to get in the 11 again this summer given how competitive that fast bowling role is.

 

[kje7812]

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.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

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.

England lose two quick wickets in an attempt to increase their lead prior to the final day.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Well, England did increase their lead by some spirited Stokes batting on the final day, then proceeded to take all ten second innings West Indies wickets before the day ended. Broad's early wickets were useful in achieving the win.

 

[kje7812]

And Stokes taking 5 wickets in the match as well as scores of 176 and 78 not out. What a guy.

 

[Busaholic]

And Stokes taking 5 wickets in the match as well as scores of 176 and 78 not out. What a guy.

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.

 

[Howardh]

County cricket (of sorts) back today! Yay!
And in a friendly Yorkshire are thrashing Lancashire. Un-yay.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

County cricket (of sorts) back today! Yay!
And in a friendly Yorkshire are thrashing Lancashire. Un-yay.

I see that Lancashire used no less than nine bowlers, some of their names I did not know.

Lyth decided to be kind to the bowlers and "retired out" once he had reached his century against "the old enemy"

 

[GRALISTAIR]

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.

Bothamesque in performance

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Day 1 of the Third Test saw West Indies decide to field and they took four of the top order England wickets, including that of Stokes. Pope and Butler came together with the score at 122-4, but batted the remainder of the day in an unbroken stand of 136, enabling England to reach 256-4 at the close of play.

 

[EbbwJunction1]

There was a lovely interview by Isha Guha with Sir Viv and Sir Ian about the forthcoming renaming of the Wisden Trophy at tea yesterday on TMS. The regard that they both have for each other is still evident - although they wouldn't be drawn on which order the new trophy should be named!

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!".

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Day 2 of the Third Test saw a first session early breakthough by West Indies and the fall of the four wickets of Pope (91), Buttler (67), Woakes (1) and Archer (3) saw the match on an even keel.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

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!".

I see that Lancashire used no less than nine bowlers, the names of some are unknown to me.

 

[EbbwJunction1]

England all out for 369 after an eventful morning, led by Stuart Broad with 62 off 45 balls.

 

[kje7812]

A much better looking score after being 280-8. Some early wickets for England will set this up quite nicely.

 

[stantheman]

Broad plays like an Australian with his aggression and attitude . We need more like him . Seriously worried about our stodgy opening batting . Starc , Cummins and co will chew them up . Drop Root , the most over rated batsman of test cricket in recent years

 

[si404]

Openers are a worry, and Root is a shadow of his former brilliance.

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.

*Stokes and Buttler opened the second innings in the last test due it being more like a one-day given the aim of the innings was just to score runs quickly to make the lead as hard as possible to reach while leaving enough time left to bowl the Windies out - losing wickets early didn't matter, nor did "taking the shine off" the ball - because England were only going to do 20 overs max before declaring.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

A much better looking score after being 280-8. Some early wickets for England will set this up quite nicely.

How does 63-4 look to meeting your aspiration? Two wickets for Anderson and a wicket apiece for both Broad and Archer.

 

[kje7812]

Chasing an unlikely 399 in the final innings, the Windies are 99-7. Broad now has 500 test wickets.

 

[kje7812]

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.

 

[Mikey C]

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.

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!

 

[DelW]

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.

There was a comment on TMS this week, along the lines that England have had more century opening partnerships in the last year or so than in the previous decade. They may not be fun to watch, but if Burns and Sibley can establish themselves, they could be a solid pairing for quite a few years.

Well done England for pulling back the series after the Ageas Bowl defeat, and well done West Indies for competing hard almost all the way, in quite difficult circumstances. If a few key passages of play had gone differently they'd have been the final holders of the Wisden trophy.

Roll on the new trophy - maybe it should be called Botham-Richards when England win it, and Richards-Botham when WI do?

 

[Arglwydd Golau]

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.

Absolutely..the role of the openers is to see off the new ball and not expose 3-6 to it. Poor old Buttler has come in for quite a lot of criticism but more often or not he's come in at 100-5 and had to try to play a game that is perhaps not natural to him. Seem to recall back in the Cook/Strauss period Prior would come in when the score was - say -350-5 and create merry hell! Would much prefer to see England at 60-0 at lunch on the first day off 30 overs and build from there.

 

[kje7812]

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!

3 actually (thursday, saturday, tuesday)

 

[Busaholic]

Levi Jeans could do worse than ask Stuart Broad to pose in some 501s for them (for a consideration, of course.)!

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Day 2 of the Test Match at Old Trafford saw Pakistan eventually all out for 326 (Masood 156 with 2x6 and 18x4) and then took four of the England first innings wickets, including expected and unexpected ones.

 

[Glenmutchkin]

Day 2 of the Test Match at Old Trafford saw Pakistan take four of the England first innings wickets, including expected and unexpected ones.

Which were the unexpected ones?

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Which were the unexpected ones?

Stokes....considering good weather forecasted tomorrow.