Cricket

[Howardh]

In a Popemobile?

Doubt it, I've never known the Pope to come on first change from the Diglis End

Perhaps a younger one might take up the game?!

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Pope John Paul II would have been ideal behind the stumps, as he was quite a good goalkeeper in his younger days, with hands the size of shovels..

 

[Haywain]

The 3 match test series against Sri Lanka began today at Old Trafford in front of a less than full crowd.

I was at Old Trafford on Friday and was surprised at the number of empty seats, in spite of the Test Match Special crew talking about it being a “packed ground” and a “sell out”.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

I was at Old Trafford on Friday and was surprised at the number of empty seats, in spite of the Test Match Special crew talking about it being a “packed ground” and a “sell out”.

Would the phrase "sell out" be a reference to the actual number of tickets being sold?

 

[Busaholic]

I was at Old Trafford on Friday and was surprised at the number of empty seats, in spite of the Test Match Special crew talking about it being a “packed ground” and a “sell out”.

Is it really a surprise, though? Leaving aside the cost of tickets, a Test Match against sides like West Indies, Sri Lanka and Ireland are often quite likely to be completed before the end of the third day, which Friday was. Sri Lanka did pretty well in the circumstances, with most of their team coming up with gutsy performances, and a couple of them outstanding ones. This was despite the Sri Lankans being denied a second warm-up match, the first one not providing top class opposition anyway. Only four of the Sri Lankan team had played first class cricket in England before, and only one of those recently.

 

[Haywain]

Would the phrase "sell out" be a reference to the actual number of tickets being sold?

If it was, then the no-shows were a far higher proportion of the crowd than usual.

Is it really a surprise, though?

Yes, to me it was. I had been to two days each of test against West Indies at Lord's where it was close to full, and at Trent Bridge which was sold out. At Old Trafford there were a few thousand empty seats.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

If it was, then the no-shows were a far higher proportion of the crowd than usual.

Yes, to me it was. I had been to two days each of test against West Indies at Lord's where it was close to full, and at Trent Bridge which was sold out. At Old Trafford there were a few thousand empty seats.

If that test match at Old Trafford been against Pakistan, I have a feeling matters would have been different.

 

[75A]

See Ollie Pope continues to show why he's been chosen as England's Captain. In the first Test he got 6 & 6 and most of his 'reviews' wrong, today he played a terrible shot and was out for 1.
England currently83-3 after 19 overs.

97-3 @ Lunch.

 

[High Dyke]

Nottinghamshire doing what they do best again...

 

[SuspectUsual]

Nottinghamshire doing what they do best again...

Signed another promising young Leicestershire player?!?

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Atkinson's runs towards the final part of the first day gave the England first innings total an air of respectability.

 

[Meole]

Pope is there simply to lead the side, his batting is not relevant any runs he scores are a bonus. When Stokes returns he is the obvious casualty.

 

[Haywain]

Atkinson's runs towards the final part of the first day gave the England first innings total an air of respectability.

Yes, important to ignore Root's contribution.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Yes, important to ignore Root's contribution.

I had not ignored Root's contribution, which anchored the first innings over much of the day and I am sure that he did not expect to be at the crease as early in the day owing to the demise of both Lawrence and Pope. I was just noting the contribution of the 70odd Atkinson innings to have England ending the day on a respectful innings total.

Pope's three inning scores of 6, 6 and 1 may well be a sign that having the captaincy, of which he has little first-class let alone Test Match experience has been a step too far and has distracted him from being able to concentrate on his batting.

 

[Falcon1200]

Joe Root did what he usually does, wonderfully, but I was most impressed with Atkinson's contribution too.

Meanwhile, Gloucs v Northants was abandoned after one day due to the state of the pitch, meaning that what might have been Northants' first chance of a win this season has been snatched away, through no fault of theirs.

 

[scarby]

Meanwhile, Gloucs v Northants was abandoned after one day due to the state of the pitch, meaning that what might have been Northants' first chance of a win this season has been snatched away, through no fault of theirs.

Not a good look at all, not to mention a broken finger for Vasconcelos. Also imagine if you had travelled there for the game and booked a hotel to stay over a couple of nights.

 

[Donny Dave]

Atkinson's runs towards the final part of the first day gave the England first innings total an air of respectability.

He has now beaten his highest first class score and still going.

 

[Haywain]

Atkinson has now become the fastest man in history to get his name on all three honours boards* at Lord's, having done it in just 5 innings over two Test matches. He beats Ian Botham who needed one innings more.


*5 wicket innings, 10 wicket match and 100 runs.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

He has now beaten his highest first class score and still going.

England 427 all out

Atkinson out for 118 from only 115 balls faced, with 4 x 6 and 14 x 4.

Fernando took the final three wickets to fall and had figures of 24 - 2 - 102 - 5.

 

[baz962]

Great to watch. Stunning catch to end Atkinson. The first cricket match I have been to.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Not an ideal start to the Sri Lanka 1st innings, being 35-3 after 10 overs,

 

[Donny Dave]

Not an ideal start to the Sri Lanka 1st innings, being 35-3 after 10 overs,

Now 83-5

 

[75A]

Now 83-5

108-6 and Captain (sic) Ollie Pope has yet another failed 'review', is he going for some sort of a record?

 

[Haywain]

108-6 and Captain (sic) Ollie Pope has yet another failed 'review', is he going for some sort of a record?

Doesn’t seem to matter, now 118-7.

 

[WelshBluebird]

Meanwhile, Gloucs v Northants was abandoned after one day due to the state of the pitch, meaning that what might have been Northants' first chance of a win this season has been snatched away, through no fault of theirs

As someone who is only a casual follower (I've gone to a couple of T20 games), what specially was up? Not managing to find much info more than what you have said! And pretty confused about why a batter getting a broken finger is the fault of the pitch rather than them just missing the ball! Again probably just naive / uninformed but would be interesting in understanding!

 

[Donny Dave]

It could be that the type of pitch used was too unpredictable. Other than that I can't think of any other reason.

In other news, Jonny Bairstow has sent a reminder to the England selectors, after scoring an unbeaten century.

Correction, Jonny was unbeaten overnight, but out for 160 this afternoon.

 

[Haywain]

Jonny Bairstow has sent a reminder to the England selectors, after scoring an unbeaten century.

I’ve loved watching him play for England but selections now are very much about the Ashes in 18 months times and beyond.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

In day 2 of the Hampshire v Lancashire match, Lancashire seemed to be on line in response to the Hampshire all out total of 389 and after 38 overs, had reached 102-1.

Then the usual batting disaster occurred and after 49 overs, they found themselves at 122-6....

 

[SuspectUsual]

As someone who is only a casual follower (I've gone to a couple of T20 games), what specially was up? Not managing to find much info more than what you have said! And pretty confused about why a batter getting a broken finger is the fault of the pitch rather than them just missing the ball! Again probably just naive / uninformed but would be interesting in understanding!

A hybrid pitch (mixture of grass and synthetic stuff) which in itself isn’t terribly unusual but this one seems to have really unpredictable bounce and the umpires felt it’s continued use was a danger to the batsmen.

Makes a change for Bristol, as in recent years pitches there have been placid and difficult to take wickets on

 

[75A]

Sri Lanks were all ot for 196 giving England a 1st innings lead of 231.
Ollie Pope threw a fantastic direct run out which really was impressive.