England cricket, 2019-20 winter tours
- Thread starter Santino
- Start date
littlebabyjesus
one of Maxwell's demons
He bats slow, he bats ugly, he bats long. Sibley might just be what England have been looking for. Wheels came off for SA this morning - don't think they'll get anywhere near the target. In fact, I wouldn't bet on a fifth day.
Casual Observer
enough
England to win roundabout lunchtime tomorrow. Who's idea was it to do away with 5-day tests?
littlebabyjesus
one of Maxwell's demons
It's all about money. There is no cricketing reason for it, and I can count at least a dozen cricketing reasons against it. So it will probably happen. 
Casual Observer
enough
In the last decade, more than half of all test matches went to the 5th day. Of those matches, approximately two thirds ended in a win or loss. That info on its own should be enough to sink the idea of going to 4 days. The ECB are doing enough on their own to kill spin bowling without international help.
EDIT: Probably a bit optimistic about the lunchtime prediction of my previous post.
EDIT: Probably a bit optimistic about the lunchtime prediction of my previous post.
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littlebabyjesus
one of Maxwell's demons
And look at the matches that just went to the 4th day. It is true that lots of matches end in four days at the moment, mostly due to the lack of batting quality around the world. Every match in Aus this season ended on the 4th day. But every match was one-sided. And that's what you see - matches ending on day 4 when one side dominates and the other crumbles. The best games of the last decade have mostly gone for five days. So you don't just lose results by losing the 5th day. You lose the very best games. You lose most of the classics.
littlebabyjesus
one of Maxwell's demons
I can think of one good thing coming from four-day tests and one good thing only. There will be a return to enforcing the follow-on. That's it. Only good thing to potentially come of it.
souljacker
innit
And they will have to get more militant with slow over rates too.
littlebabyjesus
one of Maxwell's demons
How? With a 6.5-hour day (make that 7 hours really), there will be even more breaks and stoppages. And more and more things keep being added. To DRS now is added the compulsory concussion check for any hit on the head.
We saw it in the summer v Ireland. There will be 91-92 overs per (seven-hour) day tops unless it's spinners from both ends. And in many parts of the world (Pakistan, Sri Lanka), they struggle to get six hours a day of play due to bad light, let alone seven. That won't change. Lose a day to the weather on top of that, might as well just forget about playing. When the administrators come out with crap about 98-over days and keep a straight face, you know that they are being disingenuous. They know full-well that that won't happen.
I don't have such a problem with 4-day tests for the likes of Ireland - nothing new for new test teams to be offered shorter matches, England gave NZ 3-day tests for their first tour. But even that is not ideal (and every one of those 3-day tests v NZ ended in a draw), and is accepted as better than nothing.
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littlebabyjesus
one of Maxwell's demons
Edited. Cricinfo was wrong.
SpookyFrank
A cheap source of teeth for aquarium gravel
I can't imagine fast bowlers being keen on playing longer days either.
Casual Observer
enough
The ECB pop was more about spinners needing dry summer pitches to do their thing. Half of championship games are now in spring with another three at the arse end of summer. Not good breeding conditions for future English spinners. Not good for batting either which is partly why the talent supply is noticeably drying up.
littlebabyjesus
one of Maxwell's demons
Or batsmen. Nobody wants it. Not the players, not the fans. That's why it's almost certain to happen.
littlebabyjesus
one of Maxwell's demons
Back to Cape Town, good stuff from SA so far. Could be a nailbiter tomorrow. England really moved the game on today, but it still needs five good days to play itself out. That's what tends to happen when teams are evenly matched.
littlebabyjesus
one of Maxwell's demons
Just enough batting left for SA to keep hoping. Like England last test. I strongly suspect the result will be the same - confident that the pressure will tell at some point, but if SA manage to block out the day, then fair play to them.
Casual Observer
enough
VD is proving difficult to get rid of.
Spymaster
Plastic Paddy
Say that again about Pilander in a minute
Casual Observer
enough
I hope that shit review doesn't come back to haunt us.
Buttler getting a bit feisty with Philander.
Buttler getting a bit feisty with Philander.
Spymaster
Plastic Paddy
Yeah. Commentators just apologised for the "foul language".
Spymaster
Plastic Paddy
Are we watching the same game? Philander's on borrowed time.
Casual Observer
enough
Credit to Vern. Hasn't given a sniff of a chance thus far. Chaos at the other end, though, which started with de Koch's needless slog a few overs back.
And a great catch from Crawley. Plenty of slip catches this match, mostly around ankle height so he did well to pouch a high wide one in a congested cordon.
And a great catch from Crawley. Plenty of slip catches this match, mostly around ankle height so he did well to pouch a high wide one in a congested cordon.
Spymaster
Plastic Paddy
Yep, he sorted himself out.
de Koch's was just a brain fart. All the others will be saying "wtf did you do that?" and he's got his head in his hands saying "I don't know"
