England Cricket 2021

[Monkeygrinder's Organ]

Didn't make any difference. You can't score 193 runs in two innings and not be thrashed. A Chris Woakes here or a Dom Bess there would not have changed anything.

This. Although it didn't work (at all) the swing heavy attack was still probably the best chance of actually winning - maybe with hindsight you'd pick Bess and perhaps lose by a bit less but so what. And on the batting side who is there? Only Rory Burns really - maybe he might have done OK but quite probably not and definitely not well enough to make a significant difference.

 

[littlebabyjesus]

This. Although it didn't work (at all) the swing heavy attack was still probably the best chance of actually winning - maybe with hindsight you'd pick Bess and perhaps lose by a bit less but so what. And on the batting side who is there? Only Rory Burns really - maybe he might have done OK but quite probably not and definitely not well enough to make a significant difference.

I thought dropping Burns was the right call. tbh I very much doubt he would have done anything. He's clearly terrible against spin. I also thought Bairstow for Lawrence was fair enough.

And there's no guarantee Bess would have done better than Root.

This was a terrible pitch, and England played terrible cricket on it. Not much more to say. India will no doubt serve up more of the same next match. I'm pretty sure they want 3-1 and that WTC final.

 

[Idaho]

Pope really needs a score in the last test.

 

[Argonia]

Papal infallibility

 

[Idaho]

His only memorable contribution seems to have been dropping Kohli.

 

[two sheds]

We should be grateful really. At least it wasn't a tense five-day match keeping us holding on in extended hope that we'd snatch victory at the last only to be grievously disappointed by a plucky final-wicket Indian partnership.

 

[littlebabyjesus]

We should be grateful really. At least it wasn't a tense five-day match keeping us holding on in extended hope that we'd snatch victory at the last only to be grievously disappointed by a plucky final-wicket Indian partnership.

I had tomorrow pencilled in as my watch cricket day.

 

[SpookyFrank]

Christ what a shitshow. I didn't see any of it live, was the pitch so bad as to excuse such an abject result for England?

Hopefully 50,000 ticket refunds will force Indian cricket rethink the pitch issue anyway.

 

[planetgeli]

Based on what just happened they probably will pick Bess instead of a seamer for the 4th. Might give his confidence a boost to pick up easy wickets.

I don't think I've ever watched a Test where it felt like there could be a wicket every ball like that England 2nd innings (and India's latter half of their 1st innings). It was ridiculous. A game of skittles. I think one or two batters have to be nominated in that situation to go out and have a swing a la Moeen and told not to worry about getting out cheaply. Because everyone was getting out cheaply anyway. It's not cricket, certainly not Test cricket, but play the conditions. A swift 40 or 50 from a couple of people in those circumstances can change the game.

 

[planetgeli]

Christ what a shitshow. I didn't see any of it live, was the pitch so bad as to excuse such an abject result for England?

Hopefully 50,000 ticket refunds will force Indian cricket rethink the pitch issue anyway.

The ball was turning sideways at 90km/h. That's unplayable (and the bowling was good, no freebies). But as Zapp mentioned, you can't have holes in the bowlers footmarks, craters even. That's just dangerous.

 

[Mumbles274]

Images just released shown the preparation of the pitch for the 4th test

 

[two sheds]

It's not cricket

 

[planetgeli]

Well, it really wasn't. Root's summation was right. Winning the toss wasn't capitalised on because those who did get in didn't go on to make proper scores. This applies to the 1st day only. The second day was a joke. Watch Foakes (in either innings actually). He was playing French cricket to a lot of balls because he had no choice. Bat absolutely miles away from his body. Watch Leach. He knew what was going on and could read it as well as anyone. And he, almost literally, got cut in half by one ball which he didn't so much play down the wrong line to as play down the wrong pitch (cut strip). Foakes also got a ball which pitched on off and Pant took it outside the cut strip on the leg side.

Day one was everything and we capitulated.

30 wickets and 21 went to straight balls. Pink ball varnish was (seemingly) increasing the speed of the ball once it pitched. So, a combination of good bowling, bad batting, ridiculously prepared pitch, plus pink ball.

Pink ball needs to go.

Apparently India can't be sanctioned for the pitch.

 

[cybershot]

Channel 4 must be pissed!

 

[Argonia]

Channel 4 must be pissed!

Why, have they been drinking?

 

[littlebabyjesus]

Apparently India can't be sanctioned for the pitch.

Why not? Can anyone be sanctioned for pitches in tests?

I'd have thought the fact it was dangerous to the fast bowlers on the first day would be the strongest cause for sanction. If a pitch falls apart after four days, ok. But after four hours?

 

[planetgeli]

Why not? Can anyone be sanctioned for pitches in tests?

I'd have thought the fact it was dangerous to the fast bowlers on the first day would be the strongest cause for sanction. If a pitch falls apart after four days, ok. But after four hours?

I don't know but apparently their WTC place is safe (if and when they beat us next game) even if they play the 4th Test on an actual beach. Which must please Australia who got docked points for a marginally slow over rate.

While Kohli's men have taken a step closer to the WTC final at Lord's, England are now out of contention. In case the Ahmedabad pitch is rated poor by the ICC, it will not hurt India's standing in the WTC.

That's from the live report on cricinfo. Though if you click the highlighted bit it actually makes no reference to them not being allowed to be sanctioned.

 

[planetgeli]

What's the best bowling record in history? 5 for 8 isn't bad...

More on that.

5 for 8 in 6.2 overs, the most economical five-for by a spinner in Test history,

Which says...a lot.

 

[littlebabyjesus]

It's kind of funny that Aus will probably miss out because of a marginally slow over rate, mind.

However, India's status as one of the teams I like is in jeopardy. There are still individuals in the team I am fond of (Bumrah, Ishant, Pujara), but I'll be cheering on the Kiwis at Lord's I think, if India do beat England next match.

 

[planetgeli]

Ah, this is from the first highlighted bit of that quote littlebabyjesus

Importantly for India, the WTC rules state that even if the Ahmedabad stadium gets an unfavourable rating from the ICC - the Test got over in under two days, with spinners running amok - the team, India, will not be affected.

 

[cybershot]

Why, have they been drinking?

I suspect they have paid a decent amount and also had good viewing figures what with so many at home. If I was at work no way I’d have it on while i was working.

3 days of coverage lost and probably a bunch of ad time revenue lost too.

 

[GarveyLives]

Pink-ball Test: Stuart Broad, James Anderson and Jofra Archer have been licking their lips - Ben Stokes

... so has he.​

 

[two sheds]

Definitely grateful to England today for getting it all over with - lovely day out there I'm going in the garden rather than being depressed at seeing wickets falling.

 

[planetgeli]

Christ knows what team they'll play tomorrow. Who would you play? With explanations.

Bairstow
Sibley
Crawley

They certainly won't do this (they'll probably have 1 and 3 the other way around). Bairstow is a walking wicket so may as well have him open and be something for one rather than something for two. Is my reasoning. And I'd never pick Burns. Ever again.

Root
Stokes
Lawrence

Again, almost certainly not (Lawrence). But Pope may deserve a break and seems unable to get going anyway. Tanya Aldred makes a case for resting Pope here.

England would be wise to rest Ollie Pope for final Test against India

Perhaps England could take a lesson from Ashes in 2014 when Joe Root was dropped before returning to make an unbeaten 200 against Sri Lanka – the rest is history

www.theguardian.com

Lawrence looked mighty hopeless early in this series but did get 70 against Sri Lanka.

Foakes (but just don't stand there playing back for 5* or 12 and out).
Bess (yeah, I know, but another few cheap lucky wickets couldn't hurt and we need two proper spinners...probably)
Leach
Archer
Anderson


Woakes flew home last week. So he's been to S.Africa, Sri Lanka and India and not even got a game, poor sod.

 

[kabbes]

It’s always frustrating to not play Woakes, Foakes and Stokes at every opportunity.

 

[littlebabyjesus]

Root was dropped. Carberry was stitched up. I get the reasoning, but is there going to be a Carberry-style fall guy this time as well? I guess another pair of failures for Bairstow might just about do his test career in.

I think 7-11 pick themselves really (I'd also go with Anderson and Archer, plus Bess has to come back). 1-6? Any punt really, given that they've failed collectively in the last two matches. I'd be tempted to stick with the same players and just ask them to try again. None of the possible replacements really feel like an improvement. If Buttler were around, I'd stick him in as a specialist batter - he's resourceful enough to find something in impossible situations. But he isn't.

 

[Monkeygrinder's Organ]

I'd go with Root at 3 with Crawley behind him. My theory being that he's currently more or less the only batsman you could see getting in early and getting a big score but maybe if he did then Crawley would be much more likely to get a big score himself on the back of that, and possibly enough to make it competitive. They won't obviously as Root likes to bat 4 and you'd be risking your whole plan falling apart in ten minutes when Root is out in the second over (and also you're maybe prioritising Crawley and hanging out the openers) but it does at least give a semi-plausible route to winning (similar to why I didn't have a problem with all the seamers last game).

 

[planetgeli]

Not the main problem but this is beginning to bug me.

Jofra Archer - batting.

First Class average 23
Test average below 8

In tests at 8 he averages 5. At 9 he averages 6. He's batted twice at 10, scored his top score of 30 and averages 19.

Stick him at 10, give him free rein, and watch him make a mental 50. He can bat.

 

[planetgeli]

Well that's a weird selection.

 

[Monkeygrinder's Organ]

Yeah who needs bowlers, what do they ever do anyway?

This is a different sort of innings to the last test. There doesn't seem to be the sense of panic, like every ball is unplayable, but India are just able to keep it tight and England are scoring slowly enough that eventually they'll get out without scoring too many. Suspect a couple of days in the field and an innings defeat will follow tbh, but I do think an innings like this from Pope is encouraging in that he's learning how to play in India.