England Cricket 2021

[Idaho]

Not seeing any threat to these two at the moment.

 

[littlebabyjesus]

There's not really much between these two teams. Switch teams for Bess and Ashwin and I'd probably fancy England.

It's a bit desperate that Bess can't be bowled in these conditions. Five overs to the new ball. India will have a lead by then.

 

[Spymaster]

It's an excellent little partnership.

 

[planetgeli]

It's an excellent little partnership.

Yeah, alright

 

[littlebabyjesus]

Sundar can bat. He should probably be above Ashwin. Pant we know about. Annoyingly this is basically the last recognised pair.

 

[Idaho]

I think we're going to get some stick until the end of the day.

 

[littlebabyjesus]

Losing the game right here.

I think I was about right in thinking England were 100 short of a good score, 50 short of a serviceable one.

Pant's a dodgy keeper but he's one hell of a batsman. Going for it before Anderson returns.

 

[Spymaster]

That graphic on Channel 4 where they put up the match summary is quite startling. At first glance it looks like a plane is crashing through the roof of the stadium.

 

[planetgeli]

Desperate for the new ball.

Let's face it, Bess instead of Broad was a massive mistake. (Archer injured apparently).

 

[kabbes]

Personally, I maintain that 350 was par for a first innings score. Quite a few batsmen have shown the pitch to be well and truly playable. Scores are poor because both top orders thought their jobs were to immediately go for broke

 

[littlebabyjesus]

It's not an unplayable pitch, you're right. And England need to remember that second innings if they're, say, 50 or 70 behind. Score 250, set 200 to win, and hope Bess turns up second innings.

 

[planetgeli]

I don't think India, after their recent exploits against Aus, are going to have any trouble chasing 200 on this pitch with the WTC at stake.

I also don't think there's a hope in hell they'll have to chase 200.

 

[littlebabyjesus]

Anderson back, so at least there won't be any scoring...

 

[Mumbles274]

Pant going for it now. Ominous

 

[littlebabyjesus]

New ball with set batsmen rather than openers can travel.

 

[QueenOfGoths]

Mr. QofG's has taken to singing Washington Sundar to the tune of Buffalo Soldiers and it's really fucking me off as it's now my earworm

 

[QueenOfGoths]

Now that reverse sweep was just rude!!

 

[littlebabyjesus]

You've got to try to enjoy it. Against anybody else, I'd be loving Pant right now.

Game nearly gone, though.

 

[littlebabyjesus]

Gottim!

Well played, Pant. Changed the game.

 

[Spymaster]

That looked like a sharp catch live but pretty regulation on the replay.

 

[planetgeli]

Gottim!

Well played, Pant. Changed the game.

Yep. For all our crapness and perceived selection mistakes sometimes you have to hold your hand up and say 'they were better than us'. In Pant they have a proven match-winner.

Bess is still shite mind. But he's young. He will improve. Unlike Rory Burns.

 

[Idaho]

Poor Burns.

I wonder what the ratio of decent test openers to shit ones is internationally, and whether it just seems like England struggles more than other sides.

 

[littlebabyjesus]

Pant's onslaughts are premeditated, but they are considered. He's shown here and in Aus that he will stick in when necessary and that he doesn't lose patience. He attacks exactly when he thinks it's right to attack and only then. And he commits 100 per cent. It's mightily impressive.

Leach bowled well. Stokes was totally spent at the end, sending down powder puff at 120ks. Bess was needed today to perform a holding job at the least, just put it on a spot six balls an over. The number of full tosses and long hops was appalling. I felt for him. That terrific diving stop on the boundary near the end showed he was trying his hardest. But I'm not sure when he'll play for England again. Looking at the schedule, probably not for another couple of years at least. Will he get a decent chance with Yorkshire to hone his skills?

 

[littlebabyjesus]

Poor Burns.

I wonder what the ratio of decent test openers to shit ones is internationally, and whether it just seems like England struggles more than other sides.

Over the last 3-4 years: Aus have struggled to find a partner for Warner. NZ have struggled to find a partner for Latham. WI have struggled to find a partner for Brathwaite. Bangladesh have struggled to find a partner for Tamim. SA have a couple of good openers in Markram and Elgar. SL have struggled recently for consistent openers. So have Pakistan.

So it's not just England. I actually think there's a good chance Sibley-Crawley will work long-term.

 

[SpookyFrank]

That umpire's call review with Pant still on 20 really fucked us.

 

[SpookyFrank]

Over the last 3-4 years: Aus have struggled to find a partner for Warner.

I can think of a good partner for him: a hand grenade with the pin missing.

 

[planetgeli]

'kinell. You know it's time to go to bed when you find yourself agreeing with Agnew. But he's right. Pant may well be destined to become one of the great wicket-keeper batsmen. I didn't realise he's only 23. His keeping has improved massively in this series alone.

Still. 3 quick wickets tomorrow and one of the great 2nd innings performances of all time and this is ours to lose.

 

[Idaho]

this is ours to lose.

I agree. I think we'll manage it.

 

[kabbes]

Personally, I maintain that 350 was par for a first innings score. Quite a few batsmen have shown the pitch to be well and truly playable. Scores are poor because both top orders thought their jobs were to immediately go for broke

Yup.

 

[SpookyFrank]

Picking seven specialist batsmen is just telling them you expect most of them to fail. Not that I'd call some of these 'specialist batsmen' at this point.

Picking only two seamers is just a shit idea all day long.