I think Sky Cricket will have them
England Cricket 2022
- Thread starter RileyOBlimey
- Start date
I think Sky Cricket will have them
Hazardous Mata
Active Member
A lot of people on R5 this morning saying McCullum and Stokes are ruining test cricket etc with Bazball. They were expecting England to lose. So up theirs.
I do remember the fuss when Cronjie set England a 'sporting' declaration once. We know how that turned out
I do remember the fuss when Cronjie set England a 'sporting' declaration once. We know how that turned out
littlebabyjesus
one of Maxwell's demons
Yeah, the flexibility of mind to abandon the spinners rather than reverting to defensive fields. I'm going to credit the bouncer barrage last night as part of a long-term plan to get the ball reversing. It was reversing loads in the last couple of hours. Ultimately it was that reverse swing that won them the game. But then the final twist was taking the new ball for the spinner as the light was fading. That was a touch of genius.
littlebabyjesus
one of Maxwell's demons
The crowd at the match says it all. The ground was nearly full at the end - 15,000 people on a work day for a final day at the test when normally it would be empty, and all but about 150 of them Pakistanis. Who knows how many were watching/listening around the country. This is what test cricket is for - worth skiving off work for. None of your evening starts so people can get there after work.
littlebabyjesus
one of Maxwell's demons
The obvious comparison is Botham. Peak Botham was a match-winning bowler first and foremost. His stats for his first 50-odd tests are staggering and of course include heroics such as Headingley 81. Stokes is a better bat than Botham but not as good a bowler. And of course Botham was a terrible captain. So while there are similarities, there are also big differences.
Probably best not to try to compare across eras. Stokes is special, and no his stats don't do him justice (although they're not bad), bit like Flintoff before him.
ETA:
I'm also not sure how you compare an allrounder like Stokes with a batter like Root and a bowler like Anderson. Maybe again best not to. Best just to observe that this England team contains three all-time greats.
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I dont mean just the skills. He seems to be at the centre of all England's greatest performances. It's a bit silly. Writes his own scripts.
Oh and he's given his match fee to the Pakistan flood relief programme too just to top it off. Top man.
littlebabyjesus
one of Maxwell's demons
Peak Botham felt like that as well. Was a big part of getting me into cricket as a kid, as Stokes hopefully will be to today's kids - those that get to see him behind the paywall.
Botham was surprisingly shit at one-day cricket, though. So Stokes has the edge on him there - heroics in all forms of the game.
WhyLikeThis
Something, something, something
9 whole minutes. Pretty shameful tbf.
Pakistan vs England | Day five full highlights
Full highlights from day five of the first Test between Pakistan and England in Rawalpindi.
Well. Four. Jack Leach has been crucial in two of the greatest tests in history of course. Even letting his head be used for shining the ball.
The Octagon
Stop...Hammertime
Incredible cricket and even more incredible captaincy from Stokes.
As a few have said, it won't always come off, but this kind of thinking and playing can inspire and revitalise Test cricket.
To practically brute force (with a tremendous amount of clever strategy) a result on this road of a pitch is something else.
Also, early days perhaps, but Harry Brook is going to smash batting records that have stood for over 100 years, he looks special.
As a few have said, it won't always come off, but this kind of thinking and playing can inspire and revitalise Test cricket.
To practically brute force (with a tremendous amount of clever strategy) a result on this road of a pitch is something else.
Also, early days perhaps, but Harry Brook is going to smash batting records that have stood for over 100 years, he looks special.
The Octagon
Stop...Hammertime
Nicked off Reddit, but sums up the ridiculousness of this victory:
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The Octagon
Stop...Hammertime
Last post in a row I promise, but what a photograph -
Elpenor
a clown’s heart and a mandolin
When will Anderson retire? Post ashes? That’s what 7 more tests if you assume he won’t play the Ireland one.
He’s close to 700 test wickets, overtaking Kumble to be no 2 test wicket taker and 1000 international wickets respectively. Beating either of these records if he does bow out post Ashes seems a tall order though.
He’s close to 700 test wickets, overtaking Kumble to be no 2 test wicket taker and 1000 international wickets respectively. Beating either of these records if he does bow out post Ashes seems a tall order though.
SpookyFrank
A cheap source of teeth for aquarium gravel
I haven't found any on UK TV which is, as you say, pretty shit.
planetgeli
There's no future in England's dreaming
For all the extraordinary batting...under Stokes as captain England have bowled in 15 innings. They have taken all 10 wickets in those innings EVERY time.
planetgeli
There's no future in England's dreaming
Have to clear that up for you.
3 more wickets and he overtakes Kumble to move 3rd for wickets in all internationals (956-954 atm)
37 more wickets in Tests to overtake Warne and be number 2 of all time in Tests
planetgeli
There's no future in England's dreaming
The Octagon
Stop...Hammertime
Knew there'd be something.
Elpenor
a clown’s heart and a mandolin
Ah I had confused Kumble and Warne whoops
SpookyFrank
A cheap source of teeth for aquarium gravel
Whereas Botham was and is a terrible arsehole.
The Octagon
Stop...Hammertime
Great article putting the match into context with stats - https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/63873273
This is quite a good read. I forgot that McCullum was Morgan's mentor in the IPL (and the MC at his wedding apparently)
www.theguardian.com
The Spin | Ben Stokes’s all-conquering captaincy marks daring England win a true great
Rawalpindi stands out due to the captain’s utter confidence in both the ballsy plan and his team’s ability to carry it out
WhyLikeThis
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Stokes suggesting he may one day declare without batting.
“You might see, especially in England with the weather that’s around, you might see something even more out-there even more than you’ve seen here. I might declare without batting one day, who knows?,” he said.
“You might see, especially in England with the weather that’s around, you might see something even more out-there even more than you’ve seen here. I might declare without batting one day, who knows?,” he said.
WhyLikeThis
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Bit harsh on Foakes if Pope keeps the gloves as Stokes is considering. Every catch could count in the next match as the days will likely be shorter.
Monkeygrinder's Organ
Dodgy geezer swilling vapid lager
Foakes will be in for Livingstone who's injured I would expect. If Wood is fit then I guess one of Anderson or Robinson will be rested.
No, Foakes misses out. They're sticking with Pope.
www.espncricinfo.com
Ollie Pope retains gloves as Mark Wood returns for Multan Test
Smog could pose start-time issue as England add extra bowling option to line-up
Monkeygrinder's Organ
Dodgy geezer swilling vapid lager
Seems so. Not sure I would have gone with that but the extra bowler makes some sense I suppose - particularly depending on Stokes' fitness as they don't really want him bowling a massive spell every match. Harsh on Foakes but then it would be harsh on any of the team to be dropped after the last match, with the arguable exception of Livingstone who's not available anyway.
WhyLikeThis
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Surely if getting wickets is tough you want the best keeper to exploit every opportunity? This smells a bit of superstition about not changing a winning team. Jacks may have got 6 wickets but he also bowled a lot of shite. I’d be tempted to swap him out instead and have both Wood and Foakes. Looking forward to being proved wrong!
