planetgeli
There's no future in England's dreaming
Despite the flying start that doesn't look as good as it should do yet. For 3 would have been much worse and Pope doesn't look safe to me.
England Cricket 2024
- Thread starter littlebabyjesus
- Start date
bugger - i'd got the idea it started tomorrow.
it's getting to the stage where test matches starting on a thursday almost comes as a surprise, like football matches starting at 3pm on a saturday...
and BBC has on their text report
Yep. It's perfect batting conditions. Bonkers decision by WI really to field.
planetgeli
There's no future in England's dreaming
I think that was one of England's less impressive 400s. Obviously it wins the day after being put in (which was a mistake anyway) but that didn't come without a considerable amount of luck and dropped catches.
littlebabyjesus
one of Maxwell's demons
Yep, far from convincing and a stronger team would have pounced today. England are still well ahead, but they gifted WI a bunch of wickets.
I was disappointed by WI discipline today. Was hoping for better from them.
Pope is the new Burns. Batting streakily and lucky as fuck at the moment. A bad trot is probably around the corner.
I was disappointed by WI discipline today. Was hoping for better from them.
Pope is the new Burns. Batting streakily and lucky as fuck at the moment. A bad trot is probably around the corner.
Didn't someone rough him up yesterday while he was batting?
QueenOfGoths
Fuck you Dave!
Can you imagine trying to hit a 97.1 mph bowl!!?
I think the fastest I faced in my youth was probably about 75. And that scared the shit out of me. 97mph - I mean how do you even see it?
Spymaster
Plastic Paddy
Quite often, you don't.
You see it briefly out of the bowlers hand, then you lose it on the way down, and hopefully pick it up again after it pitches. So, in large part you're playing the line (i.e. where you think it's going to be).
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planetgeli
There's no future in England's dreaming
Unfortunately, yes, as they can't bat. Having said that, Lara seems to think Athanaze is the new Lara so let's give them another session.
But yes, they are shit, and this is bad news for cricket. Fortunately it'll all soon be franchises for T20 and nothing else so maybe it doesn't matter anyway.
QueenOfGoths
Fuck you Dave!
They were talking about that on TMS yesterday and how T20 has affected test cricket in the West Indies in particular.
Spymaster
Plastic Paddy
Yep. They waited for me to say the Windies were shit, then started playing cricket.
planetgeli
There's no future in England's dreaming
Have we knackered Wood now too? I had to go out, no idea what's happened. (Except I was right about 'give them another session', Athanaze etc)
littlebabyjesus
one of Maxwell's demons
Windies win the day and we have a Test Match on our hands! Anything can happen from here, but a result one way or the other is likely.
England's batting yesterday just didn't feel totally clever, and today has put that into context.
England's batting yesterday just didn't feel totally clever, and today has put that into context.
littlebabyjesus
one of Maxwell's demons
England lose the plot against the last pair.
Seen this before.
Seen this before.
Sasaferrato
We've been together now for twenty years...
The WI batting is considerably better this time, thankfully.
Monkeygrinder's Organ
Dodgy geezer swilling vapid lager
Similar pattern to the Australia series, although we'll see if it ends up as a win as well. It does show they've got a bit more about them than it seemed. I think the test nations collectively really need to look at supporting proper prep for the good of the game - England can't solve all the WI problems but they could offer them a couple of games against strong opposition so they're not coming in cold at least.
littlebabyjesus
one of Maxwell's demons
It's also about money. Equal appearance money for all players on both sides is long overdue in test cricket, and it's good to hear more people saying this. Often England's players are on 10x the pay of the opposition just in appearance money alone, let alone the huge annual retainer. This gets worked out using a formula under which the players get X% of the ECB's total international revenue, but they get that 10x pay even when they lose. As this series is showing, it takes two teams to make a spectacle.
I've posted about this before. The 'big 3' dipping into their pockets and paying everyone the same appearance money they currently pay their own players would cost maybe $10-20 million a year. That's not a lot in the scheme of things.
planetgeli
There's no future in England's dreaming
Of a 151 run stand (so far) Root has 50 while Brook has 100.
Which is good batting, much better than the 1st innings.
Which is good batting, much better than the 1st innings.
Zapp Brannigan
Built like a steakhouse, handles like a bistro
Root's up to 8th on the all-time test runs chart too, and next up on the list is one Brian Charles Lara (about 80 more needed).
250+ lead. Big session coming up after lunch - I think England will be looking at a full 4 sessions to take 10 wickets on a good batting pitch, and it might need a dangled carrot of a score to encourage some loose shots.
250+ lead. Big session coming up after lunch - I think England will be looking at a full 4 sessions to take 10 wickets on a good batting pitch, and it might need a dangled carrot of a score to encourage some loose shots.
