England Cricket 2024
- Thread starter littlebabyjesus
- Start date
Wilf
Slouching towards Billingham
Didn't know he flew helicopters in the Falklands.
Wilf
Slouching towards Billingham
TO be fair the commentators are talking in something like the same hyperbolic terms.A lead of 300?
So England to declare with a score something over, er, 850...!
Spymaster
Plastic Paddy
Which is pretty unrealistic.
littlebabyjesus
one of Maxwell's demons
Two full days left. The pitch may very well start to go at some point. Pakistan are a team with very fragile confidence. If England can score 700+, they've got a chance. Need to keep them out there fielding for most of tomorrow, properly knacker them out.
A draw is favourite now, for sure, but not an inevitability.
A draw is favourite now, for sure, but not an inevitability.
Zapp Brannigan
Built like a steakhouse, handles like a bistro
Pitches in Pakistan can and do fall apart, but I can't see it on this occasion - not enough to go from probably 20 wickets in nearly 4 days to a result.
I'd love to be proved wrong though, would make for some finish.
I'd love to be proved wrong though, would make for some finish.
Monkeygrinder's Organ
Dodgy geezer swilling vapid lager
Pakistan also have a recent history of falling apart spectacularly on the back of big first innings totals. Get enough of a lead and England will at least be able to put some pressure on their second innings which would give them some chance of forcing the result.
planetgeli
There's no future in England's dreaming
A lead of 300?
So England to declare with a score something over, er, 850...!
I actually don't think 800 is out of the question and I'd like to see it done. This pitch deserves it. And the psychological blow to Pakistan would be big. And England could get to 800 by just after tea tomorrow.
No stupid declarations please, this pitch is knackering*, the bowlers don't need to bowl another 100+ overs for the sake of it.
* There's a great line in the Guardian report today.
When Brook was on 75 he defended a ball from Aamir Jamal that bounced into the ground, up off his chin and from there back down and into the stumps, but by that point even the bails were too knackered to move.
littlebabyjesus
one of Maxwell's demons
I agree about no stupid declarations. England should not declare before tea tomorrow, and quite possibly they should bat on a fair bit after tea if they're still out there. Pitch may not ever break up but they need to give it maximum chance to.
Wilf
Slouching towards Billingham
That would leave Pakistan needing less than 120.
That would leave Pakistan needing less than 120.
Yep
Wilf
Slouching towards Billingham
Aside from only needing 120, you'd, give them 5 sessions to do it? Sorry, not making my point very clearly, that would give them a chance to build a lead and control the pace of the match.
Wilf
Slouching towards Billingham
Yeah, but I'm even worse. For a moment, post 822, I forgot this was still the first innings.
Zapp Brannigan
Built like a steakhouse, handles like a bistro
If you're quick, you could edit and add "to make England bat again". No one will notice.Yeah, but I'm even worse. For a moment, post 822, I forgot this was still the first innings.
Wilf
Slouching towards Billingham
Anyway... , I'll now move onto statements of the obvious. It will depend if England lose wickets early in the morning, as often happens after a couple of mammoth innings. If Root and Brook stay in a while, and we get something similar from Smith and maybe a few from Woakes, they'll keep on batting as long as they can as fast as they can. Their ideal scenario is probably declare at teatime. Seems a bit weird though, even with this pitch, to be talking about scores of 750 plus when just 3 more wickets could change the whole scenario.
Anyway, as Root has ice on his hamstring, I'll put some on my brain.
, I'll now move onto statements of the obvious. It will depend if England lose wickets early in the morning, as often happens after a couple of mammoth innings. If Root and Brook stay in a while, and we get something similar from Smith and maybe a few from Woakes, they'll keep on batting as long as they can as fast as they can. Their ideal scenario is probably declare at teatime. Seems a bit weird though, even with this pitch, to be talking about scores of 750 plus when just 3 more wickets could change the whole scenario.Anyway, as Root has ice on his hamstring, I'll put some on my brain.
SpookyFrank
A cheap source of teeth for aquarium gravel
Joe Root, ridiculous numbers now. 12578 runs at an average of over 51. 35 centuries. And he shows no signs of slowing down.
littlebabyjesus
one of Maxwell's demons
All I'll say is that people were saying exactly that at this stage in games last time England were in Pakistan.
Also, Bangladesh a few weeks ago. Pakistan have recent form for plucking defeat from a certain draw and they won't fancy it one bit if England get a lead here.
Zapp Brannigan
Built like a steakhouse, handles like a bistro
England do have a lead, 50 and still with those 7 wickets in hand.
It can't be good for Pakistan's collective mindset when these 2 resume in the morning, bat sensibly to a lead, and then start to accelerate.
Brook closing in on the 200 too, records and milestones tumbling all the time.
It can't be good for Pakistan's collective mindset when these 2 resume in the morning, bat sensibly to a lead, and then start to accelerate.
Brook closing in on the 200 too, records and milestones tumbling all the time.
Zapp Brannigan
Built like a steakhouse, handles like a bistro
Next into the equation is personal milestones vs maximum time to win the match. Get both to 300 by tea and declare?
BTW, calling it now - Tendulkar's "unbreakable" record of test runs is going to go. By the end of this series Root will be at or close to 3000 runs behind, he scores 1000+ a year, and just keeps getting better and better.
BTW, calling it now - Tendulkar's "unbreakable" record of test runs is going to go. By the end of this series Root will be at or close to 3000 runs behind, he scores 1000+ a year, and just keeps getting better and better.
Spymaster
Plastic Paddy
The match will draw. Gotta give Root and Brooke a go at Lara's 400* surely?
