Stand by all of it. This has been an awful performance. Only bit I may have wrong is that someone will come out of it looking better than they actually are.
There's a stat out there that is something like: England have been bowled out in one session four times in the last four years, twice in the whole of test history before that, including the weird low-scoring games of the 19th century.
Nonsense!
The first of the recent four was when we lost in Bangladesh in Autumn 2015. I believe the previous occasion was 1934.
I hate to say this, but this period coincides with England's upturn in odi fortunes and I don't think it's a coincidence. The very best batsmen can switch between codes. Kohli, Smith, Williamson. But others struggle. I think Bairstow might be damaged by his odi success, and after his performance today dancing down the track to a medium pacer with his team in trouble, I think Root is showing signs of damage as well. Can you imagine Williamson doing that? That's a worry - Root is England's only batsman with an average over 40. All the others, including those due to come back in, are mid-30s or lower.
What in the hell kind of grammar is that?!
They're just not a world class side. Dared to dream for 2 days but couldn't back it up and have been brought down to Earth brutally. The worst ever test batting performance at Lords, someone on telly said. Total shit. I reckon most village teams would score more than they did this morning. I'm really fucking cross.
