International cricket thread

Strumms

Burns 17 from 50 and Root 7 from 46. I think using the term ‘watchful’ would be overly diplomatic, overly kind, West Indies haven’t bowled ‘that’ well...

Lots of men in close, you’d wonder if the English batsmen with a start of sorts, men to bat, weather incoming would just go some at the WI bowlers, try to make something happen and entertain. Run rate under 2.

Gillespy

I haven't been watching to say they have left a lot of runs behind them but run rate has no place in the first session of a test match. It's about setting up the game and hope to cash in later and that's what is happening now.

Pope digging England's selectors out of a hole here. Dropping a batsman and a longer tail. Strange selections on both sides, WI persisting with Hope and Gabriel is not fit.

Strumms

When it’s 1-1 in the series, you are playing the final test match, which will according to the forecast be adversely affected by rain making a result either way , improbable, you have wickets in hand, batsmen well set.... you need to think of the run rate to enable a result.

They managed to push up the rate to 3.02 for the day which is poor, given the pitch especially ... they started swinging late and fair play, you can only think that the skipper sent on a message to get a move on, which in fairness should have happened earlier.

Mysterypunter

Strumms wrote: »

When it’s 1-1 in the series, you are playing the final test match, which will according to the forecast be adversely affected by rain making a result either way , improbable, you have wickets in hand, batsmen well set.... you need to think of the run rate to enable a result.

They managed to push up the rate to 3.02 for the day which is poor, given the pitch especially ... they started swinging late and fair play, you can only think that the skipper sent on a message to get a move on, which in fairness should have happened earlier.

He didn't send out much of a message when he was batting himself strike rate of 28.8

Gillespy

Fine if all the same wasn't said only last week with Sibley's go slow. A must win game as well. In the end with a whole day washed out England still won with time to spare. First innings runs, bat once ideally and the game can move quickly after that. This new batting approach by England isn't new at all, it's as old as the game itself.

y0ssar1an22

good start to the day for the windies. eng 272/7. 3 wickets down for 10 runs.

Gillespy

WI running riot this morning. What a warrior Gabriel is, clearly not fit but keeps going and Roach goes past 200 wickets.

y0ssar1an22

broad ticking along nicely here! 40 off 26

eng 328/8

Gillespy

Broad turning back to clock and having some fun. Really clean striker of the ball. Game swinging one way and back the other this morning.

Strumms

Broad bowling well here, just under 86 mph. The pitch offering very little help, Anderson getting some swing.

Gillespy

Broad taking his celebrappealling to new levels there.

Inquitus

Good day for England, with the mixed looking weather for the rest of the Test they might consider enforcing the follow on if they can bowl the Windies out in time. With overcast skies on English wickets, Woakes, Broad, Anderson and Archer are quite the bowling unit!

Mysterypunter

Almost impossible for West Indies from here, ridiculous decision to bowl first again, tired attack and 3 quick matches in succession. John Campbell again out for a low score after looking good. Batting is fairly fragile, but 469 & 369 in first innings totals are too many to allow when you insert the opposition. Hope it pisses rain for 3 days

VillaMad

England poor in the first hour but once Broad came on he took care of the lower order taking 6-31.

England lead by 172 after first innings and only poor weather you feel will deny them a series victory.

Strumms

If Dowrich keeps all his teeth after that he will be grateful. Ouch

The test is England’s just see if the weather plays ball.

Inquitus

Strumms wrote: »

If Dowrich keeps all his teeth after that he will be grateful. Ouch

The test is England’s just see if the weather plays ball.

They'd want to put about 400 on the board for the Windies to chase, ideally before close of play today so they can have a few overs at the Windie's openers!

Strumms

Inquitus wrote: »

They'd want to put about 400 on the board for the Windies to chase, ideally before close of play today so they can have a few overs at the Windie's openers!

They need to get going .. England are essentially 210-0 at the minute, that’s the lead. Been a bit too conservative thus far especially with all the wickets in hand. Weather and therefore time is not their friend really. With a 210 lead and 10 wickets in hand they need to pick it up to enable a victory. The openers are now in, take a risk, play some shots !

Inquitus

Strumms wrote: »

They need to get going .. England are essentially 210-0 at the minute, that’s the lead. Been a bit too conservative thus far especially with all the wickets in hand. Weather and therefore time is not their friend really. With a 210 lead and 10 wickets in hand they need to pick it up to enable a victory. The openers are now in, take a risk, play some shots !

Aye tomorrow could be a complete write off due to the weather!

Strumms

It’s what drives me demented about Roots captaincy. Then again the likes of Thorpe, you’d wonder how much of an influence he is demanding into what’s going on. Current run rate is 2.2 with no real effort to get it increased, with all wickets available that’s just dumb play in my view.

Inquitus

Strumms wrote: »

It’s what drives me demented about Roots captaincy. Then again the likes of Thorpe, you’d wonder how much of an influence he is demanding into what’s going on. Current run rate is 2.2 with no real effort to get it increased, with all wickets available that’s just dumb play in my view.

Yep, England have always been too conservative in situations like this imho, they need to swing the bat here, get the rate way up, and give themselves every opportunity to win the series. The Aussies always look for the victory when in these sorts of positions.

Strumms

If the English start swinging now they should cash in and set the field further back in defending mode. Now ones and twos are difficult to come by. Boundaries are proving almost impossible to come by, no risk no reward, the draw is pretty much in the bag, so what’s the point poking and prodding ffs. Ridiculous.

There is zero point in playing in this manner.

Inquitus

Really need to swing the bat after tea you'd think!

Tea - Eng 86-0
Lead by 258

Strumms

Yep, they cannot loose this test, it’s not possible. So just fûcking go try and win the series.

Inquitus

Getting bogged down again, I agree fully with the fellow below from the beeb.

Vic Marks - Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

They've shown they can accelerate because they're doing it. But they should've done it earlier. They should be treating this as a four-day Test given the forecast for tomorrow.

Strumms

I’m a big fan of Root the cricketer but he’s just too conservative of a Captain.

Slim Charles

They will still win this at an absolute canter.

Inquitus

Slim Charles wrote: »

They will still win this at an absolute canter.

Tomorrow is meant to be a write off, with some rain also forecast for Tues, I agree if there is enough play they win at a canter, but that can't be guaranteed.

Slim Charles

Inquitus wrote: »

Tomorrow is meant to be a write off, with some rain also forecast for Tues, I agree if there is enough play they win at a canter, but that can't be guaranteed.

I was taking that into account also, as well as factoring in Burns getting to a ton before a dec came!

Strumms

Yes, BBC forecast suggests tomorrow is a write off, things improve very late afternoon but I’m doubting the clean up, set up and cover removal would lead to anything more than an hours play, best case scenario. Again that might improve we shall see. We should have a full days play on Tuesday, scheduled now to be overcast but warm with no rain forecast.

y0ssar1an22

blistering start from England here