International cricket thread

Gillespy · 23-01-2021 2:08pm

Might as well open with Bairstow and Root and bring in Pope and Stokes for Chennai. Crawley is better than he's shown here I think. Both should enjoy Australia, they will be fine everywhere outside the subcontinent really.

Root is in amazing form. Best batsman in the world to watch when playing like this. Scores so easily and quickly.

Last thing Bess and Leach wanted to see was Embuldeniya spin the ball never mind take wickets. They look a level below.

Strumms · 23-01-2021 2:36pm

Considering Galle is a ground that always facilitates and favors spin bowling ... Both Leach and Bess have looked distinctly average and non threatening. Economical to a point but... neither bowlers taking a wicket in the first innings

Bess although early days is averaging, 2.4 wickets per ‘test’.. having played 11.

Leach 3.6 per test having played the same number of tests.

As an opposition batsman those numbers wouldn’t exactly be striking fear into you....both played well and had an impact last test but need consistency.

MrKingsley · 23-01-2021 3:57pm

Just got to see the final session this morning. Root really is a joy to watch when playing like this. No risks and just good sensible cricket whilst scoring at a good lick.

Not a very good bowling performance from the off spinners though

VillaMad · 23-01-2021 4:20pm

You do wonder whether England will feel they should have brought Keaton Jennings along. He has proven hopeless at Test level in England against seam bowling but has a century in Sri Lanka and India where spinners bowl from the off with the new ball. Sibley and Crawley both look horrible at the moment.

As for the state of the game, Root will have to go big again for England you feel as he just looks like he is in the form of his life and is seeing the ball like a beach ball at the moment. Pitch is expected to turn from possibly tomorrow onwards and England will really have to score very heavily in the first innings.

Gillespy · 23-01-2021 5:36pm

Jennings was in the squad for the tour there that got cancelled. Sibley and Crawley had a good summer since so he lost out this time. Jennings has the opposite problem like you say so would be targeted by Lakmal and Fernando instead. And Bumrah and Ishant Sharma would fancy him too. Be interesting to see what they do. Persisting with Sibley on the evidence so far would be foolish.

Strumms · 23-01-2021 8:14pm

Frustrating thing about Sibley is the number of starts but the inability to score big, even a 50 or two to complement the hundred.

This tour...

1st... 4 & 29

2nd... 34 & 133

3rd... 36

4th... 44 & 44

In 13 test matches he’s scored 2 100’s and 2 50’s.

So he’s rarely getting out cheaply, only failed once in 7 innings on the current tour which is great for an opening batsman but in terms of converting good solid starts into big or solid scores... work to be done.

Gillespy · 23-01-2021 11:36pm

He's the kind of player that's never in. Batting is always hard work for him. The starts he gets eat up so many balls meaning he is still doing his job as an opener. Himself and Burns make one ugly pair of openers to watch though.

Strumms · 24-01-2021 12:47am

Gillespy wrote: »

He's the kind of player that's never in. Batting is always hard work for him. The starts he gets eat up so many balls meaning he is still doing his job as an opener. Himself and Burns make one ugly pair of openers to watch though.

Yep, it’s a tough watch up the top of the order...

I like Burns.. a serious county play again but 21 tests into his career and just turned 30.. his stats should be better Internationally...

In tests :

Matches 21
Runs scored 1,233
Batting average 32.44
100s/50s 2/8
Top score 133

Not exactly shît but not brilliant. Couldn’t be calling him a world class test opening batsman yet.

VillaMad · 24-01-2021 6:42pm

Root fantastic again, but it's Sri Lanka who are big favourites to level the series. A day dominated by Root and Embuldeniya and with England now having to bat last on this pitch, it's Sri Lanka who hold all the aces.

A couple of partnerships and that lead will easily go past 200. Leach and Bess have to deliver tomorrow.

Gillespy · 24-01-2021 7:13pm

England will need the pitch to remain decent to have a chance. Deficit isn't that bad, Jimmy might get away a few reverse sweeps in the morning to bring it closer to 20 runs. Third innings can be tricky, seen that loads of times.

Root outstanding again. Buttler was looking great too, very unlucky way to go. Saw with Bess why they like him, batting talent is there and they're hoping his bowling improves as he matures.

Strumms · 25-01-2021 3:55am

Weather is set extremely fair for the remainder of the test in Galle.

If either Bess or Wood could have hung around you’d have given them a reasonable chance of accomplishing getting another 30-40 runs on the board...or even closer to the Sri Lanka total.

Leach has scored 92 for both county and country so he does have ‘some’ batting ability... he’ll have to manage the strike as well as accumulate runs... keep Anderson away from the strike as best he can...

An interesting days cricket ahead of us... with the weather set extremely fair and the scores so close... I’d say England would bite your hand off for 25 or more runs from this pair

Mysterypunter · 25-01-2021 7:11am

Sri Lanka are slogging the game away, will be all over very soon, 51/5, 88 ahead, they are a very poor side

MFPM · 25-01-2021 7:40am

Appalling batting performance by SL...

MFPM · 25-01-2021 11:35am

Nice to see the SL bowlers putting up some fight. England should still ease to victory but if SL get Buttler cheaply it could be interesting.

Tom Mann Centuria · 25-01-2021 12:47pm

Comfortable in the end for England. Horrible batting by Sri Lanka 2nd innings.

Gillespy · 25-01-2021 2:30pm

Fair play to Dom Sibley. I think he shocked everyone batting like that and being the one to hit the winning run. Needed a few umpire's calls to go his way and got a lot of easy runs.

Awful day for Sri Lanka. Nightmare really. England deserve a lot of credit too thought. Fought hard to get close after first innings after losing the toss and calmly knocked off the runs then. England a few years ago don't win games like this.

MFPM · 25-01-2021 10:18pm

England won easily in the end, they are not without issues and sterner tests lie ahead. Some year of cricket ahead - India home and away, New Zealand tests announced and then the Ashes....what a calendar of Test Cricket.

Ireland well beaten by Afghanistan again...very frustrating.

VillaMad · 25-01-2021 11:15pm

Sri Lanka beat themselves again. Got into a bad position losing a few wickets and then tried to attack the spinners but only succeeded in giving away their wickets and England could only be delighted to have to chase 164. Sri Lanka was then too dependent on Embuldeniya to get their wickets as they leaked too many easy runs.

England now move on to India and a monumental challenge. Stokes, Archer and Burns are back available, but suddenly India look like a team with huge strength in depth.

I see that Sky Sports have signed a 3-year deal with Pakistan Cricket Board and are showing the test series against South Africa, beginning in the morning.

Royale with Cheese · 26-01-2021 12:29am

Is the India England series really not going to be shown on TV here?

VillaMad · 26-01-2021 5:12pm

Royale with Cheese wrote: »

Is the India England series really not going to be shown on TV here?

Star Sports which is owned by Disney have the rights to international cricket played in India but as of yet they haven't sold it to any UK broadcaster. They will probably sell it to one of Amazon, BT or Sky in the days leading up to the first test match.

Gillespy · 26-01-2021 5:59pm

Channel 4 are supposed to be in the mix too. Don't have Amazon, it's not that dear but already pay enough for Sky and BT. Would prefer to not be at the mercy of my internet too.

Royale with Cheese · 26-01-2021 6:51pm

Amazon didn't show the Premier League or Autumn rugby in Ireland. You could get it here if you had them switch your prime video region to the UK, which was easy enough, but that's gone now since Brexit. So hopefully not them (although the picture quality of their stream is amazing).

SeeMoreBut · 26-01-2021 8:40pm

VillaMad wrote: »

Star Sports which is owned by Disney have the rights to international cricket played in India but as of yet they haven't sold it to any UK broadcaster. They will probably sell it to one of Amazon, BT or Sky in the days leading up to the first test match.

I remember the IPL 2019 was on one of the high numbers last year but we could have lost that like other channels due to Brexit

VillaMad · 29-01-2021 9:11pm

Gillespy wrote: »

Channel 4 are supposed to be in the mix too. Don't have Amazon, it's not that dear but already pay enough for Sky and BT. Would prefer to not be at the mercy of my internet too.

According to the Times today, Channel 4 are the front-runners to win the bid for coverage of the India series. BT and Sky are still interested but if Channel 4 won out, it would be the first time that test cricket is on terrestrial tv in the UK since the Ashes in 2005.

.

Gillespy · 29-01-2021 10:24pm

Saw that earlier. At least they're planning on having a studio even if KP is going to be in it. The day/night test plus the white ball stuff is on at a good time for the UK so should do well for them. Wonder are Sky saving up to get the away Ashes back.

Gillespy · 02-02-2021 1:10pm

Australia's tour of South Africa cancelled because of covid. The Sri Lankan series went a head fine there. Every other country has made the sacrifices and effort to keep the show on the road and help each other out. Australia true to form of course couldn't even bother trying when it isn't India or England.

This now means New Zealand have made the test championship final so that's good.

Harry Palmr · 02-02-2021 1:36pm

Channel 4 have won the rights to India v England series! Set's alarm clock

Or more likely will watch extended highlights

Gillespy · 02-02-2021 1:54pm

England cricket fans already with Sky and BT subscriptions putting on a great show pretending this is such great news for the game. I hope they don't think it means cheaper match tickets or a reduction in their Sky bill. I'm happy it's on television so I can watch it, still would have preferred it on Sky.

Royale with Cheese · 02-02-2021 5:31pm

I don't have terrestrial TV, just Sky/BT through Now TV and also Prime Video. I'm not celebrating anyway.

simonrooneyzaga · 03-02-2021 1:27pm

Royale with Cheese wrote: »

I don't have terrestrial TV, just Sky/BT through Now TV and also Prime Video. I'm not celebrating anyway.

I am in a similar boat. I am wondering if the channel 4 live streaming service will geo block ireland for this series? I can't find any confirmation online.

Hopefully either Sky or BT will tag on to the deal which is possible under the terms of the C4 arrangement.

Royale with Cheese · 03-02-2021 5:43pm

I downloaded the All4 android app and tried watching live TV and it told me this wasn't available in my region. Is that for all shows or is some content available to watch here?

VillaMad · 04-02-2021 5:08pm

Zak Crawley slipped on a marble floor an sprained his wrist and will be out for the first couple of tests which is one of the stranger injuries, I've heard of.

India will have their big guns back and their squad now looks quite formidable. Jadeja misses out but Kohli, Bumrah and Ashwin return. Their only question is whether to go with 3 spinners or 2. If they pick the extra, Kuldeep will probably be chosen over Siraj.

India (possible): 1 Sharma, 2 Gill, 3 Pujara, 4 Kohli (capt), 5 Rahane, 6 Pant (wk), 7 Ashwin, 8 Patel, 9 Kuldeep Yadav/Mohammad Siraj, 10 Sharma, 11 Bumrah

England welcome back Stokes and Archer to the squad as Wood and Bairstow flew home. Buttler will have the gloves for this test match until he goes home and Ben Foakes takes over. Looks like Crawley's place will be taken by either Pope or Lawrence. Burns will open. Chris Woakes looks likely to step in for Sam Curran while Moeen Ali is back available and will vie with Dom Bess. Finally, England will probably pick one of either Broad or Anderson.

England (possible): 1 Sibley, 2 Burns, 3 Root (capt), 4 Stokes, 5 Pope, 6 Buttler (wk), 7 Ali, 8 Woakes, 9 Archer, 10 Leach, 11 Broad

Gillespy · 04-02-2021 6:27pm

Big fan of Crawley, it might be a blessing to miss this with injury rather than potentially being dropped. He'll be fine at home and should enjoy Australia.

Must be tempting to go with both Broad and Jimmy for the first game and rotate after that if needed. Both looked so good at Galle. Took wickets and went for no runs. Offer more control than any other bowler.

I have a feeling England might be competitive. No Jadeja is a big boost considering the way they play left arm orthodox and the fact he's a great allrounder.

MFPM · 05-02-2021 8:41am

After the two early wickets, England currently doing well - Root and Sibley building a good partnership albeit slow going. Can't watch for the next few days so I'm following on talksport, seems weird without the usual TMS crew.

Gillespy · 05-02-2021 11:33am

Root what a great batsman. A hundred in his hundredth test match.

MFPM · 05-02-2021 12:07pm

England in control. Seems like a good batting surface...could be one of these high scoring bore draws but obviously long way to go.

Gillespy · 05-02-2021 2:20pm

Nadeem and Sundar are a good level below Jadeja. Root showed them no respect compared to how carefully he played Ashwin and the two quicks. Got on top of a tired Ashwin too at the end.

Sibley did his job well. Little spin day one but he looked more comfortable again. Deserved to survive the day and start again tomorrow.

Based on what the commentators were saying I don't expect a high scoring draw. Pitch played better than it looks, it's very dry and they expect it to wear a lot.

VillaMad · 05-02-2021 6:15pm

Gillespy wrote: »

Nadeem and Sundar are a good level below Jadeja. Root showed them no respect compared to how carefully he played Ashwin and the two quicks. Got on top of a tired Ashwin too at the end.

Sibley did his job well. Little spin day one but he looked more comfortable again. Deserved to survive the day and start again tomorrow.

Based on what the commentators were saying I don't expect a high scoring draw. Pitch played better than it looks, it's very dry and they expect it to wear a lot.

Yeah India were right on top of England just after lunch when Sibley and Root were tied down by Bumrah and Ashwin and it was high quality test match bowling on a placid pitch. They got through it and then made hay with Nadeem and Sundar which was a definite plan. It was good traditional test match batting by England as they tired down the Indian bowlers before starting to up the run-rate.

A shame for Sibley not to get to three figures. It puts in Stokes against the new ball tomorrow morning and Bumrah looked really good, so they have a lot of work to do.

The last test match in Chennai was India against England in 2016 where England got 477 in the first innings before India hit 759 and then as the pitch crumbled, England fell apart and lost by an innings. First innings therefore will be really important. England have a start but they will need a similar day tomorrow to be really in charge.

Gillespy · 05-02-2021 6:58pm

That Chennai game was mad with Nair getting 300. Stuff like that happens in the last game of a series when one team is being badly beaten and just wants to go home.

MFPM · 06-02-2021 12:13pm

Mini comeback with a few quick wickets by India after virtual domination by England and Root in particular with the bat. Interesting to see how India bat after this, the pitch seems to breaking up to some degree but with the batting line up they have they should be able to put up a decent score - the English spinners are no world beaters but Anderson and Archer may get something out of it.

Gillespy · 06-02-2021 4:40pm

Root was great again, Stokes the highlight of the day. Another hour of him and England would closer to 650 now.

England will probably bat again in the morning if only just to upset the openers with the 10 minutes break. Not a lot happening yet with the pitch. Big runs will help Bess and Leach. Jofra could be dangerous with short bowling, Stokes too if there's some reverse swing. Jimmy can do what Ishant Sharma did, he got some movement all day.

Strumms · 07-02-2021 3:55am

If I’m England captain I was wanting 7 - 12 overs at India there before close. Declaring around 510/6.

England barring some daft meltdown of their own making are not loosing this test, why waste the time ?, lessening your opportunity to win ? ? If India were sitting down tonight 30/2 England are laughing all the way to victory especially considering the weather is set VERY fair for the remaining 3 days.... probably still will win but 555 runs having used two full days play is pointless. Leach and Anderson will score fück all.. Leach with a strike rate of 21.43.... I’m presuming England will bat on... if there is an overnight declaration that’s even more weird as it gave a chance to the Indians to rest overnight....Root ????

Mysterypunter · 07-02-2021 6:03am

578 for England, but India could make 800, they got 750 replying to 477 the last time these two teams played a test on this ground

Mysterypunter · 07-02-2021 6:42am

Indian openers both out, Sharma 6 and Gill 29. 44/2

MFPM · 07-02-2021 8:44am

Kohli and Rahane out now too, terrible response by India with the bat so far, both out to Bess. India have been poor throughout the match, dropped catches, too many extras - the missed stumping by Pant on Leach summed up their performance so far. Notwithstanding how good England have been, India are better than this, a bit of overconfidence coming from Australia series I wonder.

MFPM · 07-02-2021 9:32am

Good counter-attack by Pant and Pujara here..

Adamcp898 · 07-02-2021 10:57am

You get Pujara out and have a chance to start building pressure again. So why do you bowl Leech who’s been getting hammered for 10 an over?

MFPM · 07-02-2021 11:13am

Jammy dismissal for Pujara there...

West Indies on the brink of chasing 395 to win v Bangladesh..some chase.

MFPM · 07-02-2021 11:20am

Bess has taken 4 now, Pujara out for 91...

Mysterypunter · 07-02-2021 11:35am

MFPM wrote: »

Jammy dismissal for Pujara there...

West Indies on the brink of chasing 395 to win v Bangladesh..some chase.

Won by 3 wickets, more rabbits than watership down in the lower order, so I didn't want to crow them, steered home by debutant Kyle M ayers, with a second innings 210*, 250 runs in the match, some win for them, lost their last 5 wickets in the first innings for 6 runs to go from 253/5 to all out 259, and were 171 behind at that stage

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