Cricket fred

[fivepointer]

No problem with a bowler getting Motm. 10 fers are far rarer than centuries and, as we know, taking 20 wkts wins you matches!

Bairstow was tremendous, mind.

[Banquo]

No problem with a bowler getting Motm. 10 fers are far rarer than centuries and, as we know, taking 20 wkts wins you matches!

Bairstow was tremendous, mind.

I said he deserved it and don't begrudge- and tbh almost certainly the Sky sports guys thought they'd give him a confidence boost- in normal circumstances....but we were 55-6 and dead, and YJB was clearly the guy who changed the match out of all recognition. Happy for Leach, but Bairstow's efforts were out of this world- Southee (who actually had a very average series) and Boult and Wagner were at England's throat when he came to the crease. Potts was actually our best bowler in both innings.

[Galfon]

Massive impact - a true English hero, even though he's Irish..
Could have had a bigger influence on the Test set up possibly, and will be a successful coach/manager somewhere.He'll have a few gigs to choose from.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/61966705

[Banquo]

Massive impact - a true English hero, even though he's Irish..
Could have had a bigger influence on the Test set up possibly, and will be a successful coach/manager somewhere.He'll have a few gigs to choose from.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/61966705

Yep, he just didn't really want to play test cricket I reckon. Retiring at the right time, as he had just stopped scoring runs, and there's a huge queue of excellent one day batsmen; just need one or two who can open in a test match now

[Galfon]

..just need one or two who can open in a test match now

A job for Mr. Bean maybe, a few years down the track.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/61989443

[Banquo]

Jamie Overton dropped- feels inevitable, but harsh as his 97 was one of the prime reasons we won the last test. His bowling was a bit patchy- and being replaced by Jimmy won't feel so bad. Very long tail again.

[Banquo]

Jimmy remains the king. Amazing.

Should really have been more down- sloppy from Billings on a potential run out, and Crawley dropped a trickier than it looked catch.

Please get rid of KP from the commentary team. He’s rubbish and up his own arse.

[Banquo]

Good stuff so far- great plans to batsmen….let’s hope we’ve learned from the NZ series when the oppos are 5 down!!!

[Banquo]

Not it appears

[Banquo]

great knock from Pant. No answers from us at all- Potts and Leach a bit exposed, but he was superb.

Gone from great knock to......what are we doing tbh. Leach's progress all knocked back- not sensible skippering imo; the plan to Pant should have been starve him, rather than feed him. This is an annhilation- feel like a kiwi.

[Galfon]

Great knock Pant.- chanced his arm a bit and paid off. Eng on the ropes but late Root wicket leaves a glimmer.Wicket showing a bit of bounce so good score already.Leach back to earth

[Banquo]

This is the weak spot in the captaincy, and was under Root. We give away easy runs waiting for the new ball etc.

[Banquo]

as i said good plan

[Banquo]

broad concedes most ever in a test match over!!!

[Banquo]

jimmy gets 5- amazing

[Galfon]

jimmy gets 5- amazing

Yes, if he had a twin we could have bowled them out for 150 or so, and still be in it..
Bumrah almost Botham-esque with his efforts.

[Banquo]

Fair play to YJB, extraordinary batting.

Bumrah having a stunning match- great catch to get rid of Stokes. Stokes getting some flak, but its the way Pant played....

weather hasn't helped us much this match.

[Banquo]

Could be in trouble here

[Mellsblue]

Could be in trouble here

plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose

[Banquo]

Could be in trouble here

plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose

Hopefully dig ourselves out again. Indian pace bowlers very good

[Galfon]

India nudging towards an unloseable total.Good test for the rejuvenated Eng. team to stick it out; Stokes's view on leading from the front batting wise, is not risk averse so looks a bit Marmite atm.

[fivepointer]

Thought Stokes played in an utterly brainless manner. By all means be positive and pro active but temper it with some discretion. Nothing wrong with rotating the strike and running hard ones and twos.
Bairstow got the balance right.

[Galfon]

Some redemption for yer man with ball, but still a huge ask batting last.5 sessions though, at least it gets half an eyebrow raised after the year so far rather than the customary write-off.

[Banquo]

Great start, but bloody hell Crawley........only 10 balls til tea ffs

Kohli remains a snarky git.

[Banquo]

Great interview with the Warks chairman, and all tickets free tomorrow. Hopefully a cracker ensues