English Cricket Summer Tests 2016 - NZ & Aus

[Gargamel]

Chaps, rather than clog the GC thread, how's about somewhere warm and safe to embrace the pain of watching England these days.

42/4

Cook a battling 16.

Naturally Colonial Comments welcome

[Gargamel]

I am trying really hard to put my disillusionment with the ECB aside and support this team.

But it is hard to love Ian Bell when he does this in the first innings of the season. Oh, I know he tonk someone this series for a magnificent 150 at some point, but he is not exactly Mr consistent at the moment

[Gargamel]

Yep - bit confused today

113 runs from 26 overs. I don't mind when the "openers" die early, especially if they are dot ball specialists.

Root 49 off 46 balls, anyone would think he was trying to get made Captain

[Gargamel]

Root now has 26 Test Matches behind him, which he seems to have accumulated really quite quickly, and at an average of 56, he must be our highest average bat in the current side by some distance.

[Gargamel]

Stokes needs to be careful here, otherwise he will be batting four in the next match

15 runs from Stokes in the over, top lad !

[Gargamel]

No idea,

Not much idea about his bowling either. I though Jordan was developing nicely, so not sure what the change is down to?

But yes decent day for England in the end.

[Gargamel]

whatleytom said:

I work pretty close to Lords, does anyone know if they still let people in for free if the test reaches the 5th day?

Quite often they sell tickets for a tenner, but certainly not for free.

I know for the Ashes game at Lords all five days are sold out.

[Gargamel]

Bingo, got one.

[Gargamel]

The extras are really piling up, is Buttler having a tough time ?

63 in extras now.

[Gargamel]

How long do you reckon Cook will last, Until Close tonight?

Come on Cooky, get a proper innings here.

[Gargamel]

Well, it is pretty hard to see England getting anything from the game now. Must surely be going down here.

100 behind, 2 down already, and confidence is pretty low. I know we have a decent middle, but I am unconvinced our bowlers can do NZ for less than 350.

Plenty of time left for NZ to slowly strangle us.

[Gargamel]

Good Commentary on cricinfo

Bell has got past 1 for the first time in five innings

[Gargamel]

Maybe a 200 plus lead is possible from here, but I am unconvinced we can get anything except a draw or a loss here, unless Jimmy or Broad are able to really switch up a gear from the 1st innings

[Gargamel]

Good stuff lads, lead of 200, which is something to bowl at.

Hopefully Ali and Buttler can get us something competitive.

Still you wouldn't want to see B Mac lining us up late tomorrow afternoon, not chasing many.

[Gargamel]

Too many hot heads trying to force it. Ah well, at least it is a fightback. Think 300 might be a challenging score for the kiwis

hopefully we can get there.

[Gargamel]

zetec said:

After Ben Stokes' performance today, one had to ask, who is this Pieterson guy that all the fuss has been made about?

I don't think it is fair too trash a guy who made over 8000 test runs for us, and remains the highest scoring English cricket in all formats.

KP is a ledge, shame the English Cricket Board couldn't harnes his talent better, or indeed that KP himself, couldn't keep a lid on some of his wilder behaviour.

Stokes batted great today, fantastic to have anew player that can excite the crowd, like a botham, Freddie or KP.

[Gargamel]

DJRC said:

I agree that the ECB cocked up over KP.

I also think however, that KP should never be allowed near an England dressing room ever again. A dressing room needs a level of trust and it is utterly obvious that nobody in that dressing room wants KP there. The debate ends there for me.

I agree he shouldn't return, he is no longer the future. Don't think anything else matters now., it's just a sideshow.

but I do think fans of cricket owe KP some respect, he was a fantastic player for England.

[Gargamel]

Tricky declaration decision.

What to do, setting NZ 350 off even 70 overs looks slightly iffy, given the hitting power some of the batsman have in the ODI.

On the other 300 has only ever been chased once at lords in ever. in ever!

We know Cook is a little conservative, so I reckon it will be 60/65 overs remaining before we hand it in (assuming we don't get bowled out)

[Gargamel]

johnfm said:

Yeah, I know - was just kidding.

Anyway, now we have an Aussie coach - so you can start on that instead.

[Gargamel]

Wins toss and bowls first ?

I really hope that works out for us. five or six down today at least please