Pakistan vs England test series

[Black can man]

79-7 & not us for a change.

[Helicopter123]

Nom de ploom said:

i tweeted TMS this morning to pose whether Tom Kohler-Cadmore might be a consideration...?

For the ODI side, perhaps.

[snake_oil]

Decent recovery to 174 all out, considering where they were.

[Murph7355]

snake_oil said:

Decent recovery to 174 all out, considering where they were.

Much like us last test.

Let's see how we get on before getting too excited...maybe all the side needs is for Root to get pelters all the time

[spikeyhead]

Far better today, but still a long way to go.

[SydneyBridge]

Watched the highlights on 5 and managed not to know the score beforehand. Was pleasantly surprised but lets see if we can bat all day tomorrow

[FiF]

Was listening to Geoffrey on TMS eulogising Yorkshire Park in accompanied by Wensleydale cheese, whilst taking great delight in just what poor losers the Aussies are. Classic TMS.

[Helicopter123]

Complete mirror image of the first test.
I would think 350 from here and that should be enough?
Looking forward to today, for a change, at least the mid and lower orders look stacked with runs.

[spikeyhead]

Helicopter123 said:

Complete mirror image of the first test.
I would think 350 from here and that should be enough?
Looking forward to today, for a change, at least the mid and lower orders look stacked with runs.

The middle order always looks stacked with runs, but until you've got on top of the bowlers in a test match you'll make very few if you start on the attack as you would in a one day match where the bowlers are always on the defensive. We started this match much better, but it would be very easy to have a bad day from here. Lose a couple of early wickets, be all out for 200 before lunch and see Pakistan put on 200 / 2 by close. This assumes it ever stops raining.

[Snubs]

Fortunately it's shaping up to be another good day for England. Bess looking, or rather sounding as i'm listening to R5L SX, very comfortable with the bat.

[spikeyhead]

I suspect our nightwatchman is going to be our highest scorer, which is dumb.

[nicanary]

spikeyhead said:

I suspect our nightwatchman is going to be our highest scorer, which is dumb.

He played very well, but you're right - it shouldn't be so. It's an odd scorecard, lots of "starts" which have accumulated into a decent total, but nobody had the determination and concentration to carry on and get a century. The pitch wasn't doing much so it doesn't make sense really. If I was an England manager, I'd be considering this more deeply.

[alfa phil]

I wonder if any of our batsmen will score a half century this summer let alone a century, hope im made to eat my words very soon , we were rather good in the field mind,

[Murph7355]

Murph7355 said:

Murph7355 said:

...

Someone will say so.mryhing to hurt Root's feelings, we'll come out fighting and win, then back to the nonchalance. Rinse and repeat.

....

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/44285242

Ought to do it...

(Weird original typing notwithstanding )
...

Listened to Broad being interviewed and it made me think even more that these sorts of rockets are what these guys need.

Broad must have been at a different game to me at the last test. He reckoned the criticism was unfair.

Sorry Broad, you're a plum. I'd have more time for you if you put your hands up and simply said you didn't play well enough. But he came across to me as entitled to wear the shirt and that they should be beyond criticism even after as shambolic, gutless a performance as I've seen in recent times in the last test.

The selectors need to not get carried away with the (likely) result of this test. Pakistan were eminently beatable in the last test as they did nothing special. Just put a poor side to the sword (and hats off to them for humbling us - well, not our players...but fans etc). The more I hear interviews like Broads the more I think the selectors should have a healthy clear out. Start again. Accept that might mean a winless run but start a full rebuild of the squad with younger players (Curran and Bess haven't done themselves any harm IMO as an example). Build for the next decade rather than clinging on to something.

I'd keep Stokes (assuming he stays out of prison, maybe make him captain), Bairstow (who I like a lot - captain material maybe?) and Root (though I wouldn't keep him as captain). I might keep Anderson for experience - and because when he's fit he always seems to put a shift in. Bess and Curran can stay. The rest would all be gone.

alfa phil said:

I wonder if any of our batsmen will score a half century this summer let alone a century, hope im made to eat my words very soon , we were rather good in the field mind,

4 of them already have. Not even close to any centuries though

[Snubs]

Quality whack attack by Buttler. Just heard his second six on the radio; it's rare that you hear such a distinct sound of ball meeting bat . You could tell immediately he must have clobbered it a mile. Shame no one stayed around to bat with him as he could have got from 80 to 100 in a coupe of overs the way he was going.

[Baron Greenback]

good wicket radio 5 live " trying to get it into Brian Fish and Chip shop"! mmmm fancy some chips now!

[spikeyhead]

It's been far better from us in this test, I just hope that it doesn't go to the players heads and they think they've got it cracked.

[snake_oil]

Start the car

[jbswagger]

All over.

[Gargamel]

jbswagger said:

All over.

Two observations.

1. What the actual F8*&% is with a two test series, stupid format by stupid people at the ECB

We want the full drama of a chance for a result, the next test isn’t until August..


2. We are at risk of papering over the cracks again, yes a good win, but realistically the bowling (Jimmy aside). Still looks bang average.