New Zealand are top then India in the same 118 points. Australia 113 and England 108. England have a lot of test cricket to play though so could go top with an awesome 2021 I think. That's ICC rankings not that new fangled test championship which is a bit finding it's way still! Root looks back to his best with the new management team taking a bit of off field duties from him apparently, brilliant to see, a joy to watch aye
Watched it this morning. great cricket and the top class coverage, thrilling stuff, alarm set for 4 in the morning, come on Joe get to another double century.
I do love it but think I'll give the morning session a miss and pick up about 6.30 for lunch onwards. Fair play to you mate, great how it can all change so quickly too, nowt for hours 500 looking good then bang 6 down innings knackered. Love the ebb and flow, top notch
Watching at the minute, can't see how India are going to get him out as there's no real pressure building and they're picking singles up when they fancy.
Think I could be getting into trouble with the missus today - cricket till around dinner time, couple of hours off then the match!
We are so lucky right now in having what will probably turn out to be the two greatest English cricketers of all time Root and Stokes. Root looks unbeatable and Stokes can just do anything. The superlatives for these two guys are not enough
It does make you wonder if he was doing too much behind the scenes under the previous coach. Since Silverwood had come in he's looking a lot more relaxed and this year up to now scoring runs for fun
Hopefully we can get up to 650+ before we declare. Just need to keep on batting as long as possible...
I agree. I would be tempted to put them in for the last half hour tonight. I don't think we have a real world class bowling department, Anderson and Stokes apart to get them out twice in 2 days
I'd also happily settle for 500+... I'd like to see us keep them out there as long as possible to wear them down and the wicket will continue to get worse the longer the game goes on, which we are now seeing with the wickets of Root and Pope.
Could be a good thing Root getting out now. He's done his job, get a bit of a rest then back out with a clear head. Won't declare now, they'll play on to the end
There's still over 3 days left on a wicket that's getting harder and harder to bat on. I'd be happy if we could bat until tomorrow afternoon before declaring, there's plenty of time to go. Still as bit early to be thinking about the declaration, imo.
Normally I would agree with you but like I said I'm not that convinced that the bowlers can get them out twice. If we had at least 1 real dangerous spinner, then I would be confident but both Bess and Leach were blowing hot and cold in Sri Lanka and whether the pitch will offer anything for Archer we'll find out. I think Anderson and Stokes will be able to coax something out of it
Just got up in time to see Root hit that six. Going to be tricky to bowl them out twice on this wicket.
