Nice sunny day, went to the beach to watch some decent cricket? 75% crowd limit I think but still quite a small crowd compared to previous days.
Hammersmith, You have hit the nail on the head, for sure. I like Root as a player but he comes across as not a strong leader, which is needed. He’s too nice and too timid if l’m honest. A bit like Kim Hughes was for Australia. To me, a captain must leader the way, command respect from his team and the opposition, too. A strong captain is worthy of several decent players, hence gives to a lift over the opposition. To me, that is where Steve Smith fell down. He should never have ‘owned up’ on tampering. English & Australian captains before him would never had said a word, they would of dismissed it and told all and sundry to move on. Todays players are too soft, maybe too honest and certainly not hard enough in many departments. Anyway, just my take on it all.
I was at the beach yesterday an saw many a beached whale that would block any boundaries, …… but that’s another matter.
Well done Aussies, sorry we can’t give you a decent game. All I ask of England is that we are competitive for a single day - specifically Boxing Day at the MCG, the most iconic day in cricket, for me at least. I expect to lose the test, but please don’t be humiliated on the first day. Please.
Agree, sb. I can say l get more enjoyment out of winning a see sawing hard fought match than this effort. l think Buttler standing on wicket pretty much sums up his and England predicament here. Again, you are correct about the Boxing Day test match being the ducks nuts of cricket. Better days ahead we hope.
I assume the atmosphere will be curtailed by COVID regulations. I understand Bay 13 has been done away with. It did get pretty horrible latterly, but was a great part of the craic in the olden days, where you could wander in and out of it at will.
Too little too late, Buttler's dismissal sums up our luck aswell as our efforts lately. A good few of our batsmen need dropping but who could replace them. Baurstow for Pope although Johnny's test form has fallen through the floor the last couple of years, I said before the tour started that Bumble had said last year that Livingstone was ready to play for England in all formats, and his opinion is good enough for me. I think the bloke has the spark that we're sorely missing against the Aussies but hey the selectors know better !
There is no spark. Root, world class batsman that he is, is a wet blanket of a captain. The whole thing, from the backroom to the players needs shaking up.
Giles needs to go too, another completely lacking any inspirational qualities. I found the choice to appoint him very strange in the first place, typical ECC.
Bay 13 went a couple of years ago but I think they are expecting a full ground for boxing day and as there are no covid restrictions in theory 100,000 but probably more like 80-90k.
And the Weather. Probably about UK temperatures but without the rain, a slightly higher, but still low, chance of rain on Monday and Tuesday
You can **** off with your weather forecasts Michael Fish ! You promised us Biblical rain in the 1st test to save us and another 40 days and nights to follow so we could get out of this with a heads held high 0-0 draw ! Never falling for it again
