Congratulations England. Great performance by Brook. Wood and Woakes were superb and made the difference.
Yes. Played sensible cricket, picked the bad balls and largely left the balls that were back of a length, outside off stump, alone.
Ben Foakes. He's the best wicketkeeper in the world, imo. We took a risk with Bairstow but opted with him for his batting. He hasn't produced and he's costing the team with his work behind the stumps. Foakes has largely been out of form with the bat this season but he came back to form with a century a few weeks ago in the county championship. Time for Stokes to grow a pair and drop his mate.
Well that was a bit of a tense finish wasn't it...?!?! After i wrote them off, they came back in to the match with a mix of balls, grit, skill and a fair share of luck both good and bad, just what you want from any sporting story. Hard to be brief in saying what actually happened but both sides had key moments that swung the match their way but i was so glad that Wood got the Man of the Match award for his skill of what fast bowling is all about, his free swing from the hip 24 from 8 balls and the calmness of a top class batter near the end to help us over the finishing line. Great match, great result, what more is to come in 9 days time at Manchester...??
Robinson looked crocked and OT is Jimmy's home ground, so I'd expect that change to be made. If we held our catches, we could very well be 3-0. That's the biggest change we need to see.
Talking to my mates in the pub yesterday and it seems that we are all of the opinion that Jimmy has played his last Test...!! It may well be his last chance to play at Old Trafford as an England player and that circumstances would dictate that he be picked on merit and not by name and who he is. I would love to see him rip apart the top order once again but it dos seem that ole Father Time has caught up with the legend that is the Burnley Express, as no man can out run age in the end... The wicketkeeper position has already been mentioned in this thread, and i am still of the opinion that Bairstow be either made to bat at no.3 and Foakes be brought back. Or Foakes just replaces Bairstow and we find another batter at 3... We shall have to wait and see, but it has given us fresh hope of maybe, just maybe a chance of squaring this very close Test Series up. Manchester, mid-summer, 5 days play required. Can't see the weather being a problem now can we...???
Do you think they’ll go with one fewer bowler and move Bairstow to 3 and Foakes in to keep wicket? I think that would leave Woakes and Broad with a lot of work and Moeen would have to do a lot again.
It dos seem that Stokes isnt an option at the moment so that dosnt help things either. I think they will stick with JohnnyB as the keeper as i do think he still has a bit of credit left in the bank, with Root asked to go to 3... Crawley Duckett Root Brook Stokes Bairstow Ali Broad Woods Woakes Tongue/Anderson Leaves us maybe a batter short but we have to get 20 wickets so i would always lean towards them if i have to... Only thing with this line up is, that is one long tail to get wagging come the time...!!!
It does look like Root and Brook will move up the order. I don’t agree with taking batsman out of their favoured positions when they’re settled. I also agree that will be the team. Anderson will probably get the nod above Tongue I’d like to think 9 days rest will be enough for Stokes to bowl again and then I’d go with this team… Crawley Duckett Hain Root Brook Stokes Foakes/Rew Ali/Ahmed Woakes Wood Broad
Did my square-bashing at RAF Wilmslow, so long ago I can't believe it really happened. It rained every damn day for the time I was there. Just about all my gear was soaking wet and never got really dry. Manchester area has to be the wettest place in the UK, although stats from Nass will no doubt say otherwise, I expect!
Well the England squad remains the same... England squad:- Ben Stokes (Durham, captain), Moeen Ali (Warwickshire), James Anderson (Lancashire), Jonathan Bairstow (Yorkshire), Stuart Broad (Nottinghamshire), Harry Brook (Yorkshire), Zak Crawley (Kent), Ben Duckett (Nottinghamshire), Dan Lawrence (Essex), Ollie Robinson (Sussex), Joe Root (Yorkshire), Josh Tongue (Worcestershire), Chris Woakes (Warwickshire), Mark Wood (Durham). Answers one issue, Johnny to take the gloves, but the no.3 spot...?? Bring it on...!!!
Very disappointed at keeping Bairstow in the squad. He hardly deserves it, and have to agree with that crusty old curmudgeon, Geoff Boycott, on his recent sensible and logical suggestions. Anyway, again, we'll see. My own 'traitorous' opinion is the men from downunder won't get it wrong this time. .............run like hell............
Totally agree Swanny. Nonsensical decision. Boycs maybe an old codger but he knows his stuff and is a close friend of the Bairstow family by all accounts, clearly has a lot of time for JB so wouldnt make those comments lightly.
A bit if a climb on today...!!! Just the 17 and a bit KM in distance at an average of 7%, this will sort out the men from the boys...
The mental battle between Vingegaard and Pogacar is absolutely intriguing. Visually Pogacar looks a little bit stronger at the moment and he does seem to be able to take a few seconds out of Vingegaard with these short, electric bursts close to the finish. We saw it yesterday on the Colombier and last Sunday up the Puy du Dome. But I wonder whether Vingegaard is just playing it cool and refusing to get drawn into a potentially attritional battle. I'm sure team Jumbo-Visma have their eye on the two fearsome stages this weekend as the opportunity to get their man into an unassailable lead but Pogacar looks very, very resilient this year. Today's stage is a beauty with 3 category 1 climbs before the HC climb up the Col de Joux Plane and an epic descent to the finish. The Joux Plane is one of the most technically challenging climbs in the Alps as its many irregularities make it difficult for climbers to get into a rhythm - Lance Armstrong got dropped here in 2000 by Ulrich and Virenque.
The talking heads on the highlights programme reckoned Pogacar’s team expended far too much effort yesterday for the small gains made. We’ll see if they’re right today
