I'm not Stokes, so I'd assume they thought batting 4th was going to be the hardest. Not the first time a captain has chosen wrong at the toss. Anyhow, I'm not even into cricket that much, just annoyed that we've started poorly on the decider.
That was my thought. Just read on bbc that it was prepared with “Industrial fans, patio heaters and rakes” what the ****??
I wouldn't want to bat at all on this pitch! But,pick 3 spinners and then bat first.....and then to try to play some very dubious shots?
Good point!! I think it’s a case of bat first then you don’t have to bat last. That’s all o can think of. It’s going to get significantly worse over the next 2/3 days or so my cricket expert mates tell me!!
Just to say Smith and Atkinson are playing as our first 6 batsmen should have played......straight bat,very few cross bat shots.
Absolutely. Smith getting stick for getting out to a shot he played 2 overs before and hit for 6. When you’re a lower order batsman that’s just how it is. Sometimes one sticks and gets you. just seen on bbc the ratings for the pitch. At the start of play it was 4. By the 11th over it was 7 and was higher up until the 40th over. Bounce inconsistency just got worse too. By day 3 this will be a 9/10 to bat on
Jamie Smith has been a real find for this team. Not only is his wicket-keeping excellent,his ability to bat in different conditions has been super. As much as I'm excited about the Test team at the minute, I just wish they would be able to adjust their natural aggressive batting style to fit the circumstances they find themselves in.
Yeah I get that. I’m in the camp of “we’ll see how it goes”. I’d rather get out doing what Leavh just did than doing what Atherton etc used to and prodding a defensive stroke! Decent score according to most this one. Slightly above par
