How often do we make our best batsman captain and it effects his game? We are a very average test team with some incredibly talented one day players.
Hardly. Smith's bat is straight by the time the ball arrives, while Sibley's is pointing towards mid-on. Smith is predominately a leg-side player but he can play all around the wicket. The way Sibley's bat comes down it's virtually impossible for him to play a cover drive. Hopefully he'll work to correct this, but until he does I don't think he should be picked.
Sibley doesn't look good enough agreed. I agree with Stan that the demise of county cricket has had a hugely detrimental effect on the players' ability to play test cricket. We're just not very good.
In the news today, the ECB supports plans for 4 days Tests. Why not, it’s rare to go into the fifth day now. But surely they should go for 3 day tests with a golden over or whatever to ensure there are no draws, which are impossible for people to tolerate, let alone appreciate. Then they might be able to squeeze another couple of Tests into each series. Even better, just play 6 back to back 20-20 games over a couple of days and call that a Test match. Hoo ****ing ray.
Butler gone now 221/6.... All bar Crawley have done the hard work, got in and then failed to push on....
231-7, Curran literally gives it away. Too many cheap wickets today, as Tramore says they get in and then fail...
262/9 At close..... No idea what a good score is on this pitch but I'd guess that it's better than England have produced today.....
Reckon 350 would have been decent. Whatever happens, England need to stay in the game cos batting last on that wicket probably won't be fun.
Anderson goes pretty quickly, but it was a good last partnership of 34. Sadly, Broad and Anderson seem to be very much past their best. Both have been magnificent, but are leaking runs and bowling poorly. Also, they both bully the very weak Root concerning field placings. It's not just our batting in tests that is a problem.
A good session for England with the ball. If we can get a first innings lead, we will be strong favourites to win the match.
