England overcame odds of 5000/1 (five thousand) to win at Headingley. The Aussies may have lose the test match but won a tidy sum from the bookies. Not that I am suggesting anything untoward in their spectacular collapse. The English batting has been woeful. See posts above. Capped in this second innings by both openers being dismissed for ducks. The guardian report gives this as the first time this has happened in 531 tests on home soil. Also in commentary, Sam Curran achieved a Lord's first. A Golden Pair. But, yes, Root should have concentrated on taking the tail end wickets, instead of exacting some sort of revenge for the barrage Anderson faced.
Bumrah duffed up Jimmy my bowling bouncers at him, ergo this was seen as a lack of respect. Grow up, this is test cricket. Best way to avenge being ‘ disrespected’ was to bowl the clown out for a duck. He averaged what was it 2 before that innings? Line and length, top of off stump.Simple. Not the short, wide nonsense they lobbed down. Make no mistake Root’s captaincy was truly shocking but I’m guessing Anderson had a big say in what was going on. Piss poor and totally unforgivable.
Certainly wouldn't be giving Malan another go. Proved it before he's crap at test cricket. Stick Roy, Livingstone etc in can't do any worse.
That hour upto lunch just changed the whole momentum though. I was appalling. Yes with Indians heads down, I'd have fancied us for the win, or at least a draw.
For some bizarre reason Anderson was taken off and never bowled until a few overs before lunch. Much that I love Root and as a leader is superb, its not the first time he has got his tactics spectacularly wrong. Having said that it was clear he'd lost the plot, his vice captain was stood next to him. The England manager was also very able to get messages to him, but didnt.
Due to the total lockdown here for the last month, I have not left the house apart from once a week being allowed to shop for food. This being the case, I have hit the computer to see whatever has been watchable. I have therefore seen all the 100 games, Men & women, and surprisingly have actual quite enjoyed them. I still am a firm believer Test Cricket is the best by far, but as a form of entertainment to get kids and more people into Cricket, this shorter format seems to be being presented in an attractive way. Lots of families there, and this combined women and men's games being on the same day has really showcased women cricket in particular.
Absolutely nothing wrong with the 100's, T20 or 50-over games, great entertainment for loads of different people. The problem is how do we reconcile that volume of cricket with the need to produce Test quality batters and bowlers for the ever-increasing Test schedules? I don't know the answer, and it seems like nobody else does either. I just hope Test cricket won't be sacrificed on the altar of quick money from the short form.
We dont have the space for another format. It has basically made the 50 over version (we are world champs) a reserve/under 23 competition, while also having no four day cricket for 2 months in the summer months. It's likely to be the death knell for smaller counties, who have had little other income again this season. For me, the ECB could have sold and rebranded the 20/20 just as successfully.
I've kinda accepted that there's no way back for the timeless test and have begrudgingly accepted that the 50 over per side format is valid but 20/20, The Hundred, One Hand One Bounce nonsense sticks in my craw a bit. A 20 over slogfest is ok if you want a quick game after work whilst everyone playing knows that it's just something to do before hitting the pub, but it shouldn't be considered proper cricket. Don't get me started on coloured clothing and numbers on shirts either. Or reviews of umpires decisions. Or fielding restrictions. Or professionals and amateurs entering through the same gate. Infact that's when the rot set in. F. J. Titmus should read Titmus, F. J ****ing hell, it's Fred Titmus.
Seems Kerry Packer was onto something after all ! To think back and see how those that played in the Kerry Packer series were vilified back then, and now looking at the game, how far towards his ideas it has swayed. Crazy old world !
One of the things it did achieve is getting players that normally wouldn't get seen a stage to show what they can do, and a number in both the woman's and men's game have done that. I agree, to have both 20/20 and the 100 does overload the schedule, and maybe the 50 over format it likely to go by the way side. Unfortunately, for people in our age group times are changing, and with social media things need to be fast and entertaining and put bums on seats and the shorter form of the game it doing that. Covid has upset everything, and sport in general is trying to find a way of financially be sustainable, and without tournaments like these, the county game is not viable either, and it just doesn't get the audience.
Wow, Archer, Woakes, Broad, Wood and Stokes would make a great bowling attack...all injured. Interested what Broad said, the body needs to get the hard yards in by playing county cricket early season. Otherwise, susceptible to breaking down.
Jimmy's on fire, Rahul and Pujara in the first 4 overs! India won the toss and elected to bat. edit: And now he's got Kohli, India 21/3
I had forgotten it started today, I thought it was tomorrow. Absolutely shocked when I saw your post, I thought England was all out for 78, then I checked.
We bowled really well as a unit with Jimmy leading the charge with 3 quick wickets to set the tone. 21 for no loss in reply at tea, hope we can get a big score to set up a win.
