What I feared. One set of batsmen with no batting for about four months, another in the middle of their season. One or two of them were probably going to get going. Could be a very long series this. Crawley just doesn't make bowlers work hard enough for his wicket. His feet are cemented in place. But none of the batsmen are in any real nick at all. And with the calender being what it is, I can't see how they could be.
Yes it was. The first innings was mostly just very good bowling, but some appalling shots in the second, even allowing for the absence of any match practice. Personally, I would question the stomach some have for the fight. When Duckett got out, we were in control of that match and should have won it. Pope, Root and Brook , the engine room of the batting line up, had to dig in through a hard patch , not play those kind of shots. It was as if they'd rather be walking off than walking in. They can't leave everything to Stokes, who takes time to find his batting rhythm, (though God help him, he might have to open the batting, as Crawley looks like a frightened statue).That attitude will see a very heavy and well deserved 5-0 hammering.
Looks like those "has beens" of Botham and Vaughan were right. Expecting to be ready for the first test after only 1 warm up game against your mates wasn't enough.
I nodded of for a few minutes and had to do a double take when I seen we had lost 3 batsmen in that time.
