Off Topic Cricket 2021

Working out well for us...... Again

 

205 all out

 

200 is a big score in this daft series.

 

This wasn't a minefield like last time, though. England should have got 300 minimum.

 

Excellent bowling from England this morning and we're right back in this game with India 80/4 at lunch. Surprisingly, it's the seamers who've done most of the work, with Stokes getting Kohli and Anderson with the remarkable figures of 2 for 7 off 11.5 overs.

 

What will we do when Anderson finally retires?!

 

Pressure released after lunch with Bess bowling too many 4-balls, but now Stokes gets Rohit - umpire's call on impact, umpire's call on hitting.

 

Yes and that looked much more plum than hawk eye portrayed.
I'm now wondering whether hawk eye has an accuracy problem.
England right in this.
Anderson is a genius.
Stokes with two huge wickets.
If only we had a top class spinner.

 

Leach to Pant. Could be interesting.

 

Leach nearly got him there.
Need Pant out soon.

 

Pant looked LBW.
On the back foot.
Again hawk eye says height.
Very close.

 

Given not out as umpires call, ridiculous decision

 

Nicely poised at tea........suddenly 205 isn't looking that bad a score.........

 

Can't afford to bowl Bess on the off chance he gets one right.
Too few runs to play with.

 

Only the on field umpire knows why he gave not out.

 

Yeah 2 long hops put away for fours

 

If Bess could land the ball consistently he'd be dangerous on here, instead he's just giving runs away and releasing pressure.

 

I don’t think Moeen is a great spinner but he’s better than Bess. I know they play a lot of cricket nowadays and perhaps players do need a rest, and doubtless the selectors are mindful of the breakdowns that players like Trescothick and Trott have suffered on tours, but the rotation policy definitely weakens us and reduces the value of the games, in my opinion. I’d like us to have an explicit sense of priorities. For me it would always be Test cricket, but if it’s short format we want to (continue) to be really good at, fine, as long as that is open and transparent.

A few of these ‘rested’ players will manage to pick up the cheque in the IPL. I don’t blame them, it’s their pension, but you wonder how they would have coped with months away on an old fashioned, there and back by boat, tour of Oz. For virtually no money.

Anyway, we’re doing ok here, unless Pant goes nuts again.

 

These 2 are putting the pressure back on England - 30 runs and 0 wickets since tea, that umpires call in last over before tea proving a bit critical in the scheme of the game.......

Need to keep any lead that India may now get to manageable levels.......

 

Need to break this partnership soon