Off Topic Cricket 2021

Another cracking stat courtesy of beeb........

Andy Zaltzman

Test Match Special statistician

This is England's six successive win in Sri Lanka. There has only been one other occasion when England have won six in a row against a specific opposition away from home - it was the first eight Tests they played against South Africa in the 19th century.

 

Well done England, great bowling in second innings, justifiable winners.

 

Well done England and well played Dom Sibley too.
India next, which will be a whole lot tougher, especially as we're continuing to rotate players meaning we won't see our strongest team for a while.

 

Stokes, Burns, Pope Foakes back after 1st test as buttler goes home

 

Is Buttler the only first choice not playing in India?
Not so bad then, although he'll be a big miss.

 

I think so Col, he’s decided to go home after playing in first test, also Ali is available

 

A decent start by England in the first Test against India. Going comfortably at 63-0 not long before lunch, we suddenly lost two quick wickets, Burns getting out attempting a completely unnecessary reverse sweep and then Lawrence plum LBW. Root and Sibley have consolidated well since lunch and England now stand at 138-2.

A very good toss to win and England should be looking for 400 minimum.

 

Right, so Burns was trying a reverse sweep on the first morning of the first test against India, the world’s form team, in India. And in Madras, where I seem to remember you can build a huge score, with patience.

You don’t have to be bright to play test cricket do you?

Decent start despite this though.

 

Burns's shot was horrible. To be fair though, Root has also played the shot once, but to much better effect - and not against Ashwin.

 

It's on CH4 in case anyone didn't know.

 

It’s great when it comes off, but in the context of the match, no one chasing anything, still building a first innings total, you’ve got to question even Roots judgement here. Good job he’s in the form of his life. The influence of quick cricket is huge.

I always suspect, hopefully without good grounds, that players touring in India have half an eye on a juicy IPL contract. And I can’t really blame them for that, it’s a pension.

 

141-2.
Sibley on 53 not out.
He's not the most attractive player to watch, but he's doing well.

 

Nice solid start laying the foundations for a decent score..... skip picking up where he left off in Sri Lanka and sibley getting reward for the work he's put in.....

 

Just seen that so far India have bowled 10 no balls...... maybe taking that onus of the on field umpires has worked as I doubt they'd call that many.....

 

Nice ton from Root

 

Another century for Root.
Absolutely back to his best.

 

100 in his 100th Test, top class stuff...

 

235/2 new ball available
Root 108
Sibley 83

 

Nicely done skip.......

Good partnership this....... New ball due shortly....

 

Going along around 3 an over is a decent scoring rate over there.....