Off Topic England V West Indies / Ben Stokes

Stoneman got a good one. Cook has started well, but I couldn't say I get any pleasure from watching him bat. Ugly.

 

Why do they still call it lunch at 4.00 in the afternoon?

They could have tea and supper.

 

Centuries by Root and Cook.....

 

Off some pretty ordinary bowling, though. Sad to see the Windies having sunk so low in Test cricket.

 

They've really lost it, haven't they? A real shame.

 

Their youngsters just want to play 20-20 (they did win the World Cup after all), probably down to the example set by their best player and erstwhile captain, Chris Gayle, not being able to bother his arse to play Test matches.

 

Sad to see the Windies so hugely out-classed. Their better players are too busy playing in their domestic 20-20.

 

13-1 after 9 overs and Powell dropped as well. It's going to be a long evening for the Windies. On the plus side the pink ball is good on the telly.

 

This series could be seriously embarrassing for the Windies, total mismatch...

 

If you want to kill Test cricket this is a great way to do it.

 

Not many test matches go the full 5days now & this series certainly won't going by today's result, so if any of you go don't buy a ticket for the 5th day, still great performance from England.

 

With tests ending earlier in decisive results, surely it's time to do a proper test league? It would avoid the smaller teams struggling to get meaningful game time and might either shame or inspire a formerly great team like the West Indies to engage in the longer format.

 

When players can earn £1 million plus for six weeks in the IPL playing T20 cricket you have to think that Test cricket is rapidly reaching the end of the road. The Windies have been in decline since Ambrose and Walsh retired and Gayle decided he couldn't be arsed with the five day game. The lure of the NBA as a rival is more or less the final nail in the coffin for cricket in that region. I really can't see there being Test cricket in it's current form in 10 years time.

The T20 Blast series often produces massive gates, Middlesex v Surrey had 28,000 and the return fixture over 20,000, that is more than County Championship games attract in a whole season, the modern fan wants instant gratification and a result on the night not days of often uninspiring boredom in comparison. Cricket has created it's own monster which currently is saving the domestic game from financial ruin...

 

Hopefully the upcoming Ashes series proves to close and exciting to all watching, from both sides and plays its part in keeping test match cricket alive.

 

I think there's a lot hanging on that series Aussie. We need a few close matches, perhaps even an exciting draw, plus some great performances to show what Test cricket is really about. A 2-1 England series win with 2 draws would do nicely.

I just read that even with a local boy making a ton in a new test venue in India last time England were there, they only got 9000 through the turnstiles.

 

SB, l was in total agreement with you until you mentioned a 2-1 series win.