Cricket fred

[Galfon]

a meh..showing; more getting out after getting in, and not batting as long as hoped.
However it will be 3-1 and a good series for JR.
Team now has options for quicks, mediums who bat a bit and top-order when Burns fit.
Spinner & keeper berths still a bit whiffy.

[Puja]

a meh..showing; more getting out after getting in, and not batting as long as hoped.
However it will be 3-1 and a good series for JR.
Team now has options for quicks, mediums who bat a bit and top-order when Burns fit.
Spinner & keeper berths still a bit whiffy.

It's something of a novelty to have three options at opener who are all making cases to be put in, as opposed to having to find the least worst option to fill one or two of the berths, as we've been used to.

Puja

[Banquo]

we've taught the saffers the art of collapsing.

Please can we keep Wood fit- diamond of a player.

[Digby]

Brilliant comeback game from Wood. No idea what our bowling lineup is now supposing everyone is fit. Stokes seemingly needs to bowl less, which we can live with, but we can assume we're picking Stokes, a spinner, Archer, and then what? 3 from Broad, Curran, Anderson, Wood, Woakes...?

[fivepointer]

3-1 is a good result after a poor 1st test. We've had 3 very strong performances on the trot, which is something to be very pleased about.
The new players have shown encouraging signs. Wood back n the side is a major boost.
Denly at 3 concerns me and Butler needs to show something very soon if he is to keep his place.

[Banquo]

Brilliant comeback game from Wood. No idea what our bowling lineup is now supposing everyone is fit. Stokes seemingly needs to bowl less, which we can live with, but we can assume we're picking Stokes, a spinner, Archer, and then what? 3 from Broad, Curran, Anderson, Wood, Woakes...?

he was very good in second innings of the third test too.......

[Banquo]

3-1 is a good result after a poor 1st test. We've had 3 very strong performances on the trot, which is something to be very pleased about.
The new players have shown encouraging signs. Wood back n the side is a major boost.
Denly at 3 concerns me and Butler needs to show something very soon if he is to keep his place.

I really like Buttler, but frankly his overall 1st class average is about the same as his test average.......c 32. That used to be fine for a wicket keeper batsman, but it seems no longer the case. Tricky one- he's seemingly stuck between playing his natural game and trying to keep his place.

As for Denly, again like him, but you'd think going with some combo of Burns, Sibley and Crawley would make sense; I did think Sibley and Crawley looked out of their depth initially, because their techniques were iffy- but the coaches have done a good job of improving their technique.

[Stom]

Brilliant comeback game from Wood. No idea what our bowling lineup is now supposing everyone is fit. Stokes seemingly needs to bowl less, which we can live with, but we can assume we're picking Stokes, a spinner, Archer, and then what? 3 from Broad, Curran, Anderson, Wood, Woakes...?

Surely Archer needs to just compete with Broad, Wood, Curran, Woakes and Anderson.

I'd love to see an England attack with both Wood and Archer.

Actually, we're starting to get a little depth. I'd still pick Foakes at w/k personally.

Top 3 - Burns, Sibley, Crawley, Denly
Root
Stokes
6&7 - Pope, Buttler, Foakes, Bairstow
Spinner - Bess, Moeen, Leach
Pacemen - Wood, Archer, Broad, Anderson, Woakes, Curran

[Puja]

Brilliant comeback game from Wood. No idea what our bowling lineup is now supposing everyone is fit. Stokes seemingly needs to bowl less, which we can live with, but we can assume we're picking Stokes, a spinner, Archer, and then what? 3 from Broad, Curran, Anderson, Wood, Woakes...?

Surely Archer needs to just compete with Broad, Wood, Curran, Woakes and Anderson.

I'd love to see an England attack with both Wood and Archer.

Actually, we're starting to get a little depth. I'd still pick Foakes at w/k personally.

Top 3 - Burns, Sibley, Crawley, Denly
Root
Stokes
6&7 - Pope, Buttler, Foakes, Bairstow
Spinner - Bess, Moeen, Leach
Pacemen - Wood, Archer, Broad, Anderson, Woakes, Curran

Hells, I think we're actually in a position where we shouldn't be looking at our pace bowlers competing for a fixed place in the lineup, but actively rotating to try and extend out the durability of Anderson and Broad, while letting them pass on their knowledge to Curran, Wood, and Archer.

Puja

[Banquo]

Curate's egg from England, but Bairstow looks like he might be getting his mojo back. Good effort from spinners and Curran/Mahmood.

Meanwhile....new pace bowler on the block at 16- wow

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/av/cricket/51436954

[Digby]

He might even be 16. But I remember playing a side which I think was a touring Pakistani under age side many years back, and there was a difference no just in the beards but height and build of so many of their players. And it turns out people get played as 19-20 year olds in local under 16 comps and the like to try and bolster the cache of their local administrators

[Banquo]

He might even be 16. But I remember playing a side which I think was a touring Pakistani under age side many years back, and there was a difference no just in the beards but height and build of so many of their players. And it turns out people get played as 19-20 year olds in local under 16 comps and the like to try and bolster the cache of their local administrators

fair point

[Galfon]

Over 1200 runs in the 3 match series, and 3 tight finishes - some going that, but Morgan has the Midas touch recently and puts Eng firmly in contention for the smash-bang-wallop worldies later in the year.Moeen seems to be getting back on track which is another bonus.

[Digby]

What a horrible way for the women to go out of the WC, even Kyle Sinckler got more time on the pitch as his WC ended

[Banquo]

What a horrible way for the women to go out of the WC, even Kyle Sinckler got more time on the pitch as his WC ended

that is rubbish

[Digby]

What a horrible way for the women to go out of the WC, even Kyle Sinckler got more time on the pitch as his WC ended

that is rubbish

Yep, other than it does feel a little harsh to be cross they're getting some rain

[Mellsblue]

[Galfon]

A tadge overreacted, one might say hardly vindicated on the pitch thus far though - still should get a draw from this.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/53363367

( is the 'Brian Broad' official in this Test the same as Chris Broad, Stuart's dad ?. A rare conflict of interest if so
)

[fivepointer]

Its great to have cricket back. Its a bit eerie without supporters and so far England have been underwhelming. Right now I'd settle for draw.

[Digby]

Windies have a very impressive seamer outfit

[Digby]

Archer and Wood combined for a lethal 1-115.

Almost certainly their selection and the likely rotation of Broad and maybe Anderson, and having Wood and Archer is about the tour to Oz, which isn't showing Windies all the respect we could, and for now it shows

[Big D]

Tbh it is good Broad still cares enough to be angry about it.

That should be the end for Denly for the time being. Can't consistently do that.

[Stom]

If I were to drop one bowler, it'd be Archer. I just feel he's way below where he should be and perhaps he could do with more time off to get his elbow right. Wood was unlucky, I felt, at times. Though we gave up the best weather for bowling.

We'll see if that comes back around in the 4th innings, which might be tough to bat on. Crawley is doing well, if Stokes can stick around before exploding, we could get a very good score.

[Galfon]

ffs - mini collapso sees Windies move into good position.
Another 50 for last 3 would make things interesting.
Archer's a loose cannon with willow in hand, but another chance for him.
** fast update..make that last 2, Pope's popped off.

[Galfon]

Good start Eng..the Chase still reasonable for WI.
Bess v Blackwood will be interesting.