Cricket fred

[Puja]

Bess is in more of a starting than finishing school. But he is thinking about his game, he is getting some drift at times, he fields decently and he can hold a bat. It's weird he's already playing test cricket, but maybe they consider he should learn to bowl with DRS?

I like Archer, and I've some sympathy for the number of spells he was asked to bowl without a slip, merely being asked to push the batters back (a job Broad had once upon a time) and perhaps create footmarks for Bess. Neither Archer nor Bess is turning in results that match their potential yet, but I'm a little on the fence whether I'd swap them for Wood and Leach. I do feel sorry for Leach he was kept in camp and given no games

Does archer keep his place against Jimmy, Broad and Woakes when Stokes is back?

Depends if we're playing home or away. At home, absolutely not.

Puja

[Banquo]

Bess is in more of a starting than finishing school. But he is thinking about his game, he is getting some drift at times, he fields decently and he can hold a bat. It's weird he's already playing test cricket, but maybe they consider he should learn to bowl with DRS?

I like Archer, and I've some sympathy for the number of spells he was asked to bowl without a slip, merely being asked to push the batters back (a job Broad had once upon a time) and perhaps create footmarks for Bess. Neither Archer nor Bess is turning in results that match their potential yet, but I'm a little on the fence whether I'd swap them for Wood and Leach. I do feel sorry for Leach he was kept in camp and given no games

Does archer keep his place against Jimmy, Broad and Woakes when Stokes is back?

Depends if we're playing home or away. At home, absolutely not.

Puja

and where away. WI,SA and Oz being a different proposition to India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Our problem, as exemplified by this match tbh, is that unless plan a works (namely duke ball moving about on a tasty surface) we don't have a plan b, esp without Stokes who can make stuff happen. For example, Archer should be capable of shaking stuff up on even relatively docile pitches; he's got a sharp bouncer, a good yorker and good changes of pace. Bit mystifying really why we didn't use him more like this all summer.

[Digby]

Given we now have Broad, Jimmy, Woakes, Archer, Stokes and Curran I don't see why we wouldn't manage them whether home or away, they can all play. If the question is would I pick Archer in a one off game then I'm not sure, I'd want to, but I might bottle that call depending on the situation

[Mellsblue]

Does archer keep his place against Jimmy, Broad and Woakes when Stokes is back?

Depends if we're playing home or away. At home, absolutely not.

Puja

and where away. WI,SA and Oz being a different proposition to India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Our problem, as exemplified by this match tbh, is that unless plan a works (namely duke ball moving about on a tasty surface) we don't have a plan b, esp without Stokes who can make stuff happen. For example, Archer should be capable of shaking stuff up on even relatively docile pitches; he's got a sharp bouncer, a good yorker and good changes of pace. Bit mystifying really why we didn't use him more like this all summer.

Supposedly he wanted to mix up his bowling but was told somewhere in or around the first test against Pakistan to just bowl with as much hostility and as fast as he can.

[Stom]

Depends if we're playing home or away. At home, absolutely not.

Puja

and where away. WI,SA and Oz being a different proposition to India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Our problem, as exemplified by this match tbh, is that unless plan a works (namely duke ball moving about on a tasty surface) we don't have a plan b, esp without Stokes who can make stuff happen. For example, Archer should be capable of shaking stuff up on even relatively docile pitches; he's got a sharp bouncer, a good yorker and good changes of pace. Bit mystifying really why we didn't use him more like this all summer.

Supposedly he wanted to mix up his bowling but was told somewhere in or around the first test against Pakistan to just bowl with as much hostility and as fast as he can.

He seems to want to be an opening bowler who gets movement when he should be looking to be someone who can knock their heads off. He should be trying to emulate Brett Lee, not Josh Hazlewood.

[Banquo]

and where away. WI,SA and Oz being a different proposition to India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Our problem, as exemplified by this match tbh, is that unless plan a works (namely duke ball moving about on a tasty surface) we don't have a plan b, esp without Stokes who can make stuff happen. For example, Archer should be capable of shaking stuff up on even relatively docile pitches; he's got a sharp bouncer, a good yorker and good changes of pace. Bit mystifying really why we didn't use him more like this all summer.

Supposedly he wanted to mix up his bowling but was told somewhere in or around the first test against Pakistan to just bowl with as much hostility and as fast as he can.

He seems to want to be an opening bowler who gets movement when he should be looking to be someone who can knock their heads off. He should be trying to emulate Brett Lee, not Josh Hazlewood.

I think he can do both tbh. Not sure he was bowling as fast or as hostilely as he can to Mells point either.

[Digby]

His opening experience to bowling really fast in tests was that England over bowled him and left him knackered. He's adjusted this season to try more things. There's some learning to be done by England/Root and Archer, Root might also want to learn about slips, batting, and chatting to as many spinners as possible about field placings

[Banquo]

His opening experience to bowling really fast in tests was that England over bowled him and left him knackered. He's adjusted this season to try more things. There's some learning to be done by England/Root and Archer, Root might also want to learn about slips, batting, and chatting to as many spinners as possible about field placings

His 'adjustment' has been unsuccessful to date, have to ponder on condition, motivation and coaching, or all three. Or second season syndrome. Whatever, would hate to see that talent wasted, and could also say the same over his batting. And Joe Root's, its true.

[Banquo]

Archer definitely turns up better for T20; Wood sharp as well

[Galfon]

Maxwell - Rashid, short boundary ?...ahem.

[Banquo]

Yeah, Morgan normally excellent but made some odd calls there

[Galfon]

5 for 8 off 5 ?, got to pleased with that.
Just shows what a wicket with something in it can bring with
2 top quickies fired up.
Real test of resolve for India now.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/55375248

[J Dory]

anyone have a linky for nz pakistan?

[Big D]

Hopeless from Sri Lanka this morning.

Funny seeing all the England team other than the debutant with a HS of above 50. I realise this will have happened before though.

[Galfon]

18 - 2 already, Crawley gone.
( as an aside I hope the beeb doesn't go full on PC and keep referring to a batsman as 'batter', just daft. )

[fivepointer]

All fine by close of play. Good batting from Root and Bairstow, England in very strong position.

The SL batting would have shamed a club 2nd XI.

[Galfon]

The bowling is not much better,
263 - 3 with new boy Lawrence showing well.
Sri L not the force they were.Ground looks nice.

[Big D]

Poor Mendis is taking a hammering at short leg.

Root getting a confidence building knock for the far tougher tests to come.

Lawrence played well, a little unlucky with the ball that got him out.

God knows what Arthur was so upset about.

[Digby]

Mendis did indeed get a battering. I guess after his recent batting performances it counts as doing something for the team if he's just in the way of the ball a lot of the time.

[Galfon]

Bit of a grind - small lead for SriL with 3 left.Mathews is no mug so Root''ll want this wrapped up; pitch could do anything on D5.

[ u/date: 74 to win, Leach gets his five'fer ]

[Digby]

Always great excitement when a side chasing a small lead starts to collapse. In a way we're lucky to get to go again in the morning when hopefully the panic/adrenaline will have reset, and it's probably a done deal now.

Ali might be a little disappointed that both spinners took 5 for. Unless Curran plays as a batter then I suppose you could have a 3rd spinner.

[Stom]

Always great excitement when a side chasing a small lead starts to collapse. In a way we're lucky to get to go again in the morning when hopefully the panic/adrenaline will have reset, and it's probably a done deal now.

Ali might be a little disappointed that both spinners took 5 for. Unless Curran plays as a batter then I suppose you could have a 3rd spinner.

I expect Moeen was penciled in but his Covid did for that.

[Digby]

Always great excitement when a side chasing a small lead starts to collapse. In a way we're lucky to get to go again in the morning when hopefully the panic/adrenaline will have reset, and it's probably a done deal now.

Ali might be a little disappointed that both spinners took 5 for. Unless Curran plays as a batter then I suppose you could have a 3rd spinner.

I expect Moeen was penciled in but his Covid did for that.

Seems likely. But thus far he's spent time in isolation and gout out just in time to watch both potential slots in the team locked down for at least the next game.

I'm still not sold on him as a spinner, really as anything but a late order counter attack batsman, but it's got to be hard

[Stom]

Always great excitement when a side chasing a small lead starts to collapse. In a way we're lucky to get to go again in the morning when hopefully the panic/adrenaline will have reset, and it's probably a done deal now.

Ali might be a little disappointed that both spinners took 5 for. Unless Curran plays as a batter then I suppose you could have a 3rd spinner.

I expect Moeen was penciled in but his Covid did for that.

Seems likely. But thus far he's spent time in isolation and gout out just in time to watch both potential slots in the team locked down for at least the next game.

I'm still not sold on him as a spinner, really as anything but a late order counter attack batsman, but it's got to be hard

I think there’s always a chance of an Indian summer but he’s been misused and underdeveloped as a test match cricketer, for me.

[Digby]

I expect Moeen was penciled in but his Covid did for that.

Seems likely. But thus far he's spent time in isolation and gout out just in time to watch both potential slots in the team locked down for at least the next game.

I'm still not sold on him as a spinner, really as anything but a late order counter attack batsman, but it's got to be hard

I think there’s always a chance of an Indian summer but he’s been misused and underdeveloped as a test match cricketer, for me.

I'm more in the camp that says he's just not very good, not at test level. Which I don't say just because I'd rather he was playing for Wuss.