Cricket fred

[Banquo]

I don't think there's a problem with the declaration. We've just not bowled well, an with the ball not doing much they haven't been able to bowl in pairs to dry up runs and apply pressure

I didnt say there was a problem, but it had been described as conservative by some and delayed by others. Doesn't look to be the case- quite punchy, in fact.

As I'd said before, the bowling, other than Anderson, has been a problem in this match, and has continued to be so. Lack of both punch and discipline, and not auguring well for the winter, let alone this game.

[Digby]

The ball has just started to reverse, questions to be asked if that continues as to whether one takes the new ball.

[Digby]

That was very positive from England. I'd have to say I'm surprised as I tend to have in mind you can in these situations always spend an hour with a 7/2 field bowling as wide of the stumps as the umpires will allow and reducing the scoring well below 3 an over. We did have a heavily split field at times but nothing to then back up that move, all a bit weird.

Delighted for the Windies though, and sets up a decider, where I suspect England will continue the habit of win one, lose one, win one, lose one, win one...

[Banquo]

That was very positive from England. I'd have to say I'm surprised as I tend to have in mind you can in these situations always spend an hour with a 7/2 field bowling as wide of the stumps as the umpires will allow and reducing the scoring well below 3 an over. We did have a heavily split field at times but nothing to then back up that move, all a bit weird.

Delighted for the Windies though, and sets up a decider, where I suspect England will continue the habit of win one, lose one, win one, lose one, win one...

TBH we should have had a containment strategy as plan b to the wicket taking one (which in itself would put pressure on the batsmen). But kudos to the Windies.

[Banquo]

odd flip-flop wrt to TRJ and Woakes. TRJ promptly gets rid of their best Hope.

[Digby]

Windies having a mare, their batting makes as much sense as Holding saying he didn't rate Lara.

Also of note Broad is bowling at speeds I might not poop myself at were I to face it, he either needs a rest or simply to be dropped if that's the level he can perform at

[Banquo]

Windies having a mare, their batting makes as much sense as Holding saying he didn't rate Lara.

Also of note Broad is bowling at speeds I might not poop myself at were I to face it, he either needs a rest or simply to be dropped if that's the level he can perform at

Broad does look to be in decline, doesnt he. They've been banging on about his wrist position all summer too, so one wonders who is looking at that in the camp.

[Banquo]

batting is pretty tricky though at present; dark, dank, lights on, sporty pitch and Stokes swinging it about ..oo er. Can't work out why he brought ali on tbh.

Stokes bowling a hell of a spell- makes you wonder why he bowled so little last time out

[Digby]

Windies having a mare, their batting makes as much sense as Holding saying he didn't rate Lara.

Also of note Broad is bowling at speeds I might not poop myself at were I to face it, he either needs a rest or simply to be dropped if that's the level he can perform at

Broad does look to be in decline, doesnt he. They've been banging on about his wrist position all summer too, so one wonders who is looking at that in the camp.

I'd certainly accept today Broad kept it tight, and that built pressure for other bowlers, but that could just be conditions today anyway. It's not looking great for him right now, other than like Ali being the spinner there isn't an obvious alternative.

[Banquo]

Squeaky on screen....now CEO Sussex Cricket apparently

[Banquo]

not sure why ali was brought on, even less sure why he has stayed on with the swing out there at the mo.

[Banquo]

Stokes just telling Holder he can't bat OR bowl.....

[Banquo]

then Root drops a sitter to not get rid of Holder off Stokes; great spell from him.

[Digby]

then Root drops a sitter to not get rid of Holder off Stokes; great spell from him.

Sitter might be a touch harsh, he'd expect to take it but it's always harder going to the non natural hand. Also noted on that ball Cook was wincing having gone down on his knee as both he and Root moved towards the ball, is his right knee the one that's been causing problems?

[Banquo]

then Root drops a sitter to not get rid of Holder off Stokes; great spell from him.

Sitter might be a touch harsh, he'd expect to take it but it's always harder going to the non natural hand. Also noted on that ball Cook was wincing having gone down on his knee as both he and Root moved towards the ball, is his right knee the one that's been causing problems?

easy catch at that level.

didn't matter much as it happens, stokes (and now anderson) making the ball talk. Anderson making a more difficult catch look easy.

Stokes on a hat-trick in the second innings; great spell. Bit of a message for Root in that.

[Digby]

then Root drops a sitter to not get rid of Holder off Stokes; great spell from him.

Sitter might be a touch harsh, he'd expect to take it but it's always harder going to the non natural hand. Also noted on that ball Cook was wincing having gone down on his knee as both he and Root moved towards the ball, is his right knee the one that's been causing problems?

easy catch at that level.

didn't matter much as it happens, stokes (and now anderson) making the ball talk. Anderson making a more difficult catch look easy.

Stokes on a hat-trick in the second innings; great spell. Bit of a message for Root in that.

I don't think they're easy even at that level coming on the inside, but I think we'd basically agree you should still be taking those. And if you can't catch those you also don't belong in the slips, and you'll have to go and stand somewhere that involves some actual work. Typically Root doesn't put me in mind of Vaughan or KP who caught like uncos, maybe he was just getting ready to bat

[Banquo]

Sitter might be a touch harsh, he'd expect to take it but it's always harder going to the non natural hand. Also noted on that ball Cook was wincing having gone down on his knee as both he and Root moved towards the ball, is his right knee the one that's been causing problems?

easy catch at that level.

didn't matter much as it happens, stokes (and now anderson) making the ball talk. Anderson making a more difficult catch look easy.

Stokes on a hat-trick in the second innings; great spell. Bit of a message for Root in that.

I don't think they're easy even at that level coming on the inside, but I think we'd basically agree you should still be taking those. And if you can't catch those you also don't belong in the slips, and you'll have to go and stand somewhere that involves some actual work. Typically Root doesn't put me in mind of Vaughan or KP who caught like uncos, maybe he was just getting ready to bat

no, he's a very good slip fielder, it was unusual to drop what I still say was an easy catch at that level , left side or no.

Meanwhile, batting wasn't so easy for us either.

[Digby]

easy catch at that level.

didn't matter much as it happens, stokes (and now anderson) making the ball talk. Anderson making a more difficult catch look easy.

Stokes on a hat-trick in the second innings; great spell. Bit of a message for Root in that.

I don't think they're easy even at that level coming on the inside, but I think we'd basically agree you should still be taking those. And if you can't catch those you also don't belong in the slips, and you'll have to go and stand somewhere that involves some actual work. Typically Root doesn't put me in mind of Vaughan or KP who caught like uncos, maybe he was just getting ready to bat

no, he's a very good slip fielder, it was unusual to drop what I still say was an easy catch at that level , left side or no.

Meanwhile, batting wasn't so easy for us either.

Rather cross with our lot, going too hard at the ball and going at balls they didn't need to. I wasn't entirely joking saying Root might have been getting ready to bat, he'd not be out of order to think he'd be in fairly quickly, but I wasn't expecting 24-4

[Banquo]

making WIndies batting look solid at the mo.

[Digby]

making WIndies batting look solid at the mo.

Malan got a decent delivery, and wasn't going too hard at the ball as were some others. That's going to happen to someone, which is why it's be nice if others in our top 5 weren't so keen to throw their wicket away.

Settled down now though it seems

[Banquo]

making WIndies batting look solid at the mo.

Malan got a decent delivery, and wasn't going too hard at the ball as were some others. That's going to happen to someone, which is why it's be nice if others in our top 5 weren't so keen to throw their wicket away.

Settled down now though it seems

well I wasn't just referring to Malan, but it does seem that our batsmen, even the best of current mob, no longer have/trust the technique in tricky English conditions to dog it out- even the two at the crease are playing shots as they think the next ball may have their name on it....and they are hardly facing great or even very good bowling. Lumme...sound like Boycs. Its the right tactic for them I guess, but its a bit worrying (in fairness Bairstow is dogging it out a bit more, but looking like a walking wicket early on)

Stokes does like a fight though, fair play.

[Banquo]

YJB is terrible reviewer both sides of the stumps.

A lead of 50 looks a challenge at the mo

[Digby]

I wonder if Bairstow had in mind at this point of an innings (a in wickets down) we'd normally be somewhat closer to 80 overs and getting the reviews back. It was a very quick decision to review based on not a lot, he might even have just panicked

[Digby]

I'd really like to know why Bairstow tried to play that delivery with the side of the bat. Another needless wicket if he moves his feet and plays straight

[Digby]

It's very weird watching a side batting at 6 down for a 100 and not a lot knocking singles to a deep fielder at point