Cricket fred

[Digby]

I was about to say something nice

....as I said, a tad shunt. All three uber soft dismissals.

Not as bad as that review for Chase's first. The mistake is one thing, but that was shocking judgement from both openers after the fact

[Puja]

Roston Chase is apparently the best spin bowler in the world. Or our batsmen have terrible mindsets, holes in their techniques, and keep losing concentration and making ridiculous mistakes - one or the other. Sibley's made an okay score, but considering how many lives he's had so far, I don't know he should be too proud of it.

Puja

[Banquo]

Roston Chase is apparently the best spin bowler in the world. Or our batsmen have terrible mindsets, holes in their techniques, and keep losing concentration and making ridiculous mistakes - one or the other. Sibley's made an okay score, but considering how many lives he's had so far, I don't know he should be too proud of it.

Puja

indeed. Though I'll credit Sibley for hanging in, its a good sign to keep scoring when you are playing poorly. Other players should take note. If Gabriel is crocked it should get easier after 60 or so overs as they tire.

[Puja]

Sibley dropped again! He's got to get a decent hundred here after this many lives - anything less would be rude.

Puja

[Banquo]

Sibley dropped again! He's got to get a decent hundred here after this many lives - anything less would be rude.

Puja

Good work from these two, having watched a bit more since tea, its not been easy.

[Digby]

Sibley only really offered the one drop I saw, there were some edges through/short of the slip with the bad one that Holder just didn't seem to pick up, and at best a half chance to short leg that didn't stick. It'd be tough to bat in Manchester when the ball swings a little and seams and spins without a little luck. On balance that's a decent effort, and he's meeting the ball much better than he used to.

Be interesting to see him up against bowlers going around or a left armer in another game, and he needs some scoring shots through the off side, but there's progress

[Puja]

Sibley only really offered the one drop I saw, there were some edges through/short of the slip with the bad one that Holder just didn't seem to pick up, and at best a half chance to short leg that didn't stick. It'd be tough to bat in Manchester when the ball swings a little and seams and spins without a little luck. On balance that's a decent effort, and he's meeting the ball much better than he used to.

Be interesting to see him up against bowlers going around or a left armer in another game, and he needs some scoring shots through the off side, but there's progress

I'd call the one to short-leg more than a half-chance - I'd say that sticks for about 6-7 times out of 10 and, really, giving that chance off Roston bloody Chase?! Plus there were a few play and misses where it was sheer luck that he didn't connect. I mean, you always need a bit of a luck, but he's had a *lot* this innings. Mind, he has made a good fist of it aside from those and hopefully this will be become big innings that he'll build his confidence around.

I can't believe people are criticising his style of play though. This is test cricket and he is a test opener. His job is the dull aggregation of runs and taking up miles in the fast bowler's legs. People sat and complained about Roy unleashing a few nice drives and getting out, and now they're sitting and complaining because an opener is occupying the crease and building a score? Get real.

Who's willing to bet that we go from 207/3 to 252 all out tomorrow morning though? This is a classic England collapse set-up, right here. Stokes goes second ball, Sibley follows suit 3 overs later and we end up 220/8 before the tail wags enough to take us over 250.

Puja

[Digby]

He hit that ball into shortleg and it went into the lads jumper at the waist. Unless that ball happens to fly into your hands you're never getting your hands to it, and then you're hoping it catches in your clothing. It might have stuck, but I wouldn't as a fielder think I'd put a chance down.

[Stom]

Sibley only really offered the one drop I saw, there were some edges through/short of the slip with the bad one that Holder just didn't seem to pick up, and at best a half chance to short leg that didn't stick. It'd be tough to bat in Manchester when the ball swings a little and seams and spins without a little luck. On balance that's a decent effort, and he's meeting the ball much better than he used to.

Be interesting to see him up against bowlers going around or a left armer in another game, and he needs some scoring shots through the off side, but there's progress

I'd call the one to short-leg more than a half-chance - I'd say that sticks for about 6-7 times out of 10 and, really, giving that chance off Roston bloody Chase?! Plus there were a few play and misses where it was sheer luck that he didn't connect. I mean, you always need a bit of a luck, but he's had a *lot* this innings. Mind, he has made a good fist of it aside from those and hopefully this will be become big innings that he'll build his confidence around.

I can't believe people are criticising his style of play though. This is test cricket and he is a test opener. His job is the dull aggregation of runs and taking up miles in the fast bowler's legs. People sat and complained about Roy unleashing a few nice drives and getting out, and now they're sitting and complaining because an opener is occupying the crease and building a score? Get real.

Who's willing to bet that we go from 207/3 to 252 all out tomorrow morning though? This is a classic England collapse set-up, right here. Stokes goes second ball, Sibley follows suit 3 overs later and we end up 220/8 before the tail wags enough to take us over 250.

Puja

Because Cook or Strauss could play shots as well as stick around. Not a lot of shots but more than just a flick off the pads.

I like the look of Crawley, he’s allowed a couple of blips like today, let’s see how he gets on with it.

[Puja]

Sibley only really offered the one drop I saw, there were some edges through/short of the slip with the bad one that Holder just didn't seem to pick up, and at best a half chance to short leg that didn't stick. It'd be tough to bat in Manchester when the ball swings a little and seams and spins without a little luck. On balance that's a decent effort, and he's meeting the ball much better than he used to.

Be interesting to see him up against bowlers going around or a left armer in another game, and he needs some scoring shots through the off side, but there's progress

I'd call the one to short-leg more than a half-chance - I'd say that sticks for about 6-7 times out of 10 and, really, giving that chance off Roston bloody Chase?! Plus there were a few play and misses where it was sheer luck that he didn't connect. I mean, you always need a bit of a luck, but he's had a *lot* this innings. Mind, he has made a good fist of it aside from those and hopefully this will be become big innings that he'll build his confidence around.

I can't believe people are criticising his style of play though. This is test cricket and he is a test opener. His job is the dull aggregation of runs and taking up miles in the fast bowler's legs. People sat and complained about Roy unleashing a few nice drives and getting out, and now they're sitting and complaining because an opener is occupying the crease and building a score? Get real.

Who's willing to bet that we go from 207/3 to 252 all out tomorrow morning though? This is a classic England collapse set-up, right here. Stokes goes second ball, Sibley follows suit 3 overs later and we end up 220/8 before the tail wags enough to take us over 250.

Puja

Because Cook or Strauss could play shots as well as stick around. Not a lot of shots but more than just a flick off the pads.

I like the look of Crawley, he’s allowed a couple of blips like today, let’s see how he gets on with it.

If we had Cook or Strauss, then we'd be in a very different situation altogether. We don't, and I don't see the value is castigating someone for crease-occupying (and scoring 80+runs, mind) when our major problem has been our incredibly fragile batting and its tendency to gift wickets.

Agreed on Crawley - he is definitely a player to invest in.

Puja

[Banquo]

I'd call the one to short-leg more than a half-chance - I'd say that sticks for about 6-7 times out of 10 and, really, giving that chance off Roston bloody Chase?! Plus there were a few play and misses where it was sheer luck that he didn't connect. I mean, you always need a bit of a luck, but he's had a *lot* this innings. Mind, he has made a good fist of it aside from those and hopefully this will be become big innings that he'll build his confidence around.

I can't believe people are criticising his style of play though. This is test cricket and he is a test opener. His job is the dull aggregation of runs and taking up miles in the fast bowler's legs. People sat and complained about Roy unleashing a few nice drives and getting out, and now they're sitting and complaining because an opener is occupying the crease and building a score? Get real.

Who's willing to bet that we go from 207/3 to 252 all out tomorrow morning though? This is a classic England collapse set-up, right here. Stokes goes second ball, Sibley follows suit 3 overs later and we end up 220/8 before the tail wags enough to take us over 250.

Puja

Because Cook or Strauss could play shots as well as stick around. Not a lot of shots but more than just a flick off the pads.

I like the look of Crawley, he’s allowed a couple of blips like today, let’s see how he gets on with it.

If we had Cook or Strauss, then we'd be in a very different situation altogether. We don't, and I don't see the value is castigating someone for crease-occupying (and scoring 80+runs, mind) when our major problem has been our incredibly fragile batting and its tendency to gift wickets.

Agreed on Crawley - he is definitely a player to invest in.

Puja

Yep. Sans Sibley we'd have been in deep doo da yesterday. He does have more shots (as shown when he got his ton) but is both playing to keep his place and it was tricky batting yesterday.

[Banquo]

Sibley only really offered the one drop I saw, there were some edges through/short of the slip with the bad one that Holder just didn't seem to pick up, and at best a half chance to short leg that didn't stick. It'd be tough to bat in Manchester when the ball swings a little and seams and spins without a little luck. On balance that's a decent effort, and he's meeting the ball much better than he used to.

Be interesting to see him up against bowlers going around or a left armer in another game, and he needs some scoring shots through the off side, but there's progress

I'd call the one to short-leg more than a half-chance - I'd say that sticks for about 6-7 times out of 10 and, really, giving that chance off Roston bloody Chase?! Plus there were a few play and misses where it was sheer luck that he didn't connect. I mean, you always need a bit of a luck, but he's had a *lot* this innings. Mind, he has made a good fist of it aside from those and hopefully this will be become big innings that he'll build his confidence around.

I can't believe people are criticising his style of play though. This is test cricket and he is a test opener. His job is the dull aggregation of runs and taking up miles in the fast bowler's legs. People sat and complained about Roy unleashing a few nice drives and getting out, and now they're sitting and complaining because an opener is occupying the crease and building a score? Get real.

Who's willing to bet that we go from 207/3 to 252 all out tomorrow morning though? This is a classic England collapse set-up, right here. Stokes goes second ball, Sibley follows suit 3 overs later and we end up 220/8 before the tail wags enough to take us over 250.

Puja

Our collective reverse jinxing has worked a treat here

[Digby]

I don't quite understand the Windies this match. Okay they want to be hard to beat, but some short pitch stuff, taking the new ball, these don't seem alarming things to do and you can always go back to being more conservative

[Banquo]

This is a helluva shot!

[Banquo]

Kudos to Sibley, but that must be the lowest 4 count in an innings of 120 surely? (5)

[Banquo]

Time for Joss to stick his hand up.

[Puja]

Kudos to Sibley, but that must be the lowest 4 count in an innings of 120 surely? (5)

I don't mind that at all. He's 24 years old and has plenty of time to add attacking shots to his game (he certainly needs training on sweeping the number of times he played and missed!), but an opener that can see off 300+ balls is invaluable in the test game.

He did exactly what I said he needed to yesterday - good job all around.

Puja

[Banquo]

Kudos to Sibley, but that must be the lowest 4 count in an innings of 120 surely? (5)

I don't mind that at all. He's 24 years old and has plenty of time to add attacking shots to his game (he certainly needs training on sweeping the number of times he played and missed!), but an opener that can see off 300+ balls is invaluable in the test game.

He did exactly what I said he needed to yesterday - good job all around.

Puja

as I said, kudos. It was a tangential point. And as I also said, he does have the shots, he's just choosing not to use them, though his technique will always make free front foot scoring on the off difficult. Ken Barrington was hugely successful as a batsman by eliminating risk from his game (free scoring as a young un), but earned the moniker 'Barnacle'.

[Digby]

Roach back in the game

[Banquo]

140 runs late on the collapse Puja . Mind Bess batting at 10 shows a pretty deep line up.

[Galfon]

Stokes is like having an extra player in the team, that's some score and not easy early on.
Roach deserves better - top work.

[Banquo]

decent knock from Buttler...but....he's better than this. Should have been getting to 500 + from Sibley and Stokes' partnership- 341-3 to 427-9 aint great.

[Digby]

Also are another 10-20 runs worth this time?

[Banquo]

Also are another 10-20 runs worth this time?

and then some given they got 42, cut Broad off just when getting into form . I like the cut of Bess's jib as a cricketer, just wish he was a leggie

[Digby]

I'd much rather have been bowling