Tongo
Journeyman Pro
England in charge now with Pakistan 53/4.
England v Pakistan
- Thread starter Tongo
- Start date
HomerJSimpson
Hall of Famer
Fantastic session buoyed by the Root 250. There for the taking you'd think tomorrow and get them in again and put the pressure on. Need to get Masood early tomorrow morning
Norrin Radd
Tour Winner
we need no rain and its forecast tomorrow.
Tongo
Journeyman Pro
England not following on after bowling Pakistan out for 198.
Disappointing for me. There's rain around, England lead by nearly 400, no bowler bowled more than 16 overs, why be so conservative?
Disappointing for me. There's rain around, England lead by nearly 400, no bowler bowled more than 16 overs, why be so conservative?
fundy
Ryder Cup Winner
HomerJSimpson
Hall of Famer
What's the forecast for tomorrow and Tuesday. Seems a bizarre decision when they had so many runs to play with
fundy
Ryder Cup Winner
few showers but shouldnt lose too much play
HomerJSimpson
Hall of Famer
That's good news but I am still unsure why we wouldn't enforce the follow on unless they are scared of the Pakistani spinner in the final innings. Doesn't seem a positive message to give out
fundy
Ryder Cup Winner
The cynic in me says its an ECB decision to ensure the test goes 4 or 5 days. The other option is that Andersen is just back from injury, plenty of cricket ahead, pitch isnt going to improve and could get seriously worse, its actually the safer option
HomerJSimpson
Hall of Famer
I can share the cynicism of wanting to extend the match but surely we have the team to protect a lead and get the runs should we need to bat again?
fundy
Ryder Cup Winner
can also argue we have more than enough team to win the game this way round and ensure the bowlers get a rest too
Pathetic Shark
Tour Rookie
Some of the comments by the Sky pundits were pathetic over this. England will win the game either way so why not get 150-200 quick runs, rest the bowlers and then finish them off?
The simple solution is to find out whatever Geoff Boycott and Ian Botham think ..... and then do the total opposite.
S
Snelly
Guest
Poor decision I thought. The best teams in the world are totally ruthless and England took their foot of the Pakistan throat. Australia in their prime would not have done this.
That said, another ton for Root would be great.
That said, another ton for Root would be great.
yes, at their best the Aussies were totally ruthless, but then saying that they did have two of the best bowlers ever in GM and SW
Kellfire
Blackballed
Australia are the only team to have lost a match after enforcing a follow on - three times in all... so maybe they would.
fundy
Ryder Cup Winner
cracking win from England, founded on Root and Cook being 500/2 between them and the bowlers making getting 20 wickets look pretty straight forward, only real negative was Stokes' injury, looks like that may be him done for the test series be interesting to see if they try and replace like for like (is there any?) or pick an out and out bowler on the basis we have enough depth in batting already (would love to see woakes get a chance higher up especially the form he appears to be in). Maybe a left field option like Curran, or if they go for an out and out bowler expect its Ball or Finn returning (if they didnt pick 2 spinners at OT hard to see Rashid getting the gig)
be interesting to see if they try and replace like for like (is there any?) or pick an out and out bowler on the basis we have enough depth in batting already (would love to see woakes get a chance higher up especially the form he appears to be in). Maybe a left field option like Curran, or if they go for an out and out bowler expect its Ball or Finn returning (if they didnt pick 2 spinners at OT hard to see Rashid getting the gig)
HomerJSimpson
Hall of Famer
Decent performance and a shame about the injury. Will make the next test very interesting. I think we've got the momentum and batsmen in form (Hales and Vince aside). A good chance to try a new bowler perhaps
S
Snelly
Guest
A good win. The lack of follow-on showed timidity to our rivals though and I think it was an error of judgement.
richart
Major Champion
Joe Root is the best England batsman I have seen. His footwork is stunning, all the shots, and plays with am elegance not seen since David Gower. Someone that good makes the game look so easy.
On the other hand Hales, Vince and Ballance scratch around in comparison. England need to find a couple of decent batsmen and a spinner, to be the top team in the world.
Great improvement in Woakes as an all-rounder and Bairstow as a batsmen.:thup:
On the other hand Hales, Vince and Ballance scratch around in comparison. England need to find a couple of decent batsmen and a spinner, to be the top team in the world.
Great improvement in Woakes as an all-rounder and Bairstow as a batsmen.:thup:
Junior
Tour Winner
They say Old Trafford is hard on the bowlers so having two just return from injury (Anderson and Stokes), they decided to rest them....not that it did Stokes much good. Perhaps in the back of their mind they were also worried should they have needed to chase against the leggy on a day 5 pitch.
That said, there was so much time left in the match it didn't matter a jot what Cook did but the Sky Sports commentators were going way ott in lambasting cook for not declaring. I do agree with them and you in that it would have been nice to see Cook make a statement and be bolder......an England innings victory is a rare thing.
I think Ballance and Vince have what it takes but Hales days might be numbered in the test team......
