Test Match Cricket

[Piece]

A great rear guard effort and a fantastic ton from Ali.

Honestly over the last few days we didn't really deserve to draw. Just proves if you can't field or captain properly you can throw a winning position away.

 

[JCW]

Real shame they could not pull it off .................2 balls , if only .......................EYC

 

[HomerJSimpson]

So near, so far. Shame Anderson couldn't finish the job. Time for changes now

 

[fundy]

Utter embarassment again so far today, getting bowled out by an ordinary attack on a low slow lifeless deck.

Sooner changes are made from the top down the better, Giles Clarke needs to go, Downton gonna struggle to stay on too and then at team level Moores should be put out his misery sooner rather than later (should never have gone back to him), Cook has to give up the captaincy, Saker has to go all as a bare minimum. Oh and Flower has to be removed from the set up too

Then a fresh start, with the focus on providing the best possible England team that play entertaining cricket on sporting wickets which provide a balance between bat and ball. Yep Im really in fantasy land sadly as all that will happen is they will close ranks and continue to pat each other on the back and keep soldiering on.

Get someone like Nasser in as head coach, make sure "english" wickets with pace bounce and movement are prepared (and if it doesnt last 5 days tough!), pick a properly balanced side, tell the new young squad they have a decent amount of time together before being judged and start buidling for the next era

 

[Deleted member 18588]

Have to agree with you fundy.

I know one should not read too much into such things but several times during the day the camera panned to the England balcony.Alistair Cook was laughing and joking and looked more like the Captain of a County Under 15 team and Peter Moores reminded me of a rabbit trapped in the headlights.

Most people thought that Andy Flower had departed but is, in fact, still dictating things in the background.

Clarke and Downton seem to be total "establishment men" as does James Whittaker.

We do seem to be in danger of wasting the progress made early this century.

 

[Piece]

.... make sure "english" wickets with pace bounce and movement are prepared (and if it doesnt last 5 days tough!), pick a properly balanced side, tell the new young squad they have a decent amount of time together before being judged and start buidling for the next era

That first bit really concerns me. ECB appear to be steering grounds to prepare 5 days wickets for corporate reasons rather than pitches that should suit England. Home advantage doesn't seem to be option now in this country.

 

[JCW]

Watching the test now , what a good ton from Root and the Burnley Lara is doing well too ....................EYC

 

[CMAC]

So, here we go, Sri Lanka win the toss, England put in to bat, conditions look good overhead and underfoot. Cook and Robson ready to get underway. Here we go

perfect, I need a good nap

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Watching the test now , what a good ton from Root and the Burnley Lara is doing well too ....................EYC

Fantastic last wicket effort and a shame Anderson couldn't manage the ton. Cook still looks short of confidence and bereft of ideas. I agree that pitches don't seem to be playing to our strength anymore

 

[fundy]

Utterly indefensible approach again today, 4 of them bounced out by the old ball in the space of 6 overs when they had India out of ideas and on the rack. Lack of direction and leadership just hideous time after time. Still seems as though its a happy dressing room and the old boys network are all feeding from the trough.

Time for change long overdue yet still wont happen until the winter at the earliest

 

[Snelly]

Utterly indefensible approach again today, 4 of them bounced out by the old ball in the space of 6 overs when they had India out of ideas and on the rack. Lack of direction and leadership just hideous time after time. Still seems as though its a happy dressing room and the old boys network are all feeding from the trough.

Time for change long overdue yet still wont happen until the winter at the earliest

Agreed. Three men back for the hook and Root and Prior capitulate. So stupid. If they had just batted out the 20 overs then England would have won the game. Heads should roll. Certainly Priors...... Get Joss Buttler in.

 

[Jack_bfc]

Is it all over yet?

I put some money on India at evens just before Lunch

Just in case...

 

[Piece]

Brainless. Utterly brainless. An exhibition of how not to play the short ball. Again.

 

[patricks148]

Utterly indefensible approach again today, 4 of them bounced out by the old ball in the space of 6 overs when they had India out of ideas and on the rack. Lack of direction and leadership just hideous time after time. Still seems as though its a happy dressing room and the old boys network are all feeding from the trough.

Time for change long overdue yet still wont happen until the winter at the earliest

an absolute shower!

 

[fundy]

just talking to someone about next yr at Lords, rumour is face value for Ashes tickets will be £110 - may get away with it for 3 days at Lords, but theres gonna be some pretty empty grounds elsewhere. Cant see there being may takers for Headingly against NZ in springtime!!!!

 

[Piece]

And the run-out to end the game sums up this England team at the moment. I bet KP's laughing his box off!

 

[Jack_bfc]

And the run-out to end the game sums up this England team at the moment. I bet KP's laughing his box off!

That would be the bitter and twisted south African laughing at the Country that made him a millionare!!!

 

[Deleted member 18588]

just talking to someone about next yr at Lords, rumour is face value for Ashes tickets will be £110 - may get away with it for 3 days at Lords, but theres gonna be some pretty empty grounds elsewhere. Cant see there being may takers for Headingly against NZ in springtime!!!!

Not judging by the demand for the Edgbaston tickets.

 

[JCW]

If cook is staying on then he has to drop down the order to at least 5 , as for the rest , Time Prior took a rest and get another keeper in , 3 man out and you play the hook , its a bit silly but its not as simple as that , Englans lack a leader and cook is pretty poor captain so maybe its time for a change .........................EYC

 

[fundy]

If cook is staying on then he has to drop down the order to at least 5 , as for the rest , Time Prior took a rest and get another keeper in , 3 man out and you play the hook , its a bit silly but its not as simple as that , Englans lack a leader and cook is pretty poor captain so maybe its time for a change .........................EYC

Sorry but thats laughable. If Cook plays he opens the batting, thats where he's batted all his life and just isnt suited to batting lower down the order. Personally Id be relieving him as captain with a view to long term him being the opening batter who gets stacks of runs he was before becoming skiper, albeit he may want a few games away initially