Test Match Cricket

They wasted the best bowling conditions this evening, had a real chance to make inroads tonight under the cloud cover but didnt bowl great bar last 3 or 4 from Andersen. Gonna be harder in the sun again tomorrow on whats yet another flat paceless deck
 
They wasted the best bowling conditions this evening, had a real chance to make inroads tonight under the cloud cover but didnt bowl great bar last 3 or 4 from Andersen. Gonna be harder in the sun again tomorrow on whats yet another flat paceless deck

Yep totally agree. I don't think Anderson has looked world class all summer. Broad is crocked and bowled out, in fact they both are. Where's the up and coming attack and the next generation. Same with the spinners. Potentially the batting line up has a degree more rigidity and a chance to develop. The captain lacks nous and I'd have taken a slip out in the last few overs and got another man in front of the bat
 
Yep totally agree. I don't think Anderson has looked world class all summer. Broad is crocked and bowled out, in fact they both are. Where's the up and coming attack and the next generation. Same with the spinners. Potentially the batting line up has a degree more rigidity and a chance to develop. The captain lacks nous and I'd have taken a slip out in the last few overs and got another man in front of the bat

No gully for first ball bowled by Anderson, on a wicket that is not exactly quick.:mad: Cook's captaincy is based on following the ball.
 
Yep totally agree. I don't think Anderson has looked world class all summer. Broad is crocked and bowled out, in fact they both are. Where's the up and coming attack and the next generation. Same with the spinners. Potentially the batting line up has a degree more rigidity and a chance to develop. The captain lacks nous and I'd have taken a slip out in the last few overs and got another man in front of the bat

Hard to blame those 2 too much after how much theyve achieved in recent times, doesnt help they are being flogged to death on unresponsive pitches with no pace or bounce that the powers that be are having prepared to make sure tests last 5 days. Utterly amazed Broad wasnt rested for this game with the likelihood Andersen will be suspended for the last 2 (shows how scared Cook and the coaching staff are at 1-0 down). theyre also desperately missing the respite provided by Swann and the share of the workload he burdened (they either have to pick a proper spinner or Cook has to trust Ali)

Add in the fact that being in the England set up has pretty much ruined 3 or 4 potential quicks in recent times (yet somehow Saker still has a job!) and its no surprise the pipeline is a bit dry.

The improved drainage that has been installed at a lot of the grounds, has led to slow low pitches that arent condusive to good cricket and arent good for developing up and coming players. Add in to this the prevalence of T20 cricket and not surprisingly most younger bowlers are of a defensive nature and not being taught the attacking skills needed at test level.

Would nt rush to over rate the batting yet either, scoring runs against whats pretty much a county attack on flat lifeless pitches, lets see how they fare in some tougher series for me (Robson been exposed outside off a lot, Moeen vulnerable to the short ball both dont look like long term options to me!) Good to see Bell get some runs again (even tho shouldve been out on 0!), he had almost reverted back to the old him that made lots of pretty 30 or 40s so good to see him go on to a big score.
 
Great to see Buttler come into the team and get a good start - hopefully the start of a great test career.
 
Hard to blame those 2 too much after how much theyve achieved in recent times, doesnt help they are being flogged to death on unresponsive pitches with no pace or bounce that the powers that be are having prepared to make sure tests last 5 days. Utterly amazed Broad wasnt rested for this game with the likelihood Andersen will be suspended for the last 2 (shows how scared Cook and the coaching staff are at 1-0 down). theyre also desperately missing the respite provided by Swann and the share of the workload he burdened (they either have to pick a proper spinner or Cook has to trust Ali)

Add in the fact that being in the England set up has pretty much ruined 3 or 4 potential quicks in recent times (yet somehow Saker still has a job!) and its no surprise the pipeline is a bit dry.

The improved drainage that has been installed at a lot of the grounds, has led to slow low pitches that arent condusive to good cricket and arent good for developing up and coming players. Add in to this the prevalence of T20 cricket and not surprisingly most younger bowlers are of a defensive nature and not being taught the attacking skills needed at test level.

Would nt rush to over rate the batting yet either, scoring runs against whats pretty much a county attack on flat lifeless pitches, lets see how they fare in some tougher series for me (Robson been exposed outside off a lot, Moeen vulnerable to the short ball both dont look like long term options to me!) Good to see Bell get some runs again (even tho shouldve been out on 0!), he had almost reverted back to the old him that made lots of pretty 30 or 40s so good to see him go on to a big score.

I guess you can only score against the bowling in front of you but the Indians did look toothless. I agree that the set up has runied a number of quicks and as far as I can see that is going to continue unchecked and that in truth there aren't too many potentially test level players coming along anyway. I would have rested Broad without doubt but it shows how desperate England management are to grab any kind of win, to try and bolster confidence. I agree Moeen looks vulenarable and several others are clearly being worked out. If India can do this then South Africa or Australia will make inroads quickly and skittle England out cheaply. After the excitement of recent Ashes wins and regular test series wins, I fear we're entering a real fallow period for England cricket again
 
India currently 87-2 as I type and so the bowling attack making little impression. I really think we're about to enter a period of England being out performed regularly as the top players begin to peter out and with a lack of real top end players coming through behind
 
India currently 87-2 as I type and so the bowling attack making little impression. I really think we're about to enter a period of England being out performed regularly as the top players begin to peter out and with a lack of real top end players coming through behind

Clearly the England management are on here and have got the message out to the bowlers as a wicket magically fell as soon as I posted!
 
Decent day by all accounts. Hopefully two quick wickets in the morning and then to follow on or not? If it was my decision I would go for it, the bowlers will have had a decent rest overnight.
 
Decent day by all accounts. Hopefully two quick wickets in the morning and then to follow on or not? If it was my decision I would go for it, the bowlers will have had a decent rest overnight.
Bat again, quick runs, and get 4 1/2 sessions to ball them out on hopefully a wearing pitch. That is a assuming we bowl them out in the first hour, which is no guarantee.
 
Bowl them out with a lead of 200 plus the bat on for a quick 200 and set a target of around 450 and have an hour or more at full tilt at them and get a few wickets , thats the plan .........................EYC
 
Not seen a single ball from todays play, spent the day at the 50 over game at Milton Keynes between Northants and Worcs. Great to see cricket played on a decent bouncy track, albeit looked pretty alien to many of the batters!!!!

So they can still get bounce in a deck in a park in MK, just the test decks that its banned from :)
 
Been much better today, far more intent from the start of the day, a decent declaration and nice to see Cook turn to Moeen early rather than as a last resort (and be rewarded for doing so)

That said Murali Vijay should be strung up for being run out!!!!

England really should win from here but expect one partnership starts to see a few doubts reappear
 
I was at day one, looked to have a decent carry and bounce if you put the effort in. If your bowling at mid 70's, do you expect to see a lot of bounce?

first over of the game a nick from the opening bowler didnt reach slip, bounce has been mixed at best

bit chicken and the egg re speeds, why try and bowl flat out if little in the pitch for when you do so (but agree two pretty ordinary attacks on show)
 
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