England vs Ireland, one off Test - thread

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

First topic message reminder :

England have announced their squad for the one off test match against Ireland, it is as follows

Joe Root
James Anderson
Moeen Ali
Jonny Bairstow
Stuart Broad
Rory Burns
Sam Curran
Joe Denly
Lewis Gregory
Jack Leach
Jason Roy
Olly Stone
Chris Woakes

Lewis Gregory, Jason Roy & Olly Stone could make debuts.

James Anderson included & Jack Leach returns.

Buttler and Stokes are rested.

Wood & Archer not considered because of injury. Wood out for 4 to 6 weeks.

[Duty281]

Expecting England to be batting again tonight, but let's see. Broad immediately bowling on a full length.

Your optimism not squashed yet then Duty ?

Might happen. Or they might be chasing a lot of leather.  Ireland batting doesn't look too strong.  But England will be chastened by that awful collapse ...which can work two ways.  Fire them up ; or lose heart quickly if they don't see early results.

Depends where their heads are I guess.  Though pitch conditions look easier already...Woakes not looking too threatening so far.  

I'll be interested to see what Stone can do.

For now, I still make England favourites. But these Irish openers are giving the English a good demonstration on the value of good technique and patience against the new ball.

Root's presided over some truly awful defeats in his tenure as captain, this would easily top the bill. And he'll be starting to get highly concerned with no early breakthrough.

Stone starts with an erratic first over.

[compelling and rich]

in these conditions should have given curran a shout a lot earlier. broad never been great at utilising a moving ball

[alfie]

No wicket yet. Broad looking the best of them so far but the Irish not too troubled at all.

I fear if things don't start to happen soon the heads might drop a bit ...might see Ireland batting the day out for 180/3 . Leaving England with a lot of work to try and save the game. Press won't half savage them tomorrow...

Might need the rain that's been forecast

[Duty281]

Filthy delivery. Filthy shot. England have a breakthrough. Porterfield will be furious with himself after all that hard work to get himself in.

[compelling and rich]

in these conditions should have given curran a shout a lot earlier. broad never been great at utilising a moving ball

see what was I telling you, beautiful delivery

[alfie]

Sam Curran has a touch of the Ian Botham "golden arm" sometimes...that was a filthy warm up half-tracker But it worked.

Rest of the over was good.

So far today all the World Cup players have been complete rubbish. The rest have been...not quite so awful. Most of the runs (wow !) and the better bowlers.

Have they all been on the booze since Sunday week ? Back in the eighties they would have been for sure...

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

That is very poor keeping by Bairstow I am afraid. Very poor.

[Dolphin Ziggler]

Good to see the fielding is on point. Christ

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

So now Balbirnie put down by Bairstow and Sterling by Root in consecutive overs off Broad

[Gooseberry]

Dont know about all week Alfie but they certainly partied hard after the event. Of course Moeen cant really use that excuse. 

This test is awful all round for England, except as a wake up call.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Leach not exactly doing much for his prospects so far.

[VTR]

This is definitely a huge World Cup hangover. As said above, the players involved have been absolute rubbish in all three disciplines. I actually think the ECB need to look at the ridiculous schedules they are now trying to cram in.

Saying all that, huge credit to Ireland who have capitalised very well and deserve the famous victory they will probably get.

[eirebilly]

England may be playing poopie but Ireland are certainly taking every chance with both hands.

To lead by 42 with only 2 wickets down and two set batsmen, I can hopefully see Ireland seeing out the day with wickets in hand for a lead of 100 - 120.

Happy days

[alfie]

That is very poor keeping by Bairstow I am afraid. Very poor.

Probably should have gone for it. But why on earth was Root standing so wide ? In "normal" first slip position that is straight to him.
They haven't worked out the positioning or personnel of the cordon since Cook retired. Need to get that sorted before the Ashes ...among other things.

Nothing going for England. Irish in total command and you'd think they'll be celebrating a famous win some time Friday...

[eirebilly]

And again I will say just how superb this Lords crowd is, showing proper respect to the Irish here.

[eirebilly]

That is very poor keeping by Bairstow I am afraid. Very poor.

Probably should have gone for it.  But why on earth was Root standing so wide ? In "normal" first slip position that is straight to him.
They haven't worked out the positioning or personnel of the cordon since Cook retired. Need to get that sorted before the Ashes ...among other things.

Nothing going for England. Irish in total command and you'd think they'll be celebrating a famous win some time Friday...

It may just be me but I have never rated Root as a slip fielder, always thought his best fielding position was point or 3rd man.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

That is very poor keeping by Bairstow I am afraid. Very poor.

Probably should have gone for it.  But why on earth was Root standing so wide ? In "normal" first slip position that is straight to him.
They haven't worked out the positioning or personnel of the cordon since Cook retired. Need to get that sorted before the Ashes ...among other things.

Nothing going for England. Irish in total command and you'd think they'll be celebrating a famous win some time Friday...

Not sure you can blame first slip at all Alfie for that - it’s barely a foot from Bairstow’s right hand and he doesn’t even attempt it!

There was a few Cook took last year diving to his left against India where I thought Jonny should’ve gone for it...imo you should never see first slip taking a catch diving toward the keepers side.

[eirebilly]

You could argue that as the wicket keeper, Bairstow should be setting the positions. I too do not blame Root for that miss as it was Bairstow's all day long. Root was even looking at Bairstow as the ball went passed him.

Bairstow just does not look up for this match, his batting was extremely poor as well.

[Galted]

I'm sure he'll find some imagined slight in the mainstream or social media to inspire a storming comeback.

[eirebilly]

Most of the experienced England players teams body language is not appearing to be positive at all. The new lads seem to be giving it their all though.

Not a very good sign for me, its the experienced players that should be setting the example.

[eirebilly]

Broad gets Stirling.

Reviewed but looks out.

[eirebilly]

And out, big breakthrough for England.

[compelling and rich]

deserved that broad

[Duty281]

I love how England are *still* classed as odds-on favourites for this, despite the growing peril of the position. Need to wrap Ireland up before the lead gets to 150 to still be well in the game. Anything above 150 and it'll look a touch difficult!

[Duty281]

That's a nice first test wicket for Stone - sheer pace.

[eirebilly]

Another breakthrough for England.

[eirebilly]

I like the look of Stone, got nice speed and gets decent movement.

[eirebilly]

And another for Stone, Ireland could be all out soon as they have no real batting depth.

[Duty281]

Two in the over. Stone and Broad both bowling well, two new batters at the crease, and not much depth = England will be expecting to wrap this innings up in the next hour.

[eirebilly]

If England get another wicket soon, we will probably see KJ open up and have a swing (if he is not the next wicket that is).

[eirebilly]

Awful, awful leave...

Broad gets another. Cue KJ to hit out.

[Duty281]

A victim of the slope, perchance? It's another for Broad anyway.

Looks like England will be batting again tonight.

[eirebilly]

Would England really want to bowl Ireland out early today? Facing 10 overs this evening would not be my choice after this mornings effort...

[eirebilly]

Curran again gets a wicket with, lets face it, a pretty ordinary ball.

[Duty281]

Would England really want to bowl Ireland out early today? Facing 10 overs this evening would not be my choice after this mornings effort...

True, could be two down at stumps! Ball doing plenty at the moment. Though I don't seriously expect England to bat as poorly as they did this morning.

[eirebilly]

I would not expect that either Duty which is why, if I were Root, I would be more keen on containing Ireland for the rest of the day rather than have to face a tricky 5 - 10 overs later.

[eirebilly]

What the F was that from Curran?

[robbo277]

Would England really want to bowl Ireland out early today? Facing 10 overs this evening would not be my choice after this mornings effort...

24 overs in England's innings, 45 in Ireland's. 69 gone, 29 left, less 2 for the change and 27. England could go 8, 9, 10 in the next 7 and have a 20 overs today?

I would rather England bat those overs than Ireland did. They can't afford to let Ireland get many more runs. I think batting 10-20 overs is fine. You can play properly and make some runs in that time. It's the 6 over sessions when you basically just have to survive which are more tricky for the batsman.

[eirebilly]

Its the 'survive' mentality that would concern me robbo and the fact the ball is definitely doing something right now.
England could also be 2 or 3 down by COP if they had to face 15 - 20 overs in these conditions.

[eirebilly]

Getting close to a 100 run lead now

[eirebilly]

Broad with his third. England could still face a tricky 5 overs today...

[JDizzle]

One of the worst overs I’ve seen in a while this is from Broad to Murtagh. Genuinely terrible.

[compelling and rich]

stupid bowling at murtagh, hit the wickets!!

[JDizzle]

Also, I think Stone has bowled pretty well today - quick and with movement. But his pace is noticeably down in this spell. Something for him to work on.

[Gooseberry]

Do not be shocked if Broad doesnt start the ashes. If Archer and/or Wood were fit Id take it as a given.

I dont think Currans much cop but hes bowled Broad off the pitch today.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Also, I think Stone has bowled pretty well today - quick and with movement. But his pace is noticeably down in this spell. Something for him to work on.

Yep agreed - still getting back to fitness it should be said, only his second first class game on his return this I think

Murtagh plays as all tailenders should btw

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Do not be shocked if Broad doesnt start the ashes. If Archer and/or Wood were fit Id take it as a given.

I dont think Currans much cop but hes bowled Broad off the pitch today.

You must’ve been watching a different days play to me Goose, bar that over Broad has been fantastic

[Duty281]

How the heck did Murtagh manage a test 50?! Straight from the Phil Tufnell batting academy.

Play goes on until 7, no later, so could be 2-3 overs for England to see off tonight. Bizarre day of cricket.

[JDizzle]

Also, I think Stone has bowled pretty well today - quick and with movement. But his pace is noticeably down in this spell. Something for him to work on.

Yep agreed - still getting back to fitness it should be said, only his second first class game on his return this I think

Murtagh plays as all tailenders should btw

That’s a fair enough point - he’s also not played many FC games in his career. Bowled a few too many wayward balls, but he looks like he could get good players out regularly.

Murtagh averages 18 in FC cricket! Not the worst record - I hope all his runs were made in the same fashion!

[robbo277]

Looks like we'll be 10 overs or so short, so England might get 10 minutes of batting if they're quick. Unsure whether they'll send a nightwatchman out, possibly not for the openers but probably would if they lost a wicket. Although if they used Curran or Stone you could argue it was a promotion.

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