The summer of cricket 2020

First topic message reminder :

We have actual cricket news for the first time in forever...and some hope that we will see some test matches this summer!

England bowlers began a return to individual training on Thursday, with batsmen and wicketkeepers scheduled to make a return on 1st June, in anticipation of the West Indies series being rescheduled to begin on 8th July (all according to various reports).

There was also reports a few weeks back they might play some one day games, whilst tests are happening too. Not seen anything else about that, but with England’s depth in the shorter format it could be done you’d think players wise (and actually would present a good opportunity to some on the fringes)

ECB is going to confirm the full list of players who will resume training next week. Murmurings about Hales in the one day stuff don’t go away...

So anyways - let’s keep fingers crossed, and hope everyone who posts here is healthy and staying safe too

Umbrellas back up

Good Golly I'm Olly wrote:If we're looking at potentially a shortened game...and with weather around - do England consider going with an all seam attack? I presume it will make the decision on Cornwall for the West Indies if it does continue to rain...

I doubt it. If 4 seamers isnt enough then what more does a fifth bring unless you were looking at bowling 150 plus overs in an innings...and that would be a 5 day game on a flat pitch. I think England really want Bess' control to allow free reign for Archer Wood Stokes to bowl aggressively. They wont want to muck players around last minute either.

The argument in West Indies is a little different as they would still have Chase, and its unclear what the final decision they had made was.

Its also only half a day we are losing, I dont think anyone expected this to go to 5 days without rain.

Covers are off, won't be too long now.

Unlikely to leave out the spinner when they don't even have Root as a "sort of" variety entry , I would think. Agree if four seamers can't get it done a fifth is just window dressing.

They don't have an extra batsman handy...

What a naughty naughty boy! Stokes makes his first error as a capatin going for a handshake.

I dont think west Indies will mind bowling first, but I can understand Stokes backing his 4 openers to see off the new ball and get the better of the pitch in the later days.

England win the toss and bat first. Don't think the Windies will mind too much. Broad left out as expected. Five down and there's not much batting left, so a lot of responsibility on the top order.

Might be a good toss to lose. Conditions looking good for a strong seam attack.

I'm really interested to see the battle between Burns/Sibley and the Windies seamers. I think most of us are hoping that this can be a settled opening partnership for the foreseeable future so hopefully they show form together early. They will know each other well from coming through the Surrey set-up as kids.

Not sure i'm a fan of a four man seam attack of bowlers who have all had injury issues in the past year or more.

Wood, Archer and Bess can all hold a bat, not to the same level as Woakes or an in form Ali but a lot better than their counterparts in this game.

Talk form the locals is that despite the weather it probably wont swing as much as it might at somewhere like Trent Bridge, just a bit off the seam. Not as lush as mightve been expected. The pitch is also likely to get quicker as it dries tomorrow, and could offer a fair bit for spinners if it does make it to day 4/5. The flip side would've been to heap the pressure on West Indies weak point.
Its not going to be an out an out pace pitch early on, Holder could well be opening alongside Roach as two who can bowl more accurately and move the ball rather than head hunting.

This game really does baffle you doesn't it...all players, umpires just stood there for like 5 minutes all ready, doing nothing, because we have to "wait" until 2pm. Just play

Non-neutral umpires and three reviews per innings are some temporary changes that have been made. Almost ready for the off.

Being old school, I'm happy with Stokes choosing to bat although certainly accept it was a ''think about it'' decision.

As regards the Sky coverage, I share many of Carlos' views but that's not really the main point. As I've heard Alec Stewart often say, ''It's a game of opinions''. It's therefore good and to Sky's credit that they provide a varied and wide ranging mix of commentators and pundits. I don't agree with or even like them all but wouldn't want it any other way.

Now - as one of Soul's least favourites would cry out, ''GET ON WITH THE GAME!''.

Soul Requiem wrote:Not sure i'm a fan of a four man seam attack of bowlers who have all had injury issues in the past year or more.

Wood, Archer and Bess can all hold a bat, not to the same level as Woakes or an in form Ali but a lot better than their counterparts in this game.

Bit dismissive of Holders batting. Jospeh is an odd one who has a good record in white ball but an absolute bunny in first class.

Do think the top 7 batting is a bigger worry for the West Indies than the bottom 4.

As for the injuries...its a luxury being able to pick 4 front line seamers and a reliable specialist spinner. They wont be expecting to bowl long spells in these tests so whilst I have my doubts about Anderson after the fiasco last summer and winter it makes more sense to pick your best bowlers when they are fit and well rested. Broad was the only other realistic option, and hes old and carrying long term scars of his career. Also technically missed a test through injury just over a year ago (insect bites) anyway.

About those non neutral umpires....

Nice nut, but that was really poor from Sibley. Ten balls to get a wicket.

0/1.

like a comforting warm hug, rain delay and an England opener out cheaply. Welcome back cricket

An extra review because of potentially lower standard of umpiring? Aren't Illingworth, Kettleborough and Gough just about the top three guys in the world?

Think this might be a tricky first session...

Batsmen don't seem to want to play anything unless they have to...fair enough but it has already cost one - and nearly both openers.

Might have been a good toss to lose.

Soul Requiem wrote:An extra review because of potentially lower standard of umpiring? Aren't Illingworth, Kettleborough and Gough just about the top three guys in the world?

Is it because the umpires are not nominally neutral ? I must confess I didn't get the full story about this new condition of play...what was the official reason ?

Soul Requiem wrote:An extra review because of potentially lower standard of umpiring? Aren't Illingworth, Kettleborough and Gough just about the top three guys in the world?

Yes, I don't understand it either. Three reviews basically encourages captains to gamble. It's not as though club umpires are being assigned.

alfie wrote:

Soul Requiem wrote:An extra review because of potentially lower standard of umpiring? Aren't Illingworth, Kettleborough and Gough just about the top three guys in the world?

Is it because the umpires are not nominally neutral ?  I must confess I didn't get the full story about this new condition of play...what was the official reason ?

The official reason was to mitigate for a potentially lower standard of umpiring than we're used to but I don't see Joel Wilson anywhere.

Good Golly I'm Olly wrote:like a comforting warm hug, rain delay and an England opener out cheaply. Welcome back cricket

And we're off again for a few spots of rain.

Soul Requiem wrote:

alfie wrote:

Soul Requiem wrote:An extra review because of potentially lower standard of umpiring? Aren't Illingworth, Kettleborough and Gough just about the top three guys in the world?

Is it because the umpires are not nominally neutral ?  I must confess I didn't get the full story about this new condition of play...what was the official reason ?

The official reason was to mitigate for a potentially lower standard of umpiring than we're used to but I don't see Joel Wilson anywhere.

Take two ....

Forecasts changed yet again and looks like there could be another delay around tea. Likely we will finish early due to light as well.

On again off again...this is trying everyone's patience. Really looks as if there is plenty of rain about and I'm wondering if there will be any meaningful play today ? Rotten luck for the game after the two boards have actually done a pretty good job in even setting up two teams for a match in the current circumstances.

Back on yet again ... must be really taxing on Burns

TMS rather optimistically talking up the hour long highlight show tonight

Gooseberry wrote:Back on yet again ... must be really taxing on Burns

TMS rather optimistically talking up the hour long highlight show tonight

I see that Burns needs to get to 21 for a 1,000 Test runs. Didn't realise he was so near. He seems into the part for now.

Denly meanwhile into his usual double figures. Feel it's going to take a significant score from Crawley to displace him for the next Test. Denly is frustrating but scraps and bats time which I'm sure the management like.

guildfordbat wrote:

Gooseberry wrote:Back on yet again ... must be really taxing on Burns

TMS rather optimistically talking up the hour long highlight show tonight

I see that Burns needs to get to 21 for a 1,000 Test runs. Didn't realise he was so near. He seems into the part for now.

Denly meanwhile into his usual double figures. Feel it's going to take a significant score from Crawley to displace him for the next Test. Denly is frustrating but scraps and bats time which I'm sure the management like.

While it is a pain he doesn't seem to ever go on, he is pretty decent at eating up deliveries and making a half decent score. He's a little bit of a poster boy for just scoring your average, and this tweet below from Cricviz shows he has some value...

"Joe Denly comes to the crease - England would love him to bat some time now, as he tends to. Since he debuted in Test cricket, only Marnus Labuschagne has faced 100+ balls in an innings more often than Denly. #ENGvWI"

Just a bloody shame he isn't scoring the runs Marnus is!

A veritable feast of boundaries lately and the score has raced into the thirties...

These two have done well to get through so far I think...the odd ball has jumped rather unexpectedly , and there have been quite a few that moved sharply back in especially to the right hander.

I can't disagree with you about Denly , Guildford. He does usually manage to get a start and soak up a lot of early fire to the benefit of those who come in later. Whether a Test average of thirty is going to keep him in occupation for long remains to be seen I suppose ?

You wouldn't say these two are exactly poster boys for attractive batting ; but given recent woes at the top of the order I think England will take effective.

Duty281 wrote:

Good Golly I'm Olly wrote:*looks at weather forecast for Wednesday and Thursday*

*cries*

To be fair, this rain will be the best sign that test cricket is back. Missing the first two hours of play because of rain, then going back on for 40 minutes before voluntarily coming off for a lunch break. Then a few spots of drizzle taking the players off for another hour, before the inevitable bad light suspension at 16:30 even though the floodlights are on. Test cricket will be truly back.

We've had virtually all of this today! Thankfully the next four days look better weather wise.

Apparently hes been scoring lasting about twice as many balls an innings in the last year than he did for the first part of his test career and whilst his average hasnt gone up much it has made him a lot more valuable for England. Its very much to instruction, Silverwood made it quite clear he was judging on balls faced as much if not more than runs scored for the top order.

As it is hes played a few flamboyant shots amongst the defence and couldve been out on a couple of occasions.

Early tea for light. Jesus.

Bad light now . Think I'll call it a night and hope for better weather tomorrow...

Nice to see a few overs anyway . Has been a while !

This game really tests your patience doesn't it

It wouldve felt less frustrating had the entire day just been called, but its really a sign of how much the procedures and covers have improved that we managed to get some windows of play in.

More rain falling so that's probably it for the day. Still it's expected to be dry, albeit heavily overcast, for tomorrow, and considerably brighter over the weekend.

The only thing worse than Sibleys leave today was the weather forecasts. Apparently its brightened up a bit but seems too late to be worth coming out again for.

alfie wrote:A veritable feast of boundaries lately and the score has raced into the thirties...

These two have done well to get through so far I think...the odd ball has jumped rather unexpectedly ,  and there have been quite a few that moved sharply back in especially to the right hander.

I can't disagree with you about Denly , Guildford. He does usually manage to get a start and soak up a lot of early fire to the benefit of those who come in later. Whether a Test average of thirty is going to keep him in occupation for long remains to be seen I suppose ?

You wouldn't say these two are exactly poster boys for attractive batting ; but given recent woes at the top of the order I think England will take effective.

Back in February - which seems like a lifetime ago in a different world - I went to a Surrey members' forum at the Oval during which Olly Pope appeared and spoke about England's winter series. Denly's performance cropped up more than once in questions to Pope. Whilst Pope obviously wasn't going to slag off his England colleague at a public meeting, he nonetheless seemed genuine in stating that Denly's value and contribution to the team's recent success had been underrated. That said, Pope didn't deny (and nor could he) disappointment that Denly too often missed out on a big score.

That's the close of play confirmed. Think that, once again, the regulations and umpiring haven't helped matters. It has barely rained all day and the light hasn't been that gloomy, yet the overzealousness of the officials has ensured that we've had hardly any play. It's cricket shooting itself in the foot repeatedly.

Forecast today looks like there might be a late start, but rain clearing by 12.00 and low likelihood of more until 7 pm. Will be cloudy and quite cool, so likely a seam bowling day.

Improving tomorrow and pretty decent forecast for the weekend. Should be enough time for these two teams to play to a result.

Probably going to be another frustrating day with light meters being waved about and a few flecks of drizzle taking the players off.

Safe to say conditions will be tough for batting today, but will improve rapidly for tomorrow when bright sunshine and twenty degree weather is forecast.

Sigh forecasts...it was reading low percentage chances of rain all day when I checked this morning, but hopefully the early dodginess will be the last of it. Should be starting on time by the looks of it.

Pundits now talking up the chances of turn on whats a pretty hard pitch despite the weather and could crumble a bit with the weekend sun. Should be plenty in it for Wood and Archer too. If England can bat through today they will be in a very strong position. This morning pretty important for both teams.

Decent nut from Gabriel that

About Denly and those starts. Not quite been in long enough to have done the job this time.

Right line and length rewards the West Indies.

Good Golly I'm Olly wrote:Decent nut from Gabriel that

Was just beginning to think he wasn't looking threatening, as well.

It is a real cliche but both wickets and the umpires call have come from bowling at the top of off stump.

This is looking like a terrible decision by Stokes to bat.

Trouble at mill, lads. 51/3 and two new batsmen at the crease.

Thought that was plumb in real time, can only presume the umpire thought Burns hit it.

Soul Requiem wrote:This is looking like a terrible decision by Stokes to bat.

He's gonna have to go about justifying it himself now!...did seem a tad questionable to send an inexperienced top four in to bat with the weather forecast that was about, and with the West Indies strength clearly being their pace attack...

Not convinced it would've (will be) easier batting second. Its as much the batsmen making errors (Sibleys was really poor), bowlers bowling well as it is the conditions. West Indies have bowled at the stumps with pace and England haven't been up to it.

Wait to see what the pitch is like later in the game. The talk is it will get faster into day 3 and offer a lot for spin late on.

If youre going to pick 4 openers you have to put some trust in them to bat through 50 overs regardless of the conditions.

Gabriel is bowling very well here.

A big opportunity for Crawley to stake his claim when Root comes back in.

A vital partnership this now.