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

Excellent fifty from Crawley, taking the attack to Chase with a reverse sweep now. Lead upto 70, still seven overs to the new ball

It's been a streaky innings at times but that's a crucial fifty from Crawley. I can see why the coaches and selectors speak so highly of him. He has a chance here to keep going and really solidify his place in the squad.

Looking dangerous for WI rightg now

Surely when Root comes back, Crawley will be retained and Denly (finally) dropped? Has been an excellent innings from the young Crawley in a testing scenario.

Draw the favourite, right now. But the new ball could drastically alter that.

king_carlos wrote:It's been a streaky innings at times but that's a crucial fifty from Crawley. I can see why the coaches and selectors speak so highly of him. He has a chance here to keep going and really solidify his place in the squad.

Not sure I'd agree with "streaky" , KC ? Maybe a couple of false strokes but generally I'd say he's looked more fluent than any of the batsmen today. First innings was disappointing but I think today he's made a strong claim to retaining a spot when Root comes back.
Stronger if he can go on , of course ! About time one of them does...

Lead to 80. Four more overs to the new ball...which is shaping as a crucial period for this game.

Joseph has bowled well today. This could be a crucial little burst leading up to the new ball. The Windies need to keep the pressure on here.

With the new ball coming I think the Windies are marginally still on top. If England can get the lead over 100 before the new ball without losing another wicket then things will feel pretty even. Stokes and Crawley are pushing hard.

alfie wrote:

king_carlos wrote:It's been a streaky innings at times but that's a crucial fifty from Crawley. I can see why the coaches and selectors speak so highly of him. He has a chance here to keep going and really solidify his place in the squad.

Not sure I'd agree with "streaky" , KC ?  Maybe a couple of false strokes but generally I'd say he's looked more fluent than any of the batsmen today.  First innings was disappointing but I think today he's made a strong claim to retaining a spot when Root comes back.
Stronger if he can go on , of course ! About time one of them does...

Lead to 80. Four more overs to the new ball...which is shaping as a crucial period for this game.

The skyed one off a leading edge against Chase I'd definitely consider streaky. Also a couple of plays and miss early on to the seamers if I remember correctly. There were a couple of slightly miscued shots down the ground to Chase as well when trying to push the rate but that's probably a calculated risk with using your feet when mid-on is back to be fair.

I'd definitely agree on keeping Crawley in the side when Root returns. He looks a natural option at number 3. I've been really impressed by him.

West Indies not taking the new ball immediately? Odd.

93/3. WI need to instigate a collapse or we're heading for a draw.

Had a closer view on extended highlights and my thoughts

-On a pitch where ball was seaming & nipping Eng's top order played too much around their pads to straight / incoming balls...closing the phase and/or head falling over/ overbalanced causing their demise

--On the contrary look at how straight bat Stokes played similar deliveries...as did WI's top order ( except when they went for a hoik slog).
WI's job was made easier by Eng not having the bowling to put it up there and let it swing & seam.
Not only leaving out Broad was a blunder.....Woakes too is much more suited to "English seaming conditions"....then Archer & Wood who when a bit short...their extra pace ain't any good on a pitch like this.

Those two would be better on an Aussie or Subcontinent flatter pitches.

--Umpiring was shoddy....with the umps seemingly determined to give any half calls in Eng's favor-
While DRS ensured fairness prevailed the quality ( or intent) of umpiring doesn't get exonerated.

-Pitch has eased and Eng redeemed themselves..playing a lot straighter also in 2nd inning.....and an Eng win or a draw are the two most likely options
As I stated earlier...its hard for WI to sustain the intensity throughout the game and chasing 150+ ain't gonna be easy for them temperamentally in addition to the usual pitch wear.

And the one thing that Eng did right that would paper over their selection mistakes...is win the toss and bat first.
Should eng go on to win.....mark out the 30odd that tailender Bess made and his 30odd for the last wkt with Anderson as the diffrentiator

Nearly 100 on as the new ball arrives...better than I'd expected before this excellent partnership took over.
Applaud Stokes coming in ahead of Pope to push things along...leading from the front Though in truth Crawley has probably outpaced him...

Advantage England now as long as they don't fold up suddenly tonight. But of course if they are still batting into tomorrow the issue of "time to bowl West Indies out" will arise. Another decision for the novice captain !
Chase has bowled a lot of overs today. Suggests they are not getting enough balls to misbehave for the quicks - certainly less than they might have been expecting. If the pitch continues to offer little for the pace men tomorrow there is unlikely to be an early declaration so Duty's draw might indeed be favourite. I'm not making that call yet though.

England batting first cost them a real chance at victory. Had the Windies batted first there's not a chance they would have got close to the 318 that they actually did make by batting second.

This one has been absorbing, but I think it's dribbling to a draw. Stokes is an aggressive player, but even he's unlikely to declare and set the Windies 240-260 to win early tomorrow! Have been disappointed with the lack of intensity and energy the Windies have shown in the field today - they've not seemed 'up for it', as it were.

Great chance for Crawley to get his first test ton.

Stokes playing some sensational drives against the new ball here

You may be right , Duty. But Stokes is playing like a man who wants to move the game along ; and I still expect England to be bowled out at some point (that tail looks less than solid)...so I reckon we may yet see a tense last day.
Probably need a bit more for the bowlers from this pitch. Looked as if it was going to dust up a bit more early today , but hasn't seemed to do so - yet.
Glad to see Crawley has taken no lasting harm from that blow in a rather awkward place

Yes, Stokes playing some magical shots to get the score moving.

20 overs left tonight - unlikely to get them all in with the Windies dragging their heels in the field - and 98 overs tomorrow (minus two for the change of innings).

England might have 70-80 overs to bowl the Windies out and force victory (presuming England aren't bowled out and need to declare). Not impossible to win, but unlikely as the wicket hasn't become a minefield and both teams have found it very tough bowling with the old ball.

Bit of a nothing dismissal that.

Came out of nowhere and it'll slow up England's scoring rate.

Now this is a surprising turn of events. England back on the defensive.

And another, from a good position things are back in the balance, need a 220 lead.

Well that has certainly spiced things up a bit

Hmm. Two quick wickets somewhat out of the blue and suddenly West Indies might fancy they're in front again.

Two new batsmen and a bit of a tail... England back under pressure. I am not seeing that draw...but wouldn't like to say which way this will finish.

I think that was a properly bad decision. DRS to the rescue.

Didn't reprieve him for long. Three wickets in 28 balls, the collapse the Windies needed to put them in front again.

KP_fan wrote:
--Umpiring was shoddy....with the umps seemingly determined to give any half calls in Eng's favor-
While DRS ensured fairness prevailed the quality ( or intent) of umpiring doesn't get exonerated.

You were saying?

Buttler gone. No surprise...he looked all at sea .

Think you can forget about the draw , Duty.

alfie wrote:Buttler gone.  No surprise...he looked all at sea .

Think you can forget about the draw , Duty.

Yep, think so! Looks like it could be a testing chase of 180-200 for the Windies.

Game's really livened up in the last half hour.

The pitch seems to be deteriorating quickly, not sure I'd fancy facing Archer or Wood on this if they get their lengths right.

Funny isn't it ? I'd been expecting a rattle of wickets at some stage - especially when I saw that one early today that jumped and hit Sibley on the elbow. Then the pitch seemed to go to sleep...

Or did West Indies take their foot off the gas too early ? Too much Chase and not enough aggression ? Batting looks a whole different business now.

England would love another fifty runs. Either this pair (Pope is looking good) or maybe some frisky Mark Wood arm chancing...

Gabriel does for Bess with a neat delivery, just as it looked as though things were calming down.

If ever Jofra needed to show some ability with the bat, now's the time. Even if it's just to stay with Pope.

Is that the game?

249/3 to 279/8. Crazy last hour of cricket.

Pope gone. Windies well on top now. If Wood and Archer can long handle a few up to a 200 lead, it won’t be simple... I fear that is asking a lot though. Not sure is any point them trying to bat to the close though - if it is there just smash it.

That 200 lead looks a long way off now...eight gone !

In truth this scoreline is about what I expected at start of day : but when Crawley and Stokes were together I had begun to wonder if I'd misjudged the conditions completely.

Reckon tomorrow will be a ripper...

That Pope ball appeared to keep a bit lower to me but no mention of that from the comms team so maybe I'm seeing things?

Winviz has West Indies favourites...I'm not so sure. If England bowl and catch well I reckon even 170-180 will take some getting.

Soul Requiem wrote:That Pope ball appeared to keep a bit lower to me but no mention of that from the comms team so maybe I'm seeing things?

I'd need a replay...but it's been a fair bit up and down this last hour so may well be so.

That is why I'm still seeking this as pretty even.

Well looks like I jinxed the draw effectively!

The day was meandering along with no urgency until Stokes' dismissal triggered an all too familar collapse. Such is the beauty of test cricket, that collapse raised England's chances of winning. And it was another team effort from the Windies seamers.

Agree that this will still be tough for the Windies. Anything below 180 and they're narrow favourites, 180-200 is too tight to call...if Wood and Archer can club England to over 200 then the hosts should triumph.

Set up for an excellent final day, which didn't look likely two hours ago.

Crikey missed today completely ...looks like England have got the exact number of runs required to make this an absolute nail biter. Not a bad way to get test cricket back!

Crawleys score enough to get him the nod over Denly when Root comes back? Id hope so.

Hi Alfie - more of that and King Carlos and I will need to talk about ''moving hour''.

bet365 have the final day priced up nicely - 11/10 England, 11/10 West Indies!

Eng crumbled since I last wrote....BUT you take the inning as a whole in cricket and not lament over the bad patch only.
I expect Eng's tail will wag a bit and they will match WI's first inning score...which is a good 3rd innings effort...... and set something close to their first innings as the target.

when the pitch is bouncing too much and consistently....the out-swinger / away going delivery becomes very awkward.

BUT When the pitch has variable bounce...the incoming delivery is hard too keep out and there is variability now and should be even more tomm
So I would ask Archer to ball fast , straight, bring it in...which is his natural ball or simply angle it in....and keep the Offie at the other end. Wood I find lacking control.

The pitch is indeed variable and Chase was getting a few to grip......it will be very very hard for WI......although I expect a fight from Chase, Dorwich and Holder in the lower middle order....but about a 30 run win for Eng
Chase is a very underrated all-rounder and play well in adversity.

On WI bowling--> Roach is their deemed leader of pack.....but last several times I have seen him...he is a bit short, lacking pace,,,,and ineffective.
Joseph is most menacing & Gabriel large-heated to me the real leader of their pack.

Soul Requiem wrote:

KP_fan wrote:
--Umpiring was shoddy....with the umps seemingly determined to give any half calls in Eng's favor-
While DRS ensured fairness prevailed the quality ( or intent) of umpiring doesn't get exonerated.

You were saying?

That only makes it 1 to 6 or 7
Umpires have to pull up their sharpness and get it in their mind that they have to get it right....as if there is no DRS.
because even DRS can't help if ball is clipping the last half centimetre of the stump

marginal calls like one barely clipping the stumps...should even out in favor  of both sides as a mark of good umpiring.

Well I am with KP Fan on predictions for the result. Before the start of the innings, I was hoping England could somehow get to 300. They are not quite there, but as near as and I just have this feeling England will get the early wickets this time, and will win the match by at least 20 runs

Big day for Bess potentially, hes shown he can take wickets even without much help. Tuffers was fawning all over him after day 2. If it does break up and if Wood and Archer can find their radar and if that first innings didnt take too much out of Anderson then maybe Stokes wont have to win it on his own.

Whatever happens today, it should be the end of Denly and Buttler's test careers. The former was a stopgap player until a long-term replacement could be found - Crawley is that long-term option, looks an excellent talent. The latter has been given enough chances and has been found lacking (unsurprisingly).

Unless Mark Wood can replicate his cameo innings that he played against South Africa, today will be very, very close and very, very tense. Just the sort of scenario test cricket needed on its return!

Vaughn has opinions
"It's not even a conversation," said Vaughan, who captained England in 51 of his 82 Tests.

"You could argue that Denly was very lucky to have played 15 Test matches. There are a lot of players who have played only eight Tests and got hundreds.

"He has missed his chance and they have to stick with Crawley. I'm sorry for Denly - he's just not good enough."

Have to say I agree and with Dutys comments. Denly has always been mediocre and at 34 hes not likely to get better.

Agree on Denly and Buttler. I did think Denly was doing well at the end of the last Ashes, but he has regressed. Buttler, just too mantly chances in the Test team now to also average about 30. Can't even remember him playing one of these match changing innings he was supposed to have been selected for

We all agree Archer and Wood should come out swinging this morning? I can’t see either hanging around long playing conventionally, so might as well try to smash a quick 20-30 each, in an ideal world.

Well it seems obvious Denly will be left out with Root back. Doesn't necessarily mean you close his file though : injuries happen ; and he has been serviceable enough recently so that if Sibley were to break an ankle he'd probably be first reserve called up...

Agree he is unlikely to be a long term investment - but we already knew that.

Whether Foakes gets a run for Buttler is a lot less clear. He probably should ; but they still seem pretty fixated on Jos despite mounting evidence that he's never going to transform into the mid-order wizard some pundits still dream about. I suspect they'll persevere with him another game or two. I wouldn't , but they don't give me a vote...

Good Golly I'm Olly wrote:We all agree Archer and Wood should come out swinging this morning? I can’t see either hanging around long playing conventionally, so might as well try to smash a quick 20-30 each, in an ideal world.

Yes, no point nudging and nurdling. If England can add 20+ to the overnight score, they'll be delighted. Mark Wood can hopefully add to his total of ten test maximums...

I would have retained Foakes from the Sri Lanka tour in the first place, he was dropped after one test in the Caribbean despite performing better than most, he's clearly the best keeper and with Pope at 6 I think provides a better batting foil. There's enough attacking talent from 3-6 (if Crawley plays) to not need a basher at 7.

alfie wrote:Well it seems obvious Denly will be left out with Root back. Doesn't necessarily mean you close his file though : injuries happen ; and he has been serviceable enough recently so that if Sibley were to break an ankle he'd probably be first reserve called up...

Agree he is unlikely to be a long term investment - but we already knew that.

Whether Foakes gets a run for Buttler is a lot less clear. He probably should ; but they still seem pretty fixated on Jos despite mounting evidence that he's never going to transform into the mid-order wizard some pundits still dream about. I suspect they'll persevere with him another game or two. I wouldn't , but they don't give me a vote...

Does seem obvious, but these are the England selectors we're talking about!

Buttler's had over 40 tests, which is surely long enough to say move on, and has only scored one fifty in his last 21 innings.

Good Golly I'm Olly wrote:We all agree Archer and Wood should come out swinging this morning? I can’t see either hanging around long playing conventionally, so might as well try to smash a quick 20-30 each, in an ideal world.

Play shots , certainly. But maybe not too indiscriminately- they aren't total ferrets ...

Another 30 runs would be lovely but I can't see it happening.  May not matter : if the pitch keeps getting trickier West Indies will probably either survive the new ball , wear down the bowlers and go on to win , not comfortably but clearly , whether chasing 175 or 195 : or lose early wickets and not come near the current target.

Key will be England's new ball bowling I reckon. They'll need early breaks because I can't really see Bess running through the innings...