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

I'm still cautious about the outcome, but England are certainly ahead at this stage. But the Windies only need one sizeable individual contribution and/or partnership to steer the ship home - and they know batting will become significantly easier around the 15-20 over mark.

These two batsmen have now started to play a bit more positively...which they had to : waiting to be picked off gets you nowhere...

But hasn't taken Wood long to strike : beautiful ball...(all ?) Hope gone ...

Beautiful ball. The hero of Headingley removed.

Ripper from Wood. Quick and jagging back. Shai Hope in the first innings here and when Wood bowled at him in the Caribbean - I don't think he fancies genuine pace at all.

Blackwood in at 27/3 with 13 minutes to go till lunch... Can he resist slogging Dom Bess?!

WI in real trouble

Bess into the mix now... Worth seeing what he can do before lunch I think. Especially with such pressure on the bats...
Good to see Stokes doesn't just captain "by the numbers"

I think we're potentially seeing the benefits of having Burns and Sibley in the side, saw off the new ball and allowed Crawley and Stokes a period of relative calm to accumulate some important runs at a decent rate.

West Indies cant complain about the umpiring now

That looked stone dead to me, that being umpires call is pathetic.

35/3 ...or three and a half I suppose...

So nearly four : only millimetres saving Chase from that Bess lbw review.

I guess one solid partnership could theoretically turn it around but really hard to see anything but an England win from here.

Time for a cuppa..

Soul Requiem wrote:

king_carlos wrote:

Vaughan was a brilliant player at his best no doubt. Injuries and playing against some very good bowling attacks took their toll later on.

Thorpe was just a class act during an inconsistent era. The lockdown video that Sky did about that era with Hussain, Stewart and Gough was really interesting. There was lots of talent available but inconsistency in selection hindered them. Stewart should have been opening, that could have provided a platform for Ramprakash/Hick to actually settle in lower down the order, etc.

Gough, Caddick, Cork, Headley, Malcolm to rotate in the seamers/quicks. Even Tuffers as a spinner was a better bowler than often given credit for.

The good records of some of those players despite being messed around a bit by selection sums up their class. Stewart and Thorpe standout in that regard as batsman. Stewie should have been opening and that in turn should have given someone like Thorpe the platform to score even more runs.

They created a bigger problem dropping Russell than the one they had with him in the team. Hick played 65 matches for England and I don't recall him ever having an extended run in the team just like Ramprakash who ultimately wasn't really up to test cricket but Hick should have been.

The bowlers offered a lot of decent variation especially when you throw Fraser into the mix, poor management definitely cost them.

Hi Soul - I've heard Alec Stewart say that more than once.

Btw, particularly agree with Carlos about Tufnell the bowler. Just a shame he chose to play the clown too much and too soon.

JDizzle wrote:Interested to see how long Stokes keep Jofra on for here - he is bowling lovely but he is a strike bowler. Maybe he gets two more at an absolute push.

I'm having a 'mare from my armchair. I would've kept Jofra on for another over and feared Wood would lessen our grip.

We've had the fifteen overs and England have got the minimum three wickets needed. And yes, that did look properly plumb. Have a feeling that the nonsense spouted in the media, implying bias on the part of English umpires (when even in the non-neutral days English umpires have always been the fairest in the land, especially compared to the laughably partisan Pakistani and Australian umpires), has had an impact on the decision-making.

Still some batting for the Windies to come so it's not a done deal just yet, but England will be feeling very comfortable.

Not sure why Stokes is on the move already for a cut shot

guildfordbat wrote:

Soul Requiem wrote:

king_carlos wrote:

Vaughan was a brilliant player at his best no doubt. Injuries and playing against some very good bowling attacks took their toll later on.

Thorpe was just a class act during an inconsistent era. The lockdown video that Sky did about that era with Hussain, Stewart and Gough was really interesting. There was lots of talent available but inconsistency in selection hindered them. Stewart should have been opening, that could have provided a platform for Ramprakash/Hick to actually settle in lower down the order, etc.

Gough, Caddick, Cork, Headley, Malcolm to rotate in the seamers/quicks. Even Tuffers as a spinner was a better bowler than often given credit for.

The good records of some of those players despite being messed around a bit by selection sums up their class. Stewart and Thorpe standout in that regard as batsman. Stewie should have been opening and that in turn should have given someone like Thorpe the platform to score even more runs.

They created a bigger problem dropping Russell than the one they had with him in the team. Hick played 65 matches for England and I don't recall him ever having an extended run in the team just like Ramprakash who ultimately wasn't really up to test cricket but Hick should have been.

The bowlers offered a lot of decent variation especially when you throw Fraser into the mix, poor management definitely cost them.

Hi Soul - I've heard Alec Stewart say that more than once.

Btw, particularly agree with Carlos about Tufnell the bowler. Just a shame he chose to play the clown too much and too soon.

Tuffers was very much a product of a less professional era! He was definitely a good enough Test bowler to have offered a spin option as the pitch required though. Which should have been all England needed given home conditions and a collection of very talented seamers.

I agree about dropping Russell creating more issues than it solved. Even after Russell there was the outstanding James Foster as a keeping option but by then Stewart was lodged in the role of 'England's all-rounder'.

I still feel Ramps could have been an excellent Test cricketer had he been playing in a more stable side behind a good opening partnership. Hick was an excellent one day player, particularly in the era he played, which helped him settle a little bit more as an England player I always felt. For me Hick was the better all round player but both should have scored a lot more test centuries.

I wouldn't argue that England side could have been anything special but they could have been a damn sight better than they were given the individuals and talent available.

Back to the present day and Bess is performing his role well here. He's keeping it tight and buying the seamers more overs at full tilt.

I do feel he needs to bowl a touch fuller here though.

It's all just settled down a little, as expected when the ball loses its shine.

Only 134 to get. Stokes bringing himself on now - we all know he's capable of test-winning spells.

Jofra getting loose as well. Time for another 5 over burst.

Tough chance spilled behind then...

Given as leg byes but they'd certainly have reviewed and got it. You could see from Buttler's face he knew that had been gloved.

Just not quite going for England at the moment. Need to keep heads up.

Something about Ben Foakes... Again...

Better footwork would make that a regulation chance for Buttler. England need a wicket here as well.

Tough chance, indeed, but possibly one England will look back on at the end of the game.

50 partnership now as Jofra serves up a loosener.

Can’t believe Archer was the 5th bowler to come on in this session

Oh dear, Crawley makes a right mess of a fairly simple run-out chance.

It really is feeling like one of those days.

Now Crawley misses a run out chance. Not that many runs to play with England.

That was Buttler's first drop since 2018 keeping wicket in Tests for England apparently.

Now Burns misses one completely! Normally a good pair of hands. Would have been a no ball, but they won't know that.

Pressure on both teams...a run out served on a plate...and totally fumbled .and now Burns has missed a catch !

Nervy afternoon now. At lunch I had an England win nailed on ; but they need to keep their heads here or that could slip away quickly...

It was too close to his face and travelling at a great rate of knots.
It was a no ball anyway. Umpire missed it.

The game just drifting for England now.

Buttler drop. Crawley missed runout. Now Burns doesn't get a hand on a sharp chance that should be swallowed.

JDizzle wrote:Now Crawley misses a run out chance. Not that many runs to play with England.

That was Buttler's first drop since 2018 keeping wicket in Tests for England apparently.

He has been generally OK - at least when standing back. Though I suppose that is only five matches ... I hope that one doesn't come back to haunt them...

I wonder what would be more dispiriting - a dropped catch or the catch being taken and then it being called back for a no ball?! Would fancy the latter so small mercies...

Umpires have missed a few no-balls today. Wonder when the ICC will allow third umpires to make those calls with the benefit of replays.

Stokes will be majorly concerned now. No wickets for over an hour and all five bowlers have had a go in that time. Only 110 to get - still Campbell, Holder and Dowrich to come.

Great hour for West Indies Had some luck but arguably earned it.

England need a drink and a re-set. They are starting to look a bit anxious and the bowling isn't looking as disciplined lately.

Back to evens , I think. One wicket might well lead to a clatter ...but they need that wicket soonish...

The match situation must be making Eng fans jittery

But WI per my script is gonna lose by 20 to 30 odd so they have to have partnerships to get them to 170 odd......and expectedly it had to be from Chase, Holder and Dorwich.

Money on Eng

Halfway there. If the Windies batters can cope with the pressure, they'll win. England look bereft of ideas...but so did the Windies yesterday before triggering a sudden collapse!

Great test match.

Try something different? I would consider a couple of overs for Denly. If he should bowl, now is the time.

England fans are always jittery , KP_fan

I'd say with reason at the moment...after that flurry of missed chances there's not been much happening for them and the skipper is looking a bit concerned to say the least.

But there it is ! Vicious bouncer and no way Chase could dodge that

Superb delivery. Was about to say the ball before he looked a little too casual. Great change up.

What a brute of a delivery that is

Jofra puts in a vicious ball and accounts for Chase. Another gutsy innings from Chase without kicking on to a bigger score.

England have their chance.

I'm claiming that wicket and putting it down to my jinx! Great ball from Jofra.

guildfordbat wrote:Try something different? I would consider a couple of overs for Denly. If he should bowl, now is the time.

Was just about to say England might be missing Root's golden arm.

That was a beast of a ball out of nowhere.

Very timely breakthrough. That is the sort of thing you hope Archer will produce ..and he certainly did then !
Oddly enough he had actually looked a bit ordinary the last couple of overs : a bit too short and not really threatening. But that was a demon ball

Game on

I was just thinking similar about Denly but Archer has got the breakthrough.

That's a brutal delivery.

Get the quicks on at both ends for me now. If Wood isn't causing any issues after an over or two then get Jimmy back on to really pressure Dowrich around his off stump.

I’d like to see Bess try around the wicket here

Fascinating game. I imagine this will be Archer's last for now so Wood needs to rev up next.

Only 91 to get. Respect to Holder (who hasn't batted much this tour) and the injured Campbell ; but I think this is the partnership...

Glad I have a nearly full bottle of Scotch handy...

Another umpires call for Bess - he’s bowled well without reward so far

Bess a bit unlucky again...so nearly lbw. Worth the review anyway...still holding three.

Feel if Bess can get a break he just might do a job here. Wonder if one of these will attack him ?

Thought that was good too, but just umpire's call on the line.

Only 88 needed. Joked about a tie earlier - now I certainly wouldn't rule it out!