The summer of cricket 2020

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Stokes gone at last...and Roach gets one at last ! Bit fluky , reverse leg side edge but I think Kemar was entitled to dome good fortune...

Hell of an innings from Stokes

Started on time...

Looks a bit breezy but not too bright. Though now I see shadows

Surviving more by luck than skill so far...Anderson too good to find the edge so far!

Met office still seems obsessed with the idea its raining...think Duty must be working for them. BBC forecast gives a full day.

Few near chances for England, feels like a matter of time. Hope is struggling.

Well there's the rain. Just a passing shower, hopefully it won't set in for a long spell.

Bit of a frustrating start for England. Anderson outclassing Brathwaite and Hope, but without reward.

Good first twenty minutes for West Indies...no alarms , bit of rain now.

But they need a lot more of both...

Wouldn't worry too much about the weather....Been little 2 minute drifts all morning nothing substantial and the forecast is to get better..

England will win.

TRUSSMAN66 wrote:Wouldn't worry too much about the weather....Been little 2 minute drifts all morning nothing substantial and the forecast is to get better..

England will win.

Showing your versatility , Trussman Weather reports and cricket prognostications as well as political coverage...

500 for Broad!

And, of course, he gets it against Brathwaite, just like Anderson did for his 500.

Very dead lbw ! Congrats Stuart Broad

A good wicket to have early on ...he was one who can hang about.

Just after Carlos Braithwaite was talking up the Windies chance or drawing, or maybe he's even eyeing the win? He really does see something in this team that I don't. The batting is still flaky as hell, Southampton looks like a complete aberration

Only Murali got to 500 wickets at a younger age than Broad. Those last 100 wickets have been at an average of 22. (thanks to TMS)

LondonTiger wrote:Only Murali got to 500 wickets at a younger age than Broad. Those last 100 wickets have been at an average of 22. (thanks to TMS)

So Broad is the youngest then

More rain ...not too heavy though. An hour gone and just one wicket so West Indies might be moderately encouraged. They'll want to get through to lunch with no more than one more out at the very least though if they're to have any real chance of saving this.
Woakes and Archer's turn now...

Not out of the realm of possibility that Anderson and Broad retire as the #1/2 in seamer test wickets.

Underlines how special a duo we've had

So only one wicket lost after the initial Anderson and Broad onslaught - think the West Indies will be quite pleased with that. 18 overs bowled now, so proceedings will start to become more difficult for the fielding side as the ball loses its shine.

The light could become a real problem if the West Indies are still batting at 17:00, so Root should be concerned as there's fewer than four hours of cricket before we get to that stage.

That'll do. Terrible shot selection and execution from Hope. What's he doing?! Batting to save a test match and he does that?!

Odd shot to play when you're trying to save a match

Wicket for Woakes - but can't keep Broad out of it as he has the catch...Hope will be wondering why he did that !

GSC wrote:Not out of the realm of possibility that Anderson and Broad retire as the #1/2 in seamer test wickets.

Underlines how special a duo we've had

Very probable. 64 more needed for Broad to overtake McGrath and he's in the form of his life. Anderson just needs 31 more to overtake Kumble and go third.

Phew glad I took a break. Come back and it really looks all done now, those were the two most stickable bats WI had and thats not saying much. Sorry to have missed Broads 500th, double points for it being Braithwaite who at least has cemented his own place in the record books!
The biggest danger was wasting the new ball and not getting wickets amongst rain delays, neithers happened and the rest should fall quite regularly if England hold their nerve and length. Ball seems to be doing plenty, and the breeze adds another dimension of uncertainty. Runs on no level a consideration.
6 to go ....

Duty281 wrote:

GSC wrote:Not out of the realm of possibility that Anderson and Broad retire as the #1/2 in seamer test wickets.

Underlines how special a duo we've had

Very probable. 64 more needed for Broad to overtake McGrath and he's in the form of his life. Anderson just needs 31 more to overtake Kumble and go third.

Broad's only just turned 34 too - not out of the realms of possibility he has 4/5 more years left around the test side...

The question really is who will finish with more test wickets - Broad or Anderson?

Duty281 wrote:That'll do. Terrible shot selection and execution from Hope. What's he doing?! Batting to save a test match and he does that?!

I guess it is a record of batsmen playing shots like that which leads most of us to expect England to take the win today ...

Hope had battled well for over an hour : and then a rush of blood. Brooks and Chase are probably the only other pair really likely to dead-bat for long , so next wicket the real key.

Good Golly I'm Olly wrote:

Duty281 wrote:

GSC wrote:Not out of the realm of possibility that Anderson and Broad retire as the #1/2 in seamer test wickets.

Underlines how special a duo we've had

Very probable. 64 more needed for Broad to overtake McGrath and he's in the form of his life. Anderson just needs 31 more to overtake Kumble and go third.

Broad's only just turned 34 too - not out of the realms of possibility he has 4/5 more years left around the test side...

The question really is who will finish with more test wickets - Broad or Anderson?

Been wondering that too...

Whether Broad can go on as long as Jimmy has/will I'm not too sure ...but at the moment he's taking wickets at a better rate and only 89 behind so who knows ?

They still look the first choice pair to me anyway. Pressure from both ends , no rubbish...

Woakes has Brooks ! Well bowled...the slide is on now

Good Golly I'm Olly wrote:

Duty281 wrote:

GSC wrote:Not out of the realm of possibility that Anderson and Broad retire as the #1/2 in seamer test wickets.

Underlines how special a duo we've had

Very probable. 64 more needed for Broad to overtake McGrath and he's in the form of his life. Anderson just needs 31 more to overtake Kumble and go third.

Broad's only just turned 34 too - not out of the realms of possibility he has 4/5 more years left around the test side...

The question really is who will finish with more test wickets - Broad or Anderson?

As long as he stays fit, I'd agree he has 4/5 more years left in the side. If he stays consistent that should leave him with between 620-660 test wickets. Anderson will probably struggle to get to that number owing to his recent injury problems.

Two sides to Broad for me, a slight over achiever as a bowler, very good don't get me wrong and when on song he's unplayable but not at the Anderson level but on the hand he's massively under achieved as a batsmen, still has the odd cameo like in this match but he really should have done more.

alfie wrote:

Duty281 wrote:That'll do. Terrible shot selection and execution from Hope. What's he doing?! Batting to save a test match and he does that?!

I guess it is a record of batsmen playing shots like that which leads most of us to expect England to take the win today ...

Hope had battled well for over an hour : and then a rush of blood. Brooks and Chase are probably the only other pair really likely to dead-bat for long , so next wicket the real key.

Brooks done for now. Blackwood coming out - don't underestimate him, he's an England specialist!

Duty281 wrote:

GSC wrote:Not out of the realm of possibility that Anderson and Broad retire as the #1/2 in seamer test wickets.

Underlines how special a duo we've had

Very probable. 64 more needed for Broad to overtake McGrath and he's in the form of his life. Anderson just needs 31 more to overtake Kumble and go third.

Thing is Broad is unlikely to get many opportunities outside England, although that may partly depend on Andersons fitness/retirement. This winter is India and Bangladesh, Broads record there is awful and England will want to play 2 spinners and 1 or 2 quicks. Those tests might not even happen at all of course.
Anderson has a lot more pedigree in Asia. The following winter is surely too much for Anderson and pushing it for Broad, thats the Ashes tour and again Broad isnt the first choice on those pitches with a kookabura if we have fit quicks. Also a lot to ask for him if he were to play all 5 tests of an attritional series at his age.
Even this summer its a push to have him in the remaining tests against Pakistan with no real break between the series, he will likely be rotate out of one. Same for Anderson who was goosed after the first test, I reckon we will see them both rested for a test in that series.

A generous 6 wickets a test would take him about 11 tests to get those wickets, so I guess its doable but he would have to remain fit.

As I type this is becoming a rout!

Duty281 wrote:

alfie wrote:

Duty281 wrote:That'll do. Terrible shot selection and execution from Hope. What's he doing?! Batting to save a test match and he does that?!

I guess it is a record of batsmen playing shots like that which leads most of us to expect England to take the win today ...

Hope had battled well for over an hour : and then a rush of blood. Brooks and Chase are probably the only other pair really likely to dead-bat for long , so next wicket the real key.

Brooks done for now. Blackwood coming out - don't underestimate him, he's an England specialist!

We can overestimate him and the west indies position is still pretty hopeless

More rain. Much heavier this time. Would be sensible to call lunch now.

Rain again but not going to last long I think. Not a lot of fun for batsmen or bowlers really ; but West Indies really need a solid hour or two washed away...

Blackwood does like batting against England ; but he's better chasing a score rather than stonewalling , I think.

VTR wrote:Just after Carlos Braithwaite was talking up the Windies chance or drawing, or maybe he's even eyeing the win? He really does see something in this team that I don't. The batting is still flaky as hell, Southampton looks like a complete aberration

I think hes just there for balance. He was much more critical of them on day three, and quite open about the batting shortcomings and how thats affected Holders captaincy (including the toss decisions). Hes obviously not going to pan individual players or the team as hes very close to a lot of them, and wants them to succeed , but hes previously been much more realistic about the problems they face.
Was interesting to see Hope play "positively" which is something Carlos had been pushing for, his previous innings have been Sibley like up to a point where hes tried to score then immediately got out. Top 3 in tests just isnt a natural position for him, hes not got enough low risk scoring shots when theres close catchers in or a solid enough technique to keep blocking out for long enough to be impactful. I guess the plan with him was to try and take some pressure off by getting boundaries , without going full ODI mode, and hope that Englands nerve would break and the field spread.

Quite commicly after predicting rain around this time pretty consistently over the past few days the met office says theres only a 20% chance ...during the heaviest shower so far!

Does look like its just one of those days where the precise time the clouds open is hugely unpredictable, especially with the wind. England unfortunate to lose time if lunch isnt called.


And the sun comes out as lunch is called.

Yeah Hope either has to be taken away from the heat of number 3 or out of the side altogether. In this series he's turned into something like a lesser version of Joe Denly, which is obviously not good. Realistically we are at the point where they have to accept those twin hundreds were the kind of blip like when Jimmy Anderson nearly got a Test century, it really is a while ago now

Soul Requiem wrote:Two sides to Broad for me, a slight over achiever as a bowler, very good don't get me wrong and when on song he's unplayable but not at the Anderson level but on the hand he's massively under achieved as a batsmen, still has the odd cameo like in this match but he really should have done more.

The difference with Anderson is that he can make more happen with a kookabura and on less grassy pitches. He also didnt have such a poor start to his test career (although his wasnt great either).
Broads last hundred wickets apparently have come at 22 a piece which is pretty incredible, but most have come on helpful wickets either at home or "next best" places like SA and New Zealand. Anderson has had success in Asia, Broad hasn't.

Both of course get helped by almost exclusively getting the new ball.

He has had to redefine himself as a bowler a few times in his career, and its paid divends bowling a fuller length over the last year or so. Currently on his bets ever career average. Maybe with the right coaching and guidance and role in the team he could've become this effective sooner. Hes had to learn his cricket in tests bowling against the best.

Hes always been under a bit of spotlight, firstly for being part of the pair who replaced Harmison and Hoggard which at the time was hugely controversial selection. The long troughs havent helped either, this past year is the first time hes ever consistently performed at this level. he also played a number of years with nagging injuries and frankly looked down 3 years ago.

Could argue hes underachieved, could argue hes underappreciated. think the reality is hes a bowler who's been given a lot of patience by the selectors because of his professionalism and drive and repaid the faith. Its also interesting to think that England ditching him from white ball stuff is probably whats allowed him to focus on improving as a test bowler and remain fit enough to bowl in tests at this age.

Soul Requiem wrote:Two sides to Broad for me, a slight over achiever as a bowler, very good don't get me wrong and when on song he's unplayable but not at the Anderson level but on the hand he's massively under achieved as a batsmen, still has the odd cameo like in this match but he really should have done more.

I think in part it shows how difficult it is to be a genuine all rounder in the modern game - Broad chose to focus on bowling and his batting has declined despite an amount of 'natural talent'. I'd also argue Stokes is not the bowler he was a few years ago but is a much better batsman.

Still, 500 wickets and 3000 runs is an outstanding return, and only exceeded by Warne (3000 runs and 400 wickets brings in Pollock, Hadlee and Dev - very good company).

I think it took Broad and the England coaches quite some time to work out what sort of bowler he should be - had spells early in his career where they tried to make him the 'enforcer' fast bowler, but he's done better when being a slightly quicker version of Glenn McGrath: 4th or 5th stump, in between length and a bit of nip either way off the seam.

Apparently there was a splash or two more of rain during the interval, so that's why the resumption has been delayed slightly.

So not much time lost so far. Would imagine light will preclude a late finish , so England still have , what , fifty something overs to take five wickets ?

One of them Gabriel

Quite like those odds .

Brilliant first over from Woakes against Chase. Unlucky not to find the edge or off stump,

Unsure if we'll have as many as 50 overs left - some more rain predicted during this afternoon session could knock a few more overs off if it hits.

Well done, Dom Bess, sound bit of fielding. Hasn't had anything else to do this test!

Duty281 wrote:Brilliant first over from Woakes against Chase. Unlucky not to find the edge or off stump,

Unsure if we'll have as many as 50 overs left - some more rain predicted during this afternoon session could knock a few more overs off if it hits.

Unlikely to need them...

Great fielding by Bess ...but daft running in the situation !

Four to go

Came on late to see Broad get his 500th wicket. Excellent stuff for him and still at least 2 years left in the tank.

alfie wrote:

Duty281 wrote:Brilliant first over from Woakes against Chase. Unlucky not to find the edge or off stump,

Unsure if we'll have as many as 50 overs left - some more rain predicted during this afternoon session could knock a few more overs off if it hits.

Unlikely to need them...

Great fielding by Bess ...but daft running in the situation !

Four to go

Incredibly daft. Getting run out when runs are irrelevant!

There's the rain. With clouds this heavy, I'm starting to get concerned about the light. A relatively low marker was laid down by the umpires on Friday.

Collingwood got an OBE for less!

eirebilly wrote:Came on late to see Broad get his 500th wicket. Excellent stuff for him and still at least 2 years left in the tank.

Hey Eirebilly ! Haven't seen you on here for a while : how are you keeping ?

Well... looks like the WI's are actively trying to loose or something

alfie wrote:

eirebilly wrote:Came on late to see Broad get his 500th wicket. Excellent stuff for him and still at least 2 years left in the tank.

Hey Eirebilly !  Haven't seen you on here for a while : how are you keeping ?

Hi alfie, been hellishly busy with work and the family. How are ye getting on?

Assuming Dorwichs hand is still bad with holderr coming out. Really is only the weather to concern england but even the most pessimistic forcasts have it brightening for a good chunk of the afternoon. 30 overs really ought to be plenty

eirebilly wrote:

alfie wrote:

eirebilly wrote:Came on late to see Broad get his 500th wicket. Excellent stuff for him and still at least 2 years left in the tank.

Hey Eirebilly !  Haven't seen you on here for a while : how are you keeping ?

Hi alfie, been hellishly busy with work and the family. How are ye getting on?

In good health so can't complain...but I recently retired from my firm , so what with the virus and lockdown of Melbourne am at a bit of a loose end at the moment . At least glad to have some cricket to watch ...and can sleep in

Wonder how the Rugby will happen - or not - this year ?

That is up there with "worst ever reviews " ! Whose idea was that ?

A last day of the series **** it why not review

Lloyd calls that review optimistic. I call it terrible.

Good to hear ya, Billy!