The summer of cricket 2020

First topic message reminder :

Great ton from Morgan. Came in at 44/3 - now victory looks assured for England after this partnership.

(Spoiler: It wasn't.)

England somehow need to to get within 50 of Pakistan, even that puts them well behind. I don't see the "Roadmap" to that. They will do well to add 75 before the new ball and have anyone serviceable left batting. Who knows though, maybe Broad will get the record fastest 50 this time!

Good Golly I'm Olly wrote:

...

As for the game, good session for England, shame Pope got that brute...but Pakistan did deserve a wicket (well more than that really!). Hopefully we don't fold like a pack of cards after lunch, if we can still be batting after tea, we'd just be approaching being back in the game. Long way to go yet though!

Finally - would like to see Archer and Broad come out swinging. They aren't going to last long against this seam attack blocking, just not good enough, but if they can swing a couple away early, Pakistan might go a bit mental like West Indies did to Broad last test...

If they are joining Woakes or Bess at the crease, I go along with that. However, if Buttler is still there, I would favour the tactic of ''Stay with Jos'' even though it'll be difficult. Scrub that as Buttler goes!

Yessssssssssssssss!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Pakistan right on the money after lunch. Naseem unlucky not to get Woakes' edge, but Yasir bowls Buttler with a straighter one in the next over.

Struggle to make 200 from here.

Aagh...moments late back from lunch and I see Jos has gone...what happened ?
Ah. Eirebilly was right . Though he wasn't swinging wildly at it.

After a good(ish) morning session , for the third day running ; will this session be another shocker for England ?

VTR wrote:England somehow need to to get within 50 of Pakistan, even that puts them well behind. I don't see the "Roadmap" to that. They will do well to add 75 before the new ball and have anyone serviceable left batting. Who knows though, maybe Broad will get the record fastest 50 this time!

Roadmap: England well behind. Stokes does some heroics. England win.

Shame for Buttler, showed more application than the top order. England badly needing broad to bring forward his next quality bat forward by about 5 years.

Well at least we can all get back to hating Buttler

Gonna need a Headingley-esque miracle now

Another pretty tidy catch. Great all-round fielding effort from the Pakistani team - even the wicketkeeper Rizwan has done well in testing circumstances.

Gooseberry wrote:Well at least we can all get back to hating Buttler

Bit harsh...even in jest !

Think this innings shows the up and down sides to Buttler as a Test player. He battled gamely against a good attack. Showed grit and determination...and got out for 38.

He averages low thirties in Tests. And in first class cricket. He is a decent keeper (at least standing back) but nothing special. And while he often bats with some skill and patience , he rarely passes forty.

Bairstow has made five centuries as Test keeper. Foakes has only played five but already has one century. Jos plays , sometimes , really well..and makes 38.

Good effort today , and I suspect he will keep his spot for now. But I think in the medium and long term England need more from the position he occupies.

I don't even know why they'd bother retaining him for the rest of the series, he's not the best man for the job so time for him to be jettisoned and not seen again in the test side, simply put isn't a good enough batsmen to make up for the fact he's not a great keeper.

Duty281 wrote:Another pretty tidy catch. Great all-round fielding effort from the Pakistani team - even the wicketkeeper Rizwan has done well in testing circumstances.

Agree, particularly about Rizwan.

Bess never looked comfortable. Always seemed to be a matter of ''how soon''. I like the enthusiasm of Yasir Shah as he gets increasing bounce off the track.

We could really do with today being the day that Archer shows he's not a total mug with the bat.

Soul Requiem wrote:I don't even know why they'd bother retaining him for the rest of the series, he's not the best man for the job so time for him to be jettisoned and not seen again in the test side, simply put isn't a good enough batsmen to make up for the fact he's not a great keeper.

Hi Soul - I too certainly have concerns about Buttler but, like Alfie, I don't drop anyone for the next Test until the current one is over.

That made Woakes look a little silly. Love these little variations Yasir is able to generate.

Good bowling from Yasir ...but Woakes might reflect on whether that was such a smart shot to attempt...

Long way adrift. Like Guildford , I would like to see some batting from Archer ; who has hardly done anything yet to justify batting in front of Anderson , let alone Broad

Apparently he's made some good runs for his county. But on what he's shown (so far) for England , I'm blessed if I know how ...

Three consecutive boundaries for Broad - one by design, two less so...

need broad and archer to tee off and get a quick 30/40. that last over was great if abit lucky. couple more of them and we can get close enough to make a game

got to get the lead under 100 though

Soul Requiem wrote:I don't even know why they'd bother retaining him for the rest of the series, he's not the best man for the job so time for him to be jettisoned and not seen again in the test side, simply put isn't a good enough batsmen to make up for the fact he's not a great keeper.

Hard to argue with in a way , Soul. But please answer me this : do you really think Foakes could have come in yesterday at 62/4 against this attack and made a patient 38 ? Or bat regularly at six at all ?(With a hopefully fit Stokes he shouldn't have to , but still) He might ; but it isn't a given.

I've made my views clear enough I think but I'm not as quick to evict as you are. Easier to drop someone than replace them sometimes...

Boundaries flowing...

Going to need a bit of luck to get this a whole lot closer . But fun to watch while it lasts

And of course it couldn't last...

Shadab having a good match , does for Archer. Fine catch again by the keeper

Still 129 behind. Hmm. These afternoon sessions are a menace !

alfie wrote:

Soul Requiem wrote:I don't even know why they'd bother retaining him for the rest of the series, he's not the best man for the job so time for him to be jettisoned and not seen again in the test side, simply put isn't a good enough batsmen to make up for the fact he's not a great keeper.

Hard to argue with in a way , Soul. But please answer me this : do you really think Foakes could have come in yesterday at 62/4 against this attack and made a patient 38 ? Or bat regularly at six at all ?(With a hopefully fit Stokes he shouldn't have to , but still)   He might ; but it isn't a given.

I've made my views clear enough I think but I'm not as quick to evict as you are. Easier to drop someone than replace them sometimes...

Maybe not but he would not have dropped Masood and he is a better first class player than Buttler so I don't think he'd have been doing much worse.

I'm somewhat hesitant to weaken the batting by dropping the 2nd highest scorer in this innings, though that does oversell Buttlers general form. But equally if Buttler comes in at 62-4, hes being put in a situation he's not really in the side to do because the top order failed.

I think England are a batsman light, and really the decision needs to be made whether Archer or Bess offer more to the side. Be inclined still to pick Archer

Anderson reverse sweep takes us past 200...tail has wagged a little, but still miles behind. Gonna need to bowl them out for 150ish, and hope someone plays one of those memorable knocks last dig...(not very likely the way Yasir is spinning it on day 3 here)

Issue for Bess in my opinion is that he either seems expected to play a completely holding role or a completely attacking one. It's either bowl straight, a bit flatter, with a conservative field and tie them down. Or it's men round the bat, a gap at cover to entice the drive and give it some air. Little in-between which is where most spinners find their groove.

I think this England attack needs a spinner. It also needs to use that spinner better.

If we lose this I reckon Curran might come back in for the left arm angle and batting depth. That variation and long tail seems to make the leadership in this side more comfortable when under pressure.

Every time Jimmy reverse sweeps I can't help but beam with happiness.

king_carlos wrote:Issue for Bess in my opinion is that he either seems expected to play a completely holding role or a completely attacking one. It's either bowl straight, a bit flatter, with a conservative field and tie them down. Or it's men round the bat, a gap at cover to entice the drive and give it some air. Little in-between which is where most spinners find their groove.

I think this England attack needs a spinner. It also needs to use that spinner better.

If we lose this I reckon Curran might come back in for the left arm angle and batting depth. That variation and long tail seems to make the leadership in this side more comfortable when under pressure.

How are you crowbaring Curran into the side KC? I don't necessarily disagree with the theory behind it but not sure who you're dropping to get him in.

Suppose the question for England is are they picking Bess or a spinner. Their usage of him kinda suggests they're just picking a spinner.

One has to make way for Crawley if Stokes is fit to bowl, and probably regardless.

If England want to rotate it might be Anderson who also makes way for Curran

219 all out. Done in by the new ball last night, and Yasir Shah this afternoon.

One of those situations where England need to bowl the opposition out for 50 to be favourites...or under 150 to have any hope. But I expect Pakistan to take the lead up to 300 and beyond.

219 all out, lead of 107.

Suspect anything over 200 on a day 4/5 pitch is mildly unlikely

king_carlos wrote:Every time Jimmy reverse sweeps I can't help but beam with happiness.

Truly one of the finest shots of modern times.

Lead of 107

Masood dropped and missed stumping on 45, goes on to make another 111 runs.

GSC wrote:I'm somewhat hesitant to weaken the batting by dropping the 2nd highest scorer in this innings, though that does oversell Buttlers general form. But equally if Buttler comes in at 62-4, hes being put in a situation he's not really in the side to do because the top order failed.

I think England are a batsman light, and really the decision needs to be made whether Archer or Bess offer more to the side. Be inclined still to pick Archer

Well it's quite obvious they're a batsman light...and in fact the main bad thing about that is that it forces Root to three and Stokes to four ; which is too much risk for the two best bats . But when Stokes can't bowl they don't have a lot of choice really.
I'd hate to see them go without a spinner. But presume Ben will be bowling next week anyway so that particular problem should go away.

Useful runs from the last three. Broad had some luck , but does look to have recovered a bit of his batting skill. Think he should bat ahead of Archer , though it probably doesn't make a lot of difference.

Over a hundred behind. Need some bowling magic !

GSC wrote:One has to make way for Crawley if Stokes is fit to bowl, and probably regardless.

If England want to rotate it might be Anderson who also makes way for Curran

If they are serious about rotation both Wood and Curran will probably play. Not much point in having a big group of bowlers to enable resting players and then not using all their resources.

Not sure they will though.

See Stokes having a few practice run ups ...maybe will have a trundle today ?

Surely no point in risking Stokes bowling here is there? Would be barmy if he does when we have five bowlers and we've picked the team literally because he can't bowl.

Would seem to be an odd choice if they do. assuming he's 5th choice you would guess if he has a bowl that the game is edging towards a winning lead for Pakistan, do you risk him then if he wasn't fit to do so 2 days ago?

I would guess it's more of progress check for the next game?

Soul Requiem wrote:

king_carlos wrote:Issue for Bess in my opinion is that he either seems expected to play a completely holding role or a completely attacking one. It's either bowl straight, a bit flatter, with a conservative field and tie them down. Or it's men round the bat, a gap at cover to entice the drive and give it some air. Little in-between which is where most spinners find their groove.

I think this England attack needs a spinner. It also needs to use that spinner better.

If we lose this I reckon Curran might come back in for the left arm angle and batting depth. That variation and long tail seems to make the leadership in this side more comfortable when under pressure.

How are you crowbaring Curran into the side KC? I don't necessarily disagree with the theory behind it but not sure who you're dropping to get him in.

I think Jimmy could be 'rested' as it will be phrased for the next Test. Curran then potentially comes in as the swing bowler. Archer possibly rested as well I think. If Archer isn't rotated out then I don't think Curran will get picked as Woakes/Broad have been excellent this summer.

I'm being a doom monger imagining a hefty loss there though. Obviously a long way to go in this Test. If Pakistan bat big here then the seamers will inevitably bowl an awful lot of overs, look knackered and rotation will be easier to justify. If they run through Pakistan for 140/150 then the seamers will have their tails up and we might see a 4 man pace attack with no spinner next Test.

As you can probably tell I fear that this group of selectors might have a touch of Nineties about them reacting to a big loss!

I just have a feeling that England might respond to a loss by going from one extreme to the other. 5 front line bowlers and long tail in the 1st Test to 8.Woakes 9.Curran 10.Bess 11.Broad in the 2nd Test.

Always thought we should pack the team with bowlers that can bat a bit

Masood clearly used all his luck up first dig

Shan not having so much luck this innings...strangled down the leg side ...Broad will take it

The start they wanted

0 extra runs conceded by Buttler off Shan this innings

Good Golly I'm Olly wrote:Surely no point in risking Stokes bowling here is there? Would be barmy if he does when we have five bowlers and we've picked the team literally because he can't bowl.

Depends how he feels doesn't it ? The man really likes to get into the action... Hopefully the other bowlers will do the job and they won't be tempted because I agree you don't want to take a risk with him.

Getting droped is the best thing to happen to broad. What a comeback 3 tests. Seriously need to "rest" buttler and see what happens!

alfie wrote:

Good Golly I'm Olly wrote:Surely no point in risking Stokes bowling here is there? Would be barmy if he does when we have five bowlers and we've picked the team literally because he can't bowl.

Depends how he feels doesn't it ? The man really likes to get into the action... Hopefully the other bowlers will do the job and they won't be tempted because I agree you don't want to take a risk with him.

p

I agreeing pointless risking stokes. If your best 4 seamers and spinner can't do it what does he really add? If ot gets to the point where you're desperate enough to use him then the games already lost, and realistly it is already. Hes so important in all 3 formats they need to manage his bowling load even when fully fit.

Stokes puts down Abid off Anderson, really takes it right out of Root's hands too. Nae good

Damn. Stokes drops a catch that he really should have left for Root...a second wicket then was just what was needed ...but Pakistan have certainly outfielded England in this match.

Jimmy will be ticking.

Good Golly I'm Olly wrote:Stokes puts down Abid off Anderson, really takes it right out of Root's hands too. Nae good

He does that a lot, for someone capable of over worldly catches he does drop a lot.