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.)

alfie wrote:To say Burns "isn't Test class " is a bit OTT , I think.

Even guildford , who might be expected to support a Surrey boy , says that he has doubts about Burns at the top level. As do I ... Despite several good knocks , an average in the low thirties is nothing to write home about ; but it is better than a lot of players who have been tried recently for England , and as good as many who have occupied the spot in the past , for many teams.

If he's to be a long term player he will need to build on that ; but he's surely entitled to a proper run in the side based on what he's done so far. Not as if there are a host knocking the door down either...

Alfie - very much the case.

In line with some of my comments and reservations about Burns when he was first called up, I'm less concerned about him getting out cheaply (as he did today and will always be the case at times for any opener) than not going on enough when getting into the 30s and 40s. He'll never be the most elegant of batsmen but he's a scrapper and that brings some value.

Become a bit of a stalemate as Shaheen has been bowling a dry line to Crawley - who so far ain't taking the bait...

Bit nervous when Root tries to cut too close to his body from Yasir. Remember the first match , Joe ?

No problem with a few quiet overs - the run rate has been good.

So has the over rate , with the spinner on so early...

Fifty on the stroke of lunch for Crawley Patience and alertness rewarded.

Lunch at 91/2 off 28. Good session of cricket.

Evens .

Not sure I agree that England have done well in that session, lost two wickets on an absolute road.

Yep, a good morning's cricket.

A lot of credit to Crawley who has played well. Currently looking encouraging for England with near to three figures on the board. However, as Sir Geoffrey would say about another two wickets ....

Yeah, even session and perfectly balanced going into the afternoon. Yasir again causing problems for England, just glad England aren't batting last! Hopefully a day where Crawley and Root can go big against a softening ball.

Fascinating Key saying that Crawley went to Australia and India off his own back to improve against pace and spin respectively

Pakistan fought back nicely in that last half hour, when Crawley/Sibley looked to be getting something really going. Pretty even, big chance for Crawley to make that big score here...has looked good throughout his short career so far, chance this afternoon to really cement his space for a while.

I really like the way Crawley has gone about this innings : positive right from the start , looking for runs all the time and didn't allow Yasir to settle - without taking any silly risks he scored quite rapidly.
Then when Shaheen set out to test his patience he resolutely refused to chase anything...just waited for the ball he wanted.

Losing Sibley just when they seemed to be on top has been something of a setback ; but because of the way Crawley has played (and Root's typically busy mix of dab and run with opportunistic boundaries) they are still going at over three per over . Which is a decent rate and means there is no need to press at the moment. Let them come to you...
As Olly says , he needs to go on now. I hope he does , because his innings has been so well constructed it would be a pity to see it cut off prematurely.

Will be interesting to see how long before Yasir is back on...and how they will take him on when he does.

And here he is...this might be an important spell.

Has to be said Root is a trash test batsmen at the moment, looks like he's played too much ODI stuff to me.

Absolute corker of a delivery. Deserved for Pakistan who have made a good start after the interval. Another excellent snaffle from Rizwan.

Oh excellent bowling from Naseem ! And a great catch by Rizwan to account for Root

A bit out of the blue , that. Root had looked the best he has for a while but that was just a fine bit of bowling...

Big break for Pakistan ; very important partnership now for the two young men.

Duty281 wrote:Absolute corker of a delivery. Deserved for Pakistan who have made a good start after the interval. Another excellent snaffle from Rizwan.

Yep, I really liked Rizwan's take and instantaneous (as it had to be) confidence in going for it.

It'll be interesting to see Pope batting with Crawley. Two young players with an inclination and the ability to be busy ....

Soul Requiem wrote:Has to be said Root is a trash test batsmen at the moment, looks like he's played too much ODI stuff to me.

Harsh but he does have an frequent issue of playing himself in and not making a big score off the back of it

What's the best site for checking stats in test series. had a few bets on leading run and series wickets. got yasir shan for bowling guessing he's up there with broad at the minute?

Yasir does for Pope and England are in trouble. Pope never looked comfortable against the leg-spinner.

GSC wrote:

Soul Requiem wrote:Has to be said Root is a trash test batsmen at the moment, looks like he's played too much ODI stuff to me.

Harsh but he does have an frequent issue of playing himself in and not making a big score off the back of it

He's not even getting to fifty any more; he's not a good enough captain to make up for his relative lack of runs.

compelling and rich wrote:What's the best site for checking stats in test series. had a few bets on leading run and series wickets. got yasir shan for bowling guessing he's up there with broad at the minute?

https://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/records/bowling/most_wickets_career.html?id=13284;type=series

compelling and rich wrote:What's the best site for checking stats in test series. had a few bets on leading run and series wickets. got yasir shan for bowling guessing he's up there with broad at the minute?

Cricinfo usually because they update in real-time. Yasir on 11 wickets, Broad on 10 at the moment.

https://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/records/batting/most_runs_career.html?id=13284;type=series
https://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/records/bowling/most_wickets_career.html?id=13284;type=series

Oh dear! Sir Geoffrey's second wicket after lunch comes up within 50 minutes.

England in a spot of bother.

GSC wrote:

compelling and rich wrote:What's the best site for checking stats in test series. had a few bets on leading run and series wickets. got yasir shan for bowling guessing he's up there with broad at the minute?

https://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/records/bowling/most_wickets_career.html?id=13284;type=series

cheers GSC, is that updated live?

just need archer and anderson to clean up Pakistan cheaply now. broads due a quiet game

Twice in a row now Yasir has done for Pope.

The manner of those dismissals might be starting to raise a bit of concern , given Pope will be facing a fair bit of spin over the next couple of England tours. That's for later though.

Right now those two wickets have put England in a spot of bother. If they lose another soon the absence of Sam Curran today might be regretted !

GSC wrote:

Soul Requiem wrote:Has to be said Root is a trash test batsmen at the moment, looks like he's played too much ODI stuff to me.

Harsh but he does have an frequent issue of playing himself in and not making a big score off the back of it

It is true he's not been making big scores lately. But hard to blame him for getting out today. Dismissal had nothing to do with concentration or technique... that ball would have done for anyone.

alfie wrote:

GSC wrote:

Soul Requiem wrote:Has to be said Root is a trash test batsmen at the moment, looks like he's played too much ODI stuff to me.

Harsh but he does have an frequent issue of playing himself in and not making a big score off the back of it

It is true he's not been making big scores lately. But hard to blame him for getting out today. Dismissal had nothing to do with concentration or technique... that ball would have done for anyone.  

It was a good ball yes but Root allows himself to get squared up, that isn't all down to the delivery. The fact is the moment he gets a good ball he's a goner.

alfie wrote:

GSC wrote:

Soul Requiem wrote:Has to be said Root is a trash test batsmen at the moment, looks like he's played too much ODI stuff to me.

Harsh but he does have an frequent issue of playing himself in and not making a big score off the back of it

It is true he's not been making big scores lately. But hard to blame him for getting out today. Dismissal had nothing to do with concentration or technique... that ball would have done for anyone.  

Feels like he’s had a few of them lately. This Summer average around mid 30s?

Soul Requiem wrote:

alfie wrote:

GSC wrote:

Soul Requiem wrote:Has to be said Root is a trash test batsmen at the moment, looks like he's played too much ODI stuff to me.

Harsh but he does have an frequent issue of playing himself in and not making a big score off the back of it

It is true he's not been making big scores lately. But hard to blame him for getting out today. Dismissal had nothing to do with concentration or technique... that ball would have done for anyone.  

It was a good ball yes but Root allows himself to get squared up, that isn't all down to the delivery. The fact is the moment he gets a good ball he's a goner.

We will have to agree to disagree on this one , Soul. I think he played that perfectly reasonably ...ball was just too good. After seeing replays I am even more convinced of that.
Sometimes you just have to credit the bowler.

Yasir v Buttler will be fascinating .  I think Jos rattled him at Old Trafford with some slightly unorthodox shots...and looks as if he's going to play the same way today.

And he seems to like batting against Pakistan - at least in England. Though he nearly went then so I'd better shut up

Anyone been listening to TMS?

Aggers started eating something called a Dorset Knob (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dorset_knob)

Apparently they are eaten in the morning and are a very hard biscuit. Ebony Rainford Brent, who was leaving the commentary, proceeded to say "Nothing better in the morning than a nice hard knob".

took the rest of them quite some time to recover.

Not sure it's too much ODI batting for Root either - only batted twice in an ODI since the World Cup last year. He did alright in the winter, just looks to be out of nick this summer to me...not usually so poor against the spin as he has been this summer too, which is a worry going into the India tour!

Also just saw Pope's dismissal - very poor. Twice in a row now for him against Yasir...something to work on ahead of the winter too!

Crawley's on his highest test score now. A fine talent, should be a mainstay of the English batting order for years to come, and has kept England in the fight today.

The solution for Root still appears to be the same solution as two years ago - take the captaincy off him.

It would possibly help Root if they picked the best keeper as well, gives his spinner a bit of confidence.

LondonTiger wrote:Anyone been listening to TMS?

Aggers started eating something called a Dorset Knob (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dorset_knob)

Apparently they are eaten in the morning and are a very hard biscuit. Ebony Rainford Brent, who was leaving the commentary, proceeded to say "Nothing better in the morning than a nice hard knob".

took the rest of them quite some time to recover.

The TMS team have been on top form this summer. Rainford-Brent is a really good commentator and a welcome fresh voice. Carlos Brathwaite was really great during the Windies series as well.

Duty281 wrote:Crawley's on his highest test score now. A fine talent, should be a mainstay of the English batting order for years to come, and has kept England in the fight today.

The solution for Root still appears to be the same solution as two years ago - take the captaincy off him.

But who are you giving it to , Duty ? You want Burns dropped , Soul would have a fit if they elevated Buttler to the job

Stokes , I presume ? Want to risk destroying him ?

Root has generally captained better this year , I think. (Not without blemishes , but still) Yes his batting has suffered ; but I'd be giving him more time to redress that. It might help if he doesn't get dragged up to bat at three again...

Worth pointing out not many batsmen on either side has made huge runs regularly this season.

alfie wrote:

Duty281 wrote:Crawley's on his highest test score now. A fine talent, should be a mainstay of the English batting order for years to come, and has kept England in the fight today.

The solution for Root still appears to be the same solution as two years ago - take the captaincy off him.

But who are you giving it to , Duty ?  You want Burns dropped , Soul would have a fit if they elevated Buttler to the job

Stokes , I presume ?  Want to risk destroying him ?

Root has generally captained better this year , I think. (Not without blemishes , but still)  Yes his batting has suffered ; but I'd be giving him more time to redress that.  It might help if he doesn't get dragged up to bat at three again...

Worth pointing out not many batsmen on either side has made huge runs regularly this season.

Keeper-captain wouldn't be a bad idea, whether it's Buttler or Foakes. Definitely not Stokes. Broad maybe? Short-term option, might get a bit over-eager with reviews. How about Bess? Not like he does anything at the moment!

Duty281 wrote:

alfie wrote:

Duty281 wrote:Crawley's on his highest test score now. A fine talent, should be a mainstay of the English batting order for years to come, and has kept England in the fight today.

The solution for Root still appears to be the same solution as two years ago - take the captaincy off him.

But who are you giving it to , Duty ?  You want Burns dropped , Soul would have a fit if they elevated Buttler to the job

Stokes , I presume ?  Want to risk destroying him ?

Root has generally captained better this year , I think. (Not without blemishes , but still)  Yes his batting has suffered ; but I'd be giving him more time to redress that.  It might help if he doesn't get dragged up to bat at three again...

Worth pointing out not many batsmen on either side has made huge runs regularly this season.

Keeper-captain wouldn't be a bad idea, whether it's Buttler or Foakes. Definitely not Stokes. Broad maybe? Short-term option, might get a bit over-eager with reviews. How about Bess? Not like he does anything at the moment!

#announceKP_Fan

I'd consider making Burns a short term captain for the next couple of years, he has experience as captain of Surrey and the potential gains from Roots batting will more than compensate any potential dip in his form.

That is a shocking review. What did the Pakistani fielders think they saw/heard?

What a Tim Paine of a review that is

The only other person you could really elevate to captain right now is Stokes. Everyone else is either too early into their test career, hasnt cemented a place or is Stuart Broad

That is up there with the all time worst wasted reviews ! Buttler missed that by six inches

Fawad on to bowl ! Can't say he's not featuring in these games...I hadn't realised he was picked as the all rounder...

Root's record as captain is pretty strong these days. Won 6 of his last 7 Tests as well.

The negative effect it seems to have on his batting is significant though. It's been 3 summers on the trot now that his home form has been poor for such a quality player.

In lieu of a better option to skipper I'd keep Root in charge though.

A quick 50 partnership has relieved a bit of the pressure for England. These two are batting well and there are 30 overs till the second new ball. This is the sort of position that England need to capitalise on more often.

Another excellent, even session of test cricket. Tidy start from Buttler, who we all hoped has turned a corner, and Crawley's going to have a horrible twenty minute wait before getting back out there.

93/2 from that 28 overs...

Good cricket match. Still fairly even ; though Pakistan might feel they are only one away from opening an end (which is unfair to Woakes !)

Buttler has looked pretty sound today. And Crawley has played really well throughout.

Lord knows what will happen after the break but I'm glad the weather seems set fair so we can see it...

Colin Graves on the radio trying to pitifully defend the introduction of the 100, thank god he's leaving.

Well done, Zak Crawley.

First of many.

A truly excellent first Test hundred for Zak Crawley...duly reached with no fuss after the interval

Boy have they needed this today ! Pakistan have bowled pretty well - they have a nice mix of bowlers - and with a couple of batsmen going cheap England might have really struggled. But he's not given a chance - in fact very few uncontrolled shots at all.

This partnership lifting the home team back into the ascendancy.

But they'll need to go on : tail is longer this week ; and you probably want your runs in the first innings here...

From surplus batsman to centurion, Crawley making a statement today

Duty281 wrote:Well done, Zak Crawley.

First of many.

Yep, well done to Crawley on a deserved and particularly valuable century. Achieved what his county colleague Denly couldn't and with noticeably greater authority.

Good performance from Crawley, seems to be improving every match which is the most important thing, missed out in the first match of the summer when he should have gone big and hasn't let it get to him.