England's Summer of Cricket 2021

by Duty281 Fri 14 May 2021, 9:39 pm

First topic message reminder :

2nd June-14th June: Two tests v New Zealand

23rd June-26th June: Three T20s v Sri Lanka
29th June-4th July: Three ODIs v Sri Lanka

8th July-13th July: Three ODIs v Pakistan
16th July-20th July: Three T20s V Pakistan

4th August-14th September: Five Tests v India

by alfie Sat 12 Jun 2021, 2:56 pm

Patel doing a good job for NZ , adding useful runs...

Not Wood's best over , that. Lead up to 72 .

Broad to wrap things up ? Boult will likely have a swing....

by msp83 Sat 12 Jun 2021, 2:57 pm

Patel has reached his highest test score!

by msp83 Sat 12 Jun 2021, 3:01 pm

Boult, who is much better than he's currently letting on, is doing his best impersonation of Chris Martin. and like the Phantom, he's somehow surviving!

by msp83 Sat 12 Jun 2021, 3:03 pm

Root in search of a cheap test wicket. But no luck in that first over back.

by AlciG Sat 12 Jun 2021, 3:06 pm

Why was there any debate about reviewing that when you still have 2

by msp83 Sat 12 Jun 2021, 3:08 pm

So the fun ends, Boult stranded just 88 short of his hundred! And New Zealand finish with 388 in the first, lead by 85. That last wicket partnership stretched the advantage from what seemed possible when Wagner fell, but they should be disappointed with this overall effort. After letting England score at least 50 more than what they should have from 175-6, New Zealand ending up at least 60 short than where they should have been from 275-3

by Duty281 Sat 12 Jun 2021, 3:08 pm

Bit of damage by that last pair, but nothing major. Pretty decent effort overall from the England bowlers through that innings - 388 is around par on that wicket. NZ have the advantage because of a poor effort with the bat by England.

Let's see if England's middle order can make a telling contribution this time.

by alfie Sat 12 Jun 2021, 3:09 pm

Took a few more balls and runs but Broad does indeed wrap it up...deservedly returns the best figures of 4/48 . Was the pick of the bowlers ...though they all did pretty well on a flattish pitch , especially in that session.

85 lead thanks to some good old tail end bashing. Not a rock crusher ; but a handy lead given England's fragile batting list.

Interesting afternoon looms.

by Soul Requiem Sat 12 Jun 2021, 3:10 pm

Broad returns a rather surprising 4/48.

by Duty281 Sat 12 Jun 2021, 3:11 pm

Shame Broad's in fast decline.

by KP_fan Sat 12 Jun 2021, 3:13 pm

KP_fan wrote:end of D2...NZ ahead
Bowlers have let Eng down, and in particular Anderson not finding rhythm has hurt Eng....Broad was unexpectedly good....but I dare say Eng was missing the controlled fastish medium seamers/ cutters of tall Robinson, who would have been a handful on this pitch too.

Some will say a catch was dropped.....BUT.....when bowlers are bowling well.....more chances come and eventually they get the batsmen
Not enuf chances were created by Eng bowlers.....not enuf consistency with line and length.

Are Eng out of the game?
Naah.....NZ are some distance ahead but not run away with the game.
Working way forward to the end game ...If Eng get a 250 run lead it will be an even game on D4/D5 pitch.....where even Root / Lawrence will stand to pick some wkts

A P50 scenario is NZ will score a 150 more tomm...leaving them with a lead of 75ish and Eng will need to score 325 in second inning.....not easy...Patel will be spinning...but very gettable.
You could work + or - of that P50 scenario to judge the ease or difficulty that Eng will land into.

That NZ will be batting last makes it only about 55-45 in favour of NZ as it stands now

That's almost on my P50 script
Now Eng need to get a lead.of 250 I.e score 335 runs for game to remain in the script of 50% chance of either team winning
I think Eng will get about that much lead
And then every extra 10 runs increases .Probability by 5% in my view

by Duty281 Sat 12 Jun 2021, 3:16 pm

Oh dear.

by alfie Sat 12 Jun 2021, 3:20 pm

Not the start England wanted...

Crawley will be relieved to get off the mark. Apart from the tense team situation , he is playing for his place.

by alfie Sat 12 Jun 2021, 3:41 pm

And now Henry has Sibley as well...

The trouble with these openers : both diligent , determined players , who often give England a solid start. But they just don't return runs consistently enough - hence why they average low thirties. Burns currently looking the better of the two but he still makes too many low scores for a Test opener.

Not sure England can expect those two to do a job in Australia : although that is still a little way off , I wonder if we will see a change over the Indian series.

Not for the first time , it's all up to Joe Root.

by Duty281 Sat 12 Jun 2021, 3:52 pm

Carbon copy of Sibley's first innings dismissal. Only change I could see, openers-wise, would be Hameed coming in, but it could still be too soon for him. No one else is there? Lammonby's a good prospect, but has had a poor season. Not sure England fancy going back to Lyth or Stoneman!

Anyway, a lot of digging required for England to get out of this one.

by Soul Requiem Sat 12 Jun 2021, 4:08 pm

Unless Hameed plays against India and scores runs we'll be stuck with Sibley and Burns, the latter is good enough just needs more consistency.

by alfie Sat 12 Jun 2021, 4:18 pm

Hameed is probably the one . Not saying he will , or should , come in. But if one or other of the incumbents struggle against India then he must surely be looked at.

Crawley - if he regains form and confidence - could also open. But that of course just enlarges the gaping hole at three Smile

Truth is the top three remains the biggest problem for England , despite the odd green shoots displayed by these fellows at times. May be there is no better solution anyway. But I rather dread the thought of what might happen in Brisbane later this year against Starc and Cummins...

And now Crawley has gone ...played some nice shots , looked better today. But Vince used to look good too before he got out.

30/3. Will NZ even have to bat again ?

by Duty281 Sat 12 Jun 2021, 4:18 pm

Saw some good shots from Crawley, but that wasn't a good look for him on that LBW.

Henry another Kiwi giving the selectors something to think about.

VTR's innings defeat might still be on!

by guildfordbat Sat 12 Jun 2021, 4:42 pm

Pope as he's been doing getting the scoreboard ticking over. 23 off 17. Do reckon he'll play white ball internationals for England but that is for another day. What he mustn't do now - as he's also been doing recently - is get out for a nice looking 20 or 30. Today and tomorrow would be an ideal time for him to go properly big.

by alfie Sat 12 Jun 2021, 4:45 pm

I was quite hopeful for Crawley - he indeed played some lovely shots , and suggested his confidence might be coming back. But alas he was cut off short again and I really think he needs to go back and make CC runs now.
Now Pope has again started with some fluent shots and raced to 23 , while Root tries to ...take root. The big question for Pope is whether he can add substance to the pretty strokes...

And the answer is no as he's gone now lbw unless drs can save him...it can't.

England sinking fast.

by guildfordbat Sat 12 Jun 2021, 4:45 pm

Well, was that a brilliant prediction or a jinx? Your call. Rolling Eyes

by Soul Requiem Sat 12 Jun 2021, 4:49 pm

Surprised that was given on field.

by alfie Sat 12 Jun 2021, 4:50 pm

Who'd have thought on Thursday there would be 24 wickets gone by this time on day three ?

Some good bowling from both sides ; some ordinary batting.

Spin now. Root shouldn't mind this. But he has a big hole to dig his team out of now. Would be nice if Lawrence can reprise his first innings performance...

by **Pal Joey** Sat 12 Jun 2021, 4:50 pm

guildfordbat wrote:Well, was that a brilliant prediction or a jinx? Your call.

I was going to say...
He was looking good out there. Beaten by Wagner's late swinging delivery and just clipping the top of the bails.
Still like the look of him though. Just needs to spend more time at the crease and build his average... which I think he'll do.

by guildfordbat Sat 12 Jun 2021, 4:51 pm

alfie wrote:Who'd have thought on Thursday there would be 24 wickets gone by this time on day three ?

Some good bowling from both sides ; some ordinary batting.

Spin now. Root shouldn't mind this. But he has a big hole to dig his team out of now. Would be nice if Lawrence can reprise his first innings performance...

Errh, you were saying, Alfie ...

by Soul Requiem Sat 12 Jun 2021, 4:53 pm

Very poor that from Lawrence.

by alfie Sat 12 Jun 2021, 4:54 pm

guildfordbat wrote:Well, was that a brilliant prediction or a jinx? Your call.

They don't seem to need much help in collapsing , do they ? Pope , like Crawley , appeals as having a lot of upside. But to be honest , the only thing keeping him in the team at present is the want of alternatives.

Lawrence gone now as well...Bracey in ..........can he get off the mark this time ?

by alfie Sat 12 Jun 2021, 4:56 pm

guildfordbat wrote:
alfie wrote:Who'd have thought on Thursday there would be 24 wickets gone by this time on day three ?

Some good bowling from both sides ; some ordinary batting.

Spin now. Root shouldn't mind this. But he has a big hole to dig his team out of now. Would be nice if Lawrence can reprise his first innings performance...

Errh, you were saying, Alfie ...

Well it would have been nice...

Any post invites a jinx at present. So I'll say now that Bracey (who has at least scored a run) has no chance of passing ten...

by **Pal Joey** Sat 12 Jun 2021, 4:56 pm

Wagner building up to some form of magnum opus I suspect.

by guildfordbat Sat 12 Jun 2021, 4:59 pm

Pal Joey wrote:Wagner building up to some form of magnum opus I suspect.

I thought that was an ice cream!

by Soul Requiem Sat 12 Jun 2021, 5:01 pm

Root not helping the youngsters here by dropping anchor, he's normally proactive at the crease so a tad disappointing.

by Duty281 Sat 12 Jun 2021, 5:07 pm

Was a good spell from Wagner. He worked over Pope very well, then Lawrence put up zero resistance. At least Bracey's off the mark.

Could actually be over today.

by VTR Sat 12 Jun 2021, 5:07 pm

Duty281 wrote:Saw some good shots from Crawley, but that wasn't a good look for him on that LBW.

Henry another Kiwi giving the selectors something to think about.

VTR's innings defeat might still be on!

I thought it would happen when faced with a deficit of 150-200! Sadly 80 odd might be enough, this really has been a shocker

by alfie Sat 12 Jun 2021, 5:11 pm

Soul Requiem wrote:Root not helping the youngsters here by dropping anchor, he's normally proactive at the crease so a tad disappointing.

Might be a bit shell shocked watching what's been going on at the other end...

He's not had a great match ; although I thought he handled the bowlers quite well today. As you say , he's normally very "busy" : perhaps he is getting overwhelmed by the pressure of having to hold the innings together. Seems unsure as to how he should play this.

Nice boundary from Bracey clap

might kill some of his jitters.

Still need 18 to make NZ bat again. Twelve wickets have gone down today for what , 225 ? Flat pitch , eh ?

by Duty281 Sat 12 Jun 2021, 5:14 pm

Oh, Bracey. That looked fecking awful. Absolute amateur hour.

-14 for 6.

by Soul Requiem Sat 12 Jun 2021, 5:16 pm

Duty281 wrote:Was a good spell from Wagner. He worked over Pope very well, then Lawrence put up zero resistance. At least Bracey's off the mark.

Could actually be over today.

Wagner didn't do a lot in truth, Pope just missed a straight one.

by Soul Requiem Sat 12 Jun 2021, 5:17 pm

Rotation has wrecked this team.

by KP_fan Sat 12 Jun 2021, 5:19 pm

Eng are letting down the hope I put in their 2nd inning batting......by a Mile
Unbelievable how Bracey gave his wicket away....bowling himself round the wicket
He was on a different planet England's Summer of Cricket 2021 - Page 17 1f617

England's Summer of Cricket 2021 - Page 17 1f617

by alfie Sat 12 Jun 2021, 5:19 pm

Bracey gone to the spin of Patel - and it isn't Axar. At least he didn't get a duck this time ; but I don't think we will be seeing any more of him for a while.

I feared all along England would struggle to get the sort of third innings score they needed : but this is seriously embarrassing. And NZ are resting about half their "A" team !

by KP_fan Sat 12 Jun 2021, 5:25 pm

Can Eng salvage a 100 run lead from here England's Summer of Cricket 2021 - Page 17 2753

by KP_fan Sat 12 Jun 2021, 5:38 pm

KP_fan wrote:Can Eng salvage a 100 run lead from here

Unlikely

by alfie Sat 12 Jun 2021, 5:41 pm

KP_fan wrote:Can Eng salvage a 100 run lead from here

I don't see I T Botham on the team sheet . So no.

Root gone to a loose cut after an unconvincing eleven. Bowlers might as well have a swing and get this over quickly.

Credit to NZ : but this has been a disgraceful performance from England. The management have a job on their hands to rebuild some confidence and competence for the India series.

by alfie Sat 12 Jun 2021, 5:52 pm

NZ have to bat again ! Mark Wood tuning up for the ODIs lofting one into the stands...

He might end up top scoring at this rate Smile

by Duty281 Sat 12 Jun 2021, 5:55 pm

Yep, has been a disgrace. Kiwis have a good bowling line-up, but no test match side should find itself 84/7 on this pitch.

Difficult to know how to grade this England team, or identify where they're going. I feel they've been getting better than expected results, for the most part, over the last few years, but they've been doing that so often that I thought, maybe, I was underrating them.

Then they throw in a performance like this!

Is progress being made? Tough to say. The batting line-up is essentially Root and Stokes (both good batsmen, but not in the elite category), plus a few guys who may come good but currently have low (below 40) averages. Quality spin bowling is still absent. The seam bowlers are good, but once Anderson and Broad retire, it will leave a mammoth hole. If England don't get the batting sorted by the time those two depart, it's difficult to see anything other than a fall to where the West Indies, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh currently reside, in terms of ranking and ability.

Anyway, England are in the lead, the Great Escape is alive.

by KP_fan Sat 12 Jun 2021, 5:59 pm

Commentators have been praising Patel
He ain't bad, but just to put him in perspective
Leach is a shade better than Patel

by alfie Sat 12 Jun 2021, 6:03 pm

KP_fan wrote:Commentators have been praising Patel
He ain't bad, but just to put him in perspective
Leach is a shade better than Patel

Yes. He looks "honest" but that's about all. Wood rather bringing some perspective to his figures...though of course there really isn't any pressure on these tail enders so batting is easier...

Liked his batting effort though.

by msp83 Sat 12 Jun 2021, 6:14 pm

New Zealand did a fine job rapping the tail starters quickly. Now they've ran into the strong English batting unit, and yet again facing stiff resistance. Mark Wood and Oliver Stone, who can also bowl a bit, are turning it around for England. They've already taken the lead into the 20s, and I totally expect New Zealand set to chase over hundred...

by msp83 Sat 12 Jun 2021, 6:16 pm

alfie wrote:
KP_fan wrote:Commentators have been praising Patel
He ain't bad, but just to put him in perspective
Leach is a shade better than Patel

Yes. He looks "honest" but that's about all. Wood rather bringing some perspective to his figures...though of course there really isn't any pressure on these tail enders so batting is easier...

Liked his batting effort though.

You call them tailenders? When they have consistently outplayed the top 7?

by msp83 Sat 12 Jun 2021, 6:18 pm

New Zealand, yet again losing the plot. Just can't dislodge the English lower order.
This is not thankfully the HQ wicket, so if they take things for granted, NZ may end up getting into a serious mess.

by guildfordbat Sat 12 Jun 2021, 6:19 pm

alfie wrote:
KP_fan wrote:Commentators have been praising Patel
He ain't bad, but just to put him in perspective
Leach is a shade better than Patel

Yes. He looks "honest" but that's about all. Wood rather bringing some perspective to his figures...though of course there really isn't any pressure on these tail enders so batting is easier...

Liked his batting effort though.

Yep, Patel's not a star player but he seems to understand his role in the chorus line and is performing it well. He's made a valuable contribution here. Unlike England, New Zealand are a nicely balanced team and seem (even) greater than the sum of their parts.

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