England's Summer of Cricket 2024

First topic message reminder :

Now the County Championship has begun, it is officially summer once more. Don't let the rain tell you otherwise!

We can talk about promising county performances, the build up to the World T20, and Ollie Robinson's latest injury when it happens. Then, in just under two months, England start playing games:

England v Pakistan, four T20s, 22nd May-30th May
World T20 in June
England v West Indies, three tests, 10th July-30th July
England v Sri Lanka, three tests, 21st August-10th September
England v Australia, three T20s, 11th September-15th September
England v Australia, five ODIs, 19th September-29th September

It's a bit of a pressure summer for England. The ODI side made the most disappointing defence of a World Cup crown since France in the football in 2002, so there's pressure on the T20 side, and Mott in particular, to deliver something decent in the Caribbean.

For the test match side, it's been three series without a series win for England, so the expectation is on for England to get back to winning ways against the West Indies and Sri Lanka. The West Indies often cause England a few troubles, but England have won their last seven home series v the West Indies, dating back to 2000, and you have to go back to 1988 for the last time the West Indies won a series in England.

Sri Lanka are visiting for the first time in eight years for a test series, so it's well overdue. They've certainly managed to upset England in the past, very famously in 1998, but also in 2014, so it's a series that cannot be taken for granted.

And to round off the summer the ECB are making a dash for cash, with eight limited overs games against the Aussies in the fading September light, in games that will probably be forgotten in no time at all.

Tidy first half-hour of Test cricket for Jamie Smith.

Gentle loosner is heard of for a bowlers first delivery of a spell
Occasionally his first over is a loosner
Here Woakes spell so far has been a gentle loosner.

A bit short of the right length & yard short on pace hasn't allowed Eng any success on what should be a seam friendly pitch as Eng put them in

guildfordbat wrote:Tidy first half-hour of Test cricket for Jamie Smith.

Broad clearly reading the above.

Chris Woakes gets whipped over square leg for 6 think its time for Atkinson or even captain Stokes to inject some life into proceedings and make something happen

Has been a few good balls from Woakes, but overall a pretty underwhelming spell. Lost his line a few times as well, most notably when Louis took him for six! Has been a good, positive start from Louis.

34/0 after ten. Time for Atkinson to get his first go in test cricket.

Strikes second ball! A drag on, but you take them however they come.

It took Graeme Swann three balls to strike...

Wicket maiden to start. Pace at 89/90. But you wouldn't know it from the atmosphere at this terrible ground.

Woakes showing his lack of cricket this summer I think. Just didn’t look at his sharpest.

That’s what extra pace does from Atkinson. Doesn’t have to be the be ball.

And Woakes with an absolute beauty removes the other opener!

Ah, no he doesn't. Overturned on review by the debutant.

Nice way to start your Test career...
a loose shot maybe but can hardly do better than 1/0 off your first over ! Decent pace from the start too

Not shocked Louis didn’t get a bat on that ball! It was unplayable.

Might need to see a few more short balls at Louis. He looks very assured on the front foot, perhaps not so much on the back.

Stokes is bowling!

Time for some Stokes...

Another for Atkinson! McKenzie with an ugly drive, perhaps under pressure after barely scoring, he normally likes to be a fluid player.

Two wickets, no runs. Test cricket's easy.

Dream start for Atkinson continues... 36/2 ...just ahead of the rain ?

Duty281 wrote:Strikes second ball! A drag on, but you take them however they come.

It took Graeme Swann three balls to strike...

Wicket maiden to start. Pace at 89/90. But you wouldn't know it from the atmosphere at this terrible ground.

Really a shame that Jimmy's final test is happening here rather than a ground where the crowd will appreciate and create a great atmosphere for him

I would have thought he would love his final test being at Lord's as anyone would...home of cricket exceptional record here good conditions now for him.....

Stokes and Atkinson have the ball on a string, Atkinson has been hugely impressive

Looks like the clouds aren't going to unload after all I'm pleased to see. Batting looking a lot harder since Atkinson got things moving...probably not exactly perfect seeing day .Louis has been far and away the soundest at the crease : no real flourish- well except one rather spectacular flick ! But pretty solid so far.

Louis just 5 off 27 since the wicket, having been 22 off 29 before it.

England probably bowled a bit better than the 44/2 on the scoreboard.

What a catch! Catch of the summer already. One-handed, low down, away from him.

Louis has been tied down and now that's the end. Stokes goes to 199.

Oh that's a terrific catch Harry Brook !

Good to see Stokes back bowling ...and without pain.

That is an incredible catch

Great grab from Brook! With Crawley’s improvement at second, hopefully the makings of a reliable cordon again.

Stokes is bowling magically. He’s top class when he can get it hooping like it is today as he can get it going both ways from an awkward angle.

West Indies need to put some pressure back onto England here - just waiting to nick off since that first wicket

12 runs in the last 13 overs!

It is great to see Stokes bowling again. Aids the balance so much and he can be a matchwinner with the ball.

It's just not happening for Jimmy sadly....has the control but isn't overly threatning and there's no real fizz for him....the stats about him in his last 10 tests with the new ball make for grim reading too....i desperately hope he can pick up a bagful here now the ball is swinging more but he just looks a bit flat sadly

Nasser bantering Strauss about the run out.

Goodness, 20 years ago now.

I think Jimmy's bowled fine this morning, somewhat unfortunate not to get a wicket so far. Wonder if Bashir gets an over before lunch?

Doubt he will however Stokes is clearly tired pushing those last balls down the legside....Atkinson and Woakes to start after lunch?

It feels like speaking ill of someone at their wake saying it again during Jimmy's swansong, but, I've felt for a while now it maybe isn't bad luck but rather changes in pace and his lengths that mean he seems to beat the bat without reward a lot these days.

Peak Jimmy could bowl attacking lengths with elite economy and even then he'd be liable to drag his lengths  back if he went for runs. I've felt for a bit now that's his lengths have pulled slightly shorter as he's got that bit slower. The combination of defensive lengths and less zip means more Test batters can react to the movement these days.

If he's just been unfortunate then there's been a lot of bad luck in certain parts of his game that seemed to coincidentally start after that calf injury!

I'd love him to prove me wrong and rip through a five-fer in this Test, but as seen in previous discussion on this thread, I am one of those fans who feels his departure is smartly timed.

Good session for England. A dream one for Atkinson.

West Indies have a long tail, so hopefully England can get into that in the afternoon.

Atkinson certainly looks interesting for an England team. So often we pick a seam attack of opening bowlers, some of who can do a job with the older ball. Atkinson on the otherhands looks like a genuine first change bowler who can utilise the newer ball if needed, as he has this morning. It's a very useful contrast to what the English system usually produces.

Anyone with Test potential will usually be opening the bowling in the CC. Due to Surrey's riches they can afford such seam bowling depth that a talent like Atkinson has predominantly been learning to bowl with an older ball more. His raw numbers, whilst still good, don't look elite. I'd be really interested to see how his F-C numbers in overs 40 to 80 look compared to the long list of excellent potentially new ball bowlers in that same part of the match.

It's been a promising start.

Stokes bowling makes such a difference too. He's another that category of being a change bowler first and foremost who still can make it hoop when the ball is swinging.

boundary first ball after lunch! Good shout from Hodge

Not good from Woakes here. He did have that break, since managed a few games, but his county figures (1/220 across two games) were concerning. He's been very gentle and ineffectual thus far, struggling to top 80mph, and has served up some rubbish.

Hope we're not seeing the end of another England player.

Woakes doing an Ollie Robinson impression thus far it must be said. He was so good in the Ashes that'd I'd back him to bounce back over the summer though.

To be fair to Jimmy , that Indian tour was unlikely to be a chance for him to take mass wickets...so really only the Ashes series in which he seemed to underperform . I reckon he could still do a good job , at least at home : if more as "Mr Economy" than an innings wrecker. But since they will probably want Woakes at eight for his batting much of the time , given the lack of scoring potential of the other prospective bowlers , it wouldn't leave much room for experimentation if Anderson were to keep playing. So easing him out makes sense - even if it does make for slightly uncomfortable viewing to see him obviously less than delighted to be playing this game as a sort of testimonial...

And as I type the New Anderson takes his third so all good in the world , eh

That is so frustrating for Athanaze. Sixth innings, out of eight, in his test cricket where he's got a start, but he's yet to reach fifty. Didn't really need to fiddle at that one.

Atkinson with another!!! Gets Holder first ball. Completely squared him up. Hat trick chance on debut. My word.

...blimey ! Make that four !

Not a bad delivery on a hat trick, but Da Silva keeps it out.

But he's got him next ball!!! This is utterly outrageous. He's on the honours board first go! How many legends have missed out on it, but Atkinson gets five in 53 balls.

No hat trick - but three in four ain't bad ! Easy game this Test Cricket...

Then hits Joseph on the helmet with the last ball.

An amazing over. I can even hear some faint noise from the Lord's crowd, which means it was very special.

88/6 in terms of the game. The long tail now exposed and hopefully England can keep them below 140.

Pope with an astonishing grab now. This has been a perfect day in the field from England.

Woakes up to 150 test wickets.

Sharp catch by Pope and England's fielding is having a great day....

That decision to field first starting to look rather good , no ?

Joseph with a brief flurry on the counter, then falls for 17. A real skier.

Atkinson has 6/36. Anderson's best test figures are 7/42...

Short life but a merry one for Joseph...six for Atkinson - whose day just gets better

7/36 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Crazy stuff.

It's another!

7/36. Best test figures on debut (in an innings), I believe, was 8/43 (Trott for Australia v England in 1895).

Last man to take 8fer on debut? Jason Krejza. If he does get there then great things await!

Trott's figures are safe after a couple of boundaries. Cork is safe with England's best innings figures on debut (7/43), unless Atkinson gets an eighth.

Anderson somehow misses the stumps with that delivery, but gets an LBW to end.

121ao. That was a fun hour or so!

Glad to see Jimmy gets on the board at the end as West Indies subside to 121. Fantastic debut for Atkinson with 7/45

Will have to wait and see whether he is indeed the New Anderson - or the next Richard Johnson But he could hardly have done more to impress on this first appearance. Selectors will be patting themselves on the back.

Have to see how England can do with the bat but you'd reckon they will fancy a decent lead after this...

I said the West Indies quicks have got a few punches...they'll need a few haymakers to drag this back.

Crawley fortunate to survive the first over. Play and miss, then a direct hit missed which would have run him out by yards.