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.

...and there it is. Goes to the milestone with a not entirely controlled but very effective lofted clip to the leg boundary. Will be looking to go on from here as the bowlers tire.

259/4 at tea. Pope looking to go big , Stokes taking a patient approach as he tries to get back into batting form.

West Indies have bowled some good stuff hidden in too much dross...and their fielding has been sloppy.But if they can grab a couple of wickets after tea they might still restrict England to something short of the 450 that looked on the cards at lunch. Not placing bets on them though - and Joseph S getting crocked won't help.

A Joseph still providing a few loose ones - and Stokes and Pope happy to take advantage. Not sure I'd have opened with him straight after tea ?

No more lives for Pope.

Ha ...what do I know ? Joseph does for Pope - who may feel I've jinxed him

Good innings , albeit with a couple of let-offs. Couldn't manage to get them to drop another chance - but he's set England up for a decent score.

Now : will Smith go on from his excellent debut knock ?

Hmm England rather carelessly throwing away wickets late in the day..
First Stokes now Smith...ironically moments after the commentator praised their more measured approach in contrast to full on Bazball just Woakes and three rabbits left...make that two rabbits as Atkinson fails to suggest he belongs as high as nine...

Going to struggle to reach 400 now. Should be OK as I fancy there is enough for the bowlers here that West Indies will not find batting easy. But they've left a few runs out here today.

Looks like Pope got a timely score and Stokes got some runs. Sounds like typical England that they never quite turn a good position into a dominant one?

Should probably argue that England could have got 600 and numerous bats threw away good starts. Need that ruthless edge, though it likely won't cost England here. All 10 wickets were caught!

Still a great batting track, so with some application the WI should make England work for their wickets.

England's problem is that they don't have the kind of pragmatic, safety first, back foot kind of approach that brought Gareth Southgate such acclaim in the recent football tournament.

Just caught up on things as I've got a wedding for a couple of close friends tomorrow that I've been helping organise today.

I think that's a good score. It doesn't look like an Edgbaston or Lords type road from last years Ashes to my eyes. Lightning quick outfield as usual at Trent Bridge. I think there's enough for the bowler to make that an above par score though. Maybe I'm misreading things from the highlights.

Certainly some batters who got in without going big, but England's tactics with the bat do have a tendency to see plenty of batters chip in like that. The old adage is that good looking thirties don't win Test matches. But 3 of them can add up to 100 runs pretty quickly!

Such a shame for Motie to miss the Test. I think he's a really skilled bowler who I enjoy watching.

Those two wickets for Hodge make me hopeful that we might see Bashir get a proper go in this Test.

JuliusHMarx wrote:England's problem is that they don't have the kind of pragmatic, safety first, back foot kind of approach that brought Gareth Southgate such acclaim in the recent football tournament.

''It's not about the long ball or the short ball. It's about the right ball.'' - Alan Hansen quoting Bob Paisley.

With his understanding of the need to vary an approach coupled with his ability to see when it was required, both Southgate and McCullum could have done worse than have a beer and a chat with Paisley.

Duty281 wrote:Away from this game, Rocky Flintoff has just notched up a ton for England U19s in a four day game v SL U19s.

Still just 16 years of age, playing against people 2/3 years older. He's going to have a great England career, isn't he?

Apparently he's the youngest England U19 player to hit a ton. Won't turn 17 until April.

Wonder if Lancashire give him a go for one game in the County Championship this season right at the end, if they have nothing to play for?

JuliusHMarx wrote:England's problem is that they don't have the kind of pragmatic, safety first, back foot kind of approach that brought Gareth Southgate such acclaim in the recent football tournament.

Southgate likes his players hitting long balls.

In that sense he is the perfect fit for the England cricket team.

king_carlos wrote:Just caught up on things as I've got a wedding for a couple of close friends tomorrow that I've been helping organise today.

I think that's a good score. It doesn't look like an Edgbaston or Lords type road from last years Ashes to my eyes. Lightning quick outfield as usual at Trent Bridge. I think there's enough for the bowler to make that an above par score though. Maybe I'm misreading things from the highlights.

Certainly some batters who got in without going big, but England's tactics with the bat do have a tendency to see plenty of batters chip in like that. The old adage is that good looking thirties don't win Test matches. But 3 of them can add up to 100 runs pretty quickly!

Such a shame for Motie to miss the Test. I think he's a really skilled bowler who I enjoy watching.

Those two wickets for Hodge make me hopeful that we might see Bashir get a proper go in this Test.

I strongly suspect there will be frustrations for both sides tonight. The West Indies - bowling too much dross and allowing so many chances to slip through their fingers. England - not capitalising more on the extra lives they were given and still finding ways to get out.

That said, England should be the more content. Runs on the board and a goodish score which the tourists looked incapable of getting anywhere near a week ago at Lord's. Maybe they can turn things around tomorrow but I have my doubts and, in any case, they have it to do.

Agree about Motie. It was said he woke up with flu symptoms. Just hope it's not Covid which could be awful for the series. Only mention that as I know a handful of people who have contracted it in the last few weeks.

It is certainly a good batting pitch : but there were enough balls lifting sharply and played awkwardly even by set batsmen that I reckon Atkinson and Wood will fancy their chances tomorrow - especially given the fragile look of this West Indian line-up. On the evidence of today , the Wood selection might be a very astute one.
Bashir should indeed get a chance to do some bowling though as the ball gets older. And I suspect England's fielding will be sharper than what we saw from the tourists ; who paradoxically also took a couple of excellent low catches among far too many lapses.

Don't think England worry too much about leaving 100 runs unmade. More time left to finish the job with the ball...

An even more gorgeous day today. West Indies really should be batting the day out here, near perfect batting conditions.

Enjoying Broad on commentary, he's great.

Hope Olly and JDizzle don't accidentally meet today, it would be a breach of forum rules.

Not a good first five overs from Woakes, unfortunately.

Wood hitting 96mph in his first over.

Early go for Bashir. Sign the quicks aren't getting much.

97 in that last over! Amazing heat.

About the only interest of the day so far. WI have serenely walked to 48/0.

Impressive pace from Wood . But it is Bashir who has the break ...good old drink break upsetting batsman's concentration...and good outfield catch by Brook. Decent opening stand of 53 comes to an end. .

That was absolute rubbish from Louis. No need to play that shot, just throws away his start on a perfect batting day and a chance for a first 50 of his career.

And England have missed an LBW. Three reds, no review!

Looks as if the conditions are just about perfect for batting today, so England will have to work for their wickets...which I suppose might partially justify West Indies' choice to field first. They'll need to bat out of their skins though chasing 416. Ha I thought that lbw from Bashir looked pretty good...was surprised they had no interest in a review . Would have been two down !

Outstanding pace from Wood but the thing that struck me was the cordon not seeming that far back (relatively speaking that is!!) given the heat and the ball coming through fairly tamely to Smith around waist height. Compared to when Wood exploded into the Ashes series when it was similar paces but absolutely sailing through to Bairstow. It was also rushing Khawaja for pace and Ussie had looked like he was batting in slow mo all series.

It's a really good test of Bashir here though. This is what I'd presume they are looking to from him that Leach has sometimes struggled with. When it isn't ripping, Bashir has that height and accuracy to still cause problems. Whereas Leach can be lethal with conditions (and right-handers) in his favour but has struggled at other times. That said, Leach improved at that when he started getting some drift after working with Jeetan Patel. He's missed a lot of cricket though and I'd say Bashir looked to have the highest ceiling of the spinners we saw in India. I see no reason his action can't see him start getting some proper dip like Lyon specialises in. I think Bashir just needs time, so I'm happy they've gone with him here.

Ah very nice planning and execution to bounce out the well set Brathwaite... Atkinson has a very effective bouncer!

That was a very good dismissal. Atkinson virtually on the plane to Australia already.

Bashir's getting some decent revs, it seems. I remember when Sky used to have a gadget which showed you the revolutions a spinner was getting, but they got rid of it about ten years ago.

Bashir again...West Indies frailties showing - not unexpectedly. Gift of a wicket to a McKenzie brain fade. Nearly a no ball though !

Like Lords a decent start rather thrown away by the Windies batsmen. Bashir waited an entire match to bowl and handed two gifts

SO one well taken wicket (Brathwaite got a bit of a brute from Atkinson) and two batsmen simply giving it away trying to slog the spinner.

Really dissapointing from Louis...looked solid again was riding out a very fast hostile spell from Wood and gave it away he needs to learn quickly....wouldn't even say Brathwaite's dismissal was needed....he could have played it a lot better or got under it....shame for the windies because they have thrown away a very good morning there

Two gifts in that session, absolutely, but have liked what I've seen from Bashir in this session. It's just very frustrating from a West Indies perspective. Don't play any silly shots and you'll probably hoover up the runs. No need to force it.

Athanaze and Hodge starting this session. The former still hunting his first test 50, the latter trying to build on his 71 v Australia and century against the county side.

Good to see Bashir starting after lunch, just needs to be fractionally fuller more consistently, would have liked to have seen Wood at the other end instead of chris woakes

True the wickets were rather thrown away. But should also give credit where it is due : the pressure placed on the batsman facing extreme pace from Wood - and no relief when he gave way to Atkinson - had a lot to do with it. Reckon England have bowled very well as a team.

Athanaze has played pretty well since lunch . Fifty partnership up now... This is a nice track to bat on today , and England might have to work hard for wickets with this older ball..meven if they manage to get it changed now

Oh dear...that was a bad miss Joe Root... Wood unlucky there as England's catching has been so good up to now. Don't want to be missing too many opportunities like that on this pitch.

Bad miss there from Root. Cost Wood a deserved wicket.

Seem to think Root is dropping a few lately, but not sure how valid that is.

Good counter attack apart from that from these two, but it's a very good batting track.

Athanaze gets his first test fifty, solid achievement, but needs to push on to three figures with the West Indies trailing still by 237.

Hodge taking on the short ball, with not a lot of control sometimes, which is keeping England in the hunt.

And Hodge joins Athanaze in the 50 club. Some nice, controlled shots being played by these two. And some less so!

And to tea unscathed.

123/0 in that session. Root's drop looking more and more costly. Wood has the most unjust 0/40 you'll ever see!

At current scoring rates the West Indies deficit might be down to just 40-70 by stumps, so a big session needed for England. New ball still 28 overs away.

England U19s won their game. Farhan Ahmed with 4/59, backing up his 4/48 v the West Indies for the County XI. Like Flintoff he's just 16, and how long until he plays for England?

A first for everything : West Indies certainly won that session ! Apart from that fierce spell from wood that induced the one chance , England didn't really look like taking a wicket there. Thought they'd be forced to work a bit harder today : next session will test their stamina as well as skills. Good learning curve for the two inexperienced bowlers.

Paying fans will be pleased as this one clearly isn't going to be done in two days and a morning...

England will still fancy one may bring a few but not much happening. Too many wickets rather given away on this track so far

Which is why its criminal they batted the way they did yesterday and threw their wickets away! First innings on this deck and most of the time at TB these days you need around 500 because it gets flatter and flatter on days 2 and 3

We were wondering when the Hope/Dowrich/Holder moment would come in this series, looks like we're right in the middle of it

Kavem Hodge, FC batting average below 30 and five centuries in 115 innings, just loading up a double century v England and a place in the outliers XI, alongside Marsh, Nair and Chase.

England are, dare I say, lacking a bowler who can offer control. Every bowler has an economy 3.5 or higher. And the over rate has died a death, about 35-40 minutes behind, which is shocking considering Bashir has bowled 21 overs.

Chris woakes should be the 'holding' option but he is woefully out of form.....it's a flat deck a road that we failed to make use of yesterday and if windies bat well a lead for them is on here

Yes struggling to break through- and it is significant that we've only had three maidens all day , as dots can bring wickets.... but also Ben Stokes and his golden arm as he draws the error even as I type Neded that.

Stokes comes back to his role as partnership breaker. Big relief for England.

Athanaze likes the drive, but it can get you into trouble. 18 short of a maiden test ton.

In theory, not a lot of batting left for the West Indies. Holder in now, then Da Silva, then Sinclair (who is an upgrade on Motie with the bat), then the tail.

Let's see if England can get on a roll.

New batsman in, I would go for Atkinson now instead of Bashir and try and rough up holder early use the memory of his dismissal at lord's to try and get him

Was a fine innings from Athanaze. West Indies appeared to be on course for a first innings lead...may still get one , of course ; but not a lot of batting to come so if England can get another one now things might unravel fast...

Wood back , which seems sensible. Short burst of 90 plus stuff to the new man. Hodge playing well though. Proper contest today which is what you want in a Test Match.

How has Wood not got a wicket or two?!

Good to see Stokes bowling again - and bowling quite well , apart from the no balls. Has beaten the bat several times in this spell as well as the wicket. Gives a much needed extra dimension to the attack. Also a good thing Bashir is getting a bit of a rest : he'd looked to be tiring and supplying too many easy runs late in that spell with short pitched stuff. New ball still 15 overs away. Could do with another wicket about now...how Wood hasn't got one is beyond me !