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.

70 odd runs leaked at the end of the innings looks pretty telling in the game right now. Probably the best conditions for bowling if the pitch doesn't break up much

Couple of balls keeping a bit low now. Brook did well to keep that low one out.

Wonder if light could become an issue? Don't think England would mind that.

Duty281 wrote:Couple of balls keeping a bit low now. Brook did well to keep that low one out.

Wonder if light could become an issue? Don't think England would mind that.

Yeah they probably wouldn't mind an early close this evening...looks decidedly gloomy out there . On the first point : if the bounce is getting a bit uneven then that potential fourth innings chase starts to look a little trickier.

This partnership has not had too many extravagant shots or launches into the crowd...they've played with sensible respect for any good bowling ; but they have still been ticking along at a decent clip. Lead to 178 ...make that 182 as Brook punches down the ground to reach an important fifty...

Going to be a bouncer barrage late in the day...hope Brook can resist the temptation to do anything silly. Would be a shame to mess up a very mature innings in these dying minutes of the day.

207 ahead at the close. Well played these two

Great partnership, WIs marginally ahead in some tricky conditions and they've put England back on top. That said the pitch is still a belter. England probably need at least another 150

Very good partnership. Pretty much chanceless as I recall.

Need to be ruthless tomorrow and push the lead over 400. Nothing messy and setting the WI 320 or anything like that.

After what would have been a demoralizing morning session, Eng have worked themselves ahead in the game.
They would like to & should get an innings total of  450-475ish and put the chase beyond historical limits.

WI on the other hand showed pluck & panache & got more than a slim lead. When Root bowls outside of subcontinent, it shows desperation & that was one desperate 18 run over from Root.

All is not over for WI.....a 475ish inning total is the upper limit of what Eng might score, in my view.
WI need to come back organized & choke runs, which will bring wickets.
If they can trigger a collapse, which is always a likelihod once Root & Brook fall.....WI could be looking at 315 ish chase & that too would be above par but "gettable"

Pitch hasn't deteriorated and about 275-290 would be the par chase.

Always harder for an inexperienced side to make big runs chasing in the 4th innings , even on a good pitch . Pressure is different. That said , West Indies have a pretty good record chasing down last day targets against England

Reckon that WINVIZ 64% England looks a lot more realistic now than it did at tea when it popped up . Still a few good bats to come and the ball (or sequence of balls !) is/are now officially 51 overs old so you'd fancy they should be able to turn this into a very solid lead sometime in the middle of day four.

But this match has ebbed and flowed so no guarantees. A good contest

Looks a better day for batting

West Indies need quick wickets this morning, or the game will disappear.

A session of Brook and Root will push the lead close to 350 by lunch.

Feels weird that an England test looks set to go into the 5th day! Has anyone bought tickets for the fifth day?

Century for Brook.

He gets over the minor irritation of those 30+ scores without converting. Five centuries in 23 innings and a test average sitting at 65 with a SR of 91.

England's greatest if he keeps that up for another 10 years!

And Root gets to 50 shortly after. England's lead cruising over 250. All very gentle thus far for England today.

All pretty quiet this morning until Brook lost a bit of concentration and fished at that one from Seales...done his job though with an excellent composed and well paced hundred  Looked annoyed at getting out as I think he had been looking forward to really cutting loose in advance of a declaration. Lead nearly 300 - want 400 I'd imagine , so expect fireworks after lunch...

Ah.. Stokes gets out just before lunch skying a ball to long leg.. 341/5 will have West Indies lunching a bit more hopefully. Still a bit of batting left though. New ball shortly after lunch might be crucial

That's a great last half hour from the West Indies, capped by taking Smith with the last ball of the session.

About an hour ago we were wondering when England's declaration was going to be. Now we'll be wondering if they can push the lead beyond 350.

But Smith goes on the stroke of lunch ! Bit of a nothing dab at that ball. .100/3 in the session and game still alive ..

England might be disappointed to lose 3/19 after an unruffled 189 run stand ...sort of undoes the point of setting your opponent up for the kill. Might not end up a disaster but another example of their failure to be totally ruthless when on top . Anyway on again after the break and Root resuming busy as ever. Could do with some assistance from. Woakes as not a lot left after that...367/6 , new ball due...

Woakes gone so Root left with the rabbits...378/7 Would like a few more I think...but at least we won't be agonising over declaration timing

Nor sure why Atkinson is batting ahead of Wood ? But maybe he is better than his first couple of Test Innings would indicate ?

No problem for Root. Lovely cover drive to go to his 32nd Hundred. Not bad , is he ?

Great work from Root. Just one behind Cook now in England's all time list. Can he catch Tendulkar? 19 more centuries and about 4,000 more runs.

Wow, first time England have scored 400+ in both innings of a test.

It surprised me, but I looked it up and it appears to be true.

Bit of a shock to see Root dismissed ! About his first false stroke for the innings... Wood in now , still need 22 for that presumed target of a 400 lead. West Indies have stuck to their task well today...

Two drops in two balls! Seales furious, don't blame him!

But he knocks over Wood next ball, so if you want a job doing and all that.

Lead looks unlikely to scale 400, so the West Indies not out of it.

Won't be getting that 400 lead...two drops in two balls so Seales does it all himself, skittling Wood. 421/9 Will West Indies now spread the field for Atkinson?

Eng did not get the mountain of 475  innings total as it looked so likely  when Brook & Root were going for so long.... leaving a 380 chase

You'd back Eng to win it but the pitch has played well, WI are pressure-less and that element of " you never know" hangs in the air.
Draw not totally out of equation if over rates slows down or rain takes some time out.

West Indies knock Bashir's stumps over after three balls.

I'm confused by that bowling to a number eleven. Why weren't seven men on the boundary, and the bowling exclusively short? What is this madness?

England, once again, not converting a strong position to an insurmountable one. After Root and Brook's wonderful partnership, England lost the last seven wickets for 96 runs, on an excellent batting track. Credit to the West Indies bowlers for sticking at their task, Seales has nice figures, but it's becoming a theme for England.

Run rate won't be a problem for the West Indies. Got the occasional ball keeping low, but nothing more than that, it's good for the bats. England are strong favourites, but you can't rule out a chase of 380 on this. West Indies chased down 395 v Bangladesh not long ago, and they also remember the Hope and Blackwood inspired chases.

https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/new-zealand-tour-of-england-1973-62072/england-vs-new-zealand-1st-test-63108/full-scorecard

Highest 4th innings score at Nottingham in a test is 440, by NZ in 1973. After being bowled out for 97 in the first innings, a chase of 473 for NZ looked impossible, but at 402/5 it was certainly on. England rallied late, with Greig picking up three of the final five, including a hit wicket dismissal.

Bit of a gentle start here for the West Indies. 18/0 after four. England bowling a bit short to start. Going to be a long final session today, all the way through until 18:30.

Now a shout for England! Looked like a possible inside edge, possibly going down. No review. Close. Was going down leg side. Good call not to review.

Decent start for West Indies...though Woakes and Atkinson have threatened in the last couple of overs . Odd ball jumping and variable bounce may be the bowler's friend in this innings . Once upon a time you'd have said 380 was way too many but in recent years chasing has become often easier so not declaring game in the bag yet . Plenty of time for a result either way...

54/0 after ten.

England will be feeling the first drops of concern. Bit of variable bounce, but nothing major. Wood bowled some serious pace in his first over, managed to beat the bat, so he looks the best chance of a wicket for now. Might not be too long before we see Bashir.

Yes they'll be wanting to break through soon as these two have played pretty well and scored briskly. Bit of uneven bounce - which may get more pronounced; but still a decent track to bat on. Have my concerns about this England attack post-Broad/Anderson , despite the good job they did at Lord's Hopefully can do the job but doesn't look as if it will be easy.

The old drinks break does the trick. Louis can't resist nibbling at a nice one from Woakes. Four starts for Louis in this series, but nothing above 27.

Good old drink waiter does the trick Woakes strikes immediately on resumption and another start but no progress for Louis. That'll make England a bit happier.

After a rather underwhelming Lord's Test and some fairly flat early spells on day two here , Woakes has got back closer to his home conditions mastery. Worked Louis over nicely there.

Bashir with the second! McKenzie surely doesn't play the third test?

I feel this is the main partnership - Brathwaite and Athanaze.

Well done Bashir . And Smith , who stayed low to take a very good catch. McKenzie in the horrors and West Indies suddenly under severe pressure...

And under more pressure now as Woakes does for Brathwaite...got the ball talking now : West Indies will need a repeat of the first innings efforts from Athanaze and Hodge.

That'll do. All a cruise now.

Lovely one from Woakes to get Brathwaite. Bashir joining in not long later.

Unravelling fast ! Bashir pins Hodge for a duck . This could yet end tonight...

Remarkable collapse after that solid opening stand. Not like any demons in the pitch...very encouraging start for Bashir: McKenzie was a bit of a gift but that lbw was nicely done.

Three for Bashir!

Could actually end tonight. And almost certainly no day five drama if it doesn't.

Bashir having a picnic ! Nice catch Root... Yes I fancy this could well be over tonight : maybe with the extra half hour if needed. Those free tickets for tomorrow might not be happening after all.

Unhappy end for Sinclair. Not only out - and burning a review as he goes ; but nursing a badly battered wrist on his way off. Not fun copping 94mph stuff from Wood . The End is Nigh

De Silva held things up for a while but Atkinson and a bit of variable bounce has brought two in the over...113/8 and Holder might as well just swing at everything. Think I will get an "early" night And certainly normal hours tomorrow.

Took a while, but the shambles that everyone expected has finally turned up. Shame for the Windies who fought well for most of the first three days

Very nicely bowled now from Bashir...cleans up Holder and has four in the innings... if Atkinson leaves one he might snare a Michelle...

For better part of 4 days, WI competed well and then fell apart in the long last session to all the demons that typically rise in 4th inning for a 100 years now.

The pitch showed variability, gripped and turned, breaking a piece off the pitch once or twice as Bashir moved his line outside the off, looking more potent and add to that some extremely fast scorching deliveries from Wood.
And to be precise pitch wasn't that easy was also evident in Eng losing last 7 for 90 odd....although it wasn't too evident in the flow of things and with a big cushion already in Eng's favor when they started collpasing.

Where WI was let down was by their own decision to field first and not having Mottie as spinner.
Hope they have Mottie back and change Mckenzie for someone and fight hard again. Winning 1 test would still be a credible effort from WI

Often goes this way - if not quite so dramatically- when one side is seriously stronger : the "lesser" team competes bravely for several days but eventually the class tells. One of the distinctive things about Tests , rather than short form games.

What was a fairly competitive test match for 11 sessions has ended (not quite) rather meekly.

As an aside; Ben Duckett now averages 44 opening the batting after 20 matches, my rather rudimentary memory tells me he's only the seventh English opener in my lifetime* to average 40+

Gooch
Stewart
Trescothick
Vaughan
Cook
Strauss
Duckett

*not