Cricket

[Xenophon PCDGS]

I do hope that England don't go back to Ian Bell, though, even if he does continue to make centuries for Warwickshire.

I am sure that Warwickshire would also welcome the 100% services of Ian Bell to aid their County Championship programme of matches.

It can be hard at times to resassure oneself that Jimmy Anderson has some type of affiliation to Lancashire..

 

[DarloRich]

I am sure that Warwickshire would also welcome the 100% services of Ian Bell to aid their County Championship programme of matches.

It can be hard at times to resassure oneself that Jimmy Anderson has some type of affiliation to Lancashire..

Dont worry Paul - Yorkshire will win the county championship

 

[Busaholic]

I am sure that Warwickshire would also welcome the 100% services of Ian Bell to aid their County Championship programme of matches.

It can be hard at times to resassure oneself that Jimmy Anderson has some type of affiliation to Lancashire..

Bell will bat well for Warwickshire and score loads of runs, I am sure, just as he did yesterday and today - he may even do a Graeme Hick and score a triple century, but it still wouldn't justify his return to test cricket imo. Too much of his batting has been brainless in the last two or three years.

As for Jimmy, I was very surprised to see his name on the scorecard for the just-ended Cambridge Univ v Lancs match, and even more surprised to see how many overs he bowled in Cambridge's only innings, albeit it for the one wicket.

I'd like to see James Vince of Hants tried in Taylor's place: he also brings a bit of offspin, like Joe Root. and is apparently a decent fielder.

For an opener, if Hales doesn't make it, Bell-Drummond of Kent made a well-regarded century against the Aussies for Kent last summer, when their bowlers were out to impress and get picked for the first test, and started this season with a double century against a university team. Browne of Essex might be the next Alastair Cook, but perhaps two Cooks in one team might well spoil the broth.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Quite interesting to note that in the three County Championship Division One matches in progress, the first innings scores of the six teams were as follows
500 runs plus....One team
400 runs plus...Three teams
300 runs plus...One team
200 runs plus...One team

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Over the first three days of the first return match back in the County Championship Division One, Lancashire have dismissed Nottinghamshire twice (242 and 175). Weather permitting, Lancashire need just 85 to win on the fourth and final day of this match with all ten wickets intact.

Very unusual to see Jimmy Anderson and Stuart Broad facing each other in a County Championship match these days.

 

[Whistler40145]

Who's going to be in the squad for the first Test Match?

Any surprises?

 

[Busaholic]

Who's going to be in the squad for the first Test Match?

Any surprises?

Sadly, no James Taylor. I do hope Nick Compton is not persevered with: James Vince should be given a chance at no. 3. I also hope that the selectors don't go back to Ian Bell. Garry Balance may deserve another chance, but not at no. 3, so could replace Taylor.

 

[Whistler40145]

I did read that Ian Bell wants to focus on his County career in his role as Warwickshire Captain, so we can discount his selection.

How would Jason Roy be in Test Cricket?

Now, who would you have in the Bowling attack to accompany Messrs Anderson and Broad?

 

[Arglwydd Golau]

I would have liked to have been at Headingley today, a 372 run stand between Root and Bairstow.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

In the current Division One match between Lancashire and Hampshire, I wonder what the reason is why Lancashire "made hay when the sun shines" when they batted compared to the batting achievements of Hampshire so far in this match?

 

[backontrack]

I did read that Ian Bell wants to focus on his County career in his role as Warwickshire Captain, so we can discount his selection.

In any case, he's out for at least two weeks with a hamstring injury.
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However, he's not out of it yet...

http://www.espncricinfo.com/county-cricket-2016/content/story/1011687.html
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Sad news here as Tony Cozier has died.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/36254041

Legendary West Indian commentator Tony Cozier has died at the age of 75.

A familiar and respected voice around the world, the Barbadian will be remembered for a career in TV, radio and journalism spanning 58 years.

Born in Bridgetown in 1940, he made his BBC Test Match Special debut in 1966 and also wrote several books.

"Tony was the master of going between TV and radio ball-by-ball commentary. He was the master of both," said BBC cricket correspondent Jonathan Agnew.

"He's easily the best I've come across in 25 years at being able to do both disciplines."

The son of a journalist, Cozier studied journalism at Carleton University in Ottawa, Canada, and began commentating and writing on West Indian cricket in 1958.

He played hockey as a goalkeeper for Barbados and cricket as an opening batsman and wicketkeeper for two Barbados clubs, Wanderers and Carlton.

But he became a household name through his work with major media organisations throughout the world, including the BBC, Channel Nine and Sky.

In December 2011, he was awarded honorary life membership of the Marylebone Cricket Club for services to the game, and the press box at the Kensington Oval in Barbados is named after him.

 

[Whistler40145]

R.I.P. Tony Cozier. I always liked listening to his commentary.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

In the current Division One match between Lancashire and Hampshire, I wonder what the reason is why Lancashire "made hay when the sun shines" when they batted compared to the batting achievements of Hampshire so far in this match?

Despite the loss of both the lunch and tea sessions yesterday due to the rain, the fourth days play today saw Lancashire win by an innings.

 

[Arglwydd Golau]

R.I.P. Tony Cozier. I always liked listening to his commentary.

As I did, Felt sorry for him in recent years, though, I think he despaired of what West Indies Cricket had become.

 

[Whistler40145]

Indeed, the West Indies isn't like it was in the past.

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[Xenophon PCDGS]

Indeed, the West Indies isn't like it was in the past.

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I remember the year 2004 being a very low point in West Indies cricket with two test match innings against England in particular being most un-West Indies like...

1st April 2004 at Bridgetown.....West Indies 94 all out in 42.1 overs
11th May 2004 at Kingston........West Indies 47 all out in 25.3 overs

 

[infobleep]

Sad news indeed about Tony. He was probably my second favourite commentator after Henry Blofield. I'm 38 and dintw care for the modern boring commentators you get on Sky and even Test Match Special at times. Personality is what one needs, combined with knowledge and Tony had both in spades!

He will be missed.

I was once at a test match ground with a small device that allowed me to switch between Sky and Test Match Special commentaries. I tried Sky for a short time but got bored, even though I was watching the game unfold right in front of me. Not so on Test Match Special however. So I kept it on that for the rest of the days play!

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[Cletus]

England test squad annouced with 2 uncapped players (Jake Ball and James Vince), one of whom will play.

Squad: Alastair Cook (captain), Moeen Ali, James Anderson, Jonny Bairstow, Jake Ball, Stuart Broad, Nick Compton, Steven Finn, Alex Hales, Joe Root, Ben Stokes, James Vince.

 

[Busaholic]

England test squad annouced with 2 uncapped players (Jake Ball and James Vince), one of whom will play.

Vince almost certain to play in James Taylor's place: final spot between Ball and Finn, the latter not looking very convincing at present.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

I expected Sri Lanka to build a good first innings reply to the England first innings score.....not just 91 all out...:roll:

The strike bowling attack of Anderson (11.4 - 6 - 16 - 5) and Broad (10 - 0 - 21 - 4) coupled with Bairstow taking 5 catches behind the stumps after his first innings batting heroics was certainly a good England response

 

[Buttsy]

WOW! In the 'football' version of the game tonight, Tom Kohler-Cadmore of Worcestershire smacked 127 off of 54 balls with 14 4s and 8 6s to help Worcs to 225-6 against Durham.

 

[Arglwydd Golau]

All over...and Anderson has managed to put the 2014 defeat against Sri Lanka where he shed a tear or two behind him. He is a remarkable bowler.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

All over...and Anderson has managed to put the 2014 defeat against Sri Lanka where he shed a tear or two behind him. He is a remarkable bowler.

Sri Lanka in their second innings were 93-3, then slumped alarmingly to 119 all out. England win by an innings and 88 runs within three of the five allocated match days.

Yet another remarkable Anderson bowling performance......13.3 - 5 - 29 -5......giving him match figures of 10 - 45.

 

[Whistler40145]

Ben Stokes now out of the 2nd Test Match and replaced by Chris Woakes.

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Lancashire have managed another win by an innings, wonderful bowling by Kyle Jarvis and a century by Alviro Petersen.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Lancashire have managed another win by an innings, wonderful bowling by Kyle Jarvis and a century by Alviro Petersen.

Kyle Jarvis followed up his first innings haul of 6-70 by then taking 5-49 in the second innings.

 

[Buttsy]

Leicestershire pressed the self-destruct button this morning by getting bowled out by Worcestershire for just 43 (including 2 run outs), leaving Worcester needing 86 to win their first championship match of the season, which they did by 7 wickets.

 

[Busaholic]

Jonny Bairstow managed something no other England wicketkeeper had achieved in the first test - to score a century on his home ground. I must admit I was quite surprised to discover that, but then it's really only been in the last twenty years or so that a keeper has been expected to be capable of at least the occasional century. Then I thought about keepers who had made test centuries (or come very close) and then I realised so many had played for counties that didn't host test matches e.g. Kent (Les Ames, Godfrey Evans, Alan Knott, Geraint Jones), Sussex (Jim Parks, Matt Prior) or Gloucestershire (Jack Russell). I had thought that Alec Stewart would have achieved the feat, but apparently he didn't wear the gloves when he scored a test century at The Oval.

Chris Woakes must surely play at Durham in place of Stokes, following his 9-36 against Durham at Edgbaston yesterday: incidentally, having taken those wickets he had a 10 minute break before opening the batting in Warwicks second innings! No fairy tale ending there, though - he was out for 4.

 

[Whistler40145]

I'd make two changes for the Chester-le-Street Test Match, Chris Woakes in for Ben Stokes and Jake Ball in for Steven Finn or Stuart Broad. The only decent bowler in the Headingley Test Match was Jimmy Anderson.

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[Arglwydd Golau]

I'd make two changes for the Chester-le-Street Test Match, Chris Woakes in for Ben Stokes and Jake Ball in for Steven Finn or Stuart Broad. The only decent bowler in the Headingley Test Match was Jimmy Anderson.

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I think that you are being very hard on Stuart Broad! He bowled well in the first innings, not so well in the second but still often beat the bat. I would like Woakes to do well, but I've yet to see him perform to his high standards when playing for England.

 

[Whistler40145]

Thankfully, I'm not a Selector, it's going to be a difficult decision of a straight swap for Ben Stokes or rest Finn.

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[Busaholic]

I think that you are being very hard on Stuart Broad! He bowled well in the first innings, not so well in the second but still often beat the bat. I would like Woakes to do well, but I've yet to see him perform to his high standards when playing for England.

Agree on Broad, and I've not been his biggest fan. Woakes has performed well for England, but not in test matches! Paul Collingwood, having captained Durham to a win against Warwicks, was in no doubt that Woakes, their first innings destroyer with 9 for 36, should be playing at Chester-Le-Street, saying his team had to encounter leg-breaks bowled at 90 mph plus. He has added pace these last few months, apparently, and he can bat too. Plus, he is a good team man.

Hampshire completed a win over Notts at the Rose Bowl, thanks to Tino Best, another 90 mph-er who is apparently really bending his back for his adopted county, and their legspinner Crane, who may turn out to be a real find. Sadly, Chris Read, who many consider to have been the best keeper in the country this century, broke his hand batting in Notts first innings and took no further part in the game.

Meanwhile, my team Kent had a fairly remarkable win over Derbys, with Bell-Drummond seeing them home - he has yet to fail in a match this season, and I hope he can be considered for inclusion in the England set-up. Hales (whom I've always rated) could well move to no. 3 - persevering with Compton is perverse!