Cricket

[Busaholic]

Totally agree. If it were any team other than England I would be saying 61 runs with 5 wickets in hand is a foregone conclusion.

With respect, history shows that any team can lose from that position. I'd put the odds at round about evens at present, and only if the deficit was reduced to round about 40 to 45 without the loss of a further wicket could England be thought to hold the advantage: even then, if Root were to be dismissed, then all bets are off with 'have a swish' Broad at no.8. The romantic conclusion would be for the two debutant Matts, Potts and Parkinson, to be together when the win came!

 

[Lost property]

Ahem, I will cancel my "Mystic Meg " impression after yesterdays performance.

Having said that, England's batting was not helped by, initially, Stokes dancing down the wicket. He may be the new Captain, and it's understandable why he would like to lead by example, but, given his talent all he had to do was play accordingly and even more so with time available.

As for Broad, and I'm probably going to upset a lot of people, which is not my intention I assure you, I've always thought he was over hyped and overated, and yes, I know what his figures are. But his latest batting "technique " is a farce for a Test player...wild swipes at everything, which, if he makes contact with the ball, usually ensures it's dispatched accordingly...if he makes contact that is.

 

[geoffk]

Root to hit the winning runs, reach his hundred and 10,000 test runs at the same time? Weather at Lord's is overcast.

 

[birchesgreen]

I don't really agree with tail enders batting like Broad does, unless they are genuinely hapless or its a completely lost cause. Broad, with his experience and background, should be able to grind out a decent stay at the crease.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

I would like to see the new England wicket-keeper taking care to ensure that his batting can display a good defensive strategy when required to do so.

 

[SteveHFC]

Replying just over 24 hours later, I think you'll have had good value already, even at Lord's prices! What a morning

You're not wrong. It was an excellent day of cricket in a really good atmosphere. The team hat-trick was crucial in ensuring New Zealand didn't build a huge lead, and the game kept swinging in each teams favour throughout the day to keep everyone interested.

As I was writing this, Root reached his century - and his 10,000th test run. Was so good to watch him bat live yesterday. I firmly believe he'll pass Sir Alastair in the years to come.

I really do like the way New Zealand play their cricket - hard, competitive, but fair. Was also very noticeable that players of both sides were happy to sign autographs for young spectators when they were fielding on the boundary.

I know it's only one match - but I did like the look of Matty Potts - he was also clearly making use of the experience of Anderson and Broad which is only going to help him improve.

Looking forward to a day at Old Trafford, and two days at The Oval for the South Africa series later in the summer - but next up for me is a trip to Chelmsford for the Essex v Hampshire county championship match at the end of the month.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 5 Jun 2022 ==

Both Alastair Cook and Joe Root were the same age - to the day - when they reached 10,000 runs in test cricket - what are the chances?

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

After being left out of the series in the West Indies, in a Test Match against New Zealand on their recall, the two "elderly" England strike bowlers took ten of the twenty New Zealand wickets to fall:-
Anderson took 6 wickets at an average cost of 20.5
Broad took 4 wickets at an average cost of 30.2

Just to think it was quite some years ago now when an Australian referred to Anderson as an "elderly pie-chucker"

 

[stantheman]

Still think Root is not all time great . He does not intimidate bowlers like true greats ...Pietersen , Richards . Ponting etc . And he has never made a century in Australia which is a true test

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

England 279-5
Root 115 not out
Foakes 32 not out
An unbroken stand of 120

England win by 5 wickets.

 

[Pakenhamtrain]

After being left out of the series in the West Indies, in a Test Match against New Zealand on their recall, the two "elderly" England strike bowlers took ten of the twenty New Zealand wickets to fall:-
Anderson took 6 wickets at an average cost of 20.5
Broad took 4 wickets at an average cost of 30.2

Just to think it was quite some years ago now when an Australian referred to Anderson as an "elderly pie-chucker"

It does say a lot about England's list profile when the old blokes pushing middle age are still the best bowlers.

 

[Typhoon]

I don't really agree with tail enders batting like Broad does, unless they are genuinely hapless or its a completely lost cause. Broad, with his experience and background, should be able to grind out a decent stay at the crease.

Agreed. Surely one of the most infuriating and frustrating scenarios for the bowling team is to be held up by 8, 9, 10, jack having sent the top order back to the hutch fairly cheaply. Worse still, if some of their miss-strokes or any wild overthrows head to the boundary

 

[Busaholic]

Still think Root is not all time great . He does not intimidate bowlers like true greats ...Pietersen , Richards . Ponting etc . And he has never made a century in Australia which is a true test

I think the time to evaluate this will come at the end of his career. His century today was his first in the fourth innings of a test, and those ones are usually the most significant for the team. Actually, I wouldn't call Pietersen an all time great either, with even Ponting borderline on that score. Viv Richards, no argument, though.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

I think the time to evaluate this will come at the end of his career. His century today was his first in the fourth innings of a test, and those ones are usually the most significant for the team. Actually, I wouldn't call Pietersen an all time great either, with even Ponting borderline on that score. Viv Richards, no argument, though.

How does Gary Sobers fare in these comparisons? His best "Test Match100" was 365 not out in the Test Match v Pakistan at Sabina Park, Kingston in February 1958.

 

[birchesgreen]

The thing about Root, especially over the last few years he has pretty much been the only batsman in the side to regularly get a score. The likes of Richards, Ponting et cetera were in teams were there were 3-4 other great batsmen. Its a lot harder when you know that if you get out then there isn't much left.

 

[Busaholic]

How does Gary Sobers fare in these comparisons? His best "100" was 365 not out in the Test Match v Pakistan at Sabina Park, Kingston in February 1958.

He'd be in my top 10 test batsmen of all time, along with Richards, Tendulkar and (obviously) Bradman. Personally, I'd not include pre-WW1 figures, so Grace wouldn't be in consideration. Jack Hobbs would be my only definite English selection.

By the way, may I congratulate you for your prescience regarding Matt Parkinson playing test cricket?

 

[Typhoon]

The thing about Root, especially over the last few years he has pretty much been the only batsman in the side to regularly get a score. The likes of Richards, Ponting et cetera were in teams were there were 3-4 other great batsmen. Its a lot harder when you know that if you get out then there isn't much left.

Especially if you are also captain with the expectations that this brings.

Edit:
Take Ponting. His career overlapped with both Waughs, Hayden and Clarke, all of whom scored over 8000 test runs, and Langer isn't far behind.
Richards - had Greenidge and Haynes as openers, then at times Lloyd or Richardson amongst others.

 

[DarloRich]

i hope Brendon McCullum has now realised just how bonkers the England Cricket team are. They did almost everything possible to lose that test match. Clearly once again Durham had to come to the rescue with the ball

Still think Root is not all time great . He does not intimidate bowlers like true greats ...Pietersen , Richards . Ponting etc . And he has never made a century in Australia which is a true test

eh? he has 10000 test runs ffs! Have you seen how easily he keeps the scoreboard ticking over with ones and twos all round the wicket?

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

U19 Women's T20 World Cup Asia Qualifier

Nepal ... 8 all out
Mahik Gaur 4 - 2 - 2 - 5

UAE ... 9 - 0

Quite an eye-catching scoreline !!!

 

[Old Yard Dog]

Both Alastair Cook and Joe Root were the same age - to the day - when they reached 10,000 runs in test cricket - what are the chances?

Joe Root actually took a day longer than Alastair Cook to reach 10,000 test runs as cricketing statisticians have not taken leap years into account. Cook took 11,479 days (25/12/1984 to 30/5/2016) while Root took 11,480 days (30/12/1990 to 5/6/2022).

You heard it here first even though I hate denying a fellow Yorkshireman a share in a record. Nobody is more pedantic than us railway enthusiasts!

 

[kje7812]

U19 Women's T20 World Cup Asia Qualifier

Nepal ... 8 all out
Mahik Gaur 4 - 2 - 2 - 5

UAE ... 9 - 0

Quite an eye-catching scoreline !!!

Even more so when you realise Nepal's 8 come off 8.1 overs! Top score was 3 and UAE knock off their target in 1.1 overs.

 

[Busaholic]

Joe Root actually took a day longer than Alastair Cook to reach 10,000 test runs as cricketing statisticians have not taken leap years into account. Cook took 11,479 days (25/12/1984 to 30/5/2016) while Root took 11,480 days (30/12/1990 to 5/6/2022).

You heard it here first even though I hate denying a fellow Yorkshireman a share in a record. Nobody is more pedantic than us railway enthusiasts!

To be even more pedantic, the actual age of Root and Cook was equal by the criteria applicable, but then I'm neither a Yorkshireman or a railway enthusiast! Mind, my grandfather was a member of Yorkshire CCC for the entirety of the 20th century til his death in 1978 (he was a very old man by then.)

 

[Old Yard Dog]

What motivated me to think about leap years was the so called "tie" between Albert Geldard and Ken Roberts for the honour of being the youngest player(s) ever to play in the Football League. Both are credited with making their debuts 158 days after their 15th birthdays.

Albert's (b. 11/4/1914) debut came in a 2-1 win for Bradford (PA) at the (old) Den on 16/9/1929.
Ken's (b. 27/3/1936) debut came in a 5-0 defeat for Wrexham at Park Avenue on 1/9/1951.

However Albert was 5637 days old and Ken 5636 days - Albert having lived through four Feb 29ths (1916, 20, 24 and 28) and Ken just three (1940, 44 and 48).

So Albert originally held the record and Ken took it off him outright by a day - it wasn't a tie.

Ken later became Bradford's assistant manager keeping up the Park Avenue connection.

Reuben Noble-Lazarus now holds the title, after turning out for Barnsley in 2013 aged just 15 years and 45 days.

 

[GS250]

The thing about Root, especially over the last few years he has pretty much been the only batsman in the side to regularly get a score. The likes of Richards, Ponting et cetera were in teams were there were 3-4 other great batsmen. Its a lot harder when you know that if you get out then there isn't much left.

Even Cook generally had the confidence that the likes of Trott, KP, Bell, Collingwood and Prior were all capable of scoring runs on a frequent basis (a poor score for England back then was 250). Age and the inevitable drop of form aside, none were ever really in serious danger of being dropped due to a lack of runs. Naturally, as these consistent players fell by the wayside and were replaced by players who were to put it mildly, erratic, extra pressure on Cook started to grow to score the runs. If Cook failed...then it was usually up to Bairstow or Stokes to put in a big contribution. If all failed, then it was 150 all out.

Root has always had the burden of knowing his openers are unlikely to see off the new ball let alone get 100 on the board. He also knows there are consistently 2-3 players in his team that are constantly on the cusp of losing their place. This can't be healthy for him or anyone else in the side for that matter.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Day 2 of the Second Test Match saw New Zealand finally all out for 553.
Mitchell 190 (4 x 6 and 23 x 4)
Blundell 106 (14 x 4)
Anderson 27 - 9 - 62 - 3

Still time for England to face some bowling before the close of play.

 

[kje7812]

At tea on day 3, England 331-2 with Pope and Root not out on 142 and 102 respectively.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

At close of play on day 3, England were 473-5
Root 163 not out (25 x 4)
Pope 145 (3 x 6 and 13 x 4)
Boult 26 - 5 - 89 - 3

***************************************************************************

Day 4 saw Jimmy Anderson take his 650th Test Match wicket.

Many of his victims have been the openers over the years, where he has broken through to aid the England bowling case.

 

[Strat-tastic]

The silence is deafening.

Well, I thoroughly enjoyed the highlights last night

I hope the team continue in such positive ways.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Quite a match at Edgbaston today, between Warwickshire and Lancashire in the County Championship, as only two runs had separated the teams after their first innings and in their second innings, Warwickshire declared 327-9. Lancashire looked like falling by the wayside at 93-4 then opener Luke Wells, obviously inspired by the batting heroics of Bairstow in the Test Match yesterday, decided the last session after tea was one to attack and the run rate began to climb rapidly and Lancashire won as the tactic paid off with the score on 329-6, with Luke Wells finishing on 175 not out (1 x 6 and 22 x 4).

 

[Typhoon]

Quite a match at Edgbaston today, between Warwickshire and Lancashire in the County Championship, as only two runs had separated the teams after their first innings and in their second innings, Warwickshire declared 327-9. Lancashire looked like falling by the wayside at 93-4 then opener Luke Wells, obviously inspired by the batting heroics of Bairstow in the Test Match yesterday, decided the last session after tea was one to attack and the run rate began to climb rapidly and Lancashire won as the tactic paid off with the score on 329-6, with Luke Wells finishing on 175 not out (1 x 6 and 22 x 4).

With support from Rob Jones and George Balderson. I don't think it is the first time that the latter has made a contribution. Good to see youngsters breaking through.

 

[Arglwydd Golau]

The silence is deafening.

Well, I thoroughly enjoyed the highlights last night

I hope the team continue in such positive ways.

Possibly because we are all stunned? It was remarkable, a day like that doesn't occur very often, but full marks to Bairstow,it was possible to see on his face when he was dismissed that he knew he had done something really special.