Cricket

[Busaholic]

That's the double and no doubt in tile there will be a "100" World Cup. No thanks!!

Doubt it, no other countries have gone down that route, even the new South African one.

 

[Howardh]

Doubt it, no other countries have gone down that route, even the new South African one.

Give it time ie. BCCI money.

Although I read that the H*****d might be "shortened" next year to allow more county cricket, due to objections from the counties. I wonder if it really is one one-day competition too far and will be scrapped before the agreement expires? Might be better off in the middle east in October or something. But not in England when there's too little of a season, on saying that you could easily play cricket outdoors today without a sweater!!

 

[Busaholic]

Give it time ie. BCCI money.

Although I read that the H*****d might be "shortened" next year to allow more county cricket, due to objections from the counties. I wonder if it really is one one-day competition too far and will be scrapped before the agreement expires? Might be better off in the middle east in October or something. But not in England when there's too little of a season, on saying that you could easily play cricket outdoors today without a sweater!!

Today maybe, but not for much of a usual summer in Manchester!

 

[Lost property]

Today maybe, but not for much of a usual summer in Manchester!

I would like to point out this urban myth is a fallacy....it's only cold and wet in North Manchester....in South Manchester, the rain is warm. Thank you.

 

[kevconnor]

I would like to point out this urban myth is a fallacy....it's only cold and wet in North Manchester....in South Manchester, the rain is warm. Thank you.

I'll have you know it's been a balmy 14c in Middleton today, just as I am sure the honorable member for Prestbury would attest to, having also lived in north Manchester we don't have bad weather just the wrong clothing.

 

[SurreyCommuter]

17 years after last playing a test match in Pakistan and the way England are playing it might be a further 17 years before they get invited back!

Absolute carnage with England currently on 448-3 after only 68 overs on Day 1 with hundreds for all of the top 3!

 

[youngiecj]

17 years after last playing a test match in Pakistan and the way England are playing it might be a further 17 years before they get invited back!

Absolute carnage with England currently on 448-3 after only 68 overs on Day 1 with hundreds for all of the top 3!

And Joe Root the only one not getting a Century! What a day!

 

[Typhoon]

17 years after last playing a test match in Pakistan and the way England are playing it might be a further 17 years before they get invited back!

Absolute carnage with England currently on 448-3 after only 68 overs on Day 1 with hundreds for all of the top 3!

We might want to wait until Pakistan bat before making too much of this. The good news is that the four centurions are the ones that you would hope (rather than expect) to be in the runs. Brook now needs to try and do what the others didn't - get a big hundred, because it is big hundreds that win test matches. The experience of batting on and on would be useful for the young man.

 

[Bald Rick]

because it is big hundreds that win test matches.

Normal test matches, yes. But when three batsmen before you have a century in the bag as well, a double hundred is perhaps a bit less necessary.

Given there is so much time left in the game, I wonder how far tomorrow they will keep going? If Stokes and Livingstone start swinging it’s not inconceivable that we’re past 700 at lunch.

 

[Typhoon]

Normal test matches, yes. But when three batsmen before you have a century in the bag as well, a double hundred is perhaps a bit less necessary.

Given there is so much time left in the game, I wonder how far tomorrow they will keep going? If Stokes and Livingstone start swinging it’s not inconceivable that we’re past 700 at lunch.

Sorry, what I meant was that the experience of scoring a big hundred would help him (and the team) in future tests. Too often (as here) players get to a hundred than shortly after, get out. In this match it doesn't matter, because there are four in total (as you say), but often it is one or two, and being able to convert a hundred into a 170 or 180 can make a lot of difference. The Number 6, 7 or 8 come to the crease with someone established at the other end. Also, having got to the landmark, the next one is some time away so it might help having been there before, ok, on a (seemingly) easy wicket but still it will be the experience that benefits him in the long term. It is also a good time to do it, the focus will be on Stokes so a quiet few overs with be overlooked.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Normal test matches, yes. But when three batsmen before you have a century in the bag as well, a double hundred is perhaps a bit less necessary.
Given there is so much time left in the game, I wonder how far tomorrow they will keep going? If Stokes and Livingstone start swinging it’s not inconceivable that we’re past 700 at lunch.

I don't think it's clear if time will be added on at the start of the day tomorrow, having lost 15 overs today.
If not, all the days are going to be short 75-over ones.
Who'd be a left arm spinner (Shakeel, 6x4s in an over).
Jack Leach is in for a long bowl.

 

[EbbwJunction1]

I don't think it's clear if time will be added on at the start of the day tomorrow, having lost 15 overs today.
If not, all the days are going to be short 75-over ones.
Who'd be a left arm spinner (Shakeel, 6x4s in an over).
Jack Leach is in for a long bowl.

I understand that TMS is starting earlier because there's an earlier start in the match - but I may well have mis-heard what they said.
(I'll still be asleep when they start!)

 

[kje7812]

Just watched the highlights, very impressive. Though you can never tell till the other side also bat. The outfield appear to be very fast so very easy to score boundaries. Brook of course scoring 24 off an over with 4s every ball.

 

[Busaholic]

Just watched the highlights, very impressive. Though you can never tell till the other side also bat. The outfield appear to be very fast so very easy to score boundaries. Brook of course scoring 24 off an over with 4s every ball.

Talking of six fours in an over, Jimmy Anderson suffered that fate too in Sri Lanka from Sanith Jayasuria in a test match. Jimmy, aged 40 now, becomes the oldest front line England bowler since Gubby Allen in 1948.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Just looked in and England were all out for 657 in their first innings.

 

[Pakenhamtrain]

And Joe Root the only one not getting a Century! What a day!

He would be real dirty he's missed out on the runs.

Must be the day for big scores. Australia themselves made 4dec/598. Labuschangne made 204. Smith made 200*. Head chopped on on 99. West Indies made 283 in thier first innings

 

[EbbwJunction1]

He would be real dirty he's missed out on the runs.

Must be the day for big scores. Australia themselves made 4dec/598. Labuschangne made 204. Smith made 200*. Head chopped on on 99. West Indies made 283 in thier first innings

Australia finished on 29 - 1 in their second inning, a lead of 344.

 

[kje7812]

Pakistan 181-0 at the end of day 2. Hmm, not quite what England wanted there.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Australia finished on 29 - 1 in their second inning, a lead of 344.

Australia moved quickly on to 182-2 in their second innings before declaring, setting West Indies a total of 498 to win.

One notable fact in this match is the batting of Labuschagne who scored a double hundred in Australia's first innings. then 104 not out in their second innings, including 2 x 6 and 13 x 4.

 

[DelW]

This Pakistan match is shaping up to be one of the least exciting test matches I've ever heard, mainly due to the extreme flatness of the wicket. At least England scored at 6.5 an over, Pakistan are grinding it out at a Boycott-esque 3.6, although Babar has now picked up the rate a bit.

It's not a great advertisement for the return of test cricket to the country.

 

[SuspectUsual]

Pakistan are grinding it out at a Boycott-esque 3.6, although Babar has now picked up the rate a bit.

Not sure if that’s a joke or not. 3.6 an over is pretty rapid for test cricket - 324 runs in a standard 90 over day. It just looks poor because England scored remarkably quickly.

I can’t find any statistics for Boycott’s whole test career, but I did see that in only 2 of his 22 test hundreds did he score at over 3 an over

 

[DelW]

Not sure if that’s a joke or not. 3.6 an over is pretty rapid for test cricket - 324 runs in a standard 90 over day. It just looks poor because England scored remarkably quickly.

I can’t find any statistics for Boycott’s whole test career, but I did see that in only 2 of his 22 test hundreds did he score at over 3 an over

Well, it was a little tongue in cheek, but the prospect of over two more days heading steadily towards an almost inevitable draw was a bit depressing and put me in mind of Sir Geoffrey at his most turgid. Maybe the late wickets that England took today can inject a bit of excitement but it'll be a tall order to get a result from here.

 

[Bald Rick]

One notable fact in this match is the batting of Labuschagne who scored a double hundred in Australia's first innings. then 104 not out in their second innings, including 2 x 6 and 13 x 4.

Quality player.


Back to Rawalpindi- There’s a scenario here where the highest aggregate score for a test goes; currently 1981 runs between SA vs England in a timeless test in Durban, 1939.

The highest aggregate in the modern era (5 day tests, 6 ball overs) is 1747, Australia vs India at the SCG in 2004.

At Rawalpindi, 1156 runs have been scored before the completion of 1st innings, after 3 days. If Pakistan add another 100 for their last 3 wickets, England will want at least 350-400 on this track, which they could easily do tomorrow. Leaving Pakistan a big target - but one that’s certainly chaseable.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Back to Rawalpindi- There’s a scenario here where the highest aggregate score for a test goes; currently 1981 runs between SA vs England in a timeless test in Durban, 1939.

In the previous year to that (1938), England amassed a first innings score of 903-7 declared against Australia at a run rate of 2.69 runs per over.

 

[DelW]

Well, it was a little tongue in cheek, but the prospect of over two more days heading steadily towards an almost inevitable draw was a bit depressing and put me in mind of Sir Geoffrey at his most turgid. Maybe the late wickets that England took today can inject a bit of excitement but it'll be a tall order to get a result from here.

Rowing back a bit on my last comment, after three days of wickets falling at below two per session, five went down on the fourth morning, so making the draw look rather less inevitable. Can England score fast enough to set Pakistan a challenging target without falling in a heap? We should find out in this afternoon's session.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Pakistan were finally all out for 579 in their first innings, a not-unexpected result on such a flat track as this.

Jacks ..... 40.3 - 5 - 161 - 6.

 

[Bald Rick]

Quality player.


Back to Rawalpindi- There’s a scenario here where the highest aggregate score for a test goes; currently 1981 runs between SA vs England in a timeless test in Durban, 1939.

The highest aggregate in the modern era (5 day tests, 6 ball overs) is 1747, Australia vs India at the SCG in 2004.

At Rawalpindi, 1156 runs have been scored before the completion of 1st innings, after 3 days. If Pakistan add another 100 for their last 3 wickets, England will want at least 350-400 on this track, which they could easily do tomorrow. Leaving Pakistan a big target - but one that’s certainly chaseable.

Quoting myself, but Pakistan need 248 runs in their 2nd innings to beat the aggregate test runs scored in a match in the modern era.

Interestingly, England declared with 1500 runs scored (by both teams)

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

We are now in day 4 of this Test Match and England in their second innings kept up a high runs per over rate once again and in just under 36 overs, they had scored 264-7 before declaring, setting Pakistan a total of 343 in their second innings to win, with over a day to spare.

In the 20 overs play left in the day, Pakistan scored 80-2 and had a batsman hurt after facing only two balls and retired to the pavilion. On the final day. Pakistan need 263 to win.

 

[Busaholic]

We are now in day 4 of this Test Match and England in their second innings kept up a high runs per over rate once again and in just under 36 overs, they had scored 264-7 before declaring, setting Pakistan a total of 343 in their second innings to win, with over a day to spare.

In the 20 overs play left in the day, Pakistan scored 80-2 and had a batsman hurt after facing only two balls and retired to the pavilion. On the final day. Pakistan need 263 to win.

Divergence of opinion in the BBC commentary team. Agnew thinks the momentum is with England and they'll win, Marks fears the declaration was too generous and Pakistan should win. Either way, it's unlikely to be a draw so long as at least two sessions of play take place, but imo it may boil down as to whether Pakistan's injured no. 3 is able to resume when, or if, another wicket falls.

 

[jfollows]

I'm either lucky or stupid enough to be watching the current England-Pakistan series on Sky, and I have to admit i'm glad that David Gower is part of the commentary team, I've seen him play in his day of course but he's usually got something interesting to say and I don't know why Sky sacked him a couple of years ago. Of course different people annoy different people in different ways, so not everyone will be happy, but I am. For what it's worth.

I should add - live I listen to the radio and have the television muted, then later I watch the TV coverage that I've recorded and listen to its commentary. Only possible if you have too much spare time or - during the week - no longer work like I don't.

EDIT However Atherton is better, on commentary or in writing, he's thoughtful and interesting. And we went to the same school .....