Cricket

[Darandio]

He's already said he's signed up to do some of the Hundred

I think he was part of their team for the 2021 tournament and covered quite a few games?

 

[Busaholic]

Does anyone think Stuart Broad is heading to the commentary box with Sky?

Today's Sunday Times does!

 

[Mikey C]

I think Sky have had him lined up for years, as they need someone younger and more in touch with the modern England side.

 

[Whistler40145]

I think Sky have had him lined up for years, as they need someone younger and more in touch with the modern England side.

Just wondering if there's any of the older members of the Sky Team up for retirement

 

[Mikey C]

Just wondering if there's any of the older members of the Sky Team up for retirement

Sky seemed to have "culled" the older members already, but now have a lot of commentators all from the same era from the 90s and early 2000s

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Back to the subject of the current Test Match, all being equal weather-wise, Australia would have had two full days to score the runs required to win (average of 200 runs per day) and in their reply, had passed the runs required per hour without the loss of a single wicket in their second innings.

 

[Whistler40145]

Back to the subject of the current Test Match, all being equal weather-wise, Australia would have had two full days to score the runs required to win (average of 200 runs per day) and in their reply, had passed the runs required per hour without the loss of a single wicket in their second innings.

Fingers crossed for a dry day tomorrow, but wondering if any moisture in the wicket will assist our bowlers?

 

[Mikey C]

Fingers crossed for a dry day tomorrow, but wondering if any moisture in the wicket will assist our bowlers?

It might do, but a wet ball from the damp outfield will hamper them.

 

[Busaholic]

It might do, but a wet ball from the damp outfield will hamper them.

If the outfield was that wet there'd be no play. Looks like England might be going into last day with two (three if you include Stokes) bowlers nursing injuries. Is anyone surprised that Wood looks like he hasn't managed to complete three consecutive matches? He's only ever managed it once before, whereas Australia's Starc, their fastest bowler, has managed the last four. Not saying this with hindsight, I posted the opinion a few days ago, Tongue's pace and youth should definitely have been utilised. We have two teams of Dad's Armies.

 

[Mikey C]

If the outfield was that wet there'd be no play. Looks like England might be going into last day with two (three if you include Stokes) bowlers nursing injuries. Is anyone surprised that Wood looks like he hasn't managed to complete three consecutive matches? He's only ever managed it once before, whereas Australia's Starc, their fastest bowler, has managed the last four. Not saying this with hindsight, I posted the opinion a few days ago, Tongue's pace and youth should definitely have been utilised. We have two teams of Dad's Armies.

Even when they dry the outfield out, there will still be some residual dampness. And the ball will get wet when it goes over the ropes where there may still be damp patches or even puddles.

 

[Busaholic]

Even when they dry the outfield out, there will still be some residual dampness. And the ball will get wet when it goes over the ropes where there may still be damp patches or even puddles.

Yes, but constant rain interruptions tend to affect the batting side more. Should Australia win easily (which I don't believe will happen) it won't be because England were impeded by a wet ball.

 

[Bald Rick]

I wondered if something was up when his fiancé was on TMS

That was because she’s not doing her usual Saturday afternoon Radio 1 show this weekend, as most of R1 is in Ibiza, but she’s not (looking after the nipper). Presumably BBC said ‘we still need you in on Saturday’, and it’s an obvious choice.

 

[Mikey C]

Yes, but constant rain interruptions tend to affect the batting side more. Should Australia win easily (which I don't believe will happen) it won't be because England were impeded by a wet ball.

The interruptions are worse for the batting side, but the wet ball is a major handicap for the bowling side, as the ball becomes bloated and loses its hardness, and it becomes harder for the spinners to grip. It also stops the roughing up needed for reverse swing.

 

[Busaholic]

I'm going to stick my neck out and predict an England win or a draw later. As soon as play gets underway, the opening partnership will be broken, then a second, possibly even a third, follow shortly. They'll be shared between Broad and Anderson, and the former will charge in knees pumping once he's got his first, for one last time. Anderson too will be keen to give his mate the best send-off and will bowl better than at any time in this series. Australia will still be looking for the win (the Australian public demand no less) until it becomes clear it's unlikely to happen, possibly because of time lost to rain. Bad light may well come into play, so the spinner/s is/are crucial. I have a feeling Bairstow might become the hero or villain of the last hour of play.

Plenty of room for egg on my face there, and I shan't even be able to follow it after midday because of a medical procedure.

 

[75A]

The interruptions are worse for the batting side, but the wet ball is a major handicap for the bowling side, as the ball becomes bloated and loses its hardness, and it becomes harder for the spinners to grip. It also stops the roughing up needed for reverse swing.

Even more excuses for Broad to pester the Umpire for a ball change then.

 

[GS250]

If we can't finish this off then some damage will be done to our confidence. Failing to bowl a side out twice when 8 down and time to spare is not a good look.

 

[Darandio]

Broad just switched the bails again. Guess what happened next.

 

[Whistler40145]

What a great finale for Stuart Broad

 

[GS250]

Heads up England. Generally gave a good account of yourselves. So near yet so far series wise.

Need to start climbing that test table now and looking at life beyond Broad and Anderson. The latter of whom should no longer be an automatic selection.

 

[Harvester]

What a great finale for Stuart Broad

Indeed. Last ball faced in a Test hit for six, last ball bowled takes a wicket.

 

[Peterthegreat]

What a brilliant performance by Bairstow!

 

[Spamcan81]

We'll never know for sure but what would have been the outcome at Old Trafford had the weather not intervened?

 

[Whistler40145]

Will England go back to Foakes or is Bairstow keeping the gloves?

 

[75A]

Had a good game 82 runs, 6 catches but 27 byes.

 

[HST43257]

An amazing end, could not have been better for England. Yesterday, with Broad going out to a guard of hon our with Jimmy, then hitting his last ball for 6. Then today, the excitement of the collapse and the bail change of course! All topped off with Broad taking the last wicket and going straight over to celebrate with and hug Jimmy Anderson, before walking off the field arm-in-arm with (fellow retire-ee) Moeen Ali. Poetic, and quite amazing all round. Credit to Australia as well for an excellent series.

I guess we then look forward to the 50 over World Cup and eventually the Test series in India. Any thoughts on who should make both squads? My thoughts below:

ODI World Cup - (15 + 3 travelling reserves):
Jason Roy, Jonny Bairstow, Joe Root, Dawid Malan, Harry Brook, Jos Buttler, Will Jacks, Liam Livingstone, Moeen Ali, Sam Curran, Chris Woakes, Adil Rashid, Mark Wood, Jofra Archer, Reece Topley (Sam Billings, Luke Wood)

India Test series (20):
Ben Duckett, Keaton Jennings, Zac Crawley, Dan Lawrence, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jonny Bairstow, Ben Stokes, Ben Foakes, Liam Dawson, Will Jacks, Rehan Ahmed, Jamie Overton, Mark Wood, Ollie Robinson, Jack Leach, Josh Tongue, Matt Parkinson, Jimmy Anderson.

For my ODIWC squad, it’d have 3 pacers and 3 spinners (+ Root Probably) as per what Matthew Mott has said it’ll be, picking 5/6 of the batters plus a spinning batting all-rounder, but could extend batting lineup with Jacks opening. Moeen at 7 and Curran at 8, then 2 of Woakes/Wood/Archer/Topley, plus Adil Rashid. Looking very strong

For my India Test squad, it’d have 2 of Duckett/Jennings/Crawley opening, Lawrence/Pope at 3, Root at 4, Brook/Bairstow at 5, Stokes at 6, Foakes at 7. 3 pacers (Stokes, Wood/Overton/Tongue, Anderson/Robinson) and 3 spinners (Root, Leach/Parkinson, Ahmed/Jacks/Dawson). After the Ashes I struggle to drop Crawley but on a spinning pitch I just don’t know.

 

[Purple Train]

Brilliant series, brilliant finale.

 

[Pakenhamtrain]

The umpires should be questioned over that ball change. It was clearly not a like for like replacement.

 

[Bald Rick]

We'll never know for sure but what would have been the outcome at Old Trafford had the weather not intervened?

England would have won.

The umpires should be questioned over that ball change. It was clearly not a like for like replacement.

A hint of sourness in the grapes there perhaps?



It has been a brilliant series - 4 close matches, twists and turns everywhere, either side could have won all the matches that had a result, the series has at last got Zak Crawley playing consistently, superb stuff

 

[SuspectUsual]

The umpires should be questioned over that ball change. It was clearly not a like for like replacement.

I really don't think there was anything done deliberately, but it is utterly astonishing that the nearest ball they could find to replace one that was 37 overs old was one that was about 15 overs old and was clearly in a far better state. For a multi-million pound game at the pinnacle of a national sport its not a good look

 

[Mikey C]

Will England go back to Foakes or is Bairstow keeping the gloves?

If India is anything like last time, they'll produce 5 bunsens, meaning that spin bowling and being able to keep to spinners becomes crucial, so Foakes hopefully.