Cricket fred

[Galfon]

Shiver-me-timbers, Broad !..
Even Root embracing the let's-go mindset earlier.
Emphatic stuff (again).

[Banquo]

Shiver-me-timbers, Broad !..
Even Root embracing the let's-go mindset earlier.
Emphatic stuff (again).

Broad irrestible when he gets on a roll.

[Puja]

Hadn't realised that these games were on BT - had assumed they were on Sky, which I do not have - and was pleasantly surprised to see an advert during the Prem rugby earlier in the day. This was my first chance to watch Bazball in anything other than highlights and it was fascinating. Brook still has glaring holes in his game and rides his luck a lot but, whereas previous regimes would've seen him make a scratchy 18 before the bowlers picked him apart, this made use of his strengths and made the bowlers scared about coming in to him. He probably lasted the same number of balls and got out the same way he would've done under the old regime (a duff fiddle outside his off stump that he would've been better leaving well alone), but the freedom to attack meant he belted a 50 and changed the complexion of the innings.

Puja

[Banquo]

Hadn't realised that these games were on BT - had assumed they were on Sky, which I do not have - and was pleasantly surprised to see an advert during the Prem rugby earlier in the day. This was my first chance to watch Bazball in anything other than highlights and it was fascinating. Brook still has glaring holes in his game and rides his luck a lot but, whereas previous regimes would've seen him make a scratchy 18 before the bowlers picked him apart, this made use of his strengths and made the bowlers scared about coming in to him. He probably lasted the same number of balls and got out the same way he would've done under the old regime (a duff fiddle outside his off stump that he would've been better leaving well alone), but the freedom to attack meant he belted a 50 and changed the complexion of the innings.

Puja

The whole difference in this team is that they play to their strengths and stick with it even when its difficult. So far, so good!

On Brook, its only his 5th test I think, so untainted by previous regimes. It will however be interesting to see what occurs if he/they have to play in a tighter way.... big IF .

[Mellsblue]

The whole difference in this team is that they play to their strengths and stick with it even when its difficult. So far, so good!

So simple yet so effective… and true in every part of life, imo.
Ol’ Hazza B is Mellsblue Jnrs’ favourite player after watching him in The Hundred. He’s been retained by Super Chargers along with Stokes. Let’s hope they get to see them - watched six of eight home games and yet to see Bez S.

[Puja]

On Brook, its only his 5th test I think, so untainted by previous regimes. It will however be interesting to see what occurs if he/they have to play in a tighter way.... big IF .

Ah, I more meant hypothetically what previous regimes would've done to him.

Puja

[Banquo]

On Brook, its only his 5th test I think, so untainted by previous regimes. It will however be interesting to see what occurs if he/they have to play in a tighter way.... big IF .

Ah, I more meant hypothetically what previous regimes would've done to him.

Puja

cool

[Galfon]

jimbo cleans up.

It gives England their first Test win in New Zealand for 15 years and a 10th win in 11 matches since Stokes took over as captain at the beginning of last summer. (beeb)

Can't argue with that.

(Oz also getting pasted again in Ind - not such a formidable bunch on their travels it seems..)

[Banquo]

Great win and Anderson is phenomenal still.

Mitchell and Blundell again the only batters putting up resistance in this test, as they did in the summer

[Banquo]

Jimmy back to no1 in the world....amazing

[Banquo]

Good to see Root get runs, and playing in his own style, which is fine when you lose three quick wickets! Harry Brook…wow

[Galfon]

Good to see Root get runs, and playing in his own style, which is fine when you lose three quick wickets! Harry Brook…wow

Under the circumstances early on, to keep playing those shots in this format is absoloute top-drawer.
To have yer man at that level with JR at his stage in career, is a great thing for the team (and the game, tbf)
Must be something in the tea or maybe the rhubarb !

[Puja]

I don't see how we can persist with Crawley though. I do see why they have - he's definitely got something under there and they've done well out of trusting players and giving them time so far. However, I just don't see it coming out regularly enough.

Problem is that, while we'll have a log-jam of middle-order batsmen waiting for a space when Bairstow comes back, I don't rightly know who we'd bring in to open if we do ditch Crawley.

Puja

[Stom]

I don't see how we can persist with Crawley though. I do see why they have - he's definitely got something under there and they've done well out of trusting players and giving them time so far. However, I just don't see it coming out regularly enough.

Problem is that, while we'll have a log-jam of middle-order batsmen waiting for a space when Bairstow comes back, I don't rightly know who we'd bring in to open if we do ditch Crawley.

Puja

Move everyone up one? Pope to open? Or just bring Bairstow in to open? Tough one.

[Puja]

I don't see how we can persist with Crawley though. I do see why they have - he's definitely got something under there and they've done well out of trusting players and giving them time so far. However, I just don't see it coming out regularly enough.

Problem is that, while we'll have a log-jam of middle-order batsmen waiting for a space when Bairstow comes back, I don't rightly know who we'd bring in to open if we do ditch Crawley.

Puja

Move everyone up one? Pope to open? Or just bring Bairstow in to open? Tough one.

I'd be wary of disrupting what's working so well with our middle order right now. Baristow to open possibly, but he's not really got experience there in first class cricket and it's asking a lot of him to take on an entirely different role than the one which he was finally seeing sustained success in.

Puja

[Banquo]

I don't see how we can persist with Crawley though. I do see why they have - he's definitely got something under there and they've done well out of trusting players and giving them time so far. However, I just don't see it coming out regularly enough.

Problem is that, while we'll have a log-jam of middle-order batsmen waiting for a space when Bairstow comes back, I don't rightly know who we'd bring in to open if we do ditch Crawley.

Puja

Hear what you say, but he does have a ton and a fifty in his last 5 tests and a 40. BUT his overall f/c average is only 30, and his test average only 28 after 32 (!) tests....so tricky. When he gets in, he tends to score well, as it were.

[Banquo]

another great day. Nothing left to say re Anderson, but Leach may be 'turning' a corner

[Galfon]

Anderson & Broad cumulative totals..
340 matches, 1260 wickets.
Jimmy will surely overtake Warne to reach #2 on the World list, ,and stay ahead of Broad (!)

[Galfon]

another great day. Nothing left to say re Anderson, but Leach may be 'turning' a corner

Few more turns, few more corners!
Another chance tomorrow.Good resilience, NZ.

[Puja]

Ouch: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/64779863

Isle of Man were dismissed for 10 - the lowest score in men's Twenty20 history - as they were beaten by Spain in the final game of their tour on Sunday.

Spain won the toss and chose to bowl, and Isle of Man were all out within 8.4 overs. Seven players were dismissed without scoring and Joseph Burrows top-scored with four.
...

Spain needed just two legitimate deliveries to chase the target. The first ball was a no-ball before right-handed batter Awais Ahmed hit the next two for six.

Puja

[Banquo]

another great day. Nothing left to say re Anderson, but Leach may be 'turning' a corner

Few more turns, few more corners!
Another chance tomorrow.Good resilience, NZ.

Great effort from enzid. Should be a good final day.

[Puja]

I don't see how we can persist with Crawley though. I do see why they have - he's definitely got something under there and they've done well out of trusting players and giving them time so far. However, I just don't see it coming out regularly enough.

Problem is that, while we'll have a log-jam of middle-order batsmen waiting for a space when Bairstow comes back, I don't rightly know who we'd bring in to open if we do ditch Crawley.

Puja

Hear what you say, but he does have a ton and a fifty in his last 5 tests and a 40. BUT his overall f/c average is only 30, and his test average only 28 after 32 (!) tests....so tricky. When he gets in, he tends to score well, as it were.

Have any of those scores been under any kind of pressure though? It just always seems like, whenever we've got a run chase to do, first wicket is Crawley, with some lazy shot or defence. Same again this time.

Puja

[Banquo]

I don't see how we can persist with Crawley though. I do see why they have - he's definitely got something under there and they've done well out of trusting players and giving them time so far. However, I just don't see it coming out regularly enough.

Problem is that, while we'll have a log-jam of middle-order batsmen waiting for a space when Bairstow comes back, I don't rightly know who we'd bring in to open if we do ditch Crawley.

Puja

Hear what you say, but he does have a ton and a fifty in his last 5 tests and a 40. BUT his overall f/c average is only 30, and his test average only 28 after 32 (!) tests....so tricky. When he gets in, he tends to score well, as it were.

Have any of those scores been under any kind of pressure though? It just always seems like, whenever we've got a run chase to do, first wicket is Crawley, with some lazy shot or defence. Same again this time.

Puja

well yes, 1st test v Pakistan, when under personal pressure. But not convinced as above. And as you said, who else.

[Galfon]

Root the lynchpin as Eng stutter towards the line.
Just about favourites at this juncture, but plenty drama already..

[Puja]

Root the lynchpin as Eng stutter towards the line.
Just about favourites at this juncture, but plenty drama already..

Root's got to do two batsmen's worth of batting after that comedy runout of Brook before he'd even faced a ball, and fair play to him, he's doing it so far.

Puja