Cricket fred

[p/d]

Oh well.

Another innings where Root and Bairstow didn’t turn up

[Banquo]

Oh well.

Another innings where Root and Bairstow didn’t turn up

yep. Unfortunately the pair of them tend to have runs of poor form- Root obviously has a load of credit in the bank, but a bit frustrating.

Difference is that none of our batsmen have scored more than 76 (Crawley 76 and 73, only one to top 50) but the indians have a double and single century.

Hartley is a good un, battler.

[Galfon]

Sticking to the plan

[Banquo]

Sticking to the plan

Duckett saying f+ckit to Bumrah and Ashwin. Great knock.

[Big D]

Good knock by Duckett.

High praised for Foakes from Gilchrist:

[Banquo]

soft middle order again, Root and YJB very poor this series so far. YJB maybe needs pensioning out of test cricket.

[fivepointer]

Shocking day for England. Utterly brainless at times with a complete inability to play sensibly given the circumstances.

[Galfon]

Wasteful.

..& more sad news
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/68292770
so many true-greats passing on now it seems;
'Proctorshire' were formidable when he was firing - genuine all rounder too. RiP.

[Banquo]

Wasteful.

..& more sad news
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/68292770
so many true-greats passing on now it seems;
'Proctorshire' were formidable when he was firing - genuine all rounder too. RiP.

he was a great great player

[p/d]

This might be fun, if not short lived.

[p/d]

Chasing a quick single. That’s the way!!

[Banquo]

Wheels off

[p/d]

When you know one of you has to hit at least a double century you can’t go fishing.

So Root and Bairstow to show why they were selected

[p/d]

Or not.

[Banquo]

sh*t or bust. The former, sadly. Terrible two days from England, hope they don't change philosophy, just shot selection and catching practice. YJB might want to go before he's pushed.

[p/d]

But isn't poor shot choice part of the philosophy?

I mean the best we could have expected when our openers took guard was a draw. And yet…

[p/d]

Hartley returns best bowling figures and now our top scorer

[Banquo]

But isn't poor shot choice part of the philosophy?

I mean the best we could have expected when our openers took guard was a draw. And yet…

Not at all. The philosophy - which has been brilliant- is to play attacking cricket. That doesn't equal stupid shots- people have been having a go at Root for playing ramp shots, but with his skill and expertise its always been a productive shot in his test locker-- his strike rate has always been high, so all the folks saying 'bazball doesn't fit with his game' are talking bs frankly- he's just in bad nick, he's had these often before.

and the 'best we could have expected' has been turned on its head, that's exactly the point of it (in this case had we batted to the end of tomorrow, we'd have faced c 140 overs ish...4 an over gives you a win).

[Banquo]

cue panic ....mind, 8th worst defeat in test history needs some thought!

[fivepointer]

Horrible capitulation.

I'm all for attacking intent but you have to mix aggression with a degree of pragmatic game management. We were in a good position starting the 3rd day and have just been blown away.

[p/d]

But isn't poor shot choice part of the philosophy?

I mean the best we could have expected when our openers took guard was a draw. And yet…

Not at all. The philosophy - which has been brilliant- is to play attacking cricket. That doesn't equal stupid shots- people have been having a go at Root for playing ramp shots, but with his skill and expertise its always been a productive shot in his test locker-- his strike rate has always been high, so all the folks saying 'bazball doesn't fit with his game' are talking bs frankly- he's just in bad nick, he's had these often before.

and the 'best we could have expected' has been turned on its head, that's exactly the point of it (in this case had we batted to the end of tomorrow, we'd have faced c 140 overs ish...4 an over gives you a win).

I get what you are saying but I personally think one leads to the other. Root is an example yes but if only it was him we were talking about.

[Banquo]

But isn't poor shot choice part of the philosophy?

I mean the best we could have expected when our openers took guard was a draw. And yet…

Not at all. The philosophy - which has been brilliant- is to play attacking cricket. That doesn't equal stupid shots- people have been having a go at Root for playing ramp shots, but with his skill and expertise its always been a productive shot in his test locker-- his strike rate has always been high, so all the folks saying 'bazball doesn't fit with his game' are talking bs frankly- he's just in bad nick, he's had these often before.

and the 'best we could have expected' has been turned on its head, that's exactly the point of it (in this case had we batted to the end of tomorrow, we'd have faced c 140 overs ish...4 an over gives you a win).

I get what you are saying but I personally think one leads to the other. Root is an example yes but if only it was him we were talking about.

Not necessarily, just good decision making.

[Banquo]

Horrible capitulation.

I'm all for attacking intent but you have to mix aggression with a degree of pragmatic game management. We were in a good position starting the 3rd day and have just been blown away.

yeah, but don't throw the baby out with the bath water. Stokes is (usually) the best example of playing to the situation...he nearly always plays himself in for example.

[Big D]

soft middle order again, Root and YJB very poor this series so far. YJB maybe needs pensioning out of test cricket.

He has been needing pensioned off since his injury. Playing him v West Indies and Sri Lanka would be detrimental as he'll score well in the odd innings then keep his place for NZ where he'll be crap again.

With Root, he is having to bowl an awful lot of overs. that is very slight mitigation that YJB doesn't have.

[Banquo]

soft middle order again, Root and YJB very poor this series so far. YJB maybe needs pensioning out of test cricket.

He has been needing pensioned off since his injury. Playing him v West Indies and Sri Lanka would be detrimental as he'll score well in the odd innings then keep his place for NZ where he'll be crap again.

With Root, he is having to bowl an awful lot of overs. that is very slight mitigation that YJB doesn't have.