The Cricket Thread. - Page 541

**judy84** · June 1st, 2018, 10:13 AM

I think have a fairly good team and were better prepared than England. Most have experience of English conditions and were coming off a good test with Ireland.
England I thought were "short of a gallop". Most of the players are stopped from playing in domestic competitions and needed better preparation.
I expect England to do a lot better in the 2nd test.

**DB83** · June 1st, 2018, 09:08 PM

^^ And so far...
.. they have.

Pretty much a role reversal to the first Test. Team that wins the toss bats first and is pretty much blown away. Team batting second look to build up a tidy lead.

And Cook will be kicking himself playing that rash stroke near to 'stumps'

**scoundrel** · June 2nd, 2018, 05:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DB83

^^ And so far...
.. they have.

Pretty much a role reversal to the first Test. Team that wins the toss bats first and is pretty much blown away. Team batting second look to build up a tidy lead.

And Cook will be kicking himself playing that rash stroke near to 'stumps'

Pakistan have work to do now. They didn't bowl badly at all and could easily have had three or four wickets instead of two; but England looked much more like a test team today. Pakistan will not be happy with their batting, except for Shadab Khan at no.7 who showed both talent and character in a tough situation. That 56 was very important to his side, and worth more than a century in many another game; this innings is the difference between Pakistan desperately chasing this game from a long way behind and Pakistan already being dead and buried.

**judy84** · June 2nd, 2018, 09:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scoundrel

Pakistan have work to do now. They didn't bowl badly at all and could easily have had three or four wickets instead of two; but England looked much more like a test team today. Pakistan will not be happy with their batting, except for Shadab Khan at no.7 who showed both talent and character in a tough situation. That 56 was very important to his side, and worth more than a century in many another game; this innings is the difference between Pakistan desperately chasing this game from a long way behind and Pakistan already being dead and buried.

It certainly wasn't easy batting. The ball was swinging like I remember seeing at Headingley in the WC 1975 when England were bowled out for 93 and Gary Gilmour took 6-14 for Aust. Humid conditions?

Pakistan could easily have been out for less than 100. Not only the plays and misses but Root's field placing. About 43% of Pakistan's runs came from third man.
It is the vogue not to have third man in test cricket. I would have it rather than mid-on or mid-off. If a batsman (especially tail-ender) is good enough to drive against a swinging ball, good luck to them. If they are tempted to drive they are more likely to get out.
It is not going to be easy, but Root looks solid (probably out 1st ball now I've said that

).

**scoundrel** · June 2nd, 2018, 12:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by judy84

It certainly wasn't easy batting. The ball was swinging like I remember seeing at Headingley in the WC 1975 when England were bowled out for 93 and Gary Gilmour took 6-14 for Aust. Humid conditions?

Pakistan could easily have been out for less than 100. Not only the plays and misses but Root's field placing. About 43% of Pakistan's runs came from third man.
It is the vogue not to have third man in test cricket. I would have it rather than mid-on or mid-off. If a batsman (especially tail-ender) is good enough to drive against a swinging ball, good luck to them. If they are tempted to drive they are more likely to get out.
It is not going to be easy, but Root looks solid (probably out 1st ball now I've said that

).

The wicket is seaming and the weather in Britain is certainly humid this week. A lot is due to shot selection in these conditions and for sure you must have a decent batting technique. But Pakistan didn't bat so well yesterday. The first wicket was indicative, flashing hard but across the line and with no effective foot movement. This was the shape of things to come. So much of this game is played in the head and I think the Pakistan players were a bit stampeded by the early losses. Shadab Khan showed spine in a tight place; he showed plenty of cool; but also I think the conditions eased off after lunch and the England bowlers weren't quite as fresh and the ball was older.

Raining today, which is not unusual at Headingley. Whenever it stops, conditions for batting will continue to be a bit challenging with so much moisture in the air and green in the wicket probably. England haven't won yet. Dom Bess played a rather good innings in the second England knock at Lords and I am intrigued that a 20 year old playing his second ever test match was chosen to be night watchman - someone seriously rates his temprement. Neither did he fail in his duty; he is not out. I hope he enjoys himself and gets some runs, and takes a bit of edge off the Pakistan bowlers. A brisk 30 from him would set the tone nicely, if he can do it. But what the hell, he did the main thing last night.

**victor meldrew** · June 2nd, 2018, 03:02 PM

Root should have declared to create confusion, we could have bowled Pakistan out for 44 and won the game on Sunday morning.

**scoundrel** · June 2nd, 2018, 04:51 PM

Pakistan have bowled well since the tea interval and succeeded in removing Bess one short of what would have been his second test half century; and in removing Dawid Malan who had been looking confident and well organised. Both men were playing well and England are now regrouping. They aren't all that far ahead yet and Pakistan are firmly in second place but not out of the contest. Joss Buttler and Jonny Bairstow now in; and no England player has collected 50 runs yet, which may indicate that this isn't a batsman's paradise here.

England need to just take a steady approach now. If Buttler and Bairstow can still be in at close of play, England will be about 150 runs in front and I suspect that would be enough.

**rupertramjet** · June 2nd, 2018, 04:54 PM

Ah but Bess is a Somerset player, his combined test scores now stand at 111, all Somerset fans know that is the curse, if only one more of his shots had been a boundary!

**scoundrel** · June 2nd, 2018, 06:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rupertramjet

Ah but Bess is a Somerset player, his combined test scores now stand at 111, all Somerset fans know that is the curse, if only one more of his shots had been a boundary!

I wouldn't have begrudged him one more run. But he did very well to get 49 in not the easiest conditions. In fact England have reached 302 for 7 in spite of the fact that no one has registered 50 runs as yet; rather unusual and indicates a fairly sturdy innings in which everyone has contributed.

**rupertramjet** · June 2nd, 2018, 07:21 PM

I use the BBC website, on the cricket page there is a TMS link which has a constant commentary, which I mute, and a constant score up date with written commentary on the key events. Its a great service, and with no picture coverage is ok, when they put up a clip, I get 'Not available in your country!'

June 2nd, 2018, 04:51 PM	#5407
scoundrel Super Moderator Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: England Posts: 26,237 Thanks: 162,388 Thanked 278,408 Times in 26,182 Posts	Pakistan have bowled well since the tea interval and succeeded in removing Bess one short of what would have been his second test half century; and in removing Dawid Malan who had been looking confident and well organised. Both men were playing well and England are now regrouping. They aren't all that far ahead yet and Pakistan are firmly in second place but not out of the contest. Joss Buttler and Jonny Bairstow now in; and no England player has collected 50 runs yet, which may indicate that this isn't a batsman's paradise here. England need to just take a steady approach now. If Buttler and Bairstow can still be in at close of play, England will be about 150 runs in front and I suspect that would be enough. __________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

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June 1st, 2018, 10:13 AM	#5401
judy84 Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Wilts Posts: 2,008 Thanks: 34,481 Thanked 21,442 Times in 2,021 Posts	I think have a fairly good team and were better prepared than England. Most have experience of English conditions and were coming off a good test with Ireland. England I thought were "short of a gallop". Most of the players are stopped from playing in domestic competitions and needed better preparation. I expect England to do a lot better in the 2nd test.

June 1st, 2018, 09:08 PM	#5402
DB83 Vintage Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 1,472 Thanks: 1,948 Thanked 12,018 Times in 1,458 Posts	^^ And so far... .. they have. Pretty much a role reversal to the first Test. Team that wins the toss bats first and is pretty much blown away. Team batting second look to build up a tidy lead. And Cook will be kicking himself playing that rash stroke near to 'stumps'

June 2nd, 2018, 03:02 PM	#5406
victor meldrew Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: At the bottom of an empty glass Posts: 15,776 Thanks: 531,841 Thanked 179,896 Times in 15,764 Posts	Root should have declared to create confusion, we could have bowled Pakistan out for 44 and won the game on Sunday morning.

June 2nd, 2018, 04:54 PM	#5408
rupertramjet R.I.P. Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Cloud cuckoo land Posts: 4,300 Thanks: 26,852 Thanked 54,117 Times in 4,288 Posts	Ah but Bess is a Somerset player, his combined test scores now stand at 111, all Somerset fans know that is the curse, if only one more of his shots had been a boundary!

June 2nd, 2018, 07:21 PM	#5410
rupertramjet R.I.P. Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Cloud cuckoo land Posts: 4,300 Thanks: 26,852 Thanked 54,117 Times in 4,288 Posts	I use the BBC website, on the cricket page there is a TMS link which has a constant commentary, which I mute, and a constant score up date with written commentary on the key events. Its a great service, and with no picture coverage is ok, when they put up a clip, I get 'Not available in your country!'