The Cricket Thread. - Page 553

**DB83** · August 12th, 2018, 10:59 PM

One final observation:

Twas encouraging to see Root not going down the path of Cook and letting personal milestones getting in the way of the 'plan'

No thought about Curran getting another 50 (ok he holed out before he could but that 'tennis' six was something) or Woakes getting 150. Maybe they could 'ave since there was an obvious acceleration. But once the wicket fell then they were called in and rightly so.

The weather was still somewhat unpredictable and under Cook one would probably have seen the innings continue until Woakes was out. But the right call was made.

The criticism levelled against India is, I believe, unfair. The $ky 'experts' keep on harking that the reduction of that warm up game reduced from 4 to 3 days has not given them enough experience of red-ball conditions. Yet IIRC that game was not played under the cloud cover that August has brought and they were still bowled out pretty cheaply. One could reasonably expect August to be the most summery month of an unpredictable English summer. Not this year.

Now had they played this test in Cardiff then they probably would have played on Thursday. Friday was variable but it rained pretty much all day on Saturday and Sunday morning too (Ok local weather which is not always reflected in the Capital). What a difference some 140+ miles make.

**victor meldrew** · August 12th, 2018, 11:42 PM

I think playing the pyjama cricket first was a mistake, they would have been playing Test matches in ridiculous temperatures. I am not sure whose decision it was, but I suspect it was the ECB giving in to the BCCI. Karma.

**countjimmoriarty** · August 13th, 2018, 01:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DB83

Now I learn that the next test does not start until Saturday. Who creates this crazy schedule with the 1st starting on a Wednesday and the 2nd which should have started on a more traditional Thursday. Or is it just to attempt to give the players sufficient recovery time between games ?

ICC regulations. There must be a break of at least 3 days between the scheduled final day of one test and the first day of the next. In theory, the next test could have started on Friday, but for some reason the ECB decided it was a good idea to rob Notts of the chance to sell an extra days hospitality on Friday - that market only really goes on Thurs-Sat.

A result of cramming 5 test matches into 42 days. Would have been plenty of room without the pointless ODI's againt Australia and only playing 3 against India (and not bothering with the hit and giggle).

**DB83** · August 14th, 2018, 02:46 PM

I guess it was inevitable that 'Rocky' Stokes would be drafted in to the England squad for the 3rd test following the not-guilty verdict. Of course there still remains the small matter of a disciplinary hearing for both he and Alex Hales.

The 'beauty' of English criminal law is that one should be presumed innocent until proven guilty. It is not for us to judge the actual criminal case as we only see what others want us to see (however damning they might appear) or read what they want us to read.

The jury decided although it is not unusual for the judge to direct them one way or another.

Maybe now we can concentrate on cricketing matters.

**Welderman** · August 14th, 2018, 05:09 PM

If Stokes gets back into the Team ahead of Chris Woakes, I'll fight the thug Myself..

**themidlander** · August 14th, 2018, 08:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by welderman

If Stokes gets back into the Team ahead of Chris Woakes, I'll fight the thug Myself..

Very unlikely - might go in with just five seamers or Buttler getting the chop?

**scoundrel** · August 14th, 2018, 08:30 PM

Until Ben Stokes has had his ECB disciplinary hearing I reckon he should at the most be in the squad in case someone is injured. To be truthful, I can't really see how he can be said not to have brought the game into disrepute and on Planet Scoundrel he would be banned from test matches and rusticated to County Cricket until October. There is a tour of Sri Lanka coming up in October and November 2018 and he will hopefully be able to play then, after keeping his hand in playing for his county.

The only part of the court episode I found a little bit redeeming was right at the end when both men who had clearly fought an extremely fierce street fight against one another shook hands after leaving the dock. If this "near-death experience" doesn't teach Mr Stokes a damn good lesson then nothing will. He needs a ban partly to reinforce the message that he has so much to lose and just can't afford to drink like a fish and make scenes outside night clubs.

**Welderman** · August 14th, 2018, 09:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by themidlander

Very unlikely - might go in with just five seamers or Buttler getting the chop?

Not sure about that, Buttler is as good keeper/Batsman as Bairstow.

Bring back Tim Ambrose..

**mungy** · August 14th, 2018, 09:53 PM

Buttler is world class, he's worth sticking with IMHO. I'm unsure of who should be dropped but for sure in my opinion Stokes needs to be included, he's a special player.

**victor meldrew** · August 14th, 2018, 10:57 PM

A few decent keepers in county cricket, although never likely to get a sniff at test cricket due to the batting.

I am thinking if England go with a five man seam attack, pitch depending, then Rashid stays in the hutch, if they go with Spin, it will be between Buttler and Curran.

August 14th, 2018, 05:09 PM	#5525
Welderman Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: County of Champions Posts: 3,707 Thanks: 55,074 Thanked 64,245 Times in 3,729 Posts	If Stokes gets back into the Team ahead of Chris Woakes, I'll fight the thug Myself.. __________________ ''Elga, 5mm cast iron welding rods''.. Nice.. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

August 14th, 2018, 08:30 PM	#5527
scoundrel Super Moderator Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: England Posts: 26,251 Thanks: 162,428 Thanked 278,583 Times in 26,193 Posts	Until Ben Stokes has had his ECB disciplinary hearing I reckon he should at the most be in the squad in case someone is injured. To be truthful, I can't really see how he can be said not to have brought the game into disrepute and on Planet Scoundrel he would be banned from test matches and rusticated to County Cricket until October. There is a tour of Sri Lanka coming up in October and November 2018 and he will hopefully be able to play then, after keeping his hand in playing for his county. The only part of the court episode I found a little bit redeeming was right at the end when both men who had clearly fought an extremely fierce street fight against one another shook hands after leaving the dock. If this "near-death experience" doesn't teach Mr Stokes a damn good lesson then nothing will. He needs a ban partly to reinforce the message that he has so much to lose and just can't afford to drink like a fish and make scenes outside night clubs. __________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

August 14th, 2018, 09:53 PM	#5529
mungy Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Manchester UK Posts: 3,400 Thanks: 8,933 Thanked 64,097 Times in 3,422 Posts	Buttler is world class, he's worth sticking with IMHO. I'm unsure of who should be dropped but for sure in my opinion Stokes needs to be included, he's a special player. __________________ My links expire with 1 months inactivity. If they are down PM me and I will re-upload.

August 12th, 2018, 10:59 PM	#5521
DB83 Vintage Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 1,472 Thanks: 1,948 Thanked 12,019 Times in 1,458 Posts	One final observation: Twas encouraging to see Root not going down the path of Cook and letting personal milestones getting in the way of the 'plan' No thought about Curran getting another 50 (ok he holed out before he could but that 'tennis' six was something) or Woakes getting 150. Maybe they could 'ave since there was an obvious acceleration. But once the wicket fell then they were called in and rightly so. The weather was still somewhat unpredictable and under Cook one would probably have seen the innings continue until Woakes was out. But the right call was made. The criticism levelled against India is, I believe, unfair. The $ky 'experts' keep on harking that the reduction of that warm up game reduced from 4 to 3 days has not given them enough experience of red-ball conditions. Yet IIRC that game was not played under the cloud cover that August has brought and they were still bowled out pretty cheaply. One could reasonably expect August to be the most summery month of an unpredictable English summer. Not this year. Now had they played this test in Cardiff then they probably would have played on Thursday. Friday was variable but it rained pretty much all day on Saturday and Sunday morning too (Ok local weather which is not always reflected in the Capital). What a difference some 140+ miles make.

August 12th, 2018, 11:42 PM	#5522
victor meldrew Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: At the bottom of an empty glass Posts: 15,779 Thanks: 531,950 Thanked 180,041 Times in 15,766 Posts	I think playing the pyjama cricket first was a mistake, they would have been playing Test matches in ridiculous temperatures. I am not sure whose decision it was, but I suspect it was the ECB giving in to the BCCI. Karma.

August 14th, 2018, 02:46 PM	#5524
DB83 Vintage Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 1,472 Thanks: 1,948 Thanked 12,019 Times in 1,458 Posts	I guess it was inevitable that 'Rocky' Stokes would be drafted in to the England squad for the 3rd test following the not-guilty verdict. Of course there still remains the small matter of a disciplinary hearing for both he and Alex Hales. The 'beauty' of English criminal law is that one should be presumed innocent until proven guilty. It is not for us to judge the actual criminal case as we only see what others want us to see (however damning they might appear) or read what they want us to read. The jury decided although it is not unusual for the judge to direct them one way or another. Maybe now we can concentrate on cricketing matters.

August 14th, 2018, 10:57 PM	#5530
victor meldrew Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: At the bottom of an empty glass Posts: 15,779 Thanks: 531,950 Thanked 180,041 Times in 15,766 Posts	A few decent keepers in county cricket, although never likely to get a sniff at test cricket due to the batting. I am thinking if England go with a five man seam attack, pitch depending, then Rashid stays in the hutch, if they go with Spin, it will be between Buttler and Curran.