Cricket thread

[T4tomo]

It won't be a walk in the park for us with the big boys that for sure.

As ever, it we can keep Coad and Fisher fit, it will certainly help. Not too convinced that in the spin department that Bess and Moriarty will rip through a team.
We have talented youngsters in Bean, Wharton and Luxton (WIP) to supplement Lyth, AN Other overseas signings and our bunch of allrounders. Presumable Jonnie B will be around more and not sure what Malan's plan are now retired from Intl cricket, does he have appetite to play red ball or is he going to freelance around T20 leagues?

Edit: Fisher hasn't accepted new contract and is off (to Surrey i think).

 

[Supersuperleeds]

Yorkshire up and Lancashire down

 

[Grant Fondo]

Woeful crowds at the Pak v Eng Test, two great cricketing nations as well? I guess you have to really love the long game on a pitch like that.

 

[matticus]

Great stat from PAK's innings:
"
That’s a beautiful shot, one that continues the block/thwack theme of Naseem’s innings and indeed career: 36 of his 130 Test runs have come in sixes.

To put that in some context, 36 of Don Bradman’s 6996 Test runs came in sixes.
"

 

[T4tomo]

Great stat from PAK's innings:
"
That’s a beautiful shot, one that continues the block/thwack theme of Naseem’s innings and indeed career: 36 of his 130 Test runs have come in sixes.

To put that in some context, 36 of Don Bradman’s 6996 Test runs came in sixes.
"

to put that in context....

 

[AndyRM]

Woeful crowds at the Pak v Eng Test, two great cricketing nations as well? I guess you have to really love the long game on a pitch like that.

Last minute venue decisions and the series defeat by Bangladesh won't have helped either. From what I've read interest in Test cricket has been declining in Pakistan for a while now, which is a shame.

 

[Beebo]

Root breaks the test run record on the same day his brother gets married.
It goes to show the sacrifices that have to be made to achieve true greatness.

 

[T4tomo]

Root breaks the test run record on the same day his brother gets married.
It goes to show the sacrifices that have to be made to achieve true greatness.

Absolutely, Billy must be gutted to miss watching his big brother play, but needs must, he's probably watching on Sky ahead of hotfooting it to the church.....

 

[Beebo]

In more negative news, test cricket won’t win many fans when the pitch offers very little to the bowlers.
We have now had over 850 runs for 13 wickets.

 

[T4tomo]

In more negative news, test cricket won’t win many fans when the pitch offers very little to the bowlers.
We have now had over 850 runs for 13 wickets.

Do you remember Rawalpindi 2022?

 

[Beebo]

Do you remember Rawalpindi 2022?

England have won their last two tests when they conceded 500+ in the first innings.
So it can always turn round, but it still makes dull watching for the people who buy tickets for the first few days.

 

[albion]

Like the Oval of old.

Playing for Surrey helped you to easily top the averages.

 

[Beebo]

CricViz are reporting this is the 5th flattest pitch they have known since the ball tracking era began.

 

[geocycle]

England have won their last two tests when they conceded 500+ in the first innings.
So it can always turn round, but it still makes dull watching for the people who buy tickets for the first few days.

I’d not be surprised to see England try and force a win. For 99% of test cricket history this game on this pitch shouts draw but England could try something funky. They could declare behind and back themselves to score 400 on the last day…

 

[T4tomo]

I’d not be surprised to see England try and force a win. For 99% of test cricket history this game on this pitch shouts draw but England could try something funky. They could declare behind and back themselves to score 400 on the last day…

that's exactly the wrong thing to do, if you want to win in the subcontinent on this type of pitch you have to work a situation where your opponents are batting on the 5th day on a deteriorating pitch.

I can only see an England win if we get enough in this inning to only have to bat once (or have a small 4th inning target), which means scoring 700+ and bowling out Pakistan cheaply in their 2nd innings, which require the pitch to deteriorate - which may well happen on day 5.

Given Root is suffering with cramp, our scoring rate slowed a little in 30 mins before tea - we make get to approx parity by end of today - 33-35 overs due after tea, so that's not impossible.

Pakistan would need a 100 ish first inning lead to give the enough time to win I think (similar to us in Rawalpindi 2022) I cant see us collapsing after tea to allow that.