Gutted.
That’s proper sport though. Imagine there are split season zealot types within the sport that want to dumb down and even eliminate test cricket.
2 Likes
Would have been proper box office if Woakes got on strike. The Indians would not have forgotten England trying to maim an injured Pant.
3 Likes
They have by introducing the hundred. It now means no test cricket for the rest of the summer and September.
1 Like
The English test summer traditionally ended with the Oval test around the third week in August. It is preferable to have the test summer from mid Nune to early August rather than through August and September ad has been done as well in recent years. Test cricket in England in September a recipe for rain blighted tests.
That was a smashing England v India series. The equal of the famous 2005 Ashes. England probably should have won it, but a draw was a fair outcome and India were well worth it. Siraj is a superb bowler.
It was quite the collapse really from England 301/3 and 332/4 to 367 all out. England were quite depleted for that 5th test and keeping key personnel fit in Australia will be key.
The top 7 looks fairly locked down as management are so slow to change - Crawley, Duckett, Pope, Root, Brook, Stokes, Smith.
Crawley, Pope and Smith would concern me. Crawley possibly could surprise and prosper on the bouncier Australian wickets despite his all too many shortcomings.
If all fit, Archer, Wood, Carse and Atkinson possibly the attack for the first test in Perth. English bowling attack is injury prone though.
Australia batting line up has a few issues of their own. Their pace attack is fearsome but are all in their mid 30’s now.
English pace attack if all fit and raring to go is just as fearsome.
But never is unfortunately
1 Like
Yep.
That was some entertainment yesterday afternoon and this morning.
If Archer, Wood and Stokes (bowling) were to play a large part of the Ashes series, England would have every chance of winning. None of them featured at the Oval though in the test just gone and therein lies the problem for England.
1 Like
Missed this morning but watched a bit yesterday. Was a great series.
Showing the full morning of play on Sky at the moment.
I’m in the leaba, but thanks
Test Cricket is just fantastic theatre, such as mix of skill and mental challenge. Sky’s coverage is top notch too, Atherton and Hussain are probably the best pundits in UK sport full stop.
4 Likes
The Australian lady is decent too.
Atherton is top notch, and a great writer. They have a great mix.
Australia are at a low ebb. Key bowlers mid 30s, and most of the batsmen out of form or not up to it.
He took it out on the wife.
2 Likes
A pig of a man.
3 Likes
Yep