I don’t know what the pitch is like at Mackay, Queensland, but 18 wickets on the first day makes me think the match won’t last as long as even the England v Pakistan match. That was desperately one sided, with players injured or out of form, most accurately out of Test/red-ball cricket form and Pakistan’s fielding was very poor while the only mistakes England made were calling for reviews of umpiring decisions, because no reviews of I think twelve were upheld.
Well, back to the form book with Australia winning by an innings. Bangladesh managed just 64 and 95, and the Aussies are pleased as punch although they only made 210.
It was one of the shortest Test matches ever, with the presentations before the scheduled tea interval. Only 125 were needed for 30 wickets, with is one wicket every 25 balls on average. The players have been very complimentary about the pitch but I feel they may be protecting their reputations or that of the pitch curator.
In any case, I think the would be spectators have been sold short.
Well, back to the form book with Australia winning by an innings. Bangladesh managed just 64 and 95, and the Aussies are pleased as punch although they only made 210.
It was one of the shortest Test matches ever, with the presentations before the scheduled tea interval. Only 125 were needed for 30 wickets, with is one wicket every 25 balls on average. The players have been very complimentary about the pitch but I feel they may be protecting their reputations or that of the pitch curator.
In any case, I think the would be spectators have been sold short.
I made quite a mess of that! Should have mentioned that the presentations were done before the tea interval on Day 2, and that only 125 overs were needed for 30 wickets. Still, I’m sure you got the gist.
From the highlights the pitch didn't look particularly terrible. There was a fair bit of sideways movement to be had - Starc and Shoriful Islam in particular produced some fantastic wicket-taking deliveries for their respective teams.
From the highlights the pitch didn't look particularly terrible. There was a fair bit of sideways movement to be had - Starc and Shoriful Islam in particular produced some fantastic wicket-taking deliveries for their respective teams.
I noticed that, and I’ve looked back for two day test matches and there have been 28 in total, 13 since 2000 and four of the last five in Australia including two in the recent Ashes series! Bowler’s paradise!
Another England cricketer suspended and omitted from a match squad. Brydon Carse was led away by police from a nightclub on Saturday night in handcuffs.
Whatever may have happened, it casts doubt on Joe Root’s assertion that the players are good role models.
While the ECB is investigating this incident, I believe some leadership is needed from the very top of the cricket establishment in Britain. Mr Key, step up.
Whatever may have happened, it casts doubt on Joe Root’s assertion that the players are good role models.
While the ECB is investigating this incident, I believe some leadership is needed from the very top of the cricket establishment in Britain. Mr Key, step up.
Was it an assertion, though?
I interpreted Root as calling for the England players to be role models, not a statement that they necessarily were.
Whatever may have happened, it casts doubt on Joe Root’s assertion that the players are good role models.
While the ECB is investigating this incident, I believe some leadership is needed from the very top of the cricket establishment in Britain. Mr Key, step up.
Was it an assertion, though?
I interpreted Root as calling for the England players to be role models, not a statement that they necessarily were.
I misunderstood. It was a request to the players as a whole. Carse was with Matthew Potts and Ben Stokes and they are 31, 27 and 35 respectively and while he was arrested, he was de-arrested soon afterwards.
Is "de-arrested" what used to be called "released without charge"? 🤔
Sort of. As far as I recall you can be de-arrested a few minutes after you were arrested, whilst still in the same place, possibly because you're no longer doing whatever the issue was. Released without charge is more likely to be done after officers have got you all the way to the custody suite in a police station, then someone's decided that there's not enough evidence so no formal charge.
After the driest summer for ever, the start of a test match is delayed due to rain. Toss was due at 11:30, it’s now scheduled for 12:00, play to start at 12:20.
Which goes to show that we should have used the middle of the summer for proper cricket and not for The Hundred popcorn cr*p. That would have guaranteed rain.
While England have toiled at Lord’s (as usual-we ought to play elsewhere), Sri Lanka have done brilliantly to draw after following on, thanks to determined old-fashioned test match batting including Sonal Dinusha scoring a hundred in both innings. A rare feat , but rarer still when your team desperately needs it.
After being put in, England have been bowled out for 290, which didn’t look a great score until they bowled Pakistan out for 110. That’s in part due to good bowling and out-cricket, in part the conditions and in part the general bowler-friendly nature of Lord’s Cricket Ground.
England are batting again, but they aren’t doing desperately well, so it looks like it’s going to be another short match.
They have got it to Day 4 with a 357 run lead. Should they declare and leave them two days to get Pakistan out (assuming that 357 is out of reach) or bat for a while in the morning to push it to 400? I suppose a lot will depend on the weather forecast.
I think 357 is plenty, but with 7 down and two days in hand - I think the forecast is OK for those - my feeling is that England will bat on and give the lower order a bit of practice. Maybe declare with 400 to win.
They have got it to Day 4 with a 357 run lead. Should they declare and leave them two days to get Pakistan out (assuming that 357 is out of reach) or bat for a while in the morning to push it to 400? I suppose a lot will depend on the weather forecast.
It looks like rain later on Sunday and earlier on Monday, but conditions are uncertain.
What is certain is that Pakistan’s batting is fragile, the pitch favours bowlers and England’s bowlers are too good for Pakistan.
Given the weather forecast I would declare first thing, because I would be very surprised if Pakistan could score 200.
England chose to take a chance on the weather then Pakistan nearly made 200, although Azad Shakeel made exactly half of their runs and deserved a hundred.
Despite England’s low scores, they won by what used in horse racing to be known as “a distance”.
Comments
It was one of the shortest Test matches ever, with the presentations before the scheduled tea interval. Only 125 were needed for 30 wickets, with is one wicket every 25 balls on average. The players have been very complimentary about the pitch but I feel they may be protecting their reputations or that of the pitch curator.
In any case, I think the would be spectators have been sold short.
I made quite a mess of that! Should have mentioned that the presentations were done before the tea interval on Day 2, and that only 125 overs were needed for 30 wickets. Still, I’m sure you got the gist.
I noticed that, and I’ve looked back for two day test matches and there have been 28 in total, 13 since 2000 and four of the last five in Australia including two in the recent Ashes series! Bowler’s paradise!
Whatever may have happened, it casts doubt on Joe Root’s assertion that the players are good role models.
While the ECB is investigating this incident, I believe some leadership is needed from the very top of the cricket establishment in Britain. Mr Key, step up.
I interpreted Root as calling for the England players to be role models, not a statement that they necessarily were.
I misunderstood. It was a request to the players as a whole. Carse was with Matthew Potts and Ben Stokes and they are 31, 27 and 35 respectively and while he was arrested, he was de-arrested soon afterwards.
Sort of. As far as I recall you can be de-arrested a few minutes after you were arrested, whilst still in the same place, possibly because you're no longer doing whatever the issue was. Released without charge is more likely to be done after officers have got you all the way to the custody suite in a police station, then someone's decided that there's not enough evidence so no formal charge.
Both of them result in no criminal record IIRC.
England are batting again, but they aren’t doing desperately well, so it looks like it’s going to be another short match.
It looks like rain later on Sunday and earlier on Monday, but conditions are uncertain.
What is certain is that Pakistan’s batting is fragile, the pitch favours bowlers and England’s bowlers are too good for Pakistan.
Given the weather forecast I would declare first thing, because I would be very surprised if Pakistan could score 200.
Despite England’s low scores, they won by what used in horse racing to be known as “a distance”.