England Cricket - Summer of 2018

Get in Anderson.
Clean bowls Ashraf

blackpool72 said:

Catches win matches.
We have now dropped five.

not seen them all on replay but a couple were half chances at best. The last one to Cook was almost a dolly. The one 3 balls before Bairstow should have gone for.

They say you can lose a Test match if you have a couple of bad sessions....we've had a couple of bad days.

Root ain't a captain imo.

337-8 and one off retired hurt, so possibly, I'd say probably won't bat again tonight in this innings.
He may be ok for tomorrow.

Looks like they'll have a lead of 180-200, even if the injured player doesn't bat again. We will need to get 400 plus to have any chance....which we wont.

In my view Root's competency as a captain is under major scrutiny by his utterly ridiculous decision to bat yesterday when the conditions were screaming out for England to bowl in conditions that so favoured them

He should be replaced by Anderson who has the length of service and understanding of test cricket to make the right decisions

Discuss......

Lordflashheart said:

In my view Root's competency as a captain is under major scrutiny by his utterly ridiculous decision to bat yesterday when the conditions were screaming out for England to bowl in conditions that so favoured them

He should be replaced by Anderson who has the length of service and understanding of test cricket to make the right decisions

Discuss......

But Anderson will be retired within a couple of years.
There's not an obvious answer.
Stokes, Buttler or Bairstow I'd say, but bizarrely it would have to be Stokes out of those, which is why Root will probably keep it.

Lordflashheart said:

In my view Root's competency as a captain is under major scrutiny by his utterly ridiculous decision to bat yesterday when the conditions were screaming out for England to bowl in conditions that so favoured them

He should be replaced by Anderson who has the length of service and understanding of test cricket to make the right decisions

Discuss......

Apart from anything else, if Root's batting goes to pot as a result of the captaincy, can England afford the lack of runs?

I would have been happy with Jimmy as captain as a short term measure. I can't see him retiring before next summer's Ashes, which would be a perfectly acceptable timescale before someone else takes over.

Broad would be another short term option. Maybe he's a bit self centred, but he's intelligent and comfortable in front of the press.

363-9 innings closed
Pak lead by 179

Babar Azam retired hurt with a broken wrist I think.

Am looking forward to another day in the sun but with less wickets!

Cook lbw Abbas 1

1-1

31-2

Stoneman out for 9

killerandflash said:

Callumcafc said:

31-2

Stoneman out for 9

That must be it for Stoneman, he looks shot

Malan quickly to follow I hope.

91/4, 2 wickets in an over Malan and Bairstow out.

golfaddick said:

Just heard that England have not lost the 1st Test match of an Englush summer since 1995 ( v Windies). Since then we've had 16 wins & 6 draws.

This one might not even reach the 4th day. Are you allowed to boo at at hone of cricket because if I was there today I'll certainly be giving the players some stick.

The England players will be pelted with champagne corks

104-5

Stokes gone.