BBC Breakfast have that Patrick Gearey doing the summary of the test match each morning. What a tosser. He obviously thinks he’s up for Poet Laureate. Apparently “Cook was out on the cusp of tea” (???) and Joe Root was “forged in Sheffield and made in Manchester”. Meaningless drivel. I don’t know how much the beeb pays this clown to do his 30 seconds in the morning but it’s just another waste of licence payers money. Couldn’t they just get Aggers to record a piece. At least you’d get straight cricket reporting rather than flowery claptrap.
Usual plan today - get to 500+ by tea , then get them in shortly after.
I see your mate Ballance got under 50 again. Vince is also a tease, he looks good with a couple of cracking cover drives and then gets out. His Test career must be coming to an end if he doesn't get a decent score in the Second innings. Hales is not looking great either, not moving his feet.
Usual plan today - get to 500+ by tea , then get them in shortly after.
I see your mate Ballance got under 50 again. Vince is also a tease, he looks good with a couple of cracking cover drives and then gets out. His Test career must be coming to an end if he doesn't get a decent score in the Second innings. Hales is not looking great either, not moving his feet.
Blimey, I reckon you've got an obsession with Ballance !
Due to Woakes coming in as nighwatchman, we've got Bairstow coming in at 8 (as per Sky card) - what a player to have coming in then ! - shows you how much batting depth we have at present. Very impressed with progress made by Woakes - especially with bat - he looks like a pwopa batter - certainly doing his job well by seeing out last night and also getting rid of the shine early doors today - that'll be the kiss of death then !
I wonder if Ben Stokes might go ballistic today - its the ideal scenario and pitch for him - ie 300+ on board, and a quick wicket and outfield with little sideways movement.
To me, the really good batsmen are both instinctive, have great shot selection and are not limited to the one shot for every ball they receive e.g. Root.
Some do not have so many options but know their limitations and are able to adapt to circumstances e.g. Cook.
Some are just cavalier and possess great "eye to ball" co-ordination but it is worth having at least one of them in the side because they can take the game away from the opposition e.g. Stokes.
Many of the not so good ones are the products of facing the bowling machine for hours upon hours. So, all the time the ball is where they expect it to be they are fine. But, as soon as it does a bit more they struggle e.g. Vince, Ballance and Hales.
We have too many in our current line up that fall into that final category.
I think that Vince has shown that he has the ability and temperament to be a reasonable bat - maybe needs to just adjust his technique with the wide ball - something that could be done - after all, the likes of Cook had the same issue, just needs work and time.
What a player Woakes is becoming. There may become a point where he can come in a lot higher up the order. Maybe a number 6?
Very impressed - he's certainly now become a fixture in the side - although still have nagging doubts over his ability on unhelpful wickets such as India and Oz - but his batting certainly makes up for it - Mark Wood will certainly have a problem getting back in side. Imagine, could have a bowling attack of Ali,Stokes,Broad - whoo all have Test centuries plus Woakes (who i'm sure will get his first century soon, giving the way he's playing today) and then the Burnley Lara. Could have a bowling attack that bats better than the middle order !
Stokes was given out, caught behind to a ball he possibly didn't hit.
Ridiculous decision. Pakistan appealed and the 3rd umpire spent longer trying to decide than I can ever remember. There was a hot spot on the glove, but it was there before the ball arrived & the 3rd umpire said so. Yet even knowing this & looking umpteen times he eventually to most people's surprise, gives Stokes out.
I thought they had to be certain there was an error to overturn the decision ?
To me, it wasnt certain that the mark was or wasnt there before the ball went past, but i think it was the 'noise' on snicko that made him probably realise that it had hit something - and it could only have been the glove - to me, in the end , the right decision was made, but, as you say, i always thought to overturn the original decision you had to have concrete evidence of which this 'maybe' wasnt.
Comments
If he can have some coaching in those areas then he can come good. Do you keep him whilst trying to improve him or drop him ?
Ballance is looking solid. (He'll get out now I've said that).
Hales & Cook were out to good balls. Cook got a low shooter. Vince looked like he'd get out from the off.
274-3
Root 121 no
Ballance 7 no.
311-4.
Root 141 no
Woakes 2 no
Excellent days play.
Due to Woakes coming in as nighwatchman, we've got Bairstow coming in at 8 (as per Sky card) - what a player to have coming in then ! - shows you how much batting depth we have at present.
Very impressed with progress made by Woakes - especially with bat - he looks like a pwopa batter - certainly doing his job well by seeing out last night and also getting rid of the shine early doors today - that'll be the kiss of death then !
I wonder if Ben Stokes might go ballistic today - its the ideal scenario and pitch for him - ie 300+ on board, and a quick wicket and outfield with little sideways movement.
Some do not have so many options but know their limitations and are able to adapt to circumstances e.g. Cook.
Some are just cavalier and possess great "eye to ball" co-ordination but it is worth having at least one of them in the side because they can take the game away from the opposition e.g. Stokes.
Many of the not so good ones are the products of facing the bowling machine for hours upon hours. So, all the time the ball is where they expect it to be they are fine. But, as soon as it does a bit more they struggle e.g. Vince, Ballance and Hales.
We have too many in our current line up that fall into that final category.
They both lack foot movement and they both flash at too many wide balls.
Imagine, could have a bowling attack of Ali,Stokes,Broad - whoo all have Test centuries plus Woakes (who i'm sure will get his first century soon, giving the way he's playing today) and then the Burnley Lara. Could have a bowling attack that bats better than the middle order !
414-5
If Stokes can hold himself back til after lunch then we could be in for a run fest this afternoon
England 471-6
Ridiculous decision. Pakistan appealed and the 3rd umpire spent longer trying to decide than I can ever remember. There was a hot spot on the glove, but it was there before the ball arrived & the 3rd umpire said so. Yet even knowing this & looking umpteen times he eventually to most people's surprise, gives Stokes out.
I thought they had to be certain there was an error to overturn the decision ?
No way was he certain.
486-6.