Today I picked up 4 tickets for NZ at Lord's, day 2 Fri 3rd June. 3 tickets for SA at Lord's, day 3 Fri 19th August. 4 tickets for SA at The Oval, day 2 Fri 9th September.
Just looking at Lord's, I can't believe how expensive the NZ tickets are
Yes it's Lord's, NZ are a good side, and it's the longer holiday for the Queen's 60th, but the prices are still extortionate for a JUNE Test match
They need to pay for the new stands, plus they know they will sell out.
West Indies have recalled opener John Campbell after a year out of the side, and are set to pick left-arm spinner Veerasammy Permaul in a home Test for the first time since 2015. Shai Hope and Roston Chase were dropped following defeat in Sri Lanka, meaning a reshaped middle order - Shamarh Brooks offers another batting option, though the temptation may be to target England's batting fragility with a five-man attack. Shannon Gabriel was not fit to be picked in the squad but has been training with West Indies in Antigua and could feature later in the series.
West Indies (possible) 1 Kraigg Brathwaite (capt), 2 John Campbell, 3 Nkrumah Bonner, 4 Kyle Mayers, 5 Jermaine Blackwood, 6 Jason Holder, 7 Joshua da Silva (wk), 8 Alzarri Joseph, 9 Kemar Roach, 10 Veerasammy Permaul, 11 Jayden Seales
England have named their 12-man squad already, with Robinson's absence notable following a back spasm in the warm-up. With Jack Leach a probable starter, Woakes already talked up as a new-ball shoo-in, and Wood sure to play if he is fully fit after undergoing blood tests last week, the final place looks like being a tussle between Overton and the uncapped Saqib Mahmood. Mahmood would be the bolder pick, but seeing as he was not in the warm-up frame until Wood's illness, Overton is the likelier man to get his chance, following a brace of appearances against India last summer.
England (probable) 1 Alex Lees, 2 Zak Crawley, 3 Joe Root (capt), 4 Dan Lawrence, 5 Ben Stokes, 6 Jonny Bairstow, 7 Ben Foakes (wk), 8 Chris Woakes, 9 Craig Overton, 10 Mark Wood, 11 Jack Leach
Absolutely rooting for West Indies to score 600-2 so we never do this again
This has to be the worst bowling attack of my life time , only redeemed by Mark Wood.
England (probable) 1 Alex Lees, 2 Zak Crawley, 3 Joe Root (capt), 4 Dan Lawrence, 5 Ben Stokes, 6 Jonny Bairstow, 7 Ben Foakes (wk), 8 Chris Woakes, 9 Craig Overton, 10 Mark Wood, 11 Jack Leach
England (probable) 1 Alex Lees, 2 Zak Crawley, 3 Joe Root (capt), 4 Dan Lawrence, 5 Ben Stokes, 6 Jonny Bairstow, 7 Ben Foakes (wk), 8 Chris Woakes, 9 Craig Overton, 10 Mark Wood, 11 Jack Leach
Goodness gracious me
Context though. Even that side shouldn't be losing to this West Indies team. The worry is going forward. We are in the process of ditching Anderson and Broad, Wood is 32, Woakes is 33, Robinson's fitness levels have already been questioned, Archer is constantly injured and probably lean towards picking up fat cheques for bowling four overs a game so we have to bring some up and coming fast bowlers through which is almost certainly the main reason for leaving Anderson and Broad at home - to blood some up and coming players.
Today I picked up 4 tickets for NZ at Lord's, day 2 Fri 3rd June. 3 tickets for SA at Lord's, day 3 Fri 19th August. 4 tickets for SA at The Oval, day 2 Fri 9th September.
England (probable) 1 Alex Lees, 2 Zak Crawley, 3 Joe Root (capt), 4 Dan Lawrence, 5 Ben Stokes, 6 Jonny Bairstow, 7 Ben Foakes (wk), 8 Chris Woakes, 9 Craig Overton, 10 Mark Wood, 11 Jack Leach
Goodness gracious me
Context though. Even that side shouldn't be losing to this West Indies team. The worry is going forward. We are in the process of ditching Anderson and Broad, Wood is 32, Woakes is 33, Robinson's fitness levels have already been questioned, Archer is constantly injured and probably lean towards picking up fat cheques for bowling four overs a game so we have to bring some up and coming fast bowlers through which is almost certainly the main reason for leaving Anderson and Broad at home - to blood some up and coming players.
So we pick Wood, Woakes and Overton? Bizarre decision IMO. Can't believe neither Mahmood or Fisher are playing.
England (probable) 1 Alex Lees, 2 Zak Crawley, 3 Joe Root (capt), 4 Dan Lawrence, 5 Ben Stokes, 6 Jonny Bairstow, 7 Ben Foakes (wk), 8 Chris Woakes, 9 Craig Overton, 10 Mark Wood, 11 Jack Leach
Goodness gracious me
Context though. Even that side shouldn't be losing to this West Indies team. The worry is going forward. We are in the process of ditching Anderson and Broad, Wood is 32, Woakes is 33, Robinson's fitness levels have already been questioned, Archer is constantly injured and probably lean towards picking up fat cheques for bowling four overs a game so we have to bring some up and coming fast bowlers through which is almost certainly the main reason for leaving Anderson and Broad at home - to blood some up and coming players.
So we pick Wood, Woakes and Overton? Bizarre decision IMO. Can't believe neither Mahmood or Fisher are playing.
It's crazy.
If you're not picking them, you may as well have Anderson and/or Broad out there.
Comments
Goodness gracious me
I now know how the Aussies felt when Warne & MaGrath both retired on the same day.
Context though. Even that side shouldn't be losing to this West Indies team. The worry is going forward. We are in the process of ditching Anderson and Broad, Wood is 32, Woakes is 33, Robinson's fitness levels have already been questioned, Archer is constantly injured and probably lean towards picking up fat cheques for bowling four overs a game so we have to bring some up and coming fast bowlers through which is almost certainly the main reason for leaving Anderson and Broad at home - to blood some up and coming players.
If you're not picking them, you may as well have Anderson and/or Broad out there.
Lees lbw Roach 4
27-3
And our batting looks stronger than our bowling on paper.
😣
Lawrence c Blackwood b Holder 20
Lawrence 20 (38) c Blackwood b Holder