If Stokes has to drop out, Broad for captain imo. The only one with the gravitas and the aggression. Pope isn't in the right place for the Bazball job imo
If Stokes isnt fully fit then hDuckete should drop out & Foakes replaces him to keep wicket & Bairstow plays just as a batsman. Stoke wont be missed as a bowler as he's hardly sent down any deliveries this Test. Bowlers being Anderson, Broad, Robinson and a.n other. Root can be the spinner.
We getting thrashed?
Crawley's stats say he should have been dropped ages ago. Duckett should never have been picked. Pope should never have been asked to bat at 3. Wood should have played. Foakes should have played.
We are playing the best team in the world that boast the 1, 2 and 3 best batsman in the world and the 3rd and 6th best bowlers and we have more than a punchers chance. Much more.
Personally I would not have picked about 6 players that are playing, for one reason or another, but that's only from watching 35 years of test cricket. Stokes has binned 135 years of conventional thinking.
If we went into this series in the Strauss/Flower mindset we would have lost 5-0 because we can't play like them, with the players we have got, and expect to win.
If Stokes has to drop out, Broad for captain imo. The only one with the gravitas and the aggression. Pope isn't in the right place for the Bazball job imo
Harry Brook has a presence about him and is unlikely to back down. But I agree that Broad is the likely candidate if only that giving it to Brook would be seen as a snub to Pope. The concern with Broad though is overs bowled - 32 to date - and he isn't going to be playing more than four of the Tests. So that really only leaves one other candidate - Root as long as he is the McCullum version of Root and not the one who used to skipper the side.
If Stokes has to drop out, Broad for captain imo. The only one with the gravitas and the aggression. Pope isn't in the right place for the Bazball job imo
If Stokes does drop out, fuck it go full bazball and make Livingstone captain. Wood and Livingstone for Ali and Stokes. Why not?
In all seriousness if Stokes can't play its either Broad or Root as skipper.
I'm at the edge and front of the Hollies, which is similar to being in the sitting down group at the front of the away end
We’re in the one to the right of the hollies which I’m calling Ashley Barnes stand. The lower bit though. Nice to have a different view as was in Raglan for last 2 days.
Jimmy just got Carey
That's where we are tomorrow, Stanley Barnes is it? Front of the upper though I think.
Yes that’s the one. Looks like an unfinished extension. Hopefully if you’re at the front you’ll still be able to see the screen for review/replays
We were 5th row of the lower - perfect seats.
Class day's cricket. Bloody hot in the afternoon but really good.
Whatever Happens this has been a great test match and you have to give England a lot of credit for making it that way .I hope the weather doesn't spoil it ..despite the bravery of England I think the Aussies will get home with 3 wickets to spare.
Probably not the worst thing….. losing chunks of the day makes it harder and puts much more pressure on a run chase. And the muggy damp overcast conditions make it easier to take wickets….. the weather is better for us than them that’s for sure.
Assuming play can go onto 7.30pm then even if they didnt start until after lunch it would still leave time enough for 70 overs. Plenty of time to score 180 runs.....or 7 wickets of course.
day 5 pitches are notoriously difficult to score on, the overcast/rainy conditions also help us. Here's hoping for a small window of play this morning, if we can stop/start a bit that would be perfect.
8/1 draw when the rain looks bad today up until middayish, is it worth getting on it? surely the bookies factor this in?
Currently on Betfair:
England 2.02 Australia 2.54 Draw 8.8
England might need as few as 20 overs to bowl Australia out if the overhead conditions are prevalent. Australia probably could, especially if Head gets going, reach their target in 40 overs. So we could be talking about a maximum of three hours play. Forecast is better as the day goes on.
8/1 draw when the rain looks bad today up until middayish, is it worth getting on it? surely the bookies factor this in?
Currently on Betfair:
England 2.02 Australia 2.54 Draw 8.8
England might need as few as 20 overs to bowl Australia out if the overhead conditions are prevalent. Australia probably could, especially if Head gets going, reach their target in 40 overs. So we could be talking about a maximum of three hours play. Forecast is better as the day goes on.
Looking the forecast there's a 3-4 hour window this afternoon before the rain returns. They won't be able to play the moment the rain stops, so I reckon your looking at 2-3 hours play at most today
8/1 draw when the rain looks bad today up until middayish, is it worth getting on it? surely the bookies factor this in?
Currently on Betfair:
England 2.02 Australia 2.54 Draw 8.8
England might need as few as 20 overs to bowl Australia out if the overhead conditions are prevalent. Australia probably could, especially if Head gets going, reach their target in 40 overs. So we could be talking about a maximum of three hours play. Forecast is better as the day goes on.
Looking the forecast there's a 3-4 hour window this afternoon before the rain returns. They won't be able to play the moment the rain stops, so I reckon your looking at 2-3 hours play at most today
A single, two-hour session would suit England down to the ground. There would be only one winner.
8/1 draw when the rain looks bad today up until middayish, is it worth getting on it? surely the bookies factor this in?
Currently on Betfair:
England 2.02 Australia 2.54 Draw 8.8
England might need as few as 20 overs to bowl Australia out if the overhead conditions are prevalent. Australia probably could, especially if Head gets going, reach their target in 40 overs. So we could be talking about a maximum of three hours play. Forecast is better as the day goes on.
The draw has now drifted out to 11.00. England have stayed at 2.02 but the Aussies are in to 2.40
8/1 draw when the rain looks bad today up until middayish, is it worth getting on it? surely the bookies factor this in?
Currently on Betfair:
England 2.02 Australia 2.54 Draw 8.8
England might need as few as 20 overs to bowl Australia out if the overhead conditions are prevalent. Australia probably could, especially if Head gets going, reach their target in 40 overs. So we could be talking about a maximum of three hours play. Forecast is better as the day goes on.
The draw has now drifted out to 11.00. England have stayed at 2.02 but the Aussies are in to 2.40
Comments
Crawley's stats say he should have been dropped ages ago. Duckett should never have been picked. Pope should never have been asked to bat at 3. Wood should have played. Foakes should have played.
We are playing the best team in the world that boast the 1, 2 and 3 best batsman in the world and the 3rd and 6th best bowlers and we have more than a punchers chance. Much more.
Personally I would not have picked about 6 players that are playing, for one reason or another, but that's only from watching 35 years of test cricket. Stokes has binned 135 years of conventional thinking.
If we went into this series in the Strauss/Flower mindset we would have lost 5-0 because we can't play like them, with the players we have got, and expect to win.
In all seriousness if Stokes can't play its either Broad or Root as skipper.
Class day's cricket. Bloody hot in the afternoon but really good.
Supposed to go on until about 2. I'm worried it'll be a washout. Hoping the drainage is very good!
Edit, Ashes Test, and at Edgbaston!
https://www.cricketcountry.com/articles/facts-and-figures/rory-burns-becomes-only-the-10th-player-to-bat-on-all-five-days-of-a-test-match-876209
Unlikely today but its happened in the past when they could be playing and don't.
England 2.02
Australia 2.54
Draw 8.8
England might need as few as 20 overs to bowl Australia out if the overhead conditions are prevalent. Australia probably could, especially if Head gets going, reach their target in 40 overs. So we could be talking about a maximum of three hours play. Forecast is better as the day goes on.
The draw has now drifted out to 11.00. England have stayed at 2.02 but the Aussies are in to 2.40