Didn't realise it's a 4 day Test match. Why's that ?
(And dont say because Zimbabwe are crap & it wont go past the 4th day).
Next day is a Bank Holiday - it will look really stupid if it ends a draw when a 5th day would produce a result.
It's because Zimbabwe are crap and it won't go past the 4th day (unless it rains that is).
The Test is only there because of the ECB's contractual obligation to Sky to have six Test matches a year here. The ECB is also paying the visitors a tour fee in lieu of a reciprocal trip not sitting in the future tours programme. Zimbabwe are hanging around afterwards to play a 4-day game against South Africa at Arundel as a warm up for the latter's World Test Championship Final.
As a local to Arundel I hope that game with South Africa is not behind closed doors and they let spectators in.
That reminds me, I'd forgotten about the Test Championship final at Lord's. Tickets are still available, and much cheaper than if England had been playing (or indeed if India had made the final).
Would expect Atkinson and Tongue to make the Ashes squad. Cook looked good down under for the Lions figures wise but would expect they'll go Wood/Carse instead with Potts as Cover
Bashir baffles me. Zimbabwe was a chance to get a look at a few different options and we've only got 1.
Would expect Atkinson and Tongue to make the Ashes squad. Cook looked good down under for the Lions figures wise but would expect they'll go Wood/Carse instead with Potts as Cover
Bashir baffles me. Zimbabwe was a chance to get a look at a few different options and we've only got 1.
Equally it was a chance to look at Rew which they should have taken.
Would expect Atkinson and Tongue to make the Ashes squad. Cook looked good down under for the Lions figures wise but would expect they'll go Wood/Carse instead with Potts as Cover
Bashir baffles me. Zimbabwe was a chance to get a look at a few different options and we've only got 1.
Equally it was a chance to look at Rew which they should have taken.
Would have had a look at James Rew and Tom Haines, the form Crawley is in isn't worth bothering with and if Jordan Cox is always going to be injured we need to see what's around in the middle order.
Would expect Atkinson and Tongue to make the Ashes squad. Cook looked good down under for the Lions figures wise but would expect they'll go Wood/Carse instead with Potts as Cover
Bashir baffles me. Zimbabwe was a chance to get a look at a few different options and we've only got 1.
Bashir 2-304 this season and hasn't bowled a ball in anger for five weeks. It's not his fault, of course, but central contracts were, I thought, designed for England to control when a player is available for his county and to stop all those franchises stealing our players. I'm not quite sure how Bashir fits in those respects given neither his county or franchises actually want him and the only place he gets to learn his game is playing for England. Which is probably the very reason why he has been selected against Zimbabwe.
Zimbabwe win the toss and decide to bowl lots of pressure on Crawley now, he needs to have a big Innings!!!
Zak taking an early opportunity to chip up a chance for a c&b off an innocuous delivery Already on his highest first innings score of the season, 2nd division attacks having been too much for him to cope with in Kent colours
It's the cricket equivalent of a European Championship qualifier against Luxembourg. A game you're expected to win easily, and one where any personal achievements tend to be disregarded...
It's the cricket equivalent of a European Championship qualifier against Luxembourg. A game you're expected to win, and one where any personal achievements tend to be disregarded...
You can’t gain ground by achieving but you can certainly lose it by underachieving. If Pope comes out and scores in the single digits he’ll get pilloried, would have been the same for Crawley. There’s still pressure, it’s just different
It's the cricket equivalent of a European Championship qualifier against Luxembourg. A game you're expected to win, and one where any personal achievements tend to be disregarded...
You can’t gain ground by achieving but you can certainly lose it by underachieving. If Pope comes out and scores in the single digits he’ll get pilloried, would have been the same for Crawley. There’s still pressure, it’s just different
It's definite pressure for strugglers, as you fail you get crucified, but if you score runs, then everyone says "it's only Zimbabwe".
Comments
Crawley, Duckett, Pope, Root, Brook, Stokes (c), Smith (wk), Atkinson, Tongue, Cook, Bashir
I'm skeptical.
Bashir baffles me. Zimbabwe was a chance to get a look at a few different options and we've only got 1.
Feel like I've heard that once or twice before.
Interesting Lions squad to play India A , Rocky Flintoff is the only weird pick for me but I guess his dad is in charge.
James Rew (Somerset)
Already on his highest first innings score of the season, 2nd division attacks having been too much for him to cope with in Kent colours