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England Cricket 2026

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  • Chizz
    Chizz Posts: 28,724
    Justin Langer has posted some words about Ben Stokes.  

    2,501 days.

    That’s how long it’s been since Ben Stokes stood at Headingley and ripped the Ashes out of our hands.
    I counted. Because the number felt like it ought to mean something.

    Last Monday night, I was settled in front of the fire, glass of red in hand, not a care in the world. Then I flicked over to the final day of England’s Test against New Zealand and the broadcaster was replaying that 2019 innings.

    In an instant, my relaxed evening was gone.

    Everything I’d spent years quietly filing away was sitting back on the couch with me. 

    The run out Nathan Lyon couldn’t quite gather. The panicked review that still turns my stomach. Stokes, plumb lbw, two runs required, no reviews left and the umpire got it wrong.

    135 not out. One wicket the margin. 

    Two days with the match in the palm of our hand, gone.

    I sat alone that night with a Scotch. My wife FaceTimed and asked what I was doing. “Drinking Scotch,” I said. “You don’t drink Scotch,” she replied. “I do tonight.”

    There has never been a lower moment in my coaching life.

    And now Stokes has called time. Burnt out, in his own words with no “more fight left in me.”

    Here’s the strange part. The more I sat with it this week, the more I felt something closer to gratitude than disappointment.

    Because heroes are not built to last forever. That is precisely what makes the moments they give us matter so much.

    Stokes was a nightmare to coach against and the very best of what this game of ours can be.

    I would have him in my team any day of the week. 
  • Miserableoldgit
    Miserableoldgit Posts: 21,959
    India win the toss and will bowl.
  • Miserableoldgit
    Miserableoldgit Posts: 21,959

  • DennisBooth
    DennisBooth Posts: 226
    Salt looks completely out of form.
  • Fanny Fanackapan
    Fanny Fanackapan Posts: 19,260
    DennisBooth said:
    Salt looks completely out of form.
    Maybe he just needs a good shake .... :)
  • Miserableoldgit
    Miserableoldgit Posts: 21,959

  • Miserableoldgit
    Miserableoldgit Posts: 21,959

  • Miserableoldgit
    Miserableoldgit Posts: 21,959

  • Miserableoldgit
    Miserableoldgit Posts: 21,959
    193~6 {19}

  • Miserableoldgit
    Miserableoldgit Posts: 21,959
    England 201~7 {20}

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  • Miserableoldgit
    Miserableoldgit Posts: 21,959
    India 24~1 {2}
  • Miserableoldgit
    Miserableoldgit Posts: 21,959
    India 33~2 {3}

    169/102
  • lordromford
    lordromford Posts: 8,604
    41-4
    2 in 2 balls. One to Tongue, next one to Archer.
    Archer’s reaction to his wicket was funny. He looked almost embarrassed. 😂
  • killerandflash
    killerandflash Posts: 72,520
    It's a disgrace that we're playing a minor cricket nation, when we could be playing the winner of the series in Ireland.
  • lordromford
    lordromford Posts: 8,604
    52-5
    Archer again
  • Miserableoldgit
    Miserableoldgit Posts: 21,959

  • BarnehurstBob
    BarnehurstBob Posts: 55
    Lovely to see England on the way to a win. Hopefully. Especially against a country with such fanatical support. But - and happy to be 'challenged' - now a non competitive game and go home fairly shortly. Such is cricket in short form I guess
  • lordromford
    lordromford Posts: 8,604
    60-6
  • Miserableoldgit
    Miserableoldgit Posts: 21,959
    60~6 {7.1}

    142/77
  • Miserableoldgit
    Miserableoldgit Posts: 21,959
    63~6 {8}

    139/72

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  • lordromford
    lordromford Posts: 8,604
    63-7
  • Miserableoldgit
    Miserableoldgit Posts: 21,959
    66~7 {9}

    136/66
  • lordromford
    lordromford Posts: 8,604
    68-8
  • Miserableoldgit
    Miserableoldgit Posts: 21,959
    68~8 {9.3}

    134/63
  • Miserableoldgit
    Miserableoldgit Posts: 21,959
    70~8 {10}

    132/60
  • Karim_myBagheri
    Karim_myBagheri Posts: 14,273
    Love this 
  • lordromford
    lordromford Posts: 8,604
    edited July 7
    70-9
    Nice catch
  • Miserableoldgit
    Miserableoldgit Posts: 21,959
    72~9 {11}

    130/54
  • Chizz
    Chizz Posts: 28,724
    Thrashing
  • Miserableoldgit
    Miserableoldgit Posts: 21,959
    edited July 7
    76  all out.

    England win by 125 runs.

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