It’s weird, it’s growing on me, though like you two I don’t see what gap in what market it’s supposed to fill. Looks like the Ashes could be in trouble. England players meeting with management, some might not go, because the Aussie COVID regulations would mean that some players, those who play in the World Cup, and then go on to Oz, won’t see their families for four months. And they will spend a few weeks of that in quarantine.
What was the fuss about just before the dropped catch mate ? I missed it but saw Stokes looked pissed off at something
I can see how it will hopefully get a brand new, younger audience with all the ‘boom’ cricket and 6’s…….it is very unpredictable, like tonight, Trent looked like certain losers until the final 12 balls or so Sadly I’m one of those who really doesn't like Test cricket (I know…BURN THE WITCH ). My mate thinks I’m a heathen for not liking it and says it’s like a game of chess…I just find it all rather dull.
It was weird. Apparently someone had run on the field (we weren't allowed to see this of course in case they had no clothes on, unlike the Euros when they were happy to let us see Erikson possibly die on the pitch), so Stokes wanted the last ball re-bowled. The umpires agreed and Hales then smacked it to the boundary, where Stokes dropped it over the rope.
Ah ok mate….thanks. The format is definitely growing on me for sure. Though of course that might be down to me betting on the winner and thus earning my money to put on QPR to win the league at 25/1.
I hope the series can go ahead. As l get older, the pace of test match cricket is my favoured form of cricket, then again, it has always been but my lack of interest in the shorter version is now front & centre. Of course, the Ashes is the ducks nuts of all cricket and l sincerely hope it can proceed. Here in Oz, the politician's ( in all their wisdom ) change the degree of co-vid urgency on a daily basis. If your Joe Public, we can be locked down at a moments notice and withheld from seeing dying family members for fear of spreading disease. However if your a movie star from overseas, you are allowed to visit, take over suburbs and do everything we are not allowed to do, on the of promise of splashing half naked images of having fun in the sun, on the world forums and alike. With these thoughts in mind, l'm expecting you lot to be given the full 'welcome mat' treatment, especially by the Queensland government, who have no peer in enforcing the 'two sets of rules' that apply between us the local herd and the sporting / movie star privileged. Oh ............. and don't forget to knock with your hands full!
Apparently England are playing India in a Test match at Trent Bridge today, two of the strongest teams in the world. Should be big news in the sport but according to David Gower even in Nottingham there has been no publicity, it’s all about the Hundred.
I know which I'll be watching. Attendances have been really good for the Hundred and they've gone all out to attract women and kids (having a women's game before the men's is a great idea, I reckon) and I think I heard that 23% of ticket sales have been kids' tickets, so it has been a success in those terms. It shouldn't be allowed to detract from the real game, though.
Dunno if the link works but @Stroller and others might find this an interesting article about ‘The Hundred’
I know the true cricket aficionados will hate me for it but it’s things like that, that make me dislike test cricket
To be fair to Sibley, he was batting in difficult conditions against some very good bowling. Having said that, he's not a player I like watching at the best of times.
Sometimes, it's that battle between bat and ball, especially in trying conditions that can make test cricket fascinating imo. The batsman using all his skill to survive can be just as interesting as watching the ball sail over the boundary every other delivery.
Thats where we differ Col….I just find the vast majority of Test Match Cricket as dull as dishwater. Give me the shorter version of the game any day
Absolutely fair enough mate. It's like me enjoying a 90 minute goalless game between two top sides, where their tactics nullify eachother. Others find that boring. Each to their own.
Ranked 4th, but only a point behind the Aussies, if we do ok here (cough) we would be third. But you are right, it’s all relative. We are not as strong a team as we have been, but I don’t think any of them are at the moment. It’s not a golden era for test cricket in terms of quality, but we can still see some exciting and interesting matches. Perhaps the impact of short form cricket really is hitting home.
The Aussies are busy losing T20 games to Bangla Desh (2-0 down in the series). Stokes is a big miss for England, as is Archer to a lesser extent. England's batting is very weak, though.