Trouble is Malan and Bairstow both have poor test averages and at the minute the selectors haven't a clue who to stick in the middle order.
Bairstow is half a stone too fat he’s got bigger boobs than most of my ex girlfriends - it’s making him lethargic so struggles to deal with difficult stuff !
Got to be honest here .. we have the likes of Stokes and Archer to come back in but we haven't really replaced the top 3 since the days of Cook Strauss and Trott .. I dont particularly think Root is a good captain but can understand why they give him it as he is the one who deserves his place through his batting. There is a soft underbelly of this England team that shows when they are put under pressure, 2nd test when their tail enders started swinging the bat we didn't have a clue how to counteract it then folded as a batting line up, again, after the first innings of this match again we had the upper hand but yet again folded both in the field and again when batting when pressure was applied. There's a couple here who may get better with experience but we lack the Petersen type player to take the attack to them (Stokes being the nearest we have). I don't know what's available on the county scene so couldn't possibly suggest any better, but we definitely need more.
You know what, I think you just have to admire India. Fantastic test match which swung to and fro. Test cricket is about seizing those opportunities when presented. Bumrah did just that with that fantastic spell just after lunch. Unfortunately in England we don't get much experience against 90 mph reverse swinging yorkers.
It's common practice to protect the No. 11's from facing the strike, as they are most likely to be out. I've never seen it to that extent and clearly because the No. 11 was scared. In the first innings, Woakes (?)was trying to make sure Anderson didnt face even one ball per over from Bumrah. In the second, he was clearly having mid wicket discussions with Robinson (who is a marginally better batsman) who was trying to protect him from. Looks like he has totally lost his nerve from that 2nd test barrage. Unfortunately, every test fast bowler in the world will know that now.
Never understood why umpires don't intervene under Law 42.6. Dangerous and unfair bowling "(a) Bowling of fast short pitched balls(i) The bowling of fast short pitched balls is dangerous and unfair if the bowler’s end umpire considers that by their repetition and taking into account their length, height and direction they are likely to inflict physical injury on the striker irrespective of the protective equipment he may be wearing. The relative skill of the striker shall be taken into consideration.(ii) Any delivery which, after pitching, passes or would have passed over head height of the striker standing upright at the popping crease, although not threatening physical injury, shall be included with bowling under (i) above, both when the umpire is considering whether the bowling of fast short pitched balls has become dangerous and unfair and after he has so decided. The umpire shall call and signal No ball for each such delivery" Followed by caution, final warning and then subsequent suspension of the bowler from further bowling in that innings
Yeah, fair point, He doesn't have the skill to defend himself with the ball, so was just a sitting duck in that 2nd test wasn't he. Anderson commented afterwards that it was the first time in his career he felt they weren't trying to get him out
England's fifth Test against India at Old Trafford has been cancelled after a number of the tourists' backroom staff tested positive for Covid-19.
A group of us were going tomorrow ****ing stupid cricketers might turn out well for Hull’s hospitality economy though!
Seems all Indian players tested negative. However they were 'uncomfortable about playing'. Nothing to do with their large IPL contracts which is due to start in ten days. Seems a hell of a coincidence that at the start of the season, India asked for this test to be moved due to it been so near to the IPL starting. Another nail in the test match cricket coffin.
I wouldn't say it was a nail in the Test match coffin because this Test has been a sell out nearly every day so far, as yesterday would have been, my ticket and the other 40 odd blokes I was going with included. To call it off two hours before start of play is bordering on criminal and surely questions will be asked of the timing. The late postponement will cost the game millions of pounds and a lot of fingers will have been burnt because of the Indian's decision.
I agree then. Just reading the Barmy Army's site and there were fans who had travelled hundreds of miles, booked hotels etc actually outside the ground this morning when this was announced. Either way it stinks to high heaven.
Called off 2 hours before start pf play You'll know if you were going that the emails to ticket holders tell you to be there early...it suggests 2 hours before start of play!!! Appalling
"leaving the ECB staring at a £30m financial blackhole from lost TV revenues and now due to refund at least 63,000 tickets from the first three sold-out days at Old Trafford." The gruniard being diplomatic.. "It may also be that the Indian Premier League’s impending restart in the United Arab Emirates on 19 September was a factor here, with players due to depart for the tournament on Wednesday."