England v India, 2nd Test, Lords, 9-13 August, 2018

Dropsy Malan and thuggy Stokes out, Ollie Pope and Chris Woakes in for England.

Surely Pujara will come back in at 3 for India?

Jimmy nearly injures himself playing golf:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BmGocxVBG13/?hl=en&taken-by=stuartbroad8

So he's crap at golf as well

As well as football you mean?

Que?

Well, he injured himself in a pre-match football kickabout once.

Today was a great example of why we don't go to 4 day tests. Had this been a 4 dayer it's already a draw before a ball is bowled. Keep it at 5 days for me, let's get as many results as possible.

The time can usually be mostly caught up though, unless there is continuous bad weather. And it’s 17 years since Lord’s lost a full day’s play in Test cricket - and most of the other major cricket nations have less rain!

It would probably make sense for a four-day scheduled Test to have a reserve day for severe weather interruptions though, or at least allow early starts on following days.

whitburn wrote:Today was a great example of why we don't go to 4 day tests. Had this been a 4 dayer it's already a draw before a ball is bowled. Keep it at 5 days for me, let's get as many results as possible.

Damn straight.

beamer wrote:The time can usually be mostly caught up though, unless there is continuous bad weather. And it’s 17 years since Lord’s lost a full day’s play in Test cricket - and most of the other major cricket nations have less rain!

It would probably make sense for a four-day scheduled Test to have a reserve day for severe weather interruptions though, or at least allow early starts on following days.

Talking under correction but I think you can only make up 30 minutes. I.E. 8 overs per day. And even that won't help if you lose the 4th day.

It will also create more negative play sometimes. Currently you get situations where a team aren't going to win but maybe can see out the time for a hard-fought draw. If they need say another 400 with 6 wickets left they'll be playing most occasions for time. If there's only half a day left instead of a day and a half it's more likely they'll bat out the overs and draw the game. For my sins i want to see winners and losers and as a Chinese sporting promoter said a few years ago, ''i get snooker and we want to play a massive part in it's future but i don't get a game that lasts a week and it's still a draw''.

taipan wrote:

beamer wrote:The time can usually be mostly caught up though, unless there is continuous bad weather. And it’s 17 years since Lord’s lost a full day’s play in Test cricket - and most of the other major cricket nations have less rain!

It would probably make sense for a four-day scheduled Test to have a reserve day for severe weather interruptions though, or at least allow early starts on following days.

Talking under correction but I think you can only make up 30 minutes. I.E. 8 overs per day. And even that won't help if you lose the 4th day.

They only allow half an hour overrun if no interruptions, but I think they can make up at least an hour a day here after weather delays, more in countries where they can start early. I thought scheduled close would be 7pm for the rest of the match with overrun until 7.30 if the overs aren’t completed. Unless Sky have vetoed that now as it buggers up their schedule (but given they have a dedicated cricket channel now, the shows to follow will just be the highlights of the day and repeat filler documentaries!)

What does the weather look like today?

Eng win the toss and bowl!!

Didn't know Ted Dexter was still alive.

0-1

Well bugger the rain. Tarnishes Jimmeh's great 2 wicket start.

Jimmy and co. demolish them in between the downpours.

Forecast dodgy for the weekend, but it might only take four full sessions of play in this Test to get a result!

So Jimmeh continued on his good start to bag a michelle in fits and starts.

With 3 days left and seemingly difficult batting conditions, maybe a result is still on.

From the highlights on Ewetube, I see Jos took over from Dawid as the designated catch-dropper.

How many balls will Chef last before Ashtray rips one past him to tinkle the bails?

India shown up again as FTBs.

Well that was a surprise not. Interesting to see how the Pomgolians go.

Woakes is a good replacement for the Thug.

Red wrote:India shown up again as FTBs.

Don't think many teams would've scored much yesterday. The bowling was that relentless.