England v Pakistan, 1st Test, Old Trafford, 5-9 August, 2020

Looks like its going to be a tight finish.

thought Stokes wasn't bowling this Test?

Last Test.

Big Dog wrote:Looks like its going to be a tight finish.

That will depend.

Another 20 or 30 would be handy for the Wackies, but that would appear unlikely.

Yasir Shah might be a handful for England.

Bookies not taking too many risks but like the paksters more by a whisker. 30 more runs would definitely see that change in a hurry.

..

Nath wrote:thought Stokes wasn't bowling this Test?

He apparently wasn’t expected to... but as it turns out, it wasn’t necessary to go in a batsman light, and that decision could cost us the match.

Monty goes cheaply again but we’d probably have taken this start.

I prefer "Carpet". (Not mainly because it got the usual puce-ballistic response from taips to any of my posts ...)


Time has come for Burns to be asked to address his technical flaws. Grit, application and dogged determination only take a Test opener so far.

He can keep his weird double-trigger movement and forward lunge if he insists. But the blade held at such an angle, and descending in such an oblique arc too, are a recipe for trouble against a ball moving at all.

But given we’ve spent the best part of a decade looking for an opener who can even average mid-30s, now we’ve found a couple of them we have to stick with them. They might not be Boycott, Cook or Gooch, Atherton, Strauss or Trescothick... but they’re far more effective than the JAMODI chancers and county purple patch nonentities we’ve tried during that time. Do we really want to start that revolving door again? Although maybe Hameed is starting a resurgence at Trent Bridge...

Anyway, snookers needed, now the Stokes special is off the cards.

If there was ever a time for a 60-ball hundred from Buttler, this is surely it... though he would probably run out of partners anyway.

At least these two aren’t prodding around waiting for a ball with their name on it to come along.

beamer wrote:But given we’ve spent the best part of a decade looking for an opener who can even average mid-30s, now we’ve found a couple of them we have to stick with them. They might not be Boycott, Cook or Gooch, Atherton, Strauss or Trescothick... but they’re far more effective than the JAMODI chancers and county purple patch nonentities we’ve tried during that time. Do we really want to start that revolving door again? Although maybe Hameed is starting a resurgence at Trent Bridge...

Anyway, snookers needed, now the Stokes special is off the cards.

I wasn't saying simply dump Burns (see my words above). But he should certainly be prevailed on to improve his technique (in the two aspects I mentioned in particular) until it works with greater reliance.

That shouldn't take a massive remodelling effort. It does take awareness of his bat position, and a building on the strengths he has, with a bit more technical assurance added.

beamer wrote:At least these two aren’t prodding around waiting for a ball with their name on it to come along.

Indeed. It's the only way England are going to come anywhere near. Poking suits neither of them. They have good eyes, they might as well use them in this given situation.

Was never going to be plain sailing, as Buttler falls with the finishing line in sight, but what a partnership... and born again all-rounder Stuart Broad promoted to number 8 to hopefully finish the job!

Well, what a turnaround. When Stokes went I had pretty much given up on it and almost switched off when Pope followed... but Test cricket is all about partnerships and we saw one of the great ones there.

Buttler and Woakes started off in a carefree, nothing to lose fashion a la Botham and Dilley... but as the win started to look realistic they switched to a more cautious approach while still not leaving too much at stake when the new ball arrived. Both had something to prove, Buttler after a poor game with the gloves, and Woakes who despite his bowling form had to make a statement that he was a true all-rounder and not just a top of the range number 8. Both did it in style. We’ve seen what Pakistan have, though, and this series is far from over.

*Ocker voice*: BAGGAH! FLYMIN' USELESS ....!!!



Fair play to Buttler and Woakes. What a difference they made.


Here is a statement too often made in bad grace, but I mean it genuinely: Thanks to the West Indies and Pakistan - more yet, thankfully - for coming to England and playing Test cricket again. It takes a lot of good will and courage, given COVID19 - and the current UK "government"'s misgovernment.

It has almost all been exciting stuff, with a lot for all sides to chew on, despite the weirdly spectral grounds these Tests are played at.

Great match. Great test cricket. Life ain't so bad.

Good match.

Inevitable result once the Pakistani collapse occurred. JGK couldn't have woofed them to victory after that collapse.

Well batted by Woakes, the butt of so many barbs from Trev in the past.

No changes for England before T2, then? Full steam ahead on HMS Indefatigable?

That's a great result for England.

They looked gone at 5-117 but Buttler and Woakes (class cricketer) had other ideas.

Well done to the Poms.

Viva la Test Cricket.

JGK wrote:So this is a day after a JAMODI involving England!

skully wrote:Yeah, shirley pretty uncommon?

beamer wrote:

skully wrote:Yeah, shirley pretty uncommon?

I wonder if any nation has played a Test and ODI on consecutive days before (whether or not it was completely different teams)?

skully wrote:Yeah, interesting Q. Might have to have a dig around.

Only one instance, apparently*,

Test – Aus v Eng, Melbourne, Dec 26-31, 1974 (included rest day on Sun 29 Dec)
ODI – Aus v Eng, Melbourne, Jan 1, 1975

And the Test went right to the end of Day 5, as well.

It was a drawn Test famous for holding the record for the 4 innings totals being closest together.

Eng 1st inn - 242
Aus 1st inn - 241
Eng 2nd inn - 244
Aus 2nd inn - 8/238 (just 8 short of victory)

FTR, Eng won the ODI the next day by 3 wkts .

Aus - 190
Eng - 7/191

I remember that Test very well.

No recollection of the ODI at all.

Yes, remember the Test very well, and being frustrated that Aus fell short.

But, like you, no memory at all of the JAMODI.

I was aged minus 4 so very little memory of it