England v Pakistan, 2nd Test, Headingley, 1-5 June, 2018

Can England regroup? Can the Wackies keep the foot on the throat?

Changes?

Jennings recalled. Always a depressing moment when they start going back through the list of names who have failed before... at least he’s in form though, unlike Stonefish. And we were clearly suffering due to a lack of Yarpoms in the side.

Stoneman must surely be gone, replaced by Jennings or Gubbins.

Bess probably gets another chance, despite his wicketless effort.

whilst the pakistanis did enough their batsman were just less crap. could easily do a 180

Stokes a doubt with a hammy.

Medium paced dobber Sam Curran called up as cover. Because medium paced dobber Tom Curran, who was considered good enough to start a Test two games ago is now on the scrapheap?

Not that it'll matter. If Stokes can't play, medium paced dobber Chris Woakes will come back in.

Exciting times for English cricket.

Looking forward to this.

also rubbing hands with hopeful anticipatory glee

So poor old Stoner's head sits in the basket. With his noggin miraculously re-attached Buster is to resume his partnership with Chef.

The Guardian story - see link - highlights issues with Chef since Johann's retirement. Includes a couple of choice comments from Compton.


Link

I’ve been saying that for a while, and there’s a case for having Cook at 3 and developing a new opening pair.

Something has to change anyway, as whoever we pick at the top of the order ends up being as much use as an ashtray on a chocolate dartboard, or something like that...

Paksters in big trouble. 79/7

If one of our three batsmen can get a score then we might actually have a chance.

Looks like Jimmeh and Sturat have stood up after Vawn suggested it was time for at least one of them to go.

Will he claim credit?

It really is scary to think how awful we will be even at home once Broad and Anderson go. I can't see either of them lasting beyond the Ashes, if that.

A fairish recover from 7-79 by the Wackies to the current 9-174.

Make that all out 174.

Can England ram home the advantage with a 350+ first innings?

skully wrote:Make that all out 174.

Can England ram home the advantage with a 350+ first innings?

After Lords I'll just take a lead!

vilkrang wrote:It really is scary to think how awful we will be even at home once Broad and Anderson go. I can't see either of them lasting beyond the Ashes, if that.

Bog-standard county seamers would still probably win us plenty of home Tests, when the conditions are in our favour. As long as the batsmen don’t capitulate as they did last week.

Broad is at his best when he’s being written off, it seems. He’s always been a streaky bowler, either innocuous or devastating. He’s only 31, could have another 4 or 5 years left in him if injuries permit.

Was listening to BBC coverage in transit from Clacton to Colchester and was disappointed to hear Chef's lame dismissal.

Had watched an hour of his assured knock in the pub on the seaside, so was surprised to hear him fall to a tame waft at a lame leg side long hop.

He must have been most pissed at his own lameness.

beamer wrote:

vilkrang wrote:It really is scary to think how awful we will be even at home once Broad and Anderson go. I can't see either of them lasting beyond the Ashes, if that.

Bog-standard county seamers would still probably win us plenty of home Tests, when the conditions are in our favour. As long as the batsmen don’t capitulate as they did last week.

Broad is at his best when he’s being written off, it seems. He’s always been a streaky bowler, either innocuous or devastating. He’s only 31, could have another 4 or 5 years left in him if injuries permit.

Really enjoy Lady Di coming back from the dead. C'mon Stannies!

Stuart Broad, the Undead.

Well, no big individual scores but no flurries of wickets either, meaning we’ve built what should be a winning lead, even if a few would have been frustrated not to have gone on.

Looks like a direct reversal of the previous match.

If Buttler doesn't get a 50 then this will almost certainly be the highest test score where no one has made a 50.

So pakster surrender or fightback?

Happy to see Buttler, the IPL evangelist, get new converts in bartania.

Bess certainly making an impression with his all-round abilities. Just needs to show he can take wickets at this level, given more spin-friendly conditions. Given it was always likely to be a thankless task actually bowling spin in this series, he may well have jumped above Leach and Crane in the pecking order, even without contributing a lot with the ball.