England v West Indies, 1st Test, Ageas Bowl, 8-12 July, 2020

So, some Test cricket at last! With no fans, so rather like it usually is everywhere except England and Australia.

Root likely to miss the match due to the birth of his first child, given the bio-secure environment means he wouldn’t be able to leave and return during the match. Stokes set to take over, will he be a craptain to rival Botham and Flintoff?

beamer wrote:So, some Test cricket at last! With no fans, so rather like it usually is everywhere except England and Australia.

Root likely to miss the match due to the birth of his first child, given the bio-secure environment means he wouldn’t be able to leave and return during the match. Stokes set to take over, will he be a craptain to rival Botham and Flintoff?

Surely Stokes is not going to be appointed. Does he even captain his own County team?

horace wrote:

beamer wrote:So, some Test cricket at last! With no fans, so rather like it usually is everywhere except England and Australia.

Root likely to miss the match due to the birth of his first child, given the bio-secure environment means he wouldn’t be able to leave and return during the match. Stokes set to take over, will he be a craptain to rival Botham and Flintoff?

Surely Stokes is not going to be appointed. Does he even captain his own County team?

England haven’t had a Test captain who captains his county team for about 30 years, because England players are almost never available for domestic first-class cricket.

Huzzah!!

Fark me.  Is this really going ahead?  

Will have to see if it is on Fox Sports over here.


Stokes as skipper huh. I guess England have had such success with their talismanic all rounders previously, so why not.

JGK wrote:Fark me.  Is this really going ahead?  

A good point. Have the Windies arrived in England?

To answer my own Q, there seems to be a tour game underway at Old Trafford as we speak.

JGK wrote:Fark me.  Is this really going ahead?  

Will have to see if it is on Fox Sports over here.


Stokes as skipper huh.  I guess England have had such success with their talismanic all rounders previously, so why not.

Botham, 0 wins in 12
Flintoff, 2 wins in 11

Something to live up to, Stokesy... and are there any pedalos in Southampton?

beamer wrote:

JGK wrote:Fark me.  Is this really going ahead?  

Will have to see if it is on Fox Sports over here.


Stokes as skipper huh.  I guess England have had such success with their talismanic all rounders previously, so why not.

Botham, 0 wins in 12
Flintoff, 2 wins in 11

Something to live up to, Stokesy... and are there any pedalos in Southampton?

He's doing better than that already, will always be remembered for a beating in Bristol.

JGK wrote:Fark me.  Is this really going ahead?  

Will have to see if it is on Fox Sports over here.

Fox aren't showing it.

Nath wrote:

JGK wrote:Fark me.  Is this really going ahead?  

Will have to see if it is on Fox Sports over here.

Fox aren't showing it.

Seriously? Are they full up on global sporting content? Qunts.

lardbucket wrote:

beamer wrote:

JGK wrote:Fark me.  Is this really going ahead?  

Will have to see if it is on Fox Sports over here.


Stokes as skipper huh.  I guess England have had such success with their talismanic all rounders previously, so why not.

Botham, 0 wins in 12
Flintoff, 2 wins in 11

Something to live up to, Stokesy... and are there any pedalos in Southampton?

He's doing better than that already, will always be remembered for a beating in Bristol.

Sam Curran awaiting a Covid test after being taken ill, though sounds more like he has a stomach bug. Still, match could be in doubt if he, and others as a result, were to test positive.

beamer wrote:Sam Curran awaiting a Covid test after being taken ill, though sounds more like he has a stomach bug. Still, match could be in doubt if he, and others as a result, were to test positive.

A bad, out of date Currant Bun?

JGK wrote:

Nath wrote:

JGK wrote:Fark me.  Is this really going ahead?  

Will have to see if it is on Fox Sports over here.

Fox aren't showing it.

Seriously?  Are they full up on global sporting content?  Qunts.

update: they will be showing it now

Huzzah!!

Negative test result for Curran, as hoped and expected.

After the extended squad warm-up match, the trimmed down squad for the Test itself will be announced tomorrow. Top three positions will be particularly interesting, with youngster Bracey impressing and putting his name in the frame alongside Burns, Sibley, Crawley and Denly. Obviously there’s a vacancy given Root’s absence so it’s possible four of those could play, ahead of Stokes, Pope and Buttler and four specialist bowlers.

England seem to be heading in the direction of a top four for the first test comprising:

Burns
Sibley
Crawley
Lawrence

Pass me the brandy someone.

So - a side picked entirely on class, in the absence of any form guide?

Forgive me folks. I am still getting over Stokes as Captain.

I find it remarkable that Pomgolia has appointed an extra from Kubrick's "Clockwork Orange" to 'lead' your mob.

Oh well. There may be music and kick dancing in the rain.

Having a near killer as skip, is the equivalent to having the brain dead GCS as captain coach of Oz.

He's Pete, droog-turned-copper, to 'Alex' Hales.

lardbucket wrote:He's Pete, droog-turned-copper, to 'Alex' Hales.

Nearly choked on a mouthful of scrambled egg when I read that.

Kudos and spot on.

By the way - and the dire Eyes Wired Shut aside - I really miss Kubrick's voice.

I haven't seen EWS and have no plans to change that.

His best? Dr S.

'Gentlemen, you can't fight in here.  This is the war room.'

Basil wrote:England seem to be heading in the direction of a top four for the first test comprising:

Burns
Sibley
Crawley
Lawrence

Pass me the brandy someone.

You should be OK - you've stuck with Denly.

lardbucket wrote:I haven't seen EWS and have no plans to change that.

His best? Dr S.

'Gentlemen, you can't fight in here.  This is the war room.'

A stunning off the wall flick, all the way through.