England v Bangladesh, 2nd Test, Manchester, June 4-8, 2010

furriner wrote:What a load of $hite.

I know, how did we let them get to three figures from 39-6...

20 wickets in two sessions, appalling stuff from the Banglas though impressive bowling and less than ideal batting conditions definately played a part.

I suppose Bell will get man of the match, though I'd still rather Finn or Swann get it.

Tamim must be thinking his best career move would be to stay in England and serve his 4 or 5 years' qualification period here rather than continue with this bunch of muppets as team-mates...

Humid, overcast conditions - no surprise really that the Bangles collapsed in such a heap.

Previous England innings victory - Innings & 98 over SA at Durban last December.
Previous occasion in England - Inns & 81 over WI at The Riverside in May 2009.

How are they ever going to get experience of such conditions? They are not scheduled to tour here for Tests again in the foreseeable future, and there's only one or two players who stand any chance of being considered for a county contract given the restriction on overseas players. I suppose there's club cricket over here but if there's better paid alternatives closer to home then they won't bother.

I calculate that Finn now has 19 wickets @ 23.42. If his average is still in that ballpark in 12months time, that'll be the Ashes retained.

beamer wrote:Tamim must be thinking his best career move would be to stay in England and serve his 4 or 5 years' qualification period here rather than continue with this bunch of muppets as team-mates...

I hope not, it's good to see them have at least one test class player, hopefully they can build from here.

I liked both Finn and Tamim's interviews there, Finn for saying that he wasn't totally happy with how he was bowling which shows that he wants to improve, decent attitude to have. Tamim's was brutally honest in his assesment of his team mates, saying the reason for his success is that he works harder than them and that they need to work harder!

Basil wrote:I calculate that Finn now has 19 wickets @ 23.42. If his average is still in that ballpark in 12months time, that'll be the Ashes retained.

And taking out games against Bangladesh his average is... oh hang on a minute, he's only played against Bangladesh.

Yes, but good to see noone getting carried away. Finn & Shazhad certainly doing enough to be in the selectors thoughts for the future though.

Finn will probably not play the ODI's but i'd like to see Shazzer get a gig in the Aus ODI's - we simply didn't have anything different in last years games so someone with the ability to bowl yorkers, inswing could be useful

Will Big Bres get picked against Aus in those JAMODI's?

If fit i'm sure he'll be in the squad - he's been performing well in that form of the game

Deary me. What a debacle for the Bangers.

Well done Engulund. You can only play those put before you, and you smashed 'em.

Effectively, two sessions - 20 wickets.

England played SL in their first test in 1982 - within three years they were good enough to hold England to a draw at Lords.

Tamim is a special talent......but their bowling FFS!

Shakib will play for the Pears in the second half of the season and I hope he puts the experience to good use but Dear God - he is no captain.

Anderson can be very good at times

PlanetPakistan wrote:Anderson can be very good at times

Yes, but the "at times" bit should be "most of the time"

Well, the pack of cards had to collapse eventually.... and it did in spectacular fashion in two sessions yesterday.
So ... have England "learned" from this 8 day (in total) "test cricket" exercize?
Not a single jot.
Easy pickings ... Easy money.... Moving on.

So some good bowling, Merls? Or inept batting? I suspect a combo.

It's quite disappointing the lack of application (or talent) the Banger middle order seems to have.

Oh well, on to the Pakster Tests.

Saw the highlights last night skulls (I played yesterday) - really not much to glean from them .. it was grey, damp, low cloud, asked to follow on - the Bangles had no where to go basically. 10 wickets in a session FFS ... Finn (very McGrath-esque)bowled well - improving every innings (watch out Down Under) as did Jimmy and the newbie Shazam - but hey - they had their conditions and it was, after all, Bangladesh!
Easy meat for the hungry Lions ... job done - 2 days off on the golf course!

Sad to witness really - said so all along - these kinda "tests" prove to be nothing but embarrassing all round ... half empty stadia packed with school kids on freebies ! Hollow victory in the end.

Revelations :
England will definitely need a 5 man bowling attack in Oz ... unless Al Gore's "climate change" hits Aus by November yielding grey conditions ...
Bell prolonged his test career ... as did Prior.
Finn now a cert (bar injury) for future tests
Cook ought to keep a wary look out over his shoulder ...
Morgan will have to wait a bit longer for a lengthier trot in the test squad ...

Cheers man. Nice wrap.

Merlin wrote:Well, the pack of cards had to collapse eventually.... and it did in spectacular fashion in two sessions yesterday.
So ... have England "learned" from this 8 day (in total) "test cricket" exercize?
Not a single jot.
Easy pickings ... Easy money.... Moving on.

Rubbish Merls. They've learnt more about Finn, and they've unearthed Ajmal Shahzad. Even though it was only Bangladesh, you could tell that those two have something about them, and could cause all batsmen problems. We now have two more fast bowling prospects heading into the ashes.

Let's not forget that the Bangers put up a fair fight at Lord's and were only a couple of solid innings away from drawing that match. In fact, they really should have drawn the first test.

Read further down my post Trev ... though can't say Shazam "impressed" ... he was good - but let's not go overboard eh!

Anyway, Lord's is history... long gone!

The Bangles were mauled at OT - so that still makes them sh!t - the whipping boys (that should excite tac the goatherd) of test cricket - and the lackeys of the BCCI on the ICC committee, where their subi vote is guaranteed to back BanIndia's ... P 68 Lost 59 ... impressive!

I'd say Shahzad impressed - certainly in his second spell of their 2nd innings.
He was bowling at 90mph and getting a bit of reverse, and I don't recall anyone doing that for us since Jones in '95 other than Fred. Early days of course, but that could prove useful in Oz if he keeps improving..

He's got a better action than Sajid Mahmood as well, so there shouldn't be too much of a comparison there.

Certainly take Shazam to Oz rather than fat-boy curly-wig Sibo ... but agree, early days yet. Play both rookies against Pakistan and take it from there.... but then again, Broadly returns for that series ... so who plays and who goes?