England v Pakistan, 4th Test, Lord's, Aug 26-30, 2010

Nath wrote:Best FTB bowler ton since Agarkar?

Best since Dizzy walloped the Bangers, surely? Broad might even get past his score as long as Jonathan "The Wall" Trott is at the other end.

In terms of value, Broad's innings is probably the most precious (for England, at least) since Alex Tudor's 99* at Edgbaston took the game away from the Kiwis in '99.

Nath wrote:Best FTB bowler ton since Agarkar?

Bit harsh on Broad because he can bat - averaging in the mid 20's with now 1x100 and 5x50

Ajit had the one score of over 50 inbetween lots of big fat zeros!

Watched England just before Tea, 200 for 7 or something.

Fair play, Trott and Broad. My hats off to them! They have saved England's bacon today. The rest of that dressing room better be sharp in the field to make up for their woes with the bat.

England = Poor in the morning, brilliant in the evening
Pakistan = Brilliant in the morning, poor in the evening.

What a marvellous days cricket this has been.

There has been some fantastic series played in England in the last 10 years - but I have really enjoyed this series - the ball has seamed and swung at right angles. It has been like vintage 1990s fare, a real contest between bat and ball with the ball mainly in the ascendency. I think it also shows that many of the English batsmen with their 40+ averages would have been lucky to average 35 playing in the 90s.

Also maybe romanticise the bowlers of the past a little too much - Amir was brilliant today, as good as Wasim ever was. So when he takes 1/140 on some featherbed in Sri Lanka remember that given the assistance 80s / 90s bowlers were - regular green seamers, he is deadly. Equally Asif has been a joy to watch and Jimmy Anderson has given a masterclass in swing bowling. We all know he can struggle on a flat track, but lets not forget how good he is when the ball is swinging. You wouldn't want anyone else in the world taking the new ball at the moment.

Carrying on the 90s theme - what an innings by Jonathan Trott. I had my doubts about him at 3, but he has really won me over now and is a shoo-in for the forseeable future. One of the greatest tricky wicket hundreds played for England in recent times, up there with Nasser at Christchurch and Athers at the Oval in 2000.

Infact he reminded me of Atherton at times with his dogged determination, but also of Steve Waugh, full of spiky cover drives and jerky flicks to leg. He seemed to be inspired by the hostility, from Akmal, Asif, and even Bowden at one point. Broad was brilliant, but of course he rode his luck like all number 9's must - it was Trott who laid the groundwork though. Broad wouldn't have got past 20 if Trott hadn't been there.

As for the rest of the England batting, I don't agree with the comments calling for players to be dropped - there simply is no-one better. But clearly Strauss, Cook, Pietersen and Collingwood all need to spend time in the nets honing their technique. I'm probably most concerned about Collingwood - are his eyes starting to go? With his jerky technique he doesn't have much to fall back on. Pietersen, Collingwood and Morgan have all made one score and very little else. Pietersen will come good for the Ashes though. I think I would bring Bell in for Morgan, but we'll see what happens in the rest of this match and the warm-up games before the Gabba.

JKLever wrote:

Nath wrote:Best FTB bowler ton since Agarkar?

Bit harsh on Broad because he can bat - averaging in the mid 20's with now 1x100 and 5x50

Ajit had the one score of over 50 inbetween lots of big fat zeros!

I can't remember whether MJ's ton was under FTB conditions.

Diz takes the bic tho

JKLever wrote:
Broad above Swanny again for me. Broad has a better defensive technique and it allows Swanneee the freedom to just play the way he wants and has been succesful at doing.

Yes I'd agree. Broad has always been the more correct bat, but has had so littletime in the middle this year he'd forgotten how to play. These last couple of innings has shown what he's capable of. He's been bowling pretty well too this series, so he'll go to Australia with plenty of confidence.

Be nice if they can carry on in the morning - the ball is 30 overs old so will have a bit of wear on it. Jimmy in next .... if he can hang about for 30 - 45 minutes, either Broady or Trott, whichever is still in - should be able to put another 20 - 30 on. If we can get past 400, Pakistan may yet struggle to avoid having to follow on.

Gary 111 wrote:Carrying on the 90s theme - what an innings by Jonathan Trott. I had my doubts about him at 3, but he has really won me over now and is a shoo-in for the forseeable future. One of the greatest tricky wicket hundreds played for England in recent times, up there with Nasser at Christchurch and Athers at the Oval in 2000.

Infact he reminded me of Atherton at times with his dogged determination, but also of Steve Waugh, full of spiky cover drives and jerky flicks to leg. He seemed to be inspired by the hostility, from Akmal, Asif, and even Bowden at one point. Broad was brilliant, but of course he rode his luck like all number 9's must - it was Trott who laid the groundwork though. Broad wouldn't have got past 20 if Trott hadn't been there.

As for the rest of the England batting, I don't agree with the comments calling for players to be dropped - there simply is no-one better. But clearly Strauss, Cook, Pietersen and Collingwood all need to spend time in the nets honing their technique. I'm probably most concerned about Collingwood - are his eyes starting to go? With his jerky technique he doesn't have much to fall back on. Pietersen, Collingwood and Morgan have all made one score and very little else. Pietersen will come good for the Ashes though. I think I would bring Bell in for Morgan, but we'll see what happens in the rest of this match and the warm-up games before the Gabba.

Yeah, I see a lot of Steve Waugh in Trott. From the technically perfect defensive shots, to the squinty gazes as he enters the zone, and the Chaplin like walk.

A few factoids - Billy Griffith scored his maiden fc hundred in the first innings of his first opening the innings when he made 140 against the West Indies in Trinidad in February 1948. 'Dizzy' Gillespie made his maiden fc hundred going in as nightwatchman in Australia's only innings of his final Test against Bangladesh at Chittagong in April 2006. Both men subsequently made 2 more centuries in fc cricket.

When Harry Wood made 134 in the one-off Test against South Africa at Newlands in March 1892 it was the first Test century by a wicketkeeper, the still-existing record score by an England No.8 and not only Wood's maiden fc 100 (and the first to be made in Tests by an England player) but, as it turned out, his only fc 100 (a record Broad will not want to emulate). Arthur Hill emulated Wood's feat in making his maiden fc 100 in a Test Match 4 years later, also against South Africa at Newlands in March 1896 when he made 124, like Griffith, opening the innings.

Griffith's 140 is the HS by an England player making his maiden fc 100 in Tests, 'Dizzy's' 201* undoubtedly the overall Test record. I shall be very surprised if Broad overhauls Gillespie but Griffith's record seems well within reach. I'm pretty sure Broad is the first England player to make his maiden fc 100 in Tests sincell Jack russell at Old Trafford in 1989. Closest between Russell and Broad must be Tudor's 99* v. NZ at Edgbaston in 1999 (Tudor went on to make 2 fc centuries subsequent to this match).

We are so screwed in Ashes 10-11.

Gary 111 wrote:What a marvellous days cricket this has been.

There has been some fantastic series played in England in the last 10 years - but I have really enjoyed this series - the ball has seamed and swung at right angles. It has been like vintage 1990s fare, a real contest between bat and ball with the ball mainly in the ascendency. I think it also shows that many of the English batsmen with their 40+ averages would have been lucky to average 35 playing in the 90s.

Also maybe romanticise the bowlers of the past a little too much - Amir was brilliant today, as good as Wasim ever was. So when he takes 1/140 on some featherbed in Sri Lanka remember that given the assistance 80s / 90s bowlers were - regular green seamers, he is deadly. Equally Asif has been a joy to watch and Jimmy Anderson has given a masterclass in swing bowling. We all know he can struggle on a flat track, but lets not forget how good he is when the ball is swinging. You wouldn't want anyone else in the world taking the new ball at the moment.

Agree, I made this point in a thread a month or so. The bowlers of yore who enjoyed the seaming tracks would have had more unflattering records had they been exposed to a lot of the flat sub-continent decks around today.

Trott has redeemed himself after struggling in SA but the rest of England's top-order has had a mixed summer.

As usual, Boycs makes sense-

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/cricket/england/8948122.stm

So, Poms to lose 3-10 - all out 356?

Or Trottski and Broadaxe to both make 200s?

I predict Fox Sports will not show any of it until 10.30pm

skully wrote:So, Poms to lose 3-10 - all out 356?

Or Trottski and Broadaxe to both make 200s?

Looks like the sun is shining - so batsman-friendly conditions.

Fox sports in Aus not showing the cricket until 10.30 because they are covering an AFL game that is already being shown on free to air tv. What is the point? I mean WHAT IS THE POINT?

Henry wrote:As usual, Boycs makes sense-

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/cricket/england/8948122.stm

If Hampshire don't want him to play - does he even have the option of county cricket until his contract expires?

I know in football the club would never allow it. But in cricket the country has more clout and can put external pressure on Hampshire I suppose. But is that within the remit of the ECB to put pressure on a county and tell them who to pick / who to loan.

Surrey are short term signing sluts. They'll welcome KP with open arms if he's allowed to sign short term for another county.

Basil wrote:

skully wrote:So, Poms to lose 3-10 - all out 356?

Or Trottski and Broadaxe to both make 200s?

Looks like the sun is shining - so batsman-friendly conditions.

So 200s all round then.

This has got to have been hella frustrating for Pakistan knowing that at any time they broke this partnership the could have gone 10, Jack as well.

You would still back Pakistan to bat decently in these conditions though, so should be a good contest for the rest of the game.

Trott is the most technically sound English batsman since a young Atherton and possibly Ian Bell (purely from a technical point of view)

300 partnership for the 8th wicket. Quite unbelievable really.

Henry wrote:300 partnership for the 8th wicket. Quite unbelievable really.

Jesus!!!!

Only a boundary away from the World Record!! Holy Moley.