The International Cricket Thread

[manic-road]

Fantastic win for England this morning, to get a win in India is pretty rare at the best of times but that was a great team performance.

[JD]

Brilliant and convincing win. Well played England.

[PaulWinch again]

Brilliant performance from England. Pleased that Leach found some rhythm and confidence as well.

[paul_e]

If any hasn't seen them there's some highlights here - https://www.bcci.tv/videos/149576/ind-vs-eng-2021-1st-test-day-5-match-highlights

The 3 ball spell from Jimmy to get Gill and Rahane is scary, totally unplayable and the Stokes ball to get Kohli is just as good.

[tomd2103]

Surely got to be one of our best test wins in modern times.  Sets the series up really well.

[Moonraker]

Yes, great final day. Jimmy at 38 was just outstanding. Would be a big call to rest him for the next Test. Channel 4 coverage not brilliant, I know it is difficult in covid times but the punditry with Sirs Cooky and Straussy wasn't the best!

[paul_e]

Yes, great final day. Jimmy at 38 was just outstanding. Would be a big call to rest him for the next Test. Channel 4 coverage not brilliant, I know it is difficult in covid times but the punditry with Sirs Cooky and Straussy wasn't the best!

I understand the arguments for free-to-air test matches but I don't think it is helped by a product that is so clearly inferior to Sky (the BT coverage is in the middle somewhere) when they get a chance. I get that they had very little notice and are using almost entirely the starsports footage but it's still very poor, I hope it improves as the series progresses. That said, for me, Cook was ok and added some decent insight but the in-play commentary was poor, it's the first time in a while where I'd have preferred to mute it and put TMS on but I couldn't even do that (to be clear that's no slight on TMS which is excellent if I can't watch it but I normally can't be arsed with trying to sync up the radio and pictures, this test I'd happily have put the time in if I'd had the choice).

[UK Redsox]

I thought that the commentary was fine. I quiet like Nick Knight and Mark Butcher. Far better than some of the star name commentators that Sky prefer for Tests
(NK & MB are normally restricted to T20 games on Sky). Their Indian colleagues were ok as well. Good to have the commentators in the stadium.

Sir Chef has been great on his TMS appearances. I've tended to watch this Test on fast-forward, so haven't listened to his C4 studio contributions.

The somewhat poor pictures and graphics are down to the host broadcaster. Nowt C4 can do about that really.

[Villan For Life]

The TalkSPORT coverage was shocking. Gareth Batty & Neil Manthorp aside the rest were bang average, Mark Nicholas is too in love with himself to offer anything of any insight and the number of times he rabbited on and missed a delivery was frustrating and amateurish.

I love TMS, it’s not as good as it was but it’s street ahead of the rest.

[PaulWinch again]

I didn’t mind the Channel 4 coverage - acknowledging the limitations and constraints in place. The one thing that did bother me was going to ads at the wrong time and missing a delivery.

[Whiney MacWhineface]

I thought the umpiring was excellent - especially when their Test experience was 0 and 4.

[PaulWinch again]

Looks like there will likely be some fans for the second Test.

[PaulWinch again]

Jof being out is a blow.

[olaftab]

Yes Jofra being out is a disadvantage as the pitch at Chennai will provide help to seamers.

[PaulWinch again]

I really like Jack Leach. Every time I hear him speak he sounds like a lovely bloke and he’s clearly got a lot of character.