The International Cricket Thread

[Richard E]

Pointless keeping Anderson in the squad, never mind in the XI.  Tongue needs to play in his place.

Agreed, a very poor performance from him this series.

4 wickets in three matches, so not even one wicket an innings on average.  114 overs bowled, and in that time he's got one top order batsman out, Labuschagne. His other three wickets have been bowlers and Carey.

He's being picked on repuation and out of loyalty.

Yes. He’s had his farewell test on his home ground and that should be it now, unfortunately.

[PaulWinch again]

Yeah of course but regardless of whether he’s being picked (I’m sure he’s not) they were never going to drop him out of the squad for the last game.

It’s such a shame he’s dropped off so much, he was excellent last summer. It’s not great seeing, probably, our best ever bowler fizzling out.

[Risso]

It's just annoying, and is most un-"Bazball" and a contributing factor in us not winning the Ashes back. Not picking Tongue after the match he played was madness, and sent entirely the wrong message I reckon.

[PaulWinch again]

I still think Tongue not getting selected in that game was down to the tight turnaround as much as anything.

[Gareth]

I still think Tongue not getting selected in that game was down to the tight turnaround as much as anything.

Agreed, suspect they  thought he’d struggle to keep up his pace with that turnaround…. had they not got to fit in that pointless, useless, pathetic hundred BS comp they might have played the tests in a proper schedule

[PaulWinch again]

I do think they need to reflect on this schedule. Tests need to be centre stage of the summer and they should be afforded the space to enable some tour games in the middle.

[Jon Crofts]

I think it was Ashley Giles on the wireless this morning saying early starts won’t work for test cricket and then went on to say that a 0930 start in England means a 0830 start in India and that wouldn’t work. I have no idea why he thinks that.

[Risso]

I think it was Ashley Giles on the wireless this morning saying early starts won’t work for test cricket and then went on to say that a 0930 start in England means a 0830 start in India and that wouldn’t work. I have no idea why he thinks that.

They were talking about this on R5 today, and the general consensus was that it's bollocks. The feeling is that the whole thing needs to be looked at, with start times, finish times, use of the lights, being sensible around lunch and tea etc, and having spare days built in all part of things that need looking at. People pay to see cricket and at the moment don't always get it, because of nonsense that's decades old. So if it's been raining all morning, and then stops, maybe fuck off the lunch break? Imagine how good it would be if they'd played today, England had won and the pinnacle of test cricket went to The Oval with the series at 2-2.

[Lastfootstamper]

Who the fuck is going to sit there for eight hours straight? It's not just about the players.

[Risso]

Who the fuck is going to sit there for eight hours straight? It's not just about the players.

I don't think anybody was suggesting that as an option.

[Risso]

I think it was Ashley Giles on the wireless this morning saying early starts won’t work for test cricket and then went on to say that a 0930 start in England means a 0830 start in India and that wouldn’t work. I have no idea why he thinks that.

Apparently in the 2005 series, the start time was moved to 10.30am so that Channel 4 could have Hollyoaks on at its normal time.

[Beard82]

I think it was Ashley Giles on the wireless this morning saying early starts won’t work for test cricket and then went on to say that a 0930 start in England means a 0830 start in India and that wouldn’t work. I have no idea why he thinks that.

Apparently in the 2005 series, the start time was moved to 10.30am so that Channel 4 could have Hollyoaks on at its normal time.

Hollyoaks is on at 8:30 in India, surely that's enough to put you off your breakfast?

[olaftab]

 Giles assertion that it would mean an early start on the sub continent is all about standard length of day’s play in all test playing countries. Countries near the equator do no benefit from long days in summer and to be truthful cricket can not be played there in the summer as it’s just too hot.
Why do we need standard days? it’s all to do with records, ranking and Test championship. All test matches are played over 5 days with 7.5 hours  day. 6.5 hours playing time.
So if the day was lengthened in England by whatever time it will have to be agreed as standard day in every country and for the reasons I have stated cricketing day in some countries can not be lengthened to more than 7.5 hours.

[Gareth]

England unchanged….can’t help but think Anderson is a sentimental pick based on form…hope I’m wrong and he takes 10 in the match.  Good that
Woakes seems to recovered from whatever kept him off the pitch

[PaulWinch again]

Kind of surprised Jimmy keeps his place, let’s hope he justifies it.

Happy with the rest of the side and glad Woakes is ok.