The International Cricket Thread

[Villan For Life]

I cannot summon up any enthusiasm for this series. For me, and including the last test against Sri Lanka, it’s all got an end of season, going through the motions feel to it.

[Steve67]

Brilliant stuff from Livingstone and Bethell.  Cracking game.

[PaulWinch again]

Yeah excellent from both.

[paul_e]

Really pleased for Bethel, he's going to be an excellent player.

[PaulWinch again]

Another century for Kamindu Mendis. His start to to his Test career is absolutely bonkers.

[PaulWinch again]

That is quite the hammering.

[PaulWinch again]

Brook’s comments weren’t great. Stokes and McCullum have clearly moved the messaging on a bit in the Test space, and it’s fine to have an aggressive approach, but some of the players aren’t great at articulating things. Brook does it at times, and Duckett is really poor with it too. Crawley was but he’s improved.

[PaulWinch again]

Another stinker of a batting display.

[tomd2103]

Another stinker of a batting display.

Not looking for excuses, but it probably doesn’t help that they hardly play 50 over cricket anymore.

[Villan For Life]

Another stinker of a batting display.

Not looking for excuses, but it probably doesn’t help that they hardly play 50 over cricket anymore.

I said at the time that the Hundred was introduced that it was ridiculous that the then current 50 over World Champions did not have a first class 50 over domestic competition. That really is bizarre planning and I’ve seen nothing since to change my opinion

[Meanwood Villa]

We've even had a horrendous defence of that WC and it didn't change anything. At least we can say we're the best (only) in the world at 100 ball cricket.

[Gareth]

Farcical that this nonsense series is being played so that the squad aren’t available for the last round of proper cricket championship….could have easily been a title at stake

[PaulWinch again]

Obviously it’s there to generate cash but I’d be really interested in the viewing figures. Can’t imagine it’s driving much demand. Call me old fashioned but I used to love the bi-lateral ODI’s as a pre-cursor to a Test series. There wasn’t a complete overlap of players, but it helped develop storylines/rivalries. 2005 was a prime example.

[dcdavecollett]

Yes, the decision to deny our one-day players the chance to play 50-over cricket for reasons of sheer greed is yet another benefit of Thatcherite economics.

[Rory]

Obviously it’s there to generate cash but I’d be really interested in the viewing figures. Can’t imagine it’s driving much demand. Call me old fashioned but I used to love the bi-lateral ODI’s as a pre-cursor to a Test series. There wasn’t a complete overlap of players, but it helped develop storylines/rivalries. 2005 was a prime example.

Yep, 2005 is a beautiful example.

There was the T20, then the ODIs, then the Tests. Of course T20 was very new then, but as you say, it developed the narrative.

I'd much rather see a three-match T20, three-match ODI and three-match Test against West Indies than the random configuration they're currently operating.