The International Cricket Thread

[Risso]

I'm with McCullum, it's part of the international game that pitches change around the world and within reasonable limits (England in India the other year) it's good and nice that teams get a bit of home advantage. Like, oh no is there turn in the subcontinent? How about getting on with it.

Isn't the point though that playing two matches in a row means it's not within reasonable limits?

[Monty]

I'm with McCullum, it's part of the international game that pitches change around the world and within reasonable limits (England in India the other year) it's good and nice that teams get a bit of home advantage. Like, oh no is there turn in the subcontinent? How about getting on with it.

Isn't the point though that playing two matches in a row means it's not within reasonable limits?

Normally, but given that that pitch was an absolute duvet in the first test I'm very content to make an exception here.

[olaftab]

New Zealand win by 8 wickets. Their first Test win in a long while in India.

[paul_e]

Toss was not the big factor. A talented spin attack was. They had it we didn’t.

The scores per innings went down consistently through the match, of course the bowling matters but I don't think you can say it had a bigger effect than the pitch. Either way I don't care enough to carry on with this, I just hope this doesn't become a common 'trick' because cricket played on a potato field just isn't good to watch.

[olaftab]

But if somewhere in the world they play cricket on potato fields then we must gear up to challenge them and beat them. That is cricket.

[taylorsworkrate]

Again, I would have to disagree. Imagine you are cricketer having played all your cricket on the sub continent and then you turn up at Headingly to face an England all seam attack on a very green wicket prepared for the home bowlers and temperature struggling in and around 17 degrees, low clouds also making the ball swing. It's a totally alien and hostile environment but hey that's how and where cricket is played in this island. Any home advantage has to be exploited.

I don't think theres been a "very green" pitch in England for decades.

They used the Kookaburra ball for the 1st two rounds of the County Championship in cold, overcast conditions this season. The result was that batsmen scored shed loads of runs and bowlers had no joy at all.

If England used the kookaburra in home tests, regardless of how green they made the pitches, it would be a batsmans paradise

[PaulWinch again]

I agree with a point made on the Wisden podcast - any week where one of the big three (financially) get turned over it’s a good thing for the game. I’m an England fan, but very good to see Pakistan and NZ winning.

[taylorsworkrate]

Michael Pepper has been called up to the England ODI tour of the West Indies.

If he doesn't open with Phil Salt at least once then English cricket is dead to me

[PaulWinch again]

It’s not looking great here. 3 gone already.

[manic-road]

Pope looked like a rabbit in the headlights, this pair need to put some runs on.

[Gareth]

That ball shooting through on Duckett before lunch day one….this is gonna be a short test match if our spinners join in

[PaulWinch again]

Looking bad at the minute. It’s turning but there are some ropey shots too.

[Villan For Life]

I thought when the openers got through 50 odd minutes that other than a slow and low pitch then we should be ok.

I completely understand that they have prepared a pitch to suit them and let’s face it we do it often enough in home tests but I do prefer to see an even contest between bat and ball.

[PaulWinch again]

And now Stokes gone.

[manic-road]

Smith and Atkinson putting on a bit of a fightback.