Second Ashes Test. Lord's.
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23 YIPPEE!!!
Another way, equally traditional, would be for England to import fake Englishmen from S. Africa. Narrow-minded people will whinge that Rabada and Maharaj are not English-sounding names, but even they cannot object to a wholesome name like Elgar. And K. Abbott is in England anyway and ineligible to play for S. Africa. Not only does England steal other cricketing nations' good players, but the counties also lure them into financially stable international retirement. (I realize this is an issue for Rugby Union too.)Pies4shaw wrote:The best thing said about the Test on Cricinfo overnight: “At least England have found a way to stop Steve Smith.”
On a more technical note, England should bowl the way every commentator on the TV broadcast is saying they should. I have quoted extensively in this thread.
Back Bancroft for 'long term', says Waugh...
https://www.theage.com.au/sport/cricket ... 52i14.html
' “Cameron’s preparation for this Test was excellent. He looked really good in the nets, and he’s pretty relaxed at the moment,” he said. “He’d like some more runs but I am backing him to do well. He’s a thoroughly professional cricketer, a nice, decent guy who works hard at his game. He’s dedicated and he’s disappointed he missed out, but he’s the sort of cricketer ... he’s tough and he’ll come back.”
...
“In the past I’ve seen Warner as looking to find his edge all the time, whereas this has been a slight change of plan,” Broad said.
“That’s been more personally from me, looking to bring the stumps into play. That’s been on the pitches we’ve played on. They’ve been quite dry, much drier than we were expecting as a side. That wobble seam has moved off the dryness of the pitch rather than there being a bit of moisture and swinging.
“I’ve just been looking to wobble it onto off stump. My mindset for this whole series is making the batsmen play as much as possible and then if it does anything either way you’re in the game." '
[What Steve doesn't talk about is Bancroft's technique, which is what is drawing all the criticism.]
https://www.theage.com.au/sport/cricket ... 52i14.html
' “Cameron’s preparation for this Test was excellent. He looked really good in the nets, and he’s pretty relaxed at the moment,” he said. “He’d like some more runs but I am backing him to do well. He’s a thoroughly professional cricketer, a nice, decent guy who works hard at his game. He’s dedicated and he’s disappointed he missed out, but he’s the sort of cricketer ... he’s tough and he’ll come back.”
...
“In the past I’ve seen Warner as looking to find his edge all the time, whereas this has been a slight change of plan,” Broad said.
“That’s been more personally from me, looking to bring the stumps into play. That’s been on the pitches we’ve played on. They’ve been quite dry, much drier than we were expecting as a side. That wobble seam has moved off the dryness of the pitch rather than there being a bit of moisture and swinging.
“I’ve just been looking to wobble it onto off stump. My mindset for this whole series is making the batsmen play as much as possible and then if it does anything either way you’re in the game." '
[What Steve doesn't talk about is Bancroft's technique, which is what is drawing all the criticism.]
Ponting on Bancroft:
"It's a technique all of his own. He falls over a little bit and his head is always outside the line of his front foot and that generally means you're going to be susceptible to the ball coming back in. But he's found a way to make runs all over the world in the last couple of years.
"(Bancroft and Warner) are both batting at the toughest time of the innings and I think they eventually will score some runs. There'll be times when they get through the new ball and capitalise on good conditions. They've got to stick with them now."
https://www.cricket.com.au/news/ricky-p ... 2019-08-17
"It's a technique all of his own. He falls over a little bit and his head is always outside the line of his front foot and that generally means you're going to be susceptible to the ball coming back in. But he's found a way to make runs all over the world in the last couple of years.
"(Bancroft and Warner) are both batting at the toughest time of the innings and I think they eventually will score some runs. There'll be times when they get through the new ball and capitalise on good conditions. They've got to stick with them now."
https://www.cricket.com.au/news/ricky-p ... 2019-08-17
Miller, cricinfo:
"But it's a measure of the speed and fragility of Test batting in the T20 era that three wickets seemed scant return for the opportunity that had presented itself in England's two-hour window before the deluge.
Perhaps we are getting greedy, or cynical, or both. Or perhaps we need only to look at the evidence of recent Test matches involving England - most particularly on this very ground, but all around the world too - to know that when bowling sides get it right in even the most faintly conducive of conditions, carnage can ensue.
After all, 24.1 overs is three more balls than Ireland required to rout England for 85 on the first day at Lord's last month. And it is 51 more than England themselves needed to exact their fourth-innings vengeance in the same game, as Ireland tumbled in turn for 38.
It is 16 deliveries more than England needed to lose all ten of their wickets against West Indies in Barbados in February, and 21 more than it took for them to be 58 all out in Auckland two winters ago.
And, lest we lose sight of the fact that England aren't the team batting right now, it is still only three home Ashes Tests since Australia were the side being routed for 60 in 18.3 overs at Trent Bridge.
...
And the common denominator to all of the above debacles? It was length, obviously.
...
If truth be told, Australia could and probably should have been routed under cloud cover, just as England should - but clearly couldn't - have capitalised on Thursday's clear skies after being inserted."
https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/_/id ... -resources
"But it's a measure of the speed and fragility of Test batting in the T20 era that three wickets seemed scant return for the opportunity that had presented itself in England's two-hour window before the deluge.
Perhaps we are getting greedy, or cynical, or both. Or perhaps we need only to look at the evidence of recent Test matches involving England - most particularly on this very ground, but all around the world too - to know that when bowling sides get it right in even the most faintly conducive of conditions, carnage can ensue.
After all, 24.1 overs is three more balls than Ireland required to rout England for 85 on the first day at Lord's last month. And it is 51 more than England themselves needed to exact their fourth-innings vengeance in the same game, as Ireland tumbled in turn for 38.
It is 16 deliveries more than England needed to lose all ten of their wickets against West Indies in Barbados in February, and 21 more than it took for them to be 58 all out in Auckland two winters ago.
And, lest we lose sight of the fact that England aren't the team batting right now, it is still only three home Ashes Tests since Australia were the side being routed for 60 in 18.3 overs at Trent Bridge.
...
And the common denominator to all of the above debacles? It was length, obviously.
...
If truth be told, Australia could and probably should have been routed under cloud cover, just as England should - but clearly couldn't - have capitalised on Thursday's clear skies after being inserted."
https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/_/id ... -resources
We have play!
And Wade gets off the mark first ball, after patiently staying on zero for so long yesterday.
Stokes gets a bit of bounce to Smith.
But the next one is tucked to the leg side for a single in the usual way. Daft bowling.
Botham: "A bonus for England. ... There's a bit of cloud cover now."
Botham & Warne talk up England's position, but surely even semi-competent batting will make the draw very likely.
And Wade gets off the mark first ball, after patiently staying on zero for so long yesterday.
Stokes gets a bit of bounce to Smith.
But the next one is tucked to the leg side for a single in the usual way. Daft bowling.
Botham: "A bonus for England. ... There's a bit of cloud cover now."
Botham & Warne talk up England's position, but surely even semi-competent batting will make the draw very likely.
Warne's turn to say the same thing...
Warne: "The key is the length. ... With that grip, it's pretty hard for Smith to hit it through the covers."
He wants it fuller to Smith.
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Short, wide, and Smith punches it to the boundary.
Botham: "It's the length."
He sounds frustrated by the moronic bowling to Smith.
Warne: "Still a good shot."
I'm trying to remember when I last heard so many commentators agreeing on a cricket point.
Warne: "The key is the length. ... With that grip, it's pretty hard for Smith to hit it through the covers."
He wants it fuller to Smith.
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Short, wide, and Smith punches it to the boundary.
Botham: "It's the length."
He sounds frustrated by the moronic bowling to Smith.
Warne: "Still a good shot."
I'm trying to remember when I last heard so many commentators agreeing on a cricket point.
And again, in Broad's next over.
Short, wide, punched to the cover boundary by Smith.
Botham wants it fuller.
Botham: "Fourth, maybe fifth stumps, but fuller. ... It's the length. He's very happy back of a length."
And Broad beats Smith, but Botham is critical.
Botham: "Another foot and a half up there and he'd have edged it."
Botham thinks it does not even need movement to the slips, though that'd be nice. Just the ball going on, with the line and length prescribed, would cause problems.
Wade drives for 4. He's looked good. Yesterday, on zero, he hit some nice cover drives straight to the field.
Short, wide, punched to the cover boundary by Smith.
Botham wants it fuller.
Botham: "Fourth, maybe fifth stumps, but fuller. ... It's the length. He's very happy back of a length."
And Broad beats Smith, but Botham is critical.
Botham: "Another foot and a half up there and he'd have edged it."
Botham thinks it does not even need movement to the slips, though that'd be nice. Just the ball going on, with the line and length prescribed, would cause problems.
Wade drives for 4. He's looked good. Yesterday, on zero, he hit some nice cover drives straight to the field.
Holding says everyone's been talking about Archer being the man for Smith, but he doesn't agree. Holding thinks the bowlers should use the crease to Smith, and Archer doesn't.
Botham thinks Archer has had a warning for running on the pitch. It's because he's going around the wicket to the LHed Wade.
Warne wonders whether going around the wicket is a defensive move.
Botham thinks Archer has had a warning for running on the pitch. It's because he's going around the wicket to the LHed Wade.
Warne wonders whether going around the wicket is a defensive move.
Broad gets Wade, nicking off. Burns takes the catch.
Oz 5/102.
A bit of bother now. We may end up being happy for the rain...
The Tassie keepers pass each other on the way in/out.
Nasser: "... he's been as full as he's ever been..."
How many times will the commentators say "full", "fuller", "length", etc. today?
Athers: "Had it been shorter, Wade may have defended it rather than attacking."
It's gloomy. The lights are coming on. This is good for England.
Broad finishes a wicket maiden.
Oz 5/102.
A bit of bother now. We may end up being happy for the rain...
The Tassie keepers pass each other on the way in/out.
Nasser: "... he's been as full as he's ever been..."
How many times will the commentators say "full", "fuller", "length", etc. today?
Athers: "Had it been shorter, Wade may have defended it rather than attacking."
It's gloomy. The lights are coming on. This is good for England.
Broad finishes a wicket maiden.
Archer induces a wild slash outside off from Smith.
Luckily for Oz, there is no nick, but there are lots of oohs from the crowd.
Nasser: "For a second, Steve Smith was swaying out of the way, but it just kept down a bit."
Another maiden.
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Holding praises the planning of Broad to get Wade's wicket.
Nasser is talking about bowling full again. Athers says Broad's been receptive to change.
Taylor said yesterday Oz is lucky Anderson's injured, because the way Broad is bowling to LHers and Anderson's bowling to RHers, ...
Luckily for Oz, there is no nick, but there are lots of oohs from the crowd.
Nasser: "For a second, Steve Smith was swaying out of the way, but it just kept down a bit."
Another maiden.
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Holding praises the planning of Broad to get Wade's wicket.
Nasser is talking about bowling full again. Athers says Broad's been receptive to change.
Taylor said yesterday Oz is lucky Anderson's injured, because the way Broad is bowling to LHers and Anderson's bowling to RHers, ...