Cricket (None Leicestershire County Cricket Club)

[Tommy Fresh]

1 minute ago, everton carr said:

Not sure if Gay can play for England straight away now he's currently playing for Italy who have qualified for the T20 world cup next year

He's played for the Lions recently hasn't he? I don't think the Italy involvement hinders calling him up does it

[CL Fox]

3 minutes ago, Chris_OGrady said:

The Ashes is our big derby and an India series will never quite be the same. I wasn't annoyed at all this morning and felt happy for India because they deserved it. If that was the Ashes I would have been absolutely fuming. It's been a great series and the tests have all ended well, however there have been dull spells where the pitch has been completely flat. 

I think the way they've talked up the series has been overblown to be honest. Tests 2 and 4 were pretty dull for me - too many runs scored. You could even argue the first innings of the Lords test was pretty dull. The better tests are always the closer ones - the 5th was a classic, no doubt. The 05 Ashes was close the whole time - it'll be hard to ever beat that for me.

[everton carr]

4 minutes ago, Tommy Fresh said:

He's played for the Lions recently hasn't he? I don't think the Italy involvement hinders calling him up does it

Fair enough forgot about the Lions

[AKCJ]

12 minutes ago, CL Fox said:

I think the way they've talked up the series has been overblown to be honest. Tests 2 and 4 were pretty dull for me - too many runs scored. You could even argue the first innings of the Lords test was pretty dull. The better tests are always the closer ones - the 5th was a classic, no doubt. The 05 Ashes was close the whole time - it'll be hard to ever beat that for me.

I get that the bowlers have been mostly flogged all summer but pretty much every test was like a seesaw of @StanSP and I constantly thinking we've ****ed it and arguing with each other for the other being too pessimistic  

 

Every game has been balanced on a knife edge that has tipped from side to side. Every game has had massive drama at some stage.

Edited 4 August 2025 by AKCJ

[Lionator]

Don’t think England have been too bad in terms of attitude, the real issue this series is aside from Root, Stokes and others and very rare occasions, we’re just not that good. 

[Bert]

6 minutes ago, Lionator said:

Don’t think England have been too bad in terms of attitude, the real issue this series is aside from Root, Stokes and others and very rare occasions, we’re just not that good. 

Pretty harsh on Brook and Duckett. 

[Lionator]

8 minutes ago, Bert said:

Pretty harsh on Brook and Duckett. 

They would be the select others, which kinda shows the problem is that our bowlers just haven’t been good enough in long spells. 

[AKCJ]

Duckett averages 47 under Ben Stokes with an SR of 87.

 

He's been a fantastic addition to the team and is one of the first on the plane for me.

[CL Fox]

51 minutes ago, Bert said:

Pretty harsh on Brook and Duckett. 

And Smith, And Atkinson, And Tongue.

[Corky]

4 hours ago, AKCJ said:

So anyway, glad to get that Test shite out the way. Who else is looking forward to The Hundred?? Anyone?!??

Hula Hoops CC away on Thursday.

[leicsmac]

On the topic above, another reason this series resulted as it did was how many English frontline bowlers were missing (and also how much Broad and Jimmy are missed). Was definitely a series for the batting averages, not the bowling ones. 

[Bert]

47 minutes ago, AKCJ said:

Duckett averages 47 under Ben Stokes with an SR of 87.

 

He's been a fantastic addition to the team and is one of the first on the plane for me.

Probably not a better multi format opener in the world right now? 

[leicsmac]

I think the batting is pretty much set in stone - Crawley isn't going anywhere and Bethell didn't do enough to challenge Pope. 

 

It's the bowling that is going to be critical- desperately need Archer, Wood and Atkinson ready to go, with Carse, Tongue and Potts available as well. Anything less than full strength won't get the job done. 

[CL Fox]

1 hour ago, AKCJ said:

I get that the bowlers have been mostly flogged all summer but pretty much every test was like a seesaw of @StanSP and I constantly thinking we've ****ed it and arguing with each other for the other being too pessimistic  

 

Every game has been balanced on a knife edge that has tipped from side to side. Every game has had massive drama at some stage.

To some extent yeah and im not saying it wasn't a gripping test series. Personally I think the tight low scoring gakes are just more dramatic. For large parts of this series- overs 30-80 - nothing was doing and I found that a bit dull at times.

[CL Fox]

17 minutes ago, leicsmac said:

On the topic above, another reason this series resulted as it did was how many English frontline bowlers were missing (and also how much Broad and Jimmy are missed). Was definitely a series for the batting averages, not the bowling ones. 

Yeah irked me slightly how often India's absences were highlighted - we were missing our whole first choice fast bowling attack for the first two tests. 

[RonnieTodger]

Such a phenomenal series and then you get that sinking feeling seeing the Hundred’s graphics. 

[AKCJ]

28 minutes ago, Bert said:

Probably not a better multi format opener in the world right now? 

Jaiswal would be right up there with him but absolutely one of the best.

[Silebyfox_89]

Ahmed has too go to Aus, in the form of his life.

 

[StanSP]

1 hour ago, Bert said:

Probably not a better multi format opener in the world right now? 

 

1 hour ago, AKCJ said:

Jaiswal would be right up there with him but absolutely one of the best.

Rahul too potentially. 

[Bert]

1 hour ago, AKCJ said:

Jaiswal would be right up there with him but absolutely one of the best.

You’d have to say Jaiswal will have the better career due to his age and Duckett being quite a late starter. But at this moment in time, I’d be having Duckett.  

[AKCJ]

14 minutes ago, Bert said:

You’d have to say Jaiswal will have the better career due to his age and Duckett being quite a late starter. But at this moment in time, I’d be having Duckett.  

Couldn't argue with that!

[StanSP]

https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/eng-vs-ind-5th-test-the-agony-the-ecstasy-56-minutes-of-test-cricket-at-its-most-glorious-1498015

 

Great article here encapsulating the morning and the series. 

 

Despite the above, it's still hard to truly put into words what this series this summer has given us all. And what it's given to Test cricket's reputation too. 

[Lionator]

3 hours ago, AKCJ said:

Duckett averages 47 under Ben Stokes with an SR of 87.

 

He's been a fantastic addition to the team and is one of the first on the plane for me.

Australia will be a real test of how far he’s come as the pace and bounce of the pitches, should in theory show his weaknesses that we saw in the second innings of this test. If he can avoid that, then he’s onto a winner. Great lad too . 

[Bert]

42 minutes ago, StanSP said:

https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/eng-vs-ind-5th-test-the-agony-the-ecstasy-56-minutes-of-test-cricket-at-its-most-glorious-1498015

 

Great article here encapsulating the morning and the series. 

 

Despite the above, it's still hard to truly put into words what this series this summer has given us all. And what it's given to Test cricket's reputation too. 

Test cricket, is and always will be the pinnacle. 

[CL Fox]

1 hour ago, StanSP said:

 

Rahul too potentially. 

Not in all formats, and he averages the same as Pope in tests. Brilliant series but not for me.