Cricket (None Leicestershire County Cricket Club)

[Lionator]

1 hour ago, leicsmac said:

The draw is steadily coming back until the equation here, though. NZ need at least a 450 lead to declare on, and they're likely not going to get that until after tea, which means England will, at most, likely have to bat just above a day to force a draw in a worst case scenario. 

There’s zero chance England are chasing 450 with their level of confidence and this pitch. 350 will be more than enough. They’re gonna be terrified of Foulkes and Smith seaming it into West Bridgford. 

[leicsmac]

1 minute ago, Lionator said:

There’s zero chance England are chasing 450 with their level of confidence and this pitch. 350 will be more than enough. They’re gonna be terrified of Foulkes and Smith seaming it into West Bridgford. 

Then they will have to bat around 100(ish) overs to force the draw. And if they can't do that in these conditions as the teams of old could, then they don't deserve a result. 

[Lionator]

27 minutes ago, leicsmac said:

Then they will have to bat around 100(ish) overs to force the draw. And if they can't do that in these conditions as the teams of old could, then they don't deserve a result. 

The pitch has turned into one of those where you have one with your name on it, batting it out is going to be very hard and something this England side has shown they can’t do. 

[leicsmac]

32 minutes ago, Lionator said:

The pitch has turned into one of those where you have one with your name on it, batting it out is going to be very hard and something this England side has shown they can’t do. 

You could well be right, I guess we'll find out soon enough. 

[STEVIE B]

1 hour ago, leicsmac said:

Then they will have to bat around 100(ish) overs to force the draw. And if they can't do that in these conditions as the teams of old could, then they don't deserve a result. 

Batting for that length of time, late on day 4 & all of day 5 isn't easy in any conditions. 

[leicsmac]

7 minutes ago, STEVIE B said:

Batting for that length of time, late on day 4 & all of day 5 isn't easy in any conditions. 

It has been done, though, by less skilled teams than this one. 

 

Anyway, given the last 15 minutes of play it's likely an academic discussion now, NZ won't make enough to hit a target to declare at so there's going to be a result one way or the other. 

[Rubbersoul]

I turned off and we get 3 wickets 

[PAULCFC]

Free entry to Trent Bridge tommorow,if any one's near.

[Corky]

Stokes to retire after the match.

[RowlattsFox]

Amazed they've announced it during the game.

Clearly Ben Stokes is not right at the minute. 

[Vacamion]

 

Not sure why they announce it at this point.

 

Maybe to get that wicket  

[RowlattsFox]

Haha that's brilliant timing 

[Corky]

Had to happen 

[Vacamion]

 

He's spent himself in the role.

 

Fair play.  He's given us all a lot of pleasure.

 

That Headingley game is still a great watch.

 

[leicsmac]

Thank you, Stokesy. Belongs in the all time list in the manner of Botham - perhaps not the most prolific player, but a player built for the big occasion.

[GLC]

The fact he got a wicket the ball after the announcement, is a special moment to witness live. 
 

 

[leicsmac]

And that crowd roar was monumental. 

[Lionator]

Think he’s absolutely exhausted and probably a bit mentally unwell. As someone going through it myself currently, you really can see it in his eyes. He needs a rest, maybe play some cricket for Durham and spend some time with his family. 

[RowlattsFox]

Probably feels this test is unlikely to win now. 

[Wsl]

No problem with him retiring in his own terms. Loved watching him play. I’ll never forget THAT innings. But to announce it mid game? If the ECB announced he would be stood down as captain mid match they’d be riots. Genuinely no idea why it couldn’t have waited till the end of the match. Seems extraordinarily disruptive. Can’t help but think the mid match timing in Day 3 was intended to be a two fingers up to some one/some group of people. 

[STEVIE B]

8 minutes ago, RowlattsFox said:

Amazed they've announced it during the game.

Clearly Ben Stokes is not right at the minute. 

Maybe it's to get a little extra out of himself, teammates, the crowd etc in the hope it pushes England to victory. 

 

He's obviously very popular with his fellow players & the supporters. 

An amazing 20 minutes prior to tea, whatever his reasons. 

 

[RowlattsFox]

A lot of people calling for change but I do worry what comes next. 

[Blueman1967]

25 minutes ago, Corky said:

Stokes to retire after the match.

Odd timing during the match

[Lionator]

 

4 minutes ago, RowlattsFox said:

A lot of people calling for change but I do worry what comes next. 

Yeah captaincy wise there’s absolutely nobody which is pretty mad. You saw in the last test Root has learned nothing. 

[Lionator]

10 minutes ago, STEVIE B said:

Maybe it's to get a little extra out of himself, teammates, the crowd etc in the hope it pushes England to victory. 

 

He's obviously very popular with his fellow players & the supporters. 

An amazing 20 minutes prior to tea, whatever his reasons. 

 

There’s only so much you can do on a pitch like this. New Zealand will roll us and it’ll all be very sad and emotional.