Cricket (None Leicestershire County Cricket Club)

[Lionator]

8 hours ago, MaidstoneFox said:

Just been up there today, great atmosphere as usual in Birmingham. England looked out on their feet, tired shots and bowling lacked zip and preparation. Could have done with Jimmy this morning. Great comeback from India after the first test, though the pitch and lack of sideways movement is suiting them perhaps more than us. Seems a bit like we are removing our home advantage by having such flat pitches.

It’s a touch of arrogance/confidence. I don’t think we expected our bowling to be as poor as it’s been. Let’s be honest apart from one good spell from Tongue at Headingley, it’s been absolutely woeful. Most of our batters are flat track bullies as well (and bloody good ones at that), you only had to see what happened in the Pakistan series, what happens to these players when the conditions don’t suit them. 

[Lionator]

34 minutes ago, StanSP said:

With England looking a tad tired does anyone reckon Wood and/or Archer come back for Lords? 

Bumrah likely to come back for us, and you'd expect Deep to keep his place instead of Krishna. 

 

I doubt we'll see such high scoring on a Lords pitch unless they've completed flattened that too

 

Seems like it’s already been decided that Archer will come in for Carse. 
 

England want flat decks because Bumrah would destroy us on one that is nipping around. 

[StanSP]

Weather doesn't look the best this morning. Might get more play in the latter sessions but a sensible England just bats normally, not so aggressively. 

[CL Fox]

2 hours ago, StanSP said:

With England looking a tad tired does anyone reckon Wood and/or Archer come back for Lords? 

Bumrah likely to come back for us, and you'd expect Deep to keep his place instead of Krishna. 

 

I doubt we'll see such high scoring on a Lords pitch unless they've completed flattened that too

 

Atkinson for Woakes

Archer for Carse

Cook for Tongue

 

And I'd genuinely play bethell instead of Bashir too, he's garbage.

[MaidstoneFox]

36 minutes ago, CL Fox said:

Atkinson for Woakes

Archer for Carse

Cook for Tongue

 

And I'd genuinely play bethell instead of Bashir too, he's garbage.

There was quite a long discussion evaluating Bashir on 'The Analyst' last night. Simon Hughes and Simon Mann concluded that he was having to bowl in conditions that don't offer spin and never in the fourth innings, because England like to chase, furthermore, he is seen as a long term investment for Australia, where his height and bounce will be useful. However, they also pointed out that he offers nothing with the bat, whereas Bethell does and could hold one end up with his spin. Hughes talked about Jack Carson of Sussex, who is a much better batter and quite possibly a better spinner than Bashir.

[StanSP]

Rain looks to be wiping out the first session. 

[Leicesterpool]

Let it rain, rain and rain 😉

[deejdeej]

10 hours ago, deejdeej said:

Surely Bazball goes out the window when chasing 600 plus, just go for the draw surely!

Had a bit to drink yesterday and being a notorious lightweight these days, I can safely say that's the first time I've doubled up on the word 'surely'

[RowlattsFox]

This is the risk India took by batting on yesterday. 

If they manage to get on for 2 sessions you'd imagine they will get the wickets, particularly in gloomy conditions but they will be sweating. 

[StanSP]

Should incorporate reserve days into cricket ie tomorrow when it's warm and dry

[leicsmac]

If this match does end up being a draw, the aura that this England team will have played a part in it, making India bat much longer than they might perhaps otherwise have to ensure any target wasn't chaseable.

[trabuch]

5 minutes ago, leicsmac said:

If this match does end up being a draw, the aura that this England team will have played a part in it, making India bat much longer than they might perhaps otherwise have to ensure any target wasn't chaseable.

That is true. If I was the opposing captain I would have batted England right out of the game, because I would fear their potential. As I have said up thread - I just don't know what they are capable of! This is a great series - and the Ashes is going to be even better.

[Super_horns]

Might well get away with it if the rain is on and off ?

Edited 6 July 2025 by Super_horns

[Brainy]

The forecast for today makes their approach last night even more silly 

[Leicesterpool]

Latest play 7pm tonight.. or can go on longer?

 

The way the weather is looking dont think we will get out until about 2pm.

Edited 6 July 2025 by Leicesterpool

[Super_horns]

11 minutes ago, Leicesterpool said:

Latest play 7pm tonight.. or can go on longer?

 

The way the weather is looking dont think we will get out until about 2pm.

Session Times

1st session 1240-1430

Lunch 1430-1510

2nd session 1510-1710

Tea 1710-1730

3rd session 1730-1900

80 Overs

[StanSP]

That's fortunate but similar to Rahul's in first innings. Brook looks ready to be sensible and capitalise on the bad balls. 

[Leicesterpool]

With an England cap on wash it out.

 

From an cricket fan, to try and get more results. Its time for an emergency day to be added to a test series. If more than 4 hours of play is lost over the five days due to poor weather. Then a emergency sixth day should be played to play the lost time.

[Muzzy_no7]

Jesus wept England. 
 

Two appalling days. How not to bat and how not to bowl. Awful.  

[leicsmac]

Superb bowling from Akash Deep.

 

Either by some miracle these two stay in until 5pm tonight or this one is done. 

[RowlattsFox]

Akash has got this pitch doing things noone else has. Not much Brook can do about movement like that. 

Akash is another one with an unlikeable face, especially when he's taking wickets 

 

 

[AKCJ]

Well at least I won't need to flick between this and the F1 later.

[AKCJ]

4 minutes ago, Muzzy_no7 said:

Jesus wept England. 
 

Two appalling days. How not to bat and how not to bowl. Awful.  

I think the captaincy from both sides has been extremely average in this series so far.

[Lionator]

Brook is world class but can look absolutely hopeless when the ball is doing something. 

[StanSP]

Just now, AKCJ said:

I think the captaincy from both sides has been extremely average in this series so far.

Gill first test looked lost in the field. Rahul was doing most of the captaining. 

 

This test it already looks like he's learning his lessons (apart from sticking with Prasidh for too long).