Cricket (None Leicestershire County Cricket Club)

[Muzzy_no7]

Just now, StanSP said:

Any?! Seriously? 

If it was in the Ashes, maybe. 
 

But not India.

 

Anyway, cracking series so far even with the garbage pitches.

 

Hopefully the final test is a bit more of a mixed bag rather than just batting fests. 

[RizLCFC]

49 minutes ago, StanSP said:

Why do some of the England fans on here act like they wouldn't have acted or celebrated the same in India if they rescued a result to stay in the series? Especially if two of their batsmen were going to get tons? 

 

Ridiculous hypocrisy and double standards...

I blame King Power tbh.

[Corky]

These pitches have been horrendous. No wonder all the bowlers are knackered or injured.

[StanSP]

33 minutes ago, Muzzy_no7 said:

If it was in the Ashes, maybe. 
 

But not India.

 

Anyway, cracking series so far even with the garbage pitches.

 

Hopefully the final test is a bit more of a mixed bag rather than just batting fests. 

Fair enough. I think there'd be a certain amount of fans, in any test series, that would celebrate a draw that means you wouldn't lose a test series and keep you in it for the 5th test.. 

 

For what it's worth, I think our bowling attack becomes even more depleted next test and think you'll win at the oval at a canter, weather permitting. 

[CL Fox]

17 minutes ago, StanSP said:

Fair enough. I think there'd be a certain amount of fans, in any test series, that would celebrate a draw that means you wouldn't lose a test series and keep you in it for the 5th test.. 

 

For what it's worth, I think our bowling attack becomes even more depleted next test and think you'll win at the oval at a canter, weather permitting. 

For comparison we were all pretty ****ed off the last time we drew at Old Trafford and were still in a series (Ashes 23). It's weird optics personally. You play the thing to win series and test matches, no one remembers draws when you don't win a series. 

Edited 27 July 2025 by CL Fox

[StanSP]

Just now, CL Fox said:

For comparison we were all pretty ****ed off the last time we drew at Old Trafford and were still in a series (Ashes 23). It's weird optics personally. You play the thing to win series and test matches, no one remembers draws when you don't win a series. 

In hindsight, yes. 

 

In the moment, if the win is totally out of the question and you've saved a game like we have in the past day and a half, it's pretty damn weird not to feel anything in the realms of happy or joy! 

Just my opinion, mind. 

[AKCJ]

Not a great afternoon for test cricket.

[AKCJ]

1 hour ago, StanSP said:

Why do some of the England fans on here act like they wouldn't have acted or celebrated the same in India if they rescued a result to stay in the series? Especially if two of their batsmen were going to get tons? 

 

Ridiculous hypocrisy and double standards...

I could see myself getting excited for a draw if it's players like Archer and Carse at the crease and the Indian attack are raring to go for it. Similar to Cardiff in the 2009 Ashes series. Celebrating that was mostly because of the huge relief of getting away with it. It doesn't feel like this is anything like that.

 

I don't see how any Indian fan thought there was a stage this afternoon where a draw wasn't going to happen. I dunno. I get that Sundar and Jadeja would want to get their 100s but the whole thing was a bit of a farce really.

 

 

[accessory]

4 minutes ago, AKCJ said:

Not a great afternoon for English cricket.

Fixed that for you.

 

Annoyed we let India off the hook and took just TWO wickets in the best part of five sessions.

 

But at least we now know that Carse, Woakes and Dawson aren't Ashes-winning bowlers. It's better than finding that out in Perth or Adelaide.

 

Archer's lack of match fitness was always going to catch up with him.  I'd be VERY surprised if he's risked for The Oval.

 

Bring in Atkinson, Tongue, Wood (if fit) and maybe even Rehan in for the final Test.

 

India need to take 20 wickets to level the series.  Not sure the quality is there for that to happen.

[StanSP]

Just now, AKCJ said:

I don't see how any Indian fan thought there was a stage this afternoon where a draw wasn't going to happen. I dunno. I get that Sundar and Jadeja would want to get their 100s but the whole thing was a bit of a farce really.

Really? It's not like it was totally out of the question when you're at 0-2!

 

Not to mention that we've had collapses throughout the series, and also the manner of the gutting defeat in the last test. We lost something like 7 wickets for 40ish runs at one stage in the series. If that happened today, England win at a canter knocking off a small target. 

 

I'm really not buying that two players getting their tons is a farce. Some comments on here make it seem like they were batting against part time bowlers all innings! They were facing up against a seamer who was taking captaincy to a new level, Archer who is frightening at the worst of times with his speed, and Woakes who can turn the new ball round the corner if he wanted to. 

They didn't face Root and Brook all innings and I think it's fairly disingenuous to put that rhetoric forward. 

 

It's two players getting a century in test cricket in England. It's a big feat (which is actually a compliment to the English game!) Why would any captain/coach deny them that opportunity? I think it becomes a farce because England players and fans alike just got annoyed the game wasn't called a draw earlier on, even though there's absolutely nothing in the rules to say the game has to be finished early. If they were in their 50s and 60s just plodding along with half hour to go I'd be well in your corner and in your line of thinking. But they weren't, so I'm not

 

[StanSP]

3 minutes ago, accessory said:

India need to take 20 wickets to level the series.  Not sure the quality is there for that to happen.

It won't be with Bumrah unlikely to play and Siraj apparently carrying an injury, Akash Deep and Arshdeep Singh likewise. 

 

Huge pressure and expectation on what is likely to predominantly be a backup pace attack plus Jadeja/Sundar and perhaps Kuldeep. 

 

It'd be great if Gill won a toss too any how

 

[AKCJ]

9 minutes ago, StanSP said:

Really? It's not like it was totally out of the question when you're at 0-2!

 

Not to mention that we've had collapses throughout the series, and also the manner of the gutting defeat in the last test. We lost something like 7 wickets for 40ish runs at one stage in the series. If that happened today, England win at a canter knocking off a small target. 

 

I'm really not buying that two players getting their tons is a farce. Some comments on here make it seem like they were batting against part time bowlers all innings! They were facing up against a seamer who was taking captaincy to a new level, Archer who is frightening at the worst of times with his speed, and Woakes who can turn the new ball round the corner if he wanted to. 

They didn't face Root and Brook all innings and I think it's fairly disingenuous to put that rhetoric forward. 

 

It's two players getting a century in test cricket in England. It's a big feat (which is actually a compliment to the English game!) Why would any captain/coach deny them that opportunity? I think it becomes a farce because England players and fans alike just got annoyed the game wasn't called a draw earlier on, even though there's absolutely nothing in the rules to say the game has to be finished early. If they were in their 50s and 60s just plodding along with half hour to go I'd be well in your corner and in your line of thinking. But they weren't, so I'm not

 

Come off it, it was such an obvious draw. This afternoon you were something like 220/4 at the time of the Gill wicket. I really don't believe you if you're saying you thought there was any sort of jeopardy. 

 

Not sure what the WinViz thing would have been saying but i'm sure it wouldn't have dropped below 90% for the draw today.

 

The last 30/45 minutes was a farce. Brook was bowling absolute pies. Carse, Archer, Woakes and Stokes were all completely shattered and the pitch resembled a formula 1 track.

 

Again, it's great for Sundar and Jadeja to get on the honours board but they were hardly match saving knocks. Other than their personal milestones i'm not really sure what was achieved today. The sort of day that turns people away from test cricket which is a shame considering how great the other tests have been. Old Trafford is clearly in a bad way at the moment, 5 draws on the bounce there in first class cricket. The pitches do nothing and then continue to get flatter and flatter.

[AKCJ]

20 minutes ago, StanSP said:

It won't be with Bumrah unlikely to play and Siraj apparently carrying an injury, Akash Deep and Arshdeep Singh likewise. 

 

Huge pressure and expectation on what is likely to predominantly be a backup pace attack plus Jadeja/Sundar and perhaps Kuldeep. 

 

It'd be great if Gill won a toss too any how

 

Bumrah will obviously play. He has to.

[StanSP]

1 minute ago, AKCJ said:

Come off it, it was such an obvious draw. This afternoon you were something like 220/4 at the time of the Gill wicket. I really don't believe you if you're saying you thought there was any sort of jeopardy. 

 

Not sure what the WinViz thing would have been saying but i'm sure it wouldn't have dropped below 90% for the draw today.

 

The last 30/45 minutes was a farce. Brook was bowling absolute pies. Carse, Archer, Woakes and Stokes were all completely shattered and the pitch resembled a formula 1 track.

 

Again, it's great for Sundar and Jadeja to get on the honours board but they were hardly match saving knocks. Other than their personal milestones i'm not really sure what was achieved today. The sort of day that turns people away from test cricket which is a shame considering how great the other tests have been. Old Trafford is clearly in a bad way at the moment, 5 draws on the bounce there in first class cricket. The pitches do nothing and then continue to get flatter and flatter.

We'll have to agree to disagree mate. 

 

As for turning people away from test cricket, that's on them. No one can have it all their own way and love the gritty side of the moments in the first few tests and then walk away from enjoying the game because of how today went. That's just naive and immature I'd say. 

[RowlattsFox]

At the time Jadeja came in the game was on, if Root catches Jadeja first ball then who knows. 

[CosbehFox]

Not a single winning result at Old Trafford in the longer form of the game this season 

[Nuge]

A draw isn’t negative for test cricket. It’s just test cricket. If it’s too slow for you, there’s plenty of other formats… 

[Wsl]

57 minutes ago, AKCJ said:

Come off it, it was such an obvious draw. This afternoon you were something like 220/4 at the time of the Gill wicket. I really don't believe you if you're saying you thought there was any sort of jeopardy. 

 

Not sure what the WinViz thing would have been saying but i'm sure it wouldn't have dropped below 90% for the draw today.

 

The last 30/45 minutes was a farce. Brook was bowling absolute pies. Carse, Archer, Woakes and Stokes were all completely shattered and the pitch resembled a formula 1 track.

 

Again, it's great for Sundar and Jadeja to get on the honours board but they were hardly match saving knocks. Other than their personal milestones i'm not really sure what was achieved today. The sort of day that turns people away from test cricket which is a shame considering how great the other tests have been. Old Trafford is clearly in a bad way at the moment, 5 draws on the bounce there in first class cricket. The pitches do nothing and then continue to get flatter and flatter.

If Brook chose to bowl pies, and Stokes put him on for that reason, then shame on them. If Carse, Archer, Woakes and Stokes were shattered, tough. They should have been ready to go the whole day if need be, and India is under no obligation to let them go away and put their feet up if they're feeling tired on day 5. The point of a test match is not to have it arranged as an exhibition show to suit England. 

 

A ton in a test match is special. If England chose to devalue it when they're sulking that they've not managed to get the wickets to make it a more competitive ending, again, that's on them. I bet few of those fans moaning would have whinged if the boot was on the other foot if it meant hanging around to see a Joe Root century, or Stokes, for that matter. They be happy to boast that they were there and they saw the great Stokes/Root etc get a ton on their cricket day out.

 

And that's what sticks in my throat with any criticism of India. They shouldn't have to justify batting on. Stokes' aim of looking magnanimous in offering to shake hands on a draw was a nonsense. It was only because they were desperate to get off the field, but I doubt he'd have had the slightest problem if the roles had been reversed and if he thought England staying on would knacker India's bowlers and hamper their recovery for the next test and secure an advantage. And if he'd done that and made them bowl for most of the afternoon and tired them out still further they'd be enough applauding the tactic for helping with the next test. 

[Super_horns]

3 hours ago, RowlattsFox said:

At the time Jadeja came in the game was on, if Root catches Jadeja first ball then who knows. 

India probably wish they had batted like they did in this second innings (after being 0-2!)  at Lords .

 

Different situations and surfaces I know but only needed Gill to score well for example and they would have won .

[StanSP]

4 hours ago, Super_horns said:

India probably wish they had batted like they did in this second innings (after being 0-2!)  at Lords .

 

Different situations and surfaces I know but only needed Gill to score well for example and they would have won .

Way too many dropped catches as well... 

[Bert]

Well fair play India for seeing the day out. 
 

At least it makes the last test competitive. 

[AKCJ]

12 hours ago, Nuge said:

A draw isn’t negative for test cricket. It’s just test cricket. If it’s too slow for you, there’s plenty of other formats… 

Watching batsmen throw up absolute pies so that the game ends as soon as possible without injury is bad for test cricket. The pitch was a bit of a joke. 24 wickets in ~420 overs in 5 full days of play (aside from losing about 15 minutes on day 1 to bad light). After 3 fantastic test matches, that was a shame. 

 

But it's the same sort of arguments as we had at Lords. Both teams whinging about the other when they'd have done the same thing if the shoe was on the other foot.

 

Would India bowl Bumrah, Kamboj and Siraj if the game was clearly going to be a draw? Obviously they wouldn't. 

 

Would Carse and Dawson shake hands in the 80s? Obviously they wouldn't.

[theessexfox]

Pretty embarrassing carry on from England really.

[Super_horns]

18 minutes ago, theessexfox said:

Pretty embarrassing carry on from England really.

Yes almost as if they really didn’t want to be there .

[Bert]

57 minutes ago, Super_horns said:

Yes almost as if they really didn’t want to be there .

Well they didn’t. And from their point of view they know it’s gonna be a draw so save the energy and the bodies. But you cannot blame India for saying no.