Test Cricket 2012

[leicsmac]

Much, much better here - Cook and Prior showing practically everyone else how to bat on this surface.

At least we've made India bat again.

[purpleronnie]

After the middle order collapsed again I thought it would be all over by the end of the day, fair play to cook and prior the only 2 who actually realise this is a pancake of a pitch and haven't given their wickets away. Hopefully we can still pull off an improbable draw.

[Alexikokopops]

While not picking two spinners hasn't helped, our big failing was batting once again. I think I'm in love with Matt Prior. What a magnificent player who just seems to be able to adapt to any situation. Throw your bat at it and rack up some quick runs to sacrifice your wicket for the team? SURE. Hold it together after our middle order has collapsed AGAIN? OK!

Cook is just superlative.

[Corky]

Why couldn't we do this in the first innings?

Alastair Cook is marvellous, truly world-class.

[Brainy]

all the questions from years ago coming back about Ian Bell just because of one stupid shot.

[Alexikokopops]

all the questions from years ago coming back about Ian Bell just because of one stupid shot.

I'm a huge fan of our Ian Ronald BUT that shot was so utterly stupidly, ludicrously, fantastically, mind bogglingly, idiotically, fastitidiously retarded that if I were coach (and he wasn't going on paternity leave) even I would have given him a clip round the ear and given him the water bottles for the next match just to remind him of how STUPID it was.

[Guest MattP]

all the questions from years ago coming back about Ian Bell just because of one stupid shot.

Agree ridiculous, it was daft but at least he was actually trying to take the game to teh bowlers, worst dismissal of all time? Not even the worst of the last month.

Shame we didn't get anything but pleased with the fight, shame we've not got a World Class second spinner but Monty will have to do, we have lost the last 6 test matches he has played though which is a tad worrying, not to meniton the batting and fielding problems he brings.

Cook

Compton

Trott

KP

Bell

Bairstow

Prior

Swann

Anderson

Finn

Panesar

[SOCCERROO FOX]

I'm a huge fan of our Ian Ronald BUT that shot was so utterly stupidly, ludicrously, fantastically, mind bogglingly, idiotically, fastitidiously retarded that if I were coach (and he wasn't going on paternity leave) even I would have given him a clip round the ear and given him the water bottles for the next match just to remind him of how STUPID it was.

Ian Ronald or the Shermanator?

[Guest MattP]

These are top class batsmen, they are going to face the bowling at some point, so just send them in at their natural position.

Hell of a task on to save this, need Pietersen to play a blinder.

It does have a time and a place, if there is 1 over left, it's dark and Dale Steyn is running in I can see why you wouldn't risk a top 6 batsman when it's far better to wait until the morning.

This was really daft though, 30 mins were still left and it was beautiful weather and slow left arm, bizarre.

[Alexikokopops]

Shame we didn't get anything but pleased with the fight, shame we've not got a World Class second spinner but Monty will have to do, we have lost the last 6 test matches he has played though which is a tad worrying, not to meniton the batting and fielding problems he brings.

I think that stat is a bit of a misleading one. I'd say the reason we've lost the last six when he's played is largely because it's when him and Swann have been playing together, which only happens in conditions in which England typically struggle anyway.

Anyway, I like this article on why "England can't play spin" is a stupidly simplistic thing to say.

[Corky]

Anyway, I like this article on why "England can't play spin" is a stupidly simplistic thing to say.

Alex, stop ruining the cliches

[Guest MattP]

I think that stat is a bit of a misleading one. I'd say the reason we've lost the last six when he's played is largely because it's when him and Swann have been playing together, which only happens in conditions in which England typically struggle anyway.

I agree to an extent, but the one game he didnt play over the last 3 years in those conditions was the win in Sri Lanka that kept us at number 1.

It's well calling for Panesar but as soon as he's back on the field and the massive weak link in the field has dropped 150 runs worth of catches and gives you nothing with the bat it starts to piss people off again, Tredwell would be a far better option. Panesar was a bit of a cult hero at a time, but the new ethos of the strong intimidating England side that was well drilled, batted through the tail and fielded everything that got us to number 1 far outlived him.

Hoggard will be getting a call again soon.

P.S Enjoyed the article.

[Guest MattP]

Interesting comments from Dhoni.

http://www.espncricinfo.com/india-v-england-2012/content/current/story/592164.html

Looks like he realises the damage these sorts of pitches will do to India long term, winning the toss looks very important this week, pitch could be even slower.

[SOCCERROO FOX]

The draw at $2.50 says it all for the India v England test. That's very short for a match with a decent weather forcast and a ball not even bowled yet.

[SOCCERROO FOX]

Anyone see the Bangladesh Player hit a 100 on debut........whilst batting at no. 10.

[marko]

Anyone see the Bangladesh Player hit a 100 on debut........whilst batting at no. 10.

Numbers 8 and 10 contributed almost half of their total.

Talk about the tail wagging.

[SOCCERROO FOX]

Aussies in trouble again 3 for 50 odd but Warner is smashing them around 50 off 47. Thinking if the selectors had any balls this will be Ricky Pontings last ever test mach.

[Guest MattP]

Aussies in trouble again 3 for 50 odd but Warner is smashing them around 50 off 47. Thinking if the selectors had any balls this will be Ricky Pontings last ever test mach.

Going to stay up and watch as much of this as I can, enthralling stuff. Warner can be absolutely incredible at times.

Finely balanced this when you think batting first is the way to go here, if they have lost Kallis it's a massive blow.

oh btw the run line on Ponting was 79.5

[SOCCERROO FOX]

Going to stay up and watch as much of this as I can, enthralling stuff. Warner can be absolutely incredible at times.

Finely balanced this when you think batting first is the way to go here, if they have lost Kallis it's a massive blow.

oh btw the run line on Ponting was 79.5

His last 7 innings agains the Saffas are something like 4,0,0,0,18,0,4 I would of hoped the under 79.5 was $1.02.

[SOCCERROO FOX]

Aussies just going at a run rate of a lazy 6.4 after 40 over, even after being in a bit of strife.

[surrifox]

I agree to an extent, but the one game he didnt play over the last 3 years in those conditions was the win in Sri Lanka that kept us at number 1.

It's well calling for Panesar but as soon as he's back on the field and the massive weak link in the field has dropped 150 runs worth of catches and gives you nothing with the bat it starts to piss people off again, Tredwell would be a far better option. Panesar was a bit of a cult hero at a time, but the new ethos of the strong intimidating England side that was well drilled, batted through the tail and fielded everything that got us to number 1 far outlived him.

Hoggard will be getting a call again soon.

P.S Enjoyed the article.

and you just know he will however he is the best we've got and I think we have to use him.I cant see tredwell offering enough with the bat to displace him although his fielding would be better. The conditions in India are really so alien that it is a hard call; although India racked up a huge first innings score in the first test I didnt think that any of our bowlers performed poorly (although samit patel might have better days ) they all kept line and length pretty well over all, its just that the india batting is superb even the likes of Sehwag and gambhir who struggle to get any sort of scores in English conditions.

To illustrate the unpredictability of cricket on the sub continent when england last won there the match winner was shaun Udall who most people have probably forgotten or never heard of

[Guest MattP]

Udal and Tuffers on the continent, what a spin attack that was

Aussies just going at a run rate of a lazy 6.4 after 40 over, even after being in a bit of strife.

Managed to get through until tea, brilliant fightback from Australia though Kallis going was a massive blow, he looked on fire.

Never seen that many runs scored on one day.

[SOCCERROO FOX]

Udal and Tuffers on the continent, what a spin attack that was

Managed to get through until tea, brilliant fightback from Australia though Kallis going was a massive blow, he looked on fire.

Never seen that many runs scored on one day.

Yeah was an amazing day and it wasn't as if the pitch was a road, there may not of been a great deal of sideways movement but there was plenty of bounce and carry. Was more just the fact that it was Warners time as he is hit and miss, combined with Clarke and Hussey who are in great form. They absolutley took the attack and punished anything that wasn't a good ball. Clarke especially demorilised Morkel, he came on after tea for a spell and his first over he spanked him for 5 4's in the over was incredible.

If Michael Clarke isn't the best batsmen in the world right now i would love to see who is! Only man in history (Bradman may have) to hit 4 double centuries in a calendar year. It's an absolute joy to watch his mental toughness and physical toughness is incredible along with his ability to hit it all around the ground. Also to come out in the first session of a test match at 3 for 50 and in strife (3 for 40 last test) and look as if he was already on 150 is a sign of a great player.

[marko]

Udal and Tuffers on the continent, what a spin attack that was

Never seen that many runs scored on one day.

I remember Monty dropping a catch in that match which would have meant we dismissed them for under 100. I say drop, but he was a mile away from getting a finger on it.

We must have scored a similar amount at Edgbaston in '05 - 407 if my memory serves me correctly.

[SOCCERROO FOX]

I remember Monty dropping a catch in that match which would have meant we dismissed them for under 100. I say drop, but he was a mile away from getting a finger on it.

We must have scored a similar amount at Edgbaston in '05 - 407 if my memory serves me correctly.

407 isn't really similar to 482 on the opening day of a test match. I think the record team score on the opening days play of a test is 487, would of got there if they bowled the remaining 3.1 overs.