England V India

Caught the last few hours earlier. Maybe just me, but it was a surreal experience and certainly didn't have the 'feel' of the 5th day of a Test Match. To play out for a draw was always going to be a difficult task for England but the last 5 wickets all fell to batsmen trying to hit the ball out of the ground. I know you need to keep the scoreboard moving even when batting the game out, but after the 5th wicket there was barely any effort to grind out a draw - which at that stage was still a distinct possibility. Maybe the modern cricketer just doesn't have that in his game any more..

They've put India into bat now twice. Got away with it once but not again. Putting them in on that wicket was crazy.

It's a big 6 months for Stokes.

The Ashes are very winnable.

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Originally Posted by A Quiet Monkfish

Caught the last few hours earlier. Maybe just me, but it was a surreal experience and certainly didn't have the 'feel' of the 5th day of a Test Match. To play out for a draw was always going to be a difficult task for England but the last 5 wickets all fell to batsmen trying to hit the ball out of the ground. I know you need to keep the scoreboard moving even when batting the game out, but after the 5th wicket there was barely any effort to grind out a draw - which at that stage was still a distinct possibility. Maybe the modern cricketer just doesn't have that in his game any more..

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I called England’s fourth innings performance “pathetic “ in a post I put on the Glamorgan thread and said they should remember how many titles have been won by points gained from draws. A draw has always been worth more than a defeat in sport and everyone knew it until this England cricket team came along with their “drawing is for wimps” attitude - Bazball has been responsible for some absolutely brilliant wins, but there’s also plenty of utterly feeble losses in there where England offered no resistance whatsoever.

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Originally Posted by A Quiet Monkfish

Caught the last few hours earlier. Maybe just me, but it was a surreal experience and certainly didn't have the 'feel' of the 5th day of a Test Match. To play out for a draw was always going to be a difficult task for England but the last 5 wickets all fell to batsmen trying to hit the ball out of the ground. I know you need to keep the scoreboard moving even when batting the game out, but after the 5th wicket there was barely any effort to grind out a draw - which at that stage was still a distinct possibility. Maybe the modern cricketer just doesn't have that in his game any more..

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I also found this really strange to watch. They were swinging the willow like they were in sight of a win with a few balls to go, not playing for a draw with 4 wickets in tact and only a few hours to see out. Just block it or leave it. Bizarre.

Bazball will be consigned to the history books soon. Test cricket is not a five day slugfest despite what Stokes and co have tried to make it over the past couple of years. Today summed up the current England team's total disregard for top level first class cricket. To bat out the day for a draw would have been as good, if not better than many of their crash bang whallop victories against lesser countries.

Flat track bully boys who were given a lesson in how to play test cricket by a young inexperienced Indian team

Well done India.

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Originally Posted by The Prophet of Doom

Bazball will be consigned to the history books soon. Test cricket is not a five day slugfest despite what Stokes and co have tried to make it over the past couple of years. Today summed up the current England team's total disregard for top level first class cricket. To bat out the day for a draw would have been as good, if not better than many of their crash bang whallop victories against lesser countries.

Flat track bully boys who were given a lesson in how to play test cricket by a young inexperienced Indian team

Well done India.

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Can’t disagree sadly. It’s the utter arrogance - especially from the captain - that I don’t like.

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Originally Posted by Lord Worcester

Can’t disagree sadly. It’s the utter arrogance - especially from the captain - that I don’t like.

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Cheers M'Lord - it is rare that people agree with me! I am too miserable for most !

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Originally Posted by The Prophet of Doom

Bazball will be consigned to the history books soon. Test cricket is not a five day slugfest despite what Stokes and co have tried to make it over the past couple of years. Today summed up the current England team's total disregard for top level first class cricket. To bat out the day for a draw would have been as good, if not better than many of their crash bang whallop victories against lesser countries.

Flat track bully boys who were given a lesson in how to play test cricket by a young inexperienced Indian team

Well done India.

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Originally Posted by Lord Worcester

Can’t disagree sadly. It’s the utter arrogance - especially from the captain - that I don’t like.

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Too many forms of the game with too many matches and too much money being paid to the players.
The England balcony near the end when a couple of fours and sixes by the tailenders was full of smiles and laughter ffs. There was a time when players'd be ashamed to show their faces at all let alone be seen laughing and joking after such an inept performance.
They are lucky Boycott is now too old to have his say on TV!
"Never give up your wicket" is a phrase rarely heard these days in commentary.
The sky team, with the exception of Atherton, bigging up the Indian players (quite rightly) but few having a go at the English players demonstrates how internatiinal cricket has degenerated into little more than a meaningless knockabout in the park.
The "arrogance" views aired I agree with and personally I am very pleased India won this test match. I shall be cheering them in the next three.

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Originally Posted by MacAdder

Too many forms of the game with too many matches and too much money being paid to the players.
The England balcony near the end when a couple of fours and sixes by the tailenders was full of smiles and laughter ffs. There was a time when players'd be ashamed to show their faces at all let alone be seen laughing and joking after such an inept performance.
They are lucky Boycott is now too old to have his say on TV!
"Never give up your wicket" is a phrase rarely heard these days in commentary.
The sky team, with the exception of Atherton, bigging up the Indian players (quite rightly) but few having a go at the English players demonstrates how internatiinal cricket has degenerated into little more than a meaningless knockabout in the park.
The "arrogance" views aired I agree with and personally I am very pleased India won this test match. I shall be cheering them in the next three.

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Agree totally, the England dressing room antics were juvenile and the commentators - possibly at the behest of their masters - never implied or gave credence to the real opportunity England had of saving the match. The Indian quickies bowled a good line and length but the pitch was painfully slow - any half decent batsman with a limited degree of concentration and discipline could have stayed at the crease for a long time. Pathetic.

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Originally Posted by The Prophet of Doom

Bazball will be consigned to the history books soon. Test cricket is not a five day slugfest despite what Stokes and co have tried to make it over the past couple of years. Today summed up the current England team's total disregard for top level first class cricket. To bat out the day for a draw would have been as good, if not better than many of their crash bang whallop victories against lesser countries.

Flat track bully boys who were given a lesson in how to play test cricket by a young inexperienced Indian team

Well done India.

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I agree it needs to be roped in a bit but some of the cricket is box office and all sides in the world will be scared of leaving Stokes side anything under 400 to chase. The run chases have been superb.

Test cricket is in decline- This England side is incredibly exciting to watch and its great entertainment. People are going knowing they will be entertained.

They do need to wise up , bat 1st on good pitches and there's a time and place to bat out a draw.

The current Australian batting line up is incredibly weak. Stokes needs to wise up with his decision making.

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Originally Posted by The Prophet of Doom

Bazball will be consigned to the history books soon. Test cricket is not a five day slugfest despite what Stokes and co have tried to make it over the past couple of years. Today summed up the current England team's total disregard for top level first class cricket. To bat out the day for a draw would have been as good, if not better than many of their crash bang whallop victories against lesser countries.

Flat track bully boys who were given a lesson in how to play test cricket by a young inexperienced Indian team

Well done India.

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well done indeed, stokes attitude will change now it was needed, all this win the toss and we will bowl will stop and hopefully the 5 day t20 they play will stop

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Originally Posted by Hilts

I agree it needs to be roped in a bit but some of the cricket is box office and all sides in the world will be scared of leaving Stokes side anything under 400 to chase. The run chases have been superb.

Test cricket is in decline- This England side is incredibly exciting to watch and its great entertainment. People are going knowing they will be entertained.

They do need to wise up , bat 1st on good pitches and there's a time and place to bat out a draw.

The current Australian batting line up is incredibly weak. Stokes needs to wise up with his decision making.

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I didn't enjoy yesterday's cricket. Credit to India, they were written off beforehand as a one man bowling attack ans yet their two opening bowlers in particular completely outperformed England's pea shooter attack which makes the Indian top six look one of the greatest batting line ups of all time.

It's maybe over dramatic to say England's approach to batting whenthey're behind in a test match disrespects the game and the great players (far better than the current crop) who played their careers, rightly, believing that, if you could not win, you tried your hardest to get a draw, but that's what I feel they do as they make no attempt to save a game they're behind in. Instead, they seem to see the sort of surrenders they often succumb to as some sort of defeat with honour - indeed, I'm sure I've heard Stokes saying something like he'd rather lose playing Bazball than draw a game by blocking for a couple of hours - crazy!

In fact, I'd go as far as to say that the greatest, most memorable, cricket occasion Cardiff has ever seen was back in 2009 when Paul Collingwood and the English tail (in particualr Jimmy Anderson and Monty Panesar) denied Australia what looked like an inevitable victory by, first and foremost, defending their wickets - you ask anyone who was there watching that evening if the last few hours of that game was boring or not!

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Originally Posted by the other bob wilson

I didn't enjoy yesterday's cricket. Credit to India, they were written off beforehand as a one man bowling attack ans yet their two opening bowlers in particular completely outperformed England's pea shooter attack which makes the Indian top six look one of the greatest batting line ups of all time.

It's maybe over dramatic to say England's approach to batting whenthey're behind in a test match disrespects the game and the great players (far better than the current crop) who played their careers, rightly, believing that, if you could not win, you tried your hardest to get a draw, but that's what I feel they do as they make no attempt to save a game they're behind in. Instead, they seem to see the sort of surrenders they often succumb to as some sort of defeat with honour - indeed, I'm sure I've heard Stokes saying something like he'd rather lose playing Bazball than draw a game by blocking for a couple of hours - crazy!

In fact, I'd go as far as to say that the greatest, most memorable, cricket occasion Cardiff has ever seen was back in 2009 when Paul Collingwood and the English tail (in particualr Jimmy Anderson and Monty Panesar) denied Australia what looked like an inevitable victory by, first and foremost, defending their wickets - you ask anyone who was there watching that evening if the last few hours of that game was boring or not!

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Yeah I was there. £10 for a ticket If I remember right. Great entertainment.

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Originally Posted by The Prophet of Doom

Bazball will be consigned to the history books soon. Test cricket is not a five day slugfest despite what Stokes and co have tried to make it over the past couple of years. Today summed up the current England team's total disregard for top level first class cricket. To bat out the day for a draw would have been as good, if not better than many of their crash bang whallop victories against lesser countries.

Flat track bully boys who were given a lesson in how to play test cricket by a young inexperienced Indian team

Well done India.

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Conveniently forgetting that England chased down 371 in the 1st test and this series is actually now 1-1

What is the famous line from Boycott? Something along the lines of... "If you win the toss, opt to bat first. If you're in any doubt, think about it, then opt to bat first".

All for ballsy attacking cricket when it's required, and I'm always happy to defend a player who 'has thrown his wicket away' . But sometimes the game situation demands you dig in. Sometimes that's for half hour when a top bowler has helpful conditions, or like yesterday when you need to dig in and bat out a draw.

I look to someone like AB deVilliers, more skill and talent than anybody in that England side when it comes to clearing the boundary (or in any other facet of batting). But he also had that ability and desire to dig in and block for hours if a game needed saving. Not wanting to lose, and making it hard as possible for the opposition to finish you off is part of being a great player

Throwing away games like that are just going to lead to drawing/losing series that could have been won.

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Originally Posted by chrisp_1927

All for ballsy attacking cricket when it's required, and I'm always happy to defend a player who 'has thrown his wicket away' . But sometimes the game situation demands you dig in. Sometimes that's for half hour when a top bowler has helpful conditions, or like yesterday when you need to dig in and bat out a draw.

I look to someone like AB deVilliers, more skill and talent than anybody in that England side when it comes to clearing the boundary (or in any other facet of batting). But he also had that ability and desire to dig in and block for hours if a game needed saving. Not wanting to lose, and making it hard as possible for the opposition to finish you off is part of being a great player

Throwing away games like that are just going to lead to drawing/losing series that could have been won.

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They were talking about how A B DeVilliers had something like three innings in the top ten most defensive innings in test history on Test Match Special yesterday. I rate DeVilliers right up there among the best attacking batsmen I’ve seen and if he was willing to put all of that to one side and graft to save his side from defeat, i can’t see why the England team can’t at least try to bat out for a draw.

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Originally Posted by the other bob wilson

They were talking about how A B DeVilliers had something like three innings in the top ten most defensive innings in test history on Test Match Special yesterday. I rate DeVilliers right up there among the best attacking batsmen I’ve seen and if he was willing to put all of that to one side and graft to save his side from defeat, i can’t see why the England team can’t at least try to bat out for a draw.

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Totally agree. I always think those backs to the wall performances must be good for team spirit aswell, especially if a couple of tail-enders have batted out a few and you can really get around them as a side.

Don Bradman the greatest batsman of all time only hit 6 6s in his entire career. (All in Test Matches he didn't hit a single 6 in any non Test 1st class match)

It's incredible how things have changed.

Of course trying to reverse sweep or scoop the likes of Larwood with no helmet and the old bats would be insane.

Elsewhere South Africa have declared against Zimbabwe on 626-5. Its only lunch on day 2.
Wiaan Mulder 367 not out, 33 short of Lara's record.

A lot of teams follow their leader, and I think that is certainly true of this current England test team. The arrogance and ego within this team, and the lack of collective self-awareness, I find quite remarkable. There are plenty of examples of it over the last couple of years but the 2 that I continue to find astonishing are the insistence on bowling first - irrespective of anything - and the continued selection of bashir. And the more people mention either / both the more stokes seems to double down, and stick the proverbial 2 fingers up to the watching world, but particularly the press and pundits. I love test cricket but I bet I am not the only one genuinely falling out of love with the current England test team.

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Originally Posted by The Bloop

Elsewhere South Africa have declared against Zimbabwe on 626-5. Its only lunch on day 2.
Wiaan Mulder 367 not out, 33 short of Lara's record.

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Surprised. Thought they would give him chance to pass it.

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Originally Posted by Lord Worcester

Surprised. Thought they would give him chance to pass it.

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He's the captain, so made the decision himself.
By the sounds of it the bowling is pretty lame, so maybe he thought he shouldn't break the record when it's against such a weak attack.

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Originally Posted by The Bloop

He's the captain, so made the decision himself.
By the sounds of it the bowling is pretty lame, so maybe he thought he shouldn't break the record when it's against such a weak attack.

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Fair enough. Didn’t realise he was current captain.

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Originally Posted by The Bloop

He's the captain, so made the decision himself.
By the sounds of it the bowling is pretty lame, so maybe he thought he shouldn't break the record when it's against such a weak attack.

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but then surely it could be argued that by definition any attack that an individual can score those kinds of runs against is weak? :sherlock:

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Originally Posted by delmbox

but then surely it could be argued that by definition any attack that an individual can score those kinds of runs against is weak? :sherlock:

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You could equally argue that you or I could score 401 runs in an innings. Id have to do it in boundaries though, as im likely to pull a hamstring going for a run and be run out 😊

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Originally Posted by The Bloop

You could equally argue that you or I could score 401 runs in an innings. Id have to do it in boundaries though, as im likely to pull a hamstring going for a run and be run out ��

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I'd be dead within an over