Cricket

ECB will be harsh until there's an injury.

ECB can afford to be harsh at 2 - 0 up in the series

I think they've been harsh enough, what with him missing an Ashes tour. What is harsh is who'll they drop for him at Trent Bridge. I would always say Buttler, but with his vice captaincy he's earned a free pass.

Hard to sideline him when nothing was proven - other than poor judgement - and he sat out the Ashes.

He’s in the squad for the third test so clearly not at risk of being left out over this.

They’ve said they’ll rotate bowlers in this series but think the team will be unchanged for Trent Bridge. Would be harsh to ditch Curran or Woakes and Buttler will get this summer to nail that spot down.

They'll give one of Broad/Anderson a blow once the series is done, let Porter have a go

Jimmy at TB: 60 wickets at 19
Broad at TB: 37 wickets at 20

Did they ever bring up #lockergate in the trial? I'm somewhat surprised if they didn't...

The cricket starts tomorrow?! wtf

They're scrabbling to fit 5 tests into 6 weeks. It could have started today (as that would have given the required 3 clear days after the previous test) but I guess they're trying out a Saturday start.

Aug 1-5 = 1st test
3 day break (6/7/8th)
Aug 9-13 = 2nd test
4 day break (14/15/16/17th)
Aug 18-22 (Sat start, finish on a Wednesday) = 3rd test
Min 3 day break would mean starting next one on a Sunday, even more odd, so 7 day break
Aug 30-3 Sep (back to Thursday start) = 4th test
3 day break (4/5/6th)
Sep 7-11 (Friday start) = 5th test

2nd test was under 180 overs in total. If that happens again (it won't) then it could be done within two days anyway.

I’ve got today off from work and had thought it was a Friday start - so had thoughts of listening to TMS whilst working in the garden. Oh well tomorrow it is

(Also just feels a bit weird starting on a Saturday)

Tomorrow is the first time in 63 years that a test match in England will start on a Saturday. There is some TMS action today though in the form of TMS v Tailenders, celebrity/former players game; I remember Harry Judd from McFly being quite good.

For anyone also interested in 4 day cricket; Surrey v Lancashire starts on Sunday and is a pink ball affair; entry is free after 6pm. Will be interesting to see how everything fares under lights...

And it is the beer festival at the Oval too!

Swann going on Strictly. Yet another reason for him to talk about himself on TMS rather than the cricket that is happening. He'll probably give up half way through though.

Not happy that more and more of TMS is taken up with self-promotion shite. Tuffers seems to get it. Genuinely interesting stories of days of old, often self deprecating.

Much of Vaughan and most of Swann says can get in the sea.

I just stick with Sky for old men taking the piss out of each other, mostly at Nasser and the endless replays of that Carl Hooper grubber. Really like Ian Ward, anchors their coverage really well when he's given a chance. Sangakkara's been an absolute treat as well.

yep tuffers is one of may favorites on tms now genuinely good in the co seat and has good insite in to the game swan is just to much me me me

Big fan of Isa Guha and ERB breaking up the boys club nicely

That’s good to know - I might head down if I’ve got everything in order in the garden!

The day/night test last year that started at 2pm threw that lot at TMS a bit.

Curran out, Stokes in. Ridiculously harsh.

How about drop Cook or Jennings and open with Woakes ( keeping Curran ) ?

For me I would drop Buttler, still don't understand the logic behind him being in the side...

Have to say I agree even though I really like Buttler. Pope would be the other suggestion. Curran has been terrific. Really not sure what sort of a message that sends.

Imran Khan confirmed as prime minister of Pakistan.

Can I just say that Wes Brown tonking Graeme Swann for six might be the greatest thing I've ever seen.

I know you're all waiting for the toss and my prediction for this test. However, I've not got a clue.

Whoever wins should bat first. If England bat first we should win. If India bat first I don't know.

England win the toss. Bowling first. Blimey. OK.

India 270 all out. England 20/2 at the end of the day.
England recover to 260ao. India 40/0 at end of day 2.
India 240 ao. England fail to chase as they're bowled out for 190.

India win, over in 3 days. No-one gets a century. Kohli gets about 80 in total.