Cricket

Some great stats on the BBC website from Andy Zaltzman:-

"
Sam Curran has hit 14 sixes in his seven Tests - that is more than Alastair Cook in his whole England Test career.
"

Only before Anderson arrived. The only thing he was watching once he was last man was the ball sailing over the rope.

Some of the stats are fantastic.

That Stokes runout this morning was something else

Lucked out in the Oval ballot for the Ashes. Boom!

Excellent day’s play that. Although I’ve never really understood the idea of a nightwatchman.

Well, protecting a batsman. Pointless to send both openers out with just one over to face.

I’ve never really understood the idea of a nightwatchman.

You're far more likely to get out at the start on an innings or a new day (or a new session) than when you've get your eye in after facing a few overs worth of balls.

So an opener going in for one over at night and then again the next morning is only increasing their chances of getting out.

Losing a wicket (i.e. the nightwatchman) in the final over ends the days play, so the opening batsmen that was being protected is safe for the next morning.

If you're going to lose a wicket then it's better it is a tail ender than an opener. If the nightwatchman survives then it becomes a problem for the bowling team as they're expected to get him out quickly the next morning, the more time he stays around the more demoralising it is for the bowling team and helpful to the batting team as he's taking the edge off the bright red cherry.

Well put, but I do think that it seems like sacrificing a batsman who is more likely to get a few runs in the tail. I just think an opening batsman should be able to see an over out.

Please Rooty, get over the bloody line

YES!

Ah yes

But the first over of an innings that is the last over of a day, is a very different beast to the first over of an innings that is the first over of a day.

The joys of Cricket

So Curran not recovered and Anderson rested. Bairstow and Broad in. I'm guessing the selectors think spinners are still the key, so 2 seamers should be enough? I'd have gone for Woakes + Broad/Stone, myself.

Woakes does fuck all in those conditions. Two seamers is fine, series so far has shown there's fuck all there for them.

Fair enough. Guess I've been conditioned by 30 years of England persisting with minimum 3 seamers everywhere, whatever the pitch/conditions! Will miss the Curran show though.

Well, this is nice

^ commentator’s curse?

You'd have a point if that wasn't a no ball

Yessssssssssssss Jonny. Some anger in that celebration as well

England selectors had a No.3 hiding in plain sight under their noses.

Lovely innings, but a century at No3 against a spin attack does not confirm anything. Got my fingers crossed for him, as we need a number 3 as much as a one and two, but this proves little technique wise. Big heart though.

Agreed. He got bounced out a lot against South Africa a few years ago - which for a potential long term number 3 isn't ideal.

I think he should play as a specialist batsmen and let Foakes have a proper run.

BenStokesSoGood

Good to see England on the +ve side of a witless collapse. 100 run lead + 20 overs to build a steady 2nd innings?

Well, this is nice