Cricket

Why do I put myself through this

4.30 and I'm still watching. Why?

Oh dear.

Woke up confused why only 10 overs bowled. Rain? Day night hours?

Nope, don't be silly, it's the second innings already, England test cricket is a mess.

This is the third test now so nobody can claim to be rusty. They’ve changed the team to take out the most out of form players. And yet here we are at the end of day one looking at an innings defeat.

There’s nowhere to hide for Silverwood now. He’s got to go. I don’t know who comes in. Probably makes sense to choose somebody from outside the English game. I’d welcome Flower back with open arms.

I accept the county set up is failing to produce the right standard of player but there are batsmen in that team who are capable of getting runs in australia with the right environment and coaching.

Why do I put myself through this

Ha - repost :)

Another shambles. There really isn't a lot to be positive about in this England side.

.https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/dec/26/the-thrills-the-spills-no-wonder-were-losing-the-drama-of-the-epic-encounter

Haven't some of the Aussies come to the county game to improve their cricket? Marnus Labuschagne seems to have benefited from it (as well as stints lower down the grades in England). Less nets and more game time might help a few of our lot.

How many of the current test team have played any county cricket in the last few years?

Robinson has been playing for Sussex, but anyone else? I know it's long been the habit for test players to skip the county game but has it changed recently?

An aggregate count of county 4 day games played in last two years for any given test team...

Crawley for Kent too. Then that’s probably it?

He came to get experience of English conditions. I’m not sure there’s enough depth in the county game for someone of his standard to come over and improve.

Only a couple of games here and there. Obviously Malan, Hameed and Crawley have had a bit of exposure because they’ve been in and out of the England team.

Doesn’t seem to have improved them.

Might just watch half an hour tonight and go to bed

True but the lack of players desired by the test team taking part means the standard and drive to improve just can't be there, habitually strip the best players out and the competition as a whole is a sham...

How are you meant to be a good test player if you don't play the long game regularly? Is this an England thing? Do other countries put their test players into 4 day club games?

How are you meant to be a good test player if you don't play the long game regularly?

This is the conundrum. I don’t think it’s about the quantity of four day county cricket, but the quality.

Personally I think the ECB needs to have a look at what some of the smaller/lesser county teams are contributing to the four day game.

How much time are non match day players spending with the squad rather than getting game time, pretty sure Crawley has spent a lot of time away with England but not playing that much.

Did they first two wickets last night, but that was never going to be late night, tonight be a different story though.

I still don't know how I stayed up through most of it, even sat through after that brainless shot from Buttler

At least Gone Fishing is on tonight

Rona stops play?

LFTs all passed is the talk now.

Can’t even catch Covid…

Lyon century. Root to concede match & series at Tea. Flights home tomorrow.

#mysticmeg

Lyon century.

Thanks for tempting fate.

Now - Harris century.

That's one of their top order gone!

Oh.

Brilliant, they're on the ropes now.

Finish them Jimmy!