Pack your Dysons boys, they’ll be a lot of hoovering-up to do 
At least it won’t be dangerous, other than to a batsman’s toes and shins, unlike the recent track in SA.
Judging by the fact they’ve picked 4 spinners I’d bet they spin. They looked a mess last time we toured.
Good luck. 
It was proven a few years ago that England, bar Root at the time, struggled with spin, embarrassingly so. And Root’s not been in the greatest nick of late, plus the bash & crash style, could mean some very brief stays at the wicket.
No wonder the TV rights for the UK have been a struggle to sell. not helped by the time difference – I must check to see if anyone has made a decent bid. I suspect Sky may be playing it coy, as they know they may be the only potential buyer in town.
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Aaron Finch walks off to a standing ovation but a damp squib of an innings
Shame
Great news story on R4 just now. Sir Garfield Sobers made his last test century whilst drunk. Those were the days, apparently.
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Aussie crush the West Indies in 2 and a bit days in the first of 2 tests.
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I’ve read several stories of him going out to casinos for the evening during a Test and arriving at the ground straight from the casino still in full evening dress.
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Great performance from the Aussie team, but it’s sad to see WI so weak.
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Spot on Eoink it’s extremely sad and difficult to watch. If it was you blokes or India I’d be dancing in the streets.
I hate be holding tickets for the 3rd of the second test.
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Think also of English supporters (inc. the Barmies) who have tickets for the coming games in India – they may have plentiful spare time on their hands, albeit not unexpected given previous tours.
Listening to the commentary for the BB the other day, they were reflecting on how the likes of Warner can play almost a whole 12m cycle of T20 franchise competitions now. A sad indictment of the game?
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It’s very disappointing I should be watching day 4 now.
Seems those that haven’t got the patience for test cricket are getting it their way 2/3 day tests.
It’s a real shame to see the WIs in such a mess, someone in charge should working on how they intend to address the issues these guys are facing.
Sadly for the WI game, there’s little money in it, remembering that when they were at their peak, most of the team played longer-form cricket in England, Aus and WI, and we all know the longer-form game in England is a shadow of what it once was. Plus, the WI at home have suffered from competition for talent from other sports. It’s a spiral of decline, arguably an evolution, sadly, as the chances of WI returning to the top table in long form cricket look very remote.
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They do a a couple of good young bowlers but the batsmen look very weak.
The game has been in decline in the Caribbean for decades. Poor infrastructure, no investment, competition from other sports such as basketball and athletics where rewards are higher. Crowds have been very reduced, outnumbered substantially by England fans when they tour.
The situation in SA is pretty critical too, players having to play franchise cricket (and County cricket) to be financially sound, Test cricket relegated to a fringe activity. Hence only a two Test series v India, then everyone off to T20 with a shadow outfit going to NZ for the red ball series. Sri Lankan cricket struggling too.
The Test cricket model is barely even viable in India. Watch for the lack of crowds when England tour at the end of the month. No broadcaster here, paid or otherwise seems to want it either.
Test cricket is bring propped up by it’s brash commercial cousins
Bruce
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I think TNT(BT) Sports have acquired some rights for the India tour? It seems TNT have agreed to cover (in UK) all of India’s home games, across all formats, for 5Y’s.
Oh yes, looks like it was settled yesterday.
Bruce
B**locks, I don’t have TNT. If you subscribe to everything it would cost a fortune. Radio commentary it is then!
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Good start:
Shame for him, opportunity for others. I’d like to think it makes room for Foakes. He has always done well when picked, and a specialist keeper in India is a definite asset. Dan Lawrence is called up, he too seems to be a perennial 12th/13th man.
Bruce
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I think Foakes has been treated badly in recent times. Always performed and probably the best keeper in the world at the moment.
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