Cricket

That 29 should been 20, funny what fat fingers poor eyesight and few drinks can do to your keyboard skills. :rofl:

Pete - indeed about the shots. In the days of yore, the likes of Lillee and Thommo were barely playable by many (esp English touring sides in Oz) but, nowadays, blessed with a diet of fast bowling and a less helpful ball I will admit, batters adopt the mentality of ‘the faster it comes, the faster it goes’ and it’s the slow bowlers who often dictate games. Of course, the far more spread fields in the white-ball games help too.

I’m sure a great % of Stokes’ batting in the last Ashes here was founded on what he developed from the shorter game.

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Spot on, I think T20 can have a beneficial as well as negative effect for test teams .

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Those guy were so fast and accurate including the West Indian blowers that followed, they scared them in submission. These batsmen just make sure that they get a bat to them. They chance it going to the fence. I love it, let’s be honest for diehard cricket fans the harshest thing is defending a draw after 5 days to no cricket fans. Everyone hates a draw.

T20 has added to bowler’s skills too, pace and spin. Mostly in good ways

The worry I have about Test cricket is that, pre Covid, the full house crowds that we get in England are the exception. Matches elsewhere are often watched by one man and his dog, and that is despite the more exciting and attacking game played now.

Bess out now, lead oy 48 for SL. Good battle. Root 181no

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Pete - I agree re the aspect of draws in Tests.

In club cricket, many leagues run on points tables with ‘winning and losing draw’ outcomes (& differing points), to try and ensure teams don’t over-bat. Of course, many leagues just play say straightforward 45/50 overs max per team.

Would be interesting to see this kind of approach with points in Test games & series. It might encourage a bit of hustle with over-rates too.

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True, I love test cricket but let’s be honest it can be boring, even for diehards like us. Anything that saves it and makes it more interesting is good for the game.

I have the unmost respect for the Indian cricket side for having the gust to have a go.

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What is Wood doing?? Surely had to stay in and support Root?

We need ‘Glasses’ and the ‘Burnley Lara’ to bat long now !

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Cricket maths paradox?

England currently 8 down so have just 2 wickets remaining. Yet Root, Leach and Anderson still have their wickets…:wink:

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Well, if they were playing park-rules cricket with ‘last man standing’ applying, the issue goes away :grinning:

…and come to think of it, I’ve played on a few park squares where fielding in some areas was done with great circumspection :grinning:

Oh, Joe!

Has Root got his 100?

Just run out for 186

Just before the close. He looked exhausted

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Doesn’t sound like Roots getting much support, what’s happened to Stokes?

He is not on this tour. Rested, also recent bereavement.

Bruce

Cheers, shows you how much coverage we’re getting. I hope we get the Indian tour.

Cricinfo?

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Although I’d have to agree that t20 altered batting attitudes it’s ruined spin bowling.

I think in some ways it has saved finger spinners (especially Rt arm) from obscurity. There was a time (maybe when Warne was plying his trade) when unless you were a mystery wrist spinner no-one was going to pick you.

I have to agree it has changed spin bowling but if anything they have become more important at ODI/T20 level. I’d agree it hasn’t seemed to have done much for subtlety and craft at Test level, or maybe we are just having a dip in world class Test spin bowling around the world?

The other thing that has actually done a lot for spin bowling is DRS. Ask Graeme Swann and Nathan Lyon!

Bruce

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Lively stuff now. SL 6 down for 66 and a lead of 103 just before lunch.

Three each for Bess and Leach. 150 might still be challenging to chase on this though.

Cricket spoiling my lay in this morning!

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