Test Cricket

[amateur51]

When will the rain stop?

When will play resume?

When in doubt, go take a snoozle, I say

Ah'll sithee laters.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Manchester rain is one of the most beautiful things on earth. When I go to the Bridgewater Hall, I sometimes wander outside at the interval in the hope of experiencing the cool but gentle rainfall that is so different from that found everywhere else.

[vinteuil]

Manchester rain is one of the most beautiful things on earth.

... when I was posted to Paris, I attempted to fend off the envy of certain colleagues by pointing out that the annual rainfall in Paris is greater than that in Manchester. I don't think I was very successful...

[aka Calum Da Jazbo]

it is the three hundred miles further south that would be quite noticeable Vinteuil [not to mention everything else!]

[muzzer]

V sad for Old Trafford that having had a refit and got the Test back, it's been let down by its drainage being sub-standard. The dreadful weather is a given "up there",

[aka Calum Da Jazbo]

well a splendid test match result from an England point of view ..... perhaps the Indian side will actually be at the Oval .... poor Mr Broad i do hope his nose gets well soon! and nice tactic of Cook to use his B team bowlers to see off India after Anderson did the necessary

[aeolium]

Yes, that was brainless and feeble batting from India against a weakened England bowling attack. Moeen could be the fastest to 20 Test wickets among England spinners - incredible for those who have seen him bowl at Worcester. And with Bertha creating monsoon conditions all over the UK today, India could have sneaked a draw with no play today and most of tomorrow. I still think England's second-string pace bowling would not pose much threat on a good wicket and would like to see Finn and/or Plunkett back for the Oval.

There is an interesting finish to the SL v Pakistan match in Galle currently, SL needing about 100 to win off 21 overs remaining:

http://www.espncricinfo.com/sri-lanka-v-pakistan-2014/engine/match/745153.html

[amateur51]

Yes, that was brainless and feeble batting from India against a weakened England bowling attack. Moeen could be the fastest to 20 Test wickets among England spinners - incredible for those who have seen him bowl at Worcester. And with Bertha creating monsoon conditions all over the UK today, India could have sneaked a draw with no play today and most of tomorrow. I still think England's second-string pace bowling would not pose much threat on a good wicket and would like to see Finn and/or Plunkett back for the Oval.

There is an interesting finish to the SL v Pakistan match in Galle currently, SL needing about 100 to win off 21 overs remaining:

http://www.espncricinfo.com/sri-lank...ch/745153.html

Many thanks for leading me to this feed aeolium, wonderful service. I'm so pleased about Sangakkara's double ton - a great batsman, a fine keeper and a fierce competitor.

As Sir Geoffrey might say, "You can only play the opponents who turn up". Irrespective of the state of the Indian side, England did well.I'm so pleased to see 'pundits' (ha! ) like Vaughan having to eat humble pie about Cook and the captaincy.

What a delight to see a British Muslim spinning England to victory over India - if you'd put that into fiction, people would have scoffed

[amateur51]

Sure sign that Summer's end is close by, the Fifth and final Test match at The Oval started half an hour late. England won the toss & elected to bowl which decision appears to have been inspired now that India are 35-4

Broad sporting two black eyes has a wicket as does Anderson, and Jordan has two.


Blimey!

[amateur51]

Woakes has got Vijay after 90 minutes of hanging on, India now 36-5.

Not an auspicious time for poor Sunil Gavaskar to take up the microphone

I fancy i heard HS whistling on his way through to lunch with Mrs HS

[Belgrove]

What a turn around! After my gloomy prediction of an England series defeat following the Lord's match, it was India who ignominiously succumbed in the remaining Tests. How nice to be proved wrong. This was more like the England of a few seasons ago, bat once and relentlessly demoralise and crush the opposition. Of the newcomers, Ballance, Buttler and Ali look like regulars from now on. Ali's batting is a joy to watch (and a terrific fielder too). He has such elegance and fluency at the crease, but needs to work on his susceptibility to the the short ball (of which there will be many next year). The number 2 spot has not yet stabilised and Finn needs to be rehabilitated to help out Anderson and Broad. After the debacles at the hands of Australia and Sri Lanka, this series victory was just the tonic. Next summer's series will be an altogether more severe test.

[aka Calum Da Jazbo]

well India did not arrive at the Oval in time for the Test Match and a rather poor village green side took a thrashing from England ..... a really depressing turn of events from the game's pov - India were a real power in the game not so long ago!

Agree on No2 and Finn .... what has happened to Trott?

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

The 1st Test against New Zealand reminds us of what 5-day cricket is all about. The match could so easily have gone either way.
England appeared to be down and out in the first innings, yet recovered to achieve a respectable score.
New Zealand responded by wiping the floor with England's bowlers.
Things looked even worse for England when they lost early wickets in their second innings, but what an incredible recovery.
Then with NZ against the ropes, England dismissed the visitors with time and many runs to spare.

A truly great match.

[DracoM]

Endorsed.
So why were Wood and Stokes NOT picked in W Indies??????????????????????

Anderson frankly looked a spent force, which given how other seamers looked so good on that wicket, both NZ and Eng, was pretty ominous IMO.

[antongould]

The 1st Test against New Zealand reminds us of what 5-day cricket is all about. The match could so easily have gone either way.
England appeared to be down and out in the first innings, yet recovered to achieve a respectable score.
New Zealand responded by wiping the floor with England's bowlers.
Things looked even worse for England when they lost early wickets in their second innings, but what an incredible recovery.
Then with NZ against the ropes, England dismissed the visitors with time and many runs to spare.

A truly great match.

Indeed - restored the faith..........