Test Cricket 2022

[Historian]

Good summary. Not sure there was a huge improvement from England, except that previously I would have expected them to lose from the situation they were in towards the close of the third day. So. maybe a better performance than I have given them credit for.

Root is splendid, but too many other batsmen seem to have no patience with the idea of seeing off the new ball, or even seeing out a good spell from a bowler. More than once an unsuitable shot was played to what was going to be the last over of a spell e.g. from Jamieson. Bairstow has a track record of good innings interspersed with frankly brainless batting.

However, they did win and Potts did well, so let's 'take the positives' and (even worse) 'the learnings' and head off to Nottingham. NZ should have settled in more by then: let's hope Broad and Anderson stay fit.

[DracoM]

Trent Bdg is usually quick. NZ quickies could be a deal more lethal there than the multiple but injured Eng pace team?

[Historian]

Trent Bdg is usually quick. NZ quickies could be a deal more lethal there than the multiple but injured Eng pace team?

Agreed: but only if they bowl better than they did today (Sunday 5th) and on the third afternoon. Jeremy Coney was not at all happy with their performance and I reckon he's a pretty good guide.

[muzzer]

Eng still reliant on their 4 great players, but Root now freed up from a captaincy he should never have been given to pile on the runs. Long may it continue. But Stokes needs to build a team. Toss vital at Trent Bridge given how much it seams.

[muzzer]

What a finish. Summer is back. Fantastic performances.

[DracoM]

[antongould]

What a finish. Summer is back. Fantastic performances.

Indeed ….. loved the posting on the BBC Sport website when Bairstow didn’t get his century off the 76th ball he had faced … “ The Gilbert Jessore supporters are punching the air” …..

[Nick Armstrong]

Indeed ….. loved the posting on the BBC Sport website when Bairstow didn’t get his century off the 76th ball he had faced … “ The Gilbert Jessore supporters are punching the air” …..

I enjoyed this one:

[antongould]

I enjoyed this one:

Very good …… could only happen in Nottingham of course …..

[Belgrove]

That was the best Test Match I’ve seen - one runs out of superlatives. Six additions to the honours boards, 1,675 runs, Anderson getting his 650th wicket, and a result! At the end of play on Friday, a NZ win or a draw seemed the most likely outcomes. But Root’s exquisite first innings saved the match for England. No one could have believed that Bairstow would trump this with his blistering, match winning attack today. This match had everything, down to the uncertainty that any result was still possible at the start of the final session (like a repeat of the World Cup Final - yikes!) It was an inspired decision by Trent Bridge (the friendliest ground on the circuit) to allow free admission on the final day, and ensure a full house. This showed generosity and leadership that other Test venues should learn from. Test cricket is the winner. A match that will go down in the annals.

[gradus]

Couldn't agree more.

[kindofblue]

I spent a very enjoyable Monday at the test. I was brought up within walking distance of Trent Bridge but hadn't been to a match there for many years. Lucky to have seen Hadlee in his prime in that Notts team with Randall, Rice etc... The day reminded me of what a wonderful thing test match cricket can be. Most fun nowadays is pretty instant, but this unfolds over days with many twists and turns along the way. This match seemed to be heading for a draw from day 3 onwards and at any point could have swung either way until the appearance of Bairstow. I had forgotten the very particular atmosphere of a cricket match; there was a large group of Kiwis behind me, and the banter was of high quality. Six Sikh gentlemen in front of me with a fine selction of food that would have fed them for a week; groups in fancy dress mocking each other; Jack Leach engagng with the crowd in a very amusing and ironic fashion; and of course some jaw-dropping moments of pure genius from players such as Root. Potts is potentially a real find - he's built like a rugby player and has real pace, and when he is consistently accurate will be a serious threat. Foakes is as cool as you like behind the stumps and is a very confident, flowing batsman. Stoke's style of captaincy was not what I expected, he's quite low key and isn't one of those irritating non-stop clappers. He also seeks advice and clearly listens to other experienced players. Back in the day the best you could expect at a test match was a rather sad cheese roll and a cup of tea in a styrofoam cup, now there is a great selection of real ales, decent coffee, Asian food, Oriental food, hand-made burgers... and clean toilets for both men and women. As Belgrove has posted, what a stroke of genius to open things up on the final day. Sometimes everything works out well.

[Belgrove]

We are now just past the mid-point of this year’s home Test series, and in all my years of watching Test cricket, this summer’s is without doubt the most remarkable. There was much chin stroking pontifications among friends as to how India would respond to England’s fresh approach to the game. According to all the game’s orthodoxies and previous records, India should have won this one, but the new look England had other ideas. Graced by yet another exquisite century from Root in the final innings, who even now will be seen as one of the game’s greats with (hopefully) years left in his international career. And the remarkable Bairstow’s twin centuries contributed to the six additions to the honours board over the course of the five days, all tolled providing yet another high quality match with all the twists and turns that Test cricket provides. The generous decision of Edgbaston to let spectators in for free on the last day ensured another full house, albeit for just a session.

How has this change in England’s fortunes happened? Is it the balls? Certainly after 30 overs, it has been pretty straightforward to rack-up good scores, but that’s true for both sides. Is it the true pitches? These have tended to favour the batsmen, but again we have witnessed collapses from both sides. Is it the freshening up of the squad and attitude inculcated by McCullum and Stokes? It’s probably a bit of each of these, but Stokes’ cricketing brain and attitude must be a major factor.

Wonderful, epoch-making stuff. Bring on South Africa in August.

[antongould]

We are now just past the mid-point of this year’s home Test series, and in all my years of watching Test cricket, this summer’s is without doubt the most remarkable. There was much chin stroking pontifications among friends as to how India would respond to England’s fresh approach to the game. According to all the game’s orthodoxies and previous records, India should have won this one, but the new look England had other ideas. Graced by yet another exquisite century from Root in the final innings, who even now will be seen as one of the game’s greats with (hopefully) years left in his international career. And the remarkable Bairstow’s twin centuries contributed to the six additions to the honours board over the course of the five days, all tolled providing yet another high quality match with all the twists and turns that Test cricket provides. The generous decision of Edgbaston to let spectators in for free on the last day ensured another full house, albeit for just a session.

How has this change in England’s fortunes happened? Is it the balls? Certainly after 30 overs, it has been pretty straightforward to rack-up good scores, but that’s true for both sides. Is it the true pitches? These have tended to favour the batsmen, but again we have witnessed collapses from both sides. Is it the freshening up of the squad and attitude inculcated by McCullum and Stokes? It’s probably a bit of each of these, but Stokes’ cricketing brain and attitude must be a major factor.

Wonderful, epoch-making stuff. Bring on South Africa in August.

Well said bellers …. it’s hard to take it all in ……

[Keraulophone]

it’s hard to take it all in ……

It has all been quite extraordinary. The Nawab of Pataudi himself would have approved of the shared honours (2-2) and the high quality of cricket on both sides in this match. Most pleasing was to be able to witness a century opening partnership, the quickest yet. About Phil Tufnell's 'If England were set 550, they would have still knocked it all off' - let's not get too carried away.
.