Test Cricket 2022

[DracoM]

Hope we see Foakes back soon.
Oh yes, and ref TMS, I fervently hope we see the back of Andy Zaltzman and his non-sop stats guff.

[Belgrove]

Well, that didn’t go to plan. On the first day at Lord’s, it was a good toss to win in order to make the opposition bat, to toil in overcast, humid conditions where the ball would do much to test batting technique, and South Africa did precisely that. England’s batsmen were no match for the pace and accuracy of the bowling attack and a first innings total of 165 was never going to be competitive. And so it proved, the SA response of 326 proved to be entirely adequate, with England falling short by 12 runs. All over in six sessions! Anderson was not bowled on the last morning, so we may conclude(?) he was unfit, and Stokes’ strapped knee suggests a problem there too. So, England were comprehensively beaten by a quality bowling attack. On the plus side, there was some decent SA Chardonnay and Chenin Blanc to be had… The series continues at Old Trafford next week.

[muzzer]

That was going to happen as soon as Nu Eng met serious opposition. You can’t bat that badly in the first dig and expect to prosper. As spectacular a failure as those great victories earlier this season were successes. It’s called Test cricket for a reason. Stokes will implode if he gets too many of these as imho for all his extraordinary qualities, and he is an exceptional player, he can’t accept the connect between his actions with failure. Obvs I hope I’m wrong.

[Ein Heldenleben]

That was going to happen as soon as Nu Eng met serious opposition. You can’t bat that badly in the first dig and expect to prosper. As spectacular a failure as those great victories earlier this season were successes. It’s called Test cricket for a reason. Stokes will implode if he gets too many of these as imho for all his extraordinary qualities, and he is an exceptional player, he can’t accept the connect between his actions with failure. Obvs I hope I’m wrong.

There was some very poor shot selection particularly in the second innings,Equally there were some deliveries that would have got any one out. I kept my £33 NOW subscription going just to watch the 3 red ball tests - having little interest in televised white ball or footy. I suspect it will cost me £ 8 per day’s viewing at this rate .

[Historian]

Bit of a turn-round...

No good playing too spinners if, like South Africa, you get bowled out for such a low score that the fourth innings never happens. Much better performance from England, Robinson bowling well in both innings (although not much reward until the second innings), Anderson and Broad showing what they can do on a helpful wicket, Leach keeping it tight, Stokes seemingly indestructible (hope his knee holds up). Batting more solid too with Crawley digging in, Bairstow continuing his fine season then Stokes and Foakes playing 'proper' Test innings to bring SA down. Catching reflected the improved confidence and performance as well. SA bowling very good but their batting still fragile.

Who will the momentum be with at the Oval?

[LHC]

Bit of a turn-round...

No good playing too spinners if, like South Africa, you get bowled out for such a low score that the fourth innings never happens. Much better performance from England, Robinson bowling well in both innings (although not much reward until the second innings), Anderson and Broad showing what they can do on a helpful wicket, Leach keeping it tight, Stokes seemingly indestructible (hope his knee holds up). Batting more solid too with Crawley digging in, Bairstow continuing his fine season then Stokes and Foakes playing 'proper' Test innings to bring SA down. Catching reflected the improved confidence and performance as well. SA bowling very good but their batting still fragile.

Who will the momentum be with at the Oval?

Well the lesson from the last two tests appears to be 'don't bat first'.

[Historian]

Well the lesson from the last two tests appears to be 'don't bat first'.

However once South Africa had chosen two spinners they didn't really have any choice. England also batted more intelligently at Old Trafford I think.

[Belgrove]

Almost a mirror image of the Lord’s match. A beautifully nuanced century from Stokes that went through distinct, accelerating phases as the innings progressed, and a heroic bowling spell in SA’s second innings, that saved the quickies for the new ball, which duly finished them off. The ECB are shelling out a lot of refunds this series.

The new (Amazon) documentary on Stokes is worth a watch, which is very much warts and all. He was interviewed by Sam Mendes about this time last year, and looks shell-shocked, talking candidly about his fragile mental state then. Fortunately he has come through that reinvigorated, and has the confidence and authority to tell the egregious ECB where to get off with their absurdly packed schedules. We can only hope they take his advice.

[muzzer]

Almost a mirror image of the Lord’s match. A beautifully nuanced century from Stokes that went through distinct, accelerating phases as the innings progressed, and a heroic bowling spell in SA’s second innings, that saved the quickies for the new ball, which duly finished them off. The ECB are shelling out a lot of refunds this series.

The new (Amazon) documentary on Stokes is worth a watch, which is very much warts and all. He was interviewed by Sam Mendes about this time last year, and looks shell-shocked, talking candidly about his fragile mental state then. Fortunately he has come through that reinvigorated, and has the confidence and authority to tell the egregious ECB where to get off with their absurdly packed schedules. We can only hope they take his advice.

I was worried before watching the documentary that his making it is a hostage to fortune, in the sense that if his captaincy hits the rocks then he’ll regret having been so candid. That it will compound any setbacks he has in his well-being. And I still think that tbh.

It’s a highly compelling record, however, and what really comes across and which I’d not given him enough credit for is the sheer size and strength of his character. He absolutely does not give up. The unspoken accusation in the documentary is that the ECB didn’t back him, or back him to his satisfaction, in his criminal trial, and that this contributed to his effective breakdown. And you can see it from his viewpoint - if it wasn’t for the talent of the players there’d be no ECB, no Lord’s, no game. Now, that may be in part related to his Dad’s illness and passing, as he was also a professional sportsman and coach, but that’s pure speculation.

But overall I think his application on and off the field makes him a role model. Flawed, as are we all, but he never gives up. I hope that never boils over on or off the field, and most of all that injury doesn’t end his career prematurely.

[Belgrove]

That’s the craziest summer of Test cricket I can recall, but it was certainly entertaining and proved my gloomy prospects expressed at the head of the thread to be unfounded. Winning two series (and drawing the carry-over from last year), with six wins out of seven, has to be regarded as a success for the new regime, reinvigorating England’s cricketing fortunes. A sensational summer for Root and Bairstow, and a good one too for Anderson and Broad, who have surely secured their positions for next year’s home series’ (which will be Ireland, followed immediately by the Ashes). Robinson has shown himself to be a strong future prospect. But the can-do buccaneering attitude of the Stokes/McCullum leadership has refreshed team morale to the extent that they believe they can win every match, and elite sport is all about psychology. Stokes certainly leads from the front, and his rejection of the short forms of the game shows his total commitment to the captaincy.

[eighthobstruction]

....onward....

[antongould]

That’s the craziest summer of Test cricket I can recall, but it was certainly entertaining and proved my gloomy prospects expressed at the head of the thread to be unfounded. Winning two series (and drawing the carry-over from last year), with six wins out of seven, has to be regarded as a success for the new regime, reinvigorating England’s cricketing fortunes. A sensational summer for Root and Bairstow, and a good one too for Anderson and Broad, who have surely secured their positions for next year’s home series’ (which will be Ireland, followed immediately by the Ashes). Robinson has shown himself to be a strong future prospect. But the can-do buccaneering attitude of the Stokes/McCullum leadership has refreshed team morale to the extent that they believe they can win every match, and elite sport is all about psychology. Stokes certainly leads from the front, and his rejection of the short forms of the game shows his total commitment to the captaincy.

Indeed quite a summer and Potts has enjoyed his return to proper county cricket ……..

[antongould]

Ben Stokes … but a wonderful team performance ..

[LHC]

Crazy start to the Pakistan Test. 506 - 4 from 75 overs with four players scoring centuries, and with two coming close to the record for fastest century for England. The pitch may be partly to blame, and it will probably be difficult to get twenty wickets, but Pakistan looked completely shell-shocked at close of play.

[Belgrove]

Quite remarkable. Proper cricket shots too. A case of the virus giving England the runs.