*Official* First Test at Swalec Stadium, Cardiff

[Richard]

Already heaps of discussion on the match, mostly centred on whether the pitch will be a Bunsen or whether it'll be a Bunsen.

So I say - first off, don't take it as read that it'll be a rank turner. It's certainly quite possible, but by no means as likely as some seem to be making-out.

 

[superkingdave]

In 3 games at Cardiff this year, 69 wickets have fallen and 2263 runs have been scored.

52 wickets have fallen to the seamers (at a cost of 27.79 per wicket)
17 wickets have fallen to the spinners (at a cost of 44.65 per wicket)

2 bowlers have taken more than 5 wickets in an innings (Wigley & Dernbach)
3 bowlers have taken 4 wickets in an innings (Harrison, Shantry, Kruger)

runs have been scored at 3.1 an over, which isn't great by CC standards.

It should be noted that the second division is using windballs this year.

 

[Richard]

The identity of the two bowlers who've taken five-fors suggests England mightn't be ill-advised to pick Saj after all. Evidently this season it's a ground for some of the worst seam bowlers you'll see at the level concerned to get five-fors.

 

[morgieb]

Oh well, at least it's seam friendly. Would rage if it was spin friendly.

 

[Richard]

Why? It wouldn't even be deliberate, as many Aussies seem to have a bizarre idea deliberate preparation of a certain surface is unfair.

 

[Woodster]

It will be interesting to how this pitch will turn out. As Richard says, all speculation is that it's going to be a big turner, after all Glamorgan were penalised a few weeks back for the pitch taking excessive spin. There's got to be spin in it, and with the squad selected, the idea of selecting two spinners is certainly in their thoughts, although there are plenty of seam options also.

So if England do go two spinners, which two ? Swann is a certainty, do they give Rashid a go, in at the deep end, or does a very out of form (judging by the stats) Monty regain his place ? With these the two spin options, perhaps England may play it safe with the extra seamer option.

 

[NUFAN]

Sophia Gardens is such a nice name for a stadium. Swalec sounds like a character from LOTR or something.

 

[Burgey]

Why? It wouldn't even be deliberate, as many Aussies seem to have a bizarre idea deliberate preparation of a certain surface is unfair.

He might rage about it because it wouldn't suit the team he supports Richard.....

 

[pup11]

Sophia Gardens is such a nice name for a stadium. Swalec sounds like a character from LOTR or something.

Haha, was thinking on the same lines too....

 

[pup11]

Already heaps of discussion on the match, mostly centred on whether the pitch will be a Bunsen or whether it'll be a Bunsen.

So I say - first off, don't take it as read that it'll be a rank turner. It's certainly quite possible, but by no means as likely as some seem to be making-out.

Are the English side trying to create a rank turner at Cardiff, or are conditions invariably like that there, at this time of the year??

 

[inbox24]

Swalec the demon.

 

[simmy]

Just got my tickets for the first 2 days play!! Very exciting.

 

[Richard]

Are the English side trying to create a rank turner at Cardiff, or are conditions invariably like that there, at this time of the year??

It's quite common for decent turners to be produced there, but still, precious rarely anything of the sort that is regulation at the Wankhede Stadium Mumbai or Chepauk Stadium Chennai for example. And some people seem to expect that.

I doubt it'd be impossible to produce one if you really tried - whether they will or not is moot. Certainly, if they make an obvious deliberate effort to do so you can bet the Aussies will cry foul, because as I say apparently in Australia it's seen as poor form to deliberately try to prepare a certain sort of pitch.

Whether they will really try - and if they do whether they're successful - remains to be seen. Certainly, it'd be a tactic not devoid of sense, as Swann > any spinner Australia have. The trouble is it might well encourage England to pick two spinners, which would indeed be a mistake in my view.

 

[Uppercut]

It will be interesting to how this pitch will turn out. As Richard says, all speculation is that it's going to be a big turner, after all Glamorgan were penalised a few weeks back for the pitch taking excessive spin. There's got to be spin in it, and with the squad selected, the idea of selecting two spinners is certainly in their thoughts, although there are plenty of seam options also.

So if England do go two spinners, which two ? Swann is a certainty, do they give Rashid a go, in at the deep end, or does a very out of form (judging by the stats) Monty regain his place ? With these the two spin options, perhaps England may play it safe with the extra seamer option.

Don't think that's what it was for, just a generally 'sub-standard' surface.

 

[Richard]

Sophia Gardens is such a nice name for a stadium. Swalec sounds like a character from LOTR or something.

Don't have a clue of the reasons for the name change (is almost certainly sponsor related, as these things mostly are) but I much preferred the old name as well.

 

[superkingdave]

South Wales Electricity init

 

[Lillian Thomson]

Sophia Gardens is such a nice name for a stadium. Swalec sounds like a character from LOTR or something.

SWALEC are a gas and electric company. Part of the agreement of their sponsorship deal was that they could rename the stadium...............very creative they were too.

 

[NUFAN]

Cheers guys. You learn something new each day

 

[oitoitoi]

yeah sophia gardens was a lovely name for a cricket ground, swalec sounds depressingly industrial and makes me think of Norwich, or Sheffield.....in the 70s.

 

[Scaly piscine]

Southern Welsh Ashes Leeching Entity's Commune. Stadium.