*Official* Fourth Test at Chester-le-Street

[BeeGee]

What's the record for plays and misses outside off in one session by a left hander on day one of a test?

 

[grecian]

What's the record for plays and misses outside off in one session?

Dunno, but it'll be Foxy Fowler that did it.

 

[King Pietersen]

We need more:

Agreed. So disappointing he's only managed 1 Test, big fan of Carbs. Cook, Carberry, Trott, Pietersen, Bell, Root and Prior looks pretty strong to me!

 

[wpdavid]

Dunno, but it'll be Foxy Fowler that did it.

There's a name from the past. Always liked him, although we always knew he wasn't actually very good.

 

[Burgey]

I'm really finding that big blue crane behind the sight screen at one end has ruined this otherwise classic and traditional cricket ground with it's modernity.

 

[Magrat Garlick]

Always liked him, although we always knew he wasn't actually very good.

the life of the English sport fan (1967-2005)

 

[benchmark00]

Reckon Trott doesn't get enough credit for his driving. Compact but in tennis terms 'not a lot can go wrong with it'.

 

[The Battlers Prince]

Is modernity the new modernism?

 

[LongHopCassidy]

Why the **** did Warner ditch his mo? Made him vaguely likeable for a while.

 

[The Battlers Prince]

No spin at all before lunch? WTF

 

[grecian]

Agreed. So disappointing he's only managed 1 Test, big fan of Carbs. Cook, Carberry, Trott, Pietersen, Bell, Root and Prior looks pretty strong to me!

Indeed, I'm not normally a fan of talking about S-Rs in Test Matches, but TBH we do need one person who won't be utterly becalmed with decent bowling in the top three.

 

[The Battlers Prince]

Why the **** did Warner ditch his mo? Made him vaguely likeable for a while.

Definitely need as much facial hair in cricket as possible! Can't leave it all up to Amla

 

[grecian]

Definitely need as much facial hair in cricket as possible! Can't leave it all up to Amla

Well you should be pushing for Moeen Ali for England then, not a bad pick actually. Surprised he wasn't in the Lions team.

 

[Maximas]

good session from both teams, the English top 3 as good to watch as ever

 

[wpdavid]

Indeed, I'm not normally a fan of talking about S-Rs in Test Matches, but TBH we do need one person who won't be utterly becalmed with decent bowling in the top three.

Who else is there? Genuine question, as I've pretty much lost touch due to the pig's ear of a domestic structure nowadays.

 

[The Battlers Prince]

I find it hard to believe that England went that slow and Lyon didn't get a bowl. Sluggish stuff from Cook is when Lyon bowled his best at Old Trafford to Cook when he was scoring slowly.

 

[flibbertyjibber]

Good session for England. Not the most thrilling to watch but with two out of form players and a rookie what did we expect.

 

[Cabinet96]

My thoughts on Root remain the same as they were before the series. I'd prefer him at 6. With the way he plays with a small stride forward and an angled bat, I think he could really struggle in Australia on faster and bouncier pitches. I could certainly envision Aussie slip fielders drawling if he opens at the WACA later this year. Every innings he's had this series, he's given a chance in the first couple of hours he's been at the crease. I'm not going to come up with some FCA or say his 180 shouldn't count because Haddin and Watson couldn't be ****ed to move. But it was pretty startling how much better he looked once he got set that innings. Obviously that happens to everyone bar Shane Watson, but once the ball got old he looked like he could score tons of runs, but every time he's started against a new nut he looks like he'll struggle to get 30. Just like he looked much better against New Zealand than he has so far this series.

I think it's pretty safe to say that Root's output isn't going to be as high as it would be at six if he keeps opening for now, which annoys me because they did it to get Bairstow in, who's had just one fifty this series with his own life in it. I just didn't see the need to bring him up to open as quickly as they did. He's 22 FFS, he could've had another year six and still had a ten year opening career. They were too keen to get their future combination going and it's compromised the sides returns. Bad state to get themselves in as well because it would seem counterintuitive to go back on their decision.

 

[wpdavid]

good session from both teams, the English top 3 as good to watch as ever

They're a real throw back, aren't they. England will be the happier of the two sides, but they both know that there could easily be a batch of wickets after the break.

 

[Howe_zat]

An extremely Boycottian session. Cue 'proper cricket' on TMS