*Official* Fourth Test at Trent Bridge

[Furball]

Congratulations, you are MS Dhoni.

Fixed.

 

[weldone]

He always does this because to him, a seaming wicket in England is still the default state of affairs and watching what happens on one what is how you measure 'genuine' Test batting ability

It's not, obviously. Test cricket is primarily about succeeding on flat, hard pitches with bounce (especially in the southern hemisphere) and so this is what happens when the majority of batsmen can succeed by maximising how well they score in those conditions.

Players who can adapt their play to score in all conditions - your Dravids, Kallises, Sangakkaras - are Test cricket's golden eggs and despite having relatively more of them playing in the 2000s it's hard to pick one right now thanks to something of a generation gap.

The current lot of rising stars - Smith, Root, Kohli - all have holes in their resume but generally have spectacular improvement as part of their shtick so we'll see where it goes

This post can be answered in one word - Rahane

 

[LegionOfBrad]

Yeah assuming we win here I can't see them playing Jimmy at the oval. There's no need.

 

[Howe_zat]

The Guardian has posted this quite fantastic match report from the last time something like this happened in 1896

http://i.guim.co.uk/img/static/sys-...04x2040.jpeg?w=620&q=85&auto=format&sharp=10&

Remarkable breakdown of the colonials!

 

[Prince EWS]

Unauthorized

 

[Niall]

Unfortunately all that will happen is that this will be forgotten after a home summer of decent batting on roads/runways.

You have to visit the new super power of world cricket Bangladesh next for 2 tests. Hopefully we don't get roads because this is now a very interesting series especially with mega gun mustafizur rahman and his cutters.

 

[Howe_zat]

While I'm sharing things here is Stokes' catch

Watch from 6 seconds in to see Ian Bell fail at hugging

 

[Howe_zat]

Unauthorized

Whoops.

Here 'tis

 

[Spark]

While I'm sharing things here is Stokes' catch

Watch from 6 seconds in to see Ian Bell fail at hugging

Broad's reaction there is pretty great, has to be said

 

[Top_Cat]

A few of the dismissals really could be put down as unplayable.

Only a few, though. My favourite right now looks to be Shaun Marsh.

15/3 in the second over of the day from Broad's end on a bowler's pitch. You're on 0. Do you

(a) Only choose between forward defense and leaving for now, try to judge the pace of the wicket, wait for a bad ball to get you going
(b) Try to work a single to get off strike
(c) MASSIVE DRIVE

1/3 of his Test knocks, he scores a blob. **** like is why.

****ing love the article, by the way. Remarkable indeed!

 

[Biryani Pillow]

While I'm sharing things here is Stokes' catch

Watch from 6 seconds in to see Ian Bell fail at hugging

Deadful hug attempt - drop Bell.

 

[Furball]

This innings by Root is much better than his Cardiff effort.

There's a huge score for the taking tomorrow if he wants it.

 

[nightprowler10]

All the talk coming out from them (and many of their supporters) before the series showed an arrogance never seen in English sport

Must not have been around when England flew down to Pakistan after '05 Ashes. I believe Collingwood made a McGrath-esque 3-0 whitewash remark.

 

[NUFAN]

I ended up almost predicting the stumps scoreline only problem is that I didn't forsee the first innings.

If the third innings goes according to plan the rebuild should start at the oval, fly over a few of the Aus A boys.

 

[Biryani Pillow]

Must not have been around when England flew down to Pakistan after '05 Ashes. I believe Collingwood made a McGrath-esque 3-0 whitewash remark.

Don't recall it, and very much doubt it.

 

[Clayton100]

This innings by Root is much better than his Cardiff effort.

There's a huge score for the taking tomorrow if he wants it.

*I want* Root to get a huge score. Does that help?

 

[social]

I ended up almost predicting the stumps scoreline only problem is that I didn't forsee the first innings.

If the third innings goes according to plan the rebuild should start at the oval, fly over a few of the Aus A boys.

When I called it a night after the Oz innings, I predicted 3-300 by stumps so am pleasantly surprised by the stumps score

Anyway, I am proposing a radical solution to Australia's batting woes and I apologise in advance if it offends the purists i.e. if a batsman receives a good a good length ball which is not going to hit the stumps early in his innings then he should leave it

The strategy is so crazy that it just might work

 

[Tangles]

I ended up almost predicting the stumps scoreline only problem is that I didn't forsee the first innings.

If the third innings goes according to plan the rebuild should start at the oval, fly over a few of the Aus A boys.

Does it really help for Burns/Lynn etc to get a game in a dead rubber? Especially if it's another seaming pitch. Which is what I expect.

 

[SteveNZ]

I think I'd be right in saying Australia are the worst 'leaving' side in world cricket by some margin. All of their top order - Rogers apart - consistently want to feel bat on ball, especially early. So it's no surprise when the conditions suit swing bowling, they end up crumbling to pitiful totals like this one. They're a one-trick pony side. No side can claim to be great when they go to water like they have over the last 12 months to swing bowling (in both formats)

 

[Pratters]

This is the greatest day in the history of cricket.

Jennifer Anniston got married as well today, btw.