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*Official* Fourth Test (Old Trafford, Manchester) 19-23 July

morgieb

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Two sides trying to out-Gambhir each other. Poms convinced there'll be no play, Aussies still think there'll be quite a bit.
 

Owzat

U19 Captain
Except that the radar suggests that the longest gap will be an hour. At this time yesterday it was suggested that the gap could be as long as 3 hours.

Though 4 hours without rain was a genuinely best case scenario and we reached it, so I wouldn’t lose hope if I were England. Draw is clearly favoured though.
problem isn't necessarily the size of the gap in the weather, I've been to old trafford and you get to see ground staff mopping up in lovely sunshine then as 'soon' as the cricketers step onto the field of play the weather closes in

just takes too long to be ready for play, too many ceremonies and I don't just mean drinks breaks etc, but also "inspection at X" and then announcement that play will resume after more of the decent weather has been wasted

they need to stop wasting time when the weather is fine, drinks breaks, slow over rates in part due to other time wastes, and of course can this "can't play beyond 7pm", "can't start before....", "can't play under artificial light" and all the other "well actually YOU CAN". Cricket has 'evolved' into various formats, cricket itself evolving and yet it is much played like it is C20 or even C19 - except the aussies have evolved their fair play to the point it has turned into something completely different (well basically merged seamlessly into their desire to win and lost the battle with it)
 

Owzat

U19 Captain
Are you really really sure?
no he's really *something else*......

it's red tape rubbish, they could start earlier, end as late as light or floodlights would allow, work around drinks breaks, speed up over rates, even reduce the amount of time wasted in a) deciding if a side wants to review and b) the review itself which has become almost ridiculously ceremonious for the simple among the crowd and viewing ie spelled out, as long as it is fair to both sides there is no real issue at all

of course the aussies would currently want less time, England more time, so can't change mid match or mid series but people worry about Test cricket and its popularity, well asking people to watch for near EIGHT hours and see about five hours worth of play in a drawn out day is a bit much for those not hardened Test cricket fans.

how many other sports last that long for a small section of the entire match? tennis sometimes 4+ hours, but that's its entirity. and there was action for the enthusiast but barely enough for those who aren't, a colleague from work had tickets for day 4, wonder if she enjoyed it or wishes she'd gone day 3 or before..... (and she is an enthusiast, will maybe see her next week but I'm off so probably not)
 

Burgey

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England fans understandably far more in favour of flexible and extended playing hours than they were during the Sydney test 18 months ago.
 

mackembhoy

International Regular
Not being able to start early the most ridiculous thing of course
Yep WTC final 10:30 every day.

Something something about tradition ECB refuse to start games at 10:30

Unless its the arse end of September and the CC starts at 10:30, so they can bowl 96 overs by 530pm cos of light. But the poor test cricketers can't even manage 85 with an extra 30 minutes in the middle of July.
 

Tom Flint

International Regular
There is a huge blanket of rain spreading from west to east up to Scotland, its staying there all day and Manchester is right on the edge of it
 

halba

International 12th Man
No play remotely likely today- Well played AUS and in particular Labu
5th test only change should be Murphy for Green
 

Croadymeister

U19 Cricketer
Yep WTC final 10:30 every day.

Something something about tradition ECB refuse to start games at 10:30

Unless its the arse end of September and the CC starts at 10:30, so they can bowl 96 overs by 530pm cos of light. But the poor test cricketers can't even manage 85 with an extra 30 minutes in the middle of July.
Yeah I do remember some Ashes tests in the past have started at 10.30 so what's the excuse
 

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