Topic: England’s Cricketing Summer - Pakistan/Australia/India

[Circa1892]

Impressive to see Buttler nudging and nurdling his way to a half century. We all know he can blast a 50 off 20 balls in white ball cricket, but nice to see he's got this in his locker when his teammates need it.

[Crosby Nick]

Buttler out, telly off.

[voodoo ray]

looked out. was out. right to chuck a review at it though.

[Gerry Attrick]

Pakistan have an excellent seam attack. Thank god Yasir Shah isn't on the tour too.

[Circa1892]

First ever pair for Broad. Surprised at that considering he's not been able to hold a bat for about 6 years now.

[amir87]

That was much easier then expected.

[Gerry Attrick]

Simon Wilde
‏@swildecricket

Mohammad Abbas’s match figures of 8-64 are the best by a Pakistan quick in a Lord’s Test. What a wonderful bowler


Not even express pace either, just incredibly skilled. Made ours look like amateurs.

[CheshireDave]

Not even express pace either, just incredibly skilled. Made ours look like amateurs.

That's why I am surprised we didn't go with Woakes. Didn't he get a bag full of wickets at Lord's against Pakistan, or have I imaged that?

Pakistan have bowled, batted and fielded better than England in this match. Fair play to them.

[voodoo ray]

we've been rubbish

[El Lobo]

If heads didn’t roll after the Aussie/NZ tour they surely must now?

[Crosby Nick]

Team for the next Test then? Obviously Buttler and Bess to open but is it 9 new faces after that?

[Gerry Attrick]

Team for the next Test then? Obviously Buttler and Bess to open but is it 9 new faces after that?

Jennings, Cook, Gubbins, Root, Bairstow, Buttler, Stokes, Bess, Coad, Broad, Anderson.

[Guz-kop]

They’ve actually had a better preparation for this than pretty much our whole team. Fair play to them, getting what they deserve for taking it seriously.

Seems to be a common theme recently but mind you the winter tour seemed to go on forever.

[cricketrocks]

Jennings, Cook, Gubbins, Root, Bairstow, Buttler, Stokes, Bess, Coad, Broad, Anderson.

I much prefer the shape of that side with Root at 4, though it would be really harsh on Malan. I do think we need to be searching for a great young number 3 batsman, so if Gubbins is that then great.

The only cricket I watch is International stuff, though, so have no idea who the up-and-comers are. I've seen Foakes play once or twice and liked what I saw, but guess he wouldn't play that high if selected.

[Gerry Attrick]

I much prefer the shape of that side with Root at 4, though it would be really harsh on Malan. I do think we need to be searching for a great young number 3 batsman, so if Gubbins is that then great.

The only cricket I watch is International stuff, though, so have no idea who the up-and-comers are. I've seen Foakes play once or twice and liked what I saw, but guess he wouldn't play that high if selected.

Malan's had 13 tests and averages 29. He's had his chance, so time for the next one to fail.

[cricketrocks]

Malan's had 13 tests and averages 29. He's had his chance, so time for the next one to fail.

Yeah, I pretty much agree.

[Crosby Nick]

Malan's had 13 tests and averages 29. He's had his chance, so time for the next one to fail.

Stoneman is the next cab off the tank in terms of the order to get dropped. I do agree that Malan probably doesn’t have a long term future. Once again it’s a question of whether we make sweeping changes or one at a time.

[indianscouser]

I hate to say this, but it’s looking like a long summer for England. Pakistan aren’t a great team by any means, but the manner in which England folded is alarming. I would love for England to teach the arrogant Indian team a lesson. (I am Indian but don’t support my national team ).

[Red Bird]

There was a discussion on TMS between Michael Vaughan and one of the commentators-- I think it was Simon Mann. Basically, Vaughan's co-commentator was asking if you would really expect a player with a county average of about 30 (partly skewed by a couple quick fire hundreds, perhaps) really to equal or better that average in Tests? Would a player with a higher county average be a better option, on the other hand? And then he went on to discuss players with very high county averages who struggled at the next level such as Hick and Ramprakash, and those with a modest county averages such as Gower etc. who flourished mainly because they all are such obvious outliers. Vaughan would have none of it and felt it was the timing of the county season, in April and May and then latter on in the season that distorted the picture for the selectors. Unfortunately, I had to go out and never heard the end of the discussion but found it fascinating.

[Crosby Nick]

Jennings has replaced Stoneman in the squad for the second Test. That’s the only change. You’d think Woakes might come back in for Wood too, what’s the Headingley pitch like these days?

[Ray K]

Keaton Jennings does sound like a character in an Evelyn Waugh novel. Himself and Toby Roland-Jones would no doubt get up to some high jinks and japes while together at Oxford. 

[Yorkykopite]

There was a discussion on TMS between Michael Vaughan and one of the commentators-- I think it was Simon Mann. Basically, Vaughan's co-commentator was asking if you would really expect a player with a county average of about 30 (partly skewed by a couple quick fire hundreds, perhaps) really to equal or better that average in Tests? Would a player with a higher county average be a better option, on the other hand? And then he went on to discuss players with very high county averages who struggled at the next level such as Hick and Ramprakash, and those with a modest county averages such as Gower etc. who flourished mainly because they all are such obvious outliers. Vaughan would have none of it and felt it was the timing of the county season, in April and May and then latter on in the season that distorted the picture for the selectors. Unfortunately, I had to go out and never heard the end of the discussion but found it fascinating.

Interesting. If the selectors are going off averages that would be a big problem for the reason Vaughan says (the County Championship being so fractured now).

[TepidT2O]

Just saw kevin Pietersen and his Missus .... nothing else to report what so ever...

[Frank Becton]

Jennings has replaced Stoneman in the squad for the second Test. That’s the only change. You’d think Woakes might come back in for Wood too, what’s the Headingley pitch like these days?

I think some of their championship home games were abandoned due to the weather, but their one day games have had a lot of runs scored. Pretty sure one 50 over game had close to 700 runs scored.

[Prof]

It feels like the 1990s again, waiting for a test match and hoping that the batting line up has suddenly improved overnight.

How spoilt we were to have Cook, Strauss, Trott, KP, Bell, Flintoff and Prior as a batting line up.

Even Root, England's best batsman (trademark), doesn't look as good as any of that side did.

Which middle order would you prefer?  The one we will be subjected to tomorrow, or Hick, Thorpe and Ramprakash?

[Crosby Nick]

Stokes out injured. Buttler at 6, Woakes at 7, Sam Curran gets his debut and bats at 9. All the best!

[Gerry Attrick]

Stokes out injured. Buttler at 6, Woakes at 7, Sam Curran gets his debut and bats at 9. All the best!

The absolute state of that batting lineup. Why are we even bothering?

[Crosby Nick]

The absolute state of that batting lineup. Why are we even bothering?

Tail starts at 5 with the way Bairstow’s playing. Or maybe 4...possibly 3, 2 or 1!

What’s Curran like? What’s happened to his brother who played a few Tests in the winter? Are Overton and Ball out of the picture altogether now (probably should be to be fair!)? Not really a like for like swap either. I know Stokes is quite unique but I’d have said its more important to replace his batting than his bowling at the moment.

[Crosby Nick]

Pakistan win the toss and bat. Phew!

[voodoo ray]

I reckon Sam Curran could be a decent england cricketer down the line, but this seems too early.

Still, good luck to him.

[CheshireDave]

Really muggy (I presume as it is here), possible showers... good toss to lose?

Sam Curran looks about 12

[CheshireDave]

Broad second ball and picks up a wicket. Gone to review though.

EDIT: Going over the top. Imam-ul-Haq stays

[cricketrocks]

Wasn't a good sign when Bumble thought it was out. 

[Crosby Nick]

Gone now! Decent catch at 3rd slip from a big drive.

[cricketrocks]

Gone now! Decent catch at 3rd slip from a big drive.

Either you're prophetic or my stream is behind!

[CheshireDave]

Poor shot that.

[Crosby Nick]

Either you're prophetic or my stream is behind!

My wife tells me I’m prophetic every day. I think.

[cricketrocks]

My wife tells me I’m prophetic every day. I think.

I'm sure that's right. 

[Frank Becton]

It's cloudy and muggy, could be quite funny if Pakistan make the same mistake that we did.

[CheshireDave]

No review needed for this one. Good bowling from Broad. Azhar Ali gone and Broad has 2 wickets. 18/2

Some really unusual batting by Pakistan.