[JonB]

We’ve got players going into a test series having not played red ball cricket in months due to even scheduling. We’ve had 18 months of having to rotate because of the bubbles and the lack of stokes/woakes kills the balance of the side. No decent spinner or anyone to bat in the top three and it’s not a great recipe.

[azul]

JonB, on 16 August 2021 - 08:43 PM, said:

We’ve got players going into a test series having not played red ball cricket in months due to even scheduling. We’ve had 18 months of having to rotate because of the bubbles and the lack of stokes/woakes kills the balance of the side. No decent spinner or anyone to bat in the top three and it’s not a great recipe.

Bottom line - we have a few world class players and a lot of dross.

Same as many sides, with no really great competition tends to inflate our self esteem

Also time we acknowledge that the the Indian ‘pace’ attack are our match

[JonB]

Suspect some fun and games about to commence after the 5th test due to start today is called off this morning due to Covid issues in the Indian camp picked up when they decided to have a night out at a book launch that hadnt been discussed with the ECB. Talk is the Indians are concerned about players possibly getting it and not being able to play in the IPL which is starting up again very soon. Could have been done at any time in the last few days but the Indians apparently happy to play as PCR tests on players were coming back negative then its called off 2 hours before the toss should have happened presumably with plenty on the way to the ground.

[JonB]

Sky Sports saying that the Indians have said they cannot field a side because of "covid concerns" and have forfeited the test so the series finishes 2-2. Farce....would lost 10 points in the DCCL for not raising a side!

[clarevoyant.]

JonB, on 10 September 2021 - 07:57 AM, said:

Sky Sports saying that the Indians have said they cannot field a side because of "covid concerns" and have forfeited the test so the series finishes 2-2. Farce....would lost 10 points in the DCCL for not raising a side!

The word forfeit as been retracted and apparently only one of the backroom staff as had a positive test, interesting.

[JonB]

clarevoyant., on 10 September 2021 - 08:26 AM, said:

The word forfeit as been retracted and apparently only one of the backroom staff as had a positive test, interesting.

Yep saw this not long after i posted. Seems the ECB had presumed it was forfeited after the Indians said they couldnt raise a side only to be told that wasnt the case. By all accounts the BCCI wasnt to can the 5th test following the IPL reschedule so it all looks rather convenient that they take this chance to bail and also take the series win as well. The book launch they all attended that caused everything was never discussed with the ECB either.

Quote

mike selvey @selvecricket · 23m
Once the IPL had been rescheduled , BCCI never wanted the 5th Test and tried to pressure ECB to cancel. No reason to doubt veracity of covid concerns but it's also very convenient .

[Westbars Spireite]

India are a disgrace for pulling this dirty trick.

[azul]

Westbars Spireite, on 10 September 2021 - 12:42 PM, said:

India are a disgrace for pulling this dirty trick.

Didn’t we do something similar to South Africa

[azul]

JonB, on 10 September 2021 - 08:34 AM, said:

Yep saw this not long after i posted. Seems the ECB had presumed it was forfeited after the Indians said they couldnt raise a side only to be told that wasnt the case. By all accounts the BCCI wasnt to can the 5th test following the IPL reschedule so it all looks rather convenient that they take this chance to bail and also take the series win as well. The book launch they all attended that caused everything was never discussed with the ECB either.

I’m surprised the BCCI agreed 5 tests in the first place given the proximity of the IPL. Sound like a convenient way for the players to get their way rather than the governing body.

[JonB]

azul, on 10 September 2021 - 12:58 PM, said:

Didn’t we do something similar to South Africa

I think in that situation there was no trust in the setup put in place by Cricket SA as they kept having staff working in the bubble test positive, the england players were sticking to the rules unlike the Indians so we walked away.

azul, on 10 September 2021 - 01:03 PM, said:

I’m surprised the BCCI agreed 5 tests in the first place given the proximity of the IPL. Sound like a convenient way for the players to get their way rather than the governing body.

The tour with 5 tests was arranged and then they had Covid issues in the IPL, the IPL was rearranged and then the BCCI starting kicking up a fuss a few months ago when they realised that to fit in the rescheduled IPL before the T20 world cup there was very little time between the end of this 5th test and the IPL starting. They tried to get the ECB to change it to before the first test but this would have ruled out England players from pretty much all of The Hundred or cancel the 5th test completely which the ECB didnt want to do.

[Westbars Spireite]

azul, on 10 September 2021 - 12:58 PM, said:

Didn’t we do something similar to South Africa

No issue without paying spectators.

[azul]

Westbars Spireite, on 11 September 2021 - 04:28 PM, said:

No issue without paying spectators.

TV money is god

[clarevoyant.]

azul, on 10 September 2021 - 12:58 PM, said:

Didn’t we do something similar to South Africa

Didn't Kohli and Co disregard all potential covid issues after losing the first test in the winter tour of India and allowed a crowd in, all cramped together in 25%ish of the ground to generate an atmosphere to help their cause?

[HoneyTrippa]

Anybody got any comments on "Batters" or "Batsmen"...... has the world gone "Bonkers"

[JonB]

Sponsors distancing themselves from Yorkshire rather quickly including the one with naming rights on headingley.

[Johnnyspireite7]

JonB, on 03 November 2021 - 07:03 PM, said:

Sponsors distancing themselves from Yorkshire rather quickly including the one with naming rights on headingley.

They're in a bit of a cleft stick there with their sponsorship of the stadium complex with the Rugby Ground and Leeds Rhinos included. Gary Ballance should be sacked and the board should resign en-masse over this.

This post has been edited by Johnnyspireite7: 04 November 2021 - 04:44 AM

[JonB]

Ashes start tonight...no Anderson who is injured. No idea how things will play out with both sides having fun and games leading up to the series and no one knowing where the 5th test will be played currently. Stokes being available could be massive for us.

[Westbars Spireite]

I've binned Sky off after 15yrs and have BT Sports with my new package. Will stop up for the first hour or so tonight.

[JonB]

Westbars Spireite, on 07 December 2021 - 12:23 PM, said:

I've binned Sky off after 15yrs and have BT Sports with my new package. Will stop up for the first hour or so tonight.

Can get BT Sports via my brother in laws account on the app on my Phone which i can get on the TV via Chromecast, will stay up and watch a bit all being well.

[Westbars Spireite]

Good toss to win I hope. Interesting to see how many English ex-pats show up. Had a nosey on the ticket website and lots available which given it’s pretty much impossible for anyone to go from outside the state is no surprise.