[Mr Mercury]

Westbars Spireite, on 07 December 2021 - 11:37 PM, said:

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.

Normally a bear pit, looks more like a kitten club. Got to be a bonus.

[Mr Mercury]

Why the hell are we batting first on a pitch that green?

[clarevoyant.]

Mr Mercury, on 08 December 2021 - 12:05 AM, said:

Why the hell are we batting first on a pitch that green?

You don't suffer the indignity of being asked to follow on.

Burns foot movement gave the impression he was batting on ice.


This is getting silly, embarrassing is probably a better word

This post has been edited by clarevoyant.: 08 December 2021 - 12:43 AM

[Westbars Spireite]

England making themselves at home.

By batting abysmally.

[JonB]

Mr Mercury, on 08 December 2021 - 12:05 AM, said:

Why the hell are we batting first on a pitch that green?

For what its worth...at the toss Cummins said he would have batted first had he won the toss as well.

[Mr Mercury]

JonB, on 08 December 2021 - 08:52 AM, said:

For what its worth...at the toss Cummins said he would have batted first had he won the toss as well.

Yes although he did say it was 50/50.
I still couldn’t understand it though given the grass on the pitch, the weather conditions and the fact the new type kookaburra ball is said to last longer and swing more.
But what do I know.

[clarevoyant.]

I threw the towel in on Stokes dismissal and haven't revisited it, but it looked like a back foot no ball. Maybe tired eyes

[JonB]

Mr Mercury, on 08 December 2021 - 08:57 AM, said:

Yes although he did say it was 50/50.
I still couldn’t understand it though given the grass on the pitch, the weather conditions and the fact the new type kookaburra ball is said to last longer and swing more.
But what do I know.

To be honest these days they are pretty much nailed on to bat first in test matches when they win the toss unless its massively in the favour of bowling first. Teams really dont like the thought of bowling first and ending up with them getting a decent score and being behind in the game.

[s42blue]

And to think I nearly added BT Sport.

Watched some on Bet 365, then listened on TMS til 29/4 and gave in.

[Comeonyouirons]

Splendid Captain’s innings

[Westbars Spireite]

I'm not gonna be daft enough to stay up to watch any of it tonight.

[clarevoyant.]

Comeonyouirons, on 08 December 2021 - 01:48 PM, said:

Splendid Captain’s innings

Agreed

[JonB]

Still plenty to do but 2010 in Brisbane after conceding a big first innings lead we ended up like this….

[azul]

Another feeble collapse. I was listening to test match special and they were coming out with the stat Root has scored over 1100runs more than any other English batsmen this calendar year.

And then there’s the team selections☹️ I suppose you could argue that Root is our best spinner I suppose.

This post has been edited by azul: 18 December 2021 - 11:28 AM

[Johnnyspireite7]

azul, on 18 December 2021 - 11:23 AM, said:

Another feeble collapse. I was listening to test match special and they were coming out with the stat Root has scored over 1100runs more than any other English batsmen this calendar year.

And then there's the team selections☹️ I suppose you could argue that Root is our best spinner I suppose.

Of the ones selected in the squad. The best spinners have been left at home, one due to retirement from Test cricket (Ali) and one who refuses to play test cricket and wasn't trusted by his captain even when he was picked (Rashid). You are then picking from a very small pool of spinners who are step and fetch it merchants at best. No mystery spin options because they don't get the exposure in the county championship set up where it is mostly pace men.

[s42blue]

Johnnyspireite7, on 18 December 2021 - 01:35 PM, said:

Of the ones selected in the squad. The best spinners have been left at home, one due to retirement from Test cricket (Ali) and one who refuses to play test cricket and wasn't trusted by his captain even when he was picked (Rashid). You are then picking from a very small pool of spinners who are step and fetch it merchants at best. No mystery spin options because they don't get the exposure in the county championship set up where it is mostly pace men.

All bang on. I was so looking forward to The Ashes , even buying a BT pass and watching from 630 but what a damp squib. Openers are dreadful, yet again we rely on Root and Stokes. Rest are odi or 20/20 players. Don’t have the technique or mentality for test cricket which IMO is still the best form.

Even bet on the Aussies to win. Sad.

[clarevoyant.]

Disappointed to here Bumbles retiring (from sky) hopefully he may turn up somewhere else. A character and interesting a rare commodity in cricket commentary.
Let's hope this doesn't mean more air time for them patronising clowns Ward and Nicholas or some lady who once had a game of rounders.

[Mr Mercury]

clarevoyant., on 21 December 2021 - 03:21 PM, said:

Disappointed to here Bumbles retiring (from sky) hopefully he may turn up somewhere else. A character and interesting a rare commodity in cricket commentary.
Let's hope this doesn't mean more air time for them patronising clowns Ward and Nicholas or some lady who once had a game of rounders.

The writing was on the wall the moment he was mentioned by Rafiq in the inquiry. Said at the time on the thread in the personal section on here that he’d “retire”. Genuinely nice bloke and spoke to him for quite a time. Ridiculous.

[calvin plummers socks]

Mr Mercury, on 21 December 2021 - 05:29 PM, said:

The writing was on the wall the moment he was mentioned by Rafiq in the inquiry. Said at the time on the thread in the personal section on here that he’d “retire”. Genuinely nice bloke and spoke to him for quite a time. Ridiculous.

What’s ridiculous? He retired

[Mr Mercury]

calvin plummers socks, on 21 December 2021 - 05:52 PM, said:

What’s ridiculous? He retired

Course he has!

This post has been edited by Mr Mercury: 21 December 2021 - 06:10 PM