England Player Watch

[Starfighter]

That's what England want only they don't know it. These balls worked in their favour last year 'bazball'.
Stokes has ordered fast, flat pitches. Doubt if any will be fast.

That's exactly what I was thinking, Of course the thing I took forward to when watching test matches in England is the ball moving in the air - not that there was much in 2019 either.

However, I have been told in no uncertain terms that BazBall has nothing to flat pitches and little movement.

 

[Aidan11]

Matthew Potts took 8 wickets in the match against Derbyshire which finished on Saturday.

Some stiff competition for fast bowling places but he might get picked for the Ireland game as I can't see Broad & Anderson playing in that one.

 

[kevinw]

Matthew Potts took 8 wickets in the match against Derbyshire which finished on Saturday.

Some stiff competition for fast bowling places but he might get picked for the Ireland game as I can't see Broad & Anderson playing in that one.

Thought he looked very good last Summer, could do with a few mph but definitely a good rotation option or replacement for Branderson.

 

[Molehill]

Interesting first overs of the day, a wicket for Robinson and a catch for Bairstow.

 

[Aidan11]

Broad v Anderson at Trent Bridge starting today.

 

[Molehill]

Robinson creating carnage, 4-25 and frankly he could've had more. Smith getting a very good look at him from second slip.

 

[Ali TT]

Interesting first overs of the day, a wicket for Robinson and a catch for Bairstow.

Must've flown off the edge to travel that far.

 

[Molehill]

Robinson finishes with 7-59 (including one slip catch from Smith), his bowling on another planet compared to everyone else.

Bairstow up to 3 catches now (none off Robinson!!).

 

[Brook's side]

Will Robinson and Smith be pally, or keep their distance?

 

[Brook's side]

Pretty sure Jimmy will retire at the end of this series.

 

[Aidan11]

Pretty sure Jimmy will retire at the end of this series.

At present he is 23 wickets behind Shane Warne's total in tests.

I think he will be looking to overtake him so his retirement may not be till sometime next year assuming he doesn't do it during the upcoming Ashes series.

 

[Brook's side]

Could be right. Personally I don't really see there's much point in him passing Warne tbh. If he had top spot in his sights then maybe. If he was a few off the most wickets for a seam bowler, maybe. But what difference does it make if he finishes with more or less wickets than Warne?
I think his eyes are going in the field. If he tours India, there's no guarantee he's still going to be playing next year, in which case maybe no farewell test. Is he even up to playing 5 days in India?

 

[Molehill]

Will Robinson and Smith be pally, or keep their distance?

Smith was at second slip all day and there looked to be plenty of chatter amongst the cordon, although Robinson was nowhere near it. I doubt he learnt anything knew from watching Robinson, just confirmation of what he does.

 

[Brook's side]

Smith was at second slip all day and there looked to be plenty of chatter amongst the cordon, although Robinson was nowhere near it. I doubt he learnt anything knew from watching Robinson, just confirmation of what he does.

but will they be pally or keep their distance?!

 

[Molehill]

but will they be pally or keep their distance?!

I'd say the current state of franchise cricket around the world means that these players will know each other very well. I think the two teams are actually pretty friendly, Root is very good mates with Lyon for example (I seem to remember Anderson being part of some post match drinks with those 2 as well). Gone are the days of this being an aggressive rivalry, they're potentially (bar the Kiwis) the two teams who probably get on best with each other.

We'll just have to do our best on this forum to drum up some antagonism....

 

[GoodAreasShane]

I'd say the current state of franchise cricket around the world means that these players will know each other very well. I think the two teams are actually pretty friendly, Root is very good mates with Lyon for example (I seem to remember Anderson being part of some post match drinks with those 2 as well). Gone are the days of this being an aggressive rivalry, they're potentially (bar the Kiwis) the two teams who probably get on best with each other.

We'll just have to do our best on this forum to drum up some antagonism....

FWIW Lyon and Root were teammates for Prospect in first grade over here for a season way back before either had made their international dayboo.

Root once caught a 16 year old Travis Head for 50 off Lyon's bowling around this time, and all these years later here we are

 

[Red_Ink_Squid]

Root is very good mates with Lyon for example

More questions for Joe to answer.

 

[Brook's side]

Foakes and Bairstow batting today.

 

[Aidan11]

Bairstow didn't get much of a chance thanks to his team mates

 

[slowfinger]

Any Haseeb admirers in the chat? Surely takes the place of Crawley in the first test?