The pitches are an issue but we’ve still be thoroughly out-bowled by India across both Tests.

Archer is going to be key for England. All depends which version of him turns up. The rest of the seam bowlers are pretty bang average...saying that So are India's, apart from Bumrah.

England win the toss and bat.

Have we won the toss in all three tests so far?

What are you predictions for Crawley here in the 1st innings. I'm going with 14.

If we had everyone fit, we'd have Archer, Wood, Atkinson, Woakes, Cook, Carse, Stone, J Overton, Potts, Tongue, S. Mahmood, Hull etc.

...........

Being an Essex fan, I will admit that Sam Cooke just does not have the pace to be any good at Test Level.

Sounds like the ball is nipping about a bit and the batters are struggling with timing in the opening exchanges.

Sounds like it's a get through the first session then you pile on the runs kind of day.

Fingers crossed they have some patience this morning.

Duckett gone

Crawley gone now.....two wickets in the over

I put this on at the right time. 😂

comment by Bake 'em away toys (U7303)
posted 1 hour, 20 minutes ago
What are you predictions for Crawley here in the 1st innings. I'm going with 14.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

I was only 4 out.

comment by Tamwolf (U17286)
posted 3 hours, 23 minutes ago
comment by Waiting for Franko - He don't look at no walls when he's talkin (U23088)
posted 26 minutes ago
It does seem like England's recent crop of seamers has been largely exposed tbh, notwithstanding flat pitches.

A while back it looked like we had about 10 international class bowlers. It suddenly seems like a struggle to find any.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

I don't think that is true. We were just blessed with Broad and Anderson having an excellent injury record for over a decade. Outside of them we have had loads of bowlers who weren't quite good enough at test level.

San Curran, Tom Curran, Toby Roland-Jones, Craig Overton, Jake Ball, Ajmal Shazhad, Boyd Rankin and Chris Jordan to name a few from the last 15 years.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Roland-Jones was good enough, just injured.

The current England attack isn't up to the standard of for example the current opposition.

And I don't think it's fair to take the best 2 bowlers out of previous attacked and say compare them now.

England have pretty much always had good seam bowlers to choose from. Perceptions change, but right at the moment the current attack seems a bit drossy.

comment by Waiting for Franko - He don't look at no walls when he's talkin (U23088)
posted 7 minutes ago
comment by Tamwolf (U17286)
posted 3 hours, 23 minutes ago
comment by Waiting for Franko - He don't look at no walls when he's talkin (U23088)
posted 26 minutes ago
It does seem like England's recent crop of seamers has been largely exposed tbh, notwithstanding flat pitches.

A while back it looked like we had about 10 international class bowlers. It suddenly seems like a struggle to find any.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

I don't think that is true. We were just blessed with Broad and Anderson having an excellent injury record for over a decade. Outside of them we have had loads of bowlers who weren't quite good enough at test level.

San Curran, Tom Curran, Toby Roland-Jones, Craig Overton, Jake Ball, Ajmal Shazhad, Boyd Rankin and Chris Jordan to name a few from the last 15 years.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Roland-Jones was good enough, just injured.

The current England attack isn't up to the standard of for example the current opposition.

And I don't think it's fair to take the best 2 bowlers out of previous attacked and say compare them now.

England have pretty much always had good seam bowlers to choose from. Perceptions change, but right at the moment the current attack seems a bit drossy.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

You said they previously had 10 to choose from. They categorically did not. They had plenty who were not good enough and it was masked by the main two having excellent fitness records.

comment by Tamwolf (U17286)
posted 23 seconds ago
comment by Waiting for Franko - He don't look at no walls when he's talkin (U23088)
posted 7 minutes ago
comment by Tamwolf (U17286)
posted 3 hours, 23 minutes ago
comment by Waiting for Franko - He don't look at no walls when he's talkin (U23088)
posted 26 minutes ago
It does seem like England's recent crop of seamers has been largely exposed tbh, notwithstanding flat pitches.

A while back it looked like we had about 10 international class bowlers. It suddenly seems like a struggle to find any.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

I don't think that is true. We were just blessed with Broad and Anderson having an excellent injury record for over a decade. Outside of them we have had loads of bowlers who weren't quite good enough at test level.

San Curran, Tom Curran, Toby Roland-Jones, Craig Overton, Jake Ball, Ajmal Shazhad, Boyd Rankin and Chris Jordan to name a few from the last 15 years.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Roland-Jones was good enough, just injured.

The current England attack isn't up to the standard of for example the current opposition.

And I don't think it's fair to take the best 2 bowlers out of previous attacked and say compare them now.

England have pretty much always had good seam bowlers to choose from. Perceptions change, but right at the moment the current attack seems a bit drossy.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

You said they previously had 10 to choose from. They categorically did not. They had plenty who were not good enough and it was masked by the main two having excellent fitness records.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

I meant (and I wasn't counting) that it looked like the current crop was going to be about 10 deep in international standard bowlers, but not barely any of them are looking international standard.

I wasn't talking about previous teams,

I think you are judging too harshly based on the pitches. Both Atkinson and Carse average in the low 20s in test cricket. We still have Wood to come back to fitness. If Archer holds up as well, things looks a lot better.

comment by Tamwolf (U17286)
posted 1 minute ago
I think you are judging too harshly based on the pitches. Both Atkinson and Carse average in the low 20s in test cricket. We still have Wood to come back to fitness. If Archer holds up as well, things looks a lot better.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

yeah maybe

* now barely *

Had some decent and reliable openers in the not too distant past, 🥱

Pope's going to get himself out at this rate

Seems like a very unBazball type innings so far.

comment by Keep It Greasy - Music is the BEST (U1396)
posted 10 minutes ago
Pope's going to get himself out at this rate
----------------------------------------------------------------------
He's not there for the long run, that's for sure

Such a beacon of positivity.

comment by Tamwolf (U17286)
posted 31 minutes ago
Seems like a very unBazball type innings so far.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Not gonna lie, as much as I love Bazball I do miss a match where England are digging in at 2/3 an over to get a score.

I don't exactly miss it, but it is something they need to do. Bazball has been incredibly successful as the win percentages show, but there are tests they perhaps could have won or drawn if they dug in a bit more. I want them to keep the style of play, but adapt it when conditions or situations arise.

comment by Dave&Danny (U4428)
posted 1 hour, 19 minutes ago
comment by Keep It Greasy - Music is the BEST (U1396)
posted 10 minutes ago
Pope's going to get himself out at this rate
----------------------------------------------------------------------
He's not there for the long run, that's for sure
----------------------------------------------------------------------
And Pope goes first ball after tea.