The Cricket Thread

[Wolftone]

A lot of ex Indian players haven’t taken the defeat well. Suggestion that with more luck India would be 3-0 up. Another was England aren’t playing with skill, India just aren’t coping with the pressure.

Tough shit.
Test cricket is supposed to be tough.
Probably more mentally than technically.
Where's the pressure coming from as well? Their fan base and media.
Every country has experienced that at one time or another.

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

Tbf it's easy to argue they should be 3-0 up.

They aren't though.

 

[jd1981]

Applying pressure to the opponent is a skill in itself and coping with it is another skill.
You could easily argue England probably should’ve won the last ashes 4-1, rain at old Trafford stopped us winning and very much let the first test slip through our fingers with the last 2 wickets.

 

[Tredman]

There’s some really depressing stuff in this https://observer.co.uk/news/sport/article/talented-fearless-honest-ben-stokes-england-paul-hayward

In 2019, a study by the Sutton Trust located men’s professional cricket in the top 10 professions for independent school attendance, tied with the news media on 43%. A year later, private schools supplied nine of the 11 England players who faced Pakistan in a Test.

 

[jd1981]

There’s some really depressing stuff in this https://observer.co.uk/news/sport/article/talented-fearless-honest-ben-stokes-england-paul-hayward

Played against some Grammar and private schools as a kid and the facilities they had were ridiculous in comparison.
The article is depressing but absolutely not surprising, ECB should probably do more to try and find young talent at state schools.
Costs would be cheap though, should be an easy way to recommend players to be assessed by scouts from each county that all PE teachers and coaches can access.

 

[Tredman]

Played against some Grammar and private schools as a kid and the facilities they had were ridiculous in comparison.
The article is depressing but absolutely not surprising, ECB should probably do more to try and find young talent at state schools.
Costs would be cheap though, should be an easy way to recommend players to be assessed by scouts from each county that all PE teachers and coaches can access.

I think the best thing would be tasters done by ECB to get players down to local clubs. Schools, and PE teachers in particular, are just not interested in anything outside of football.

 

[Mel Evo]

There’s some really depressing stuff in this https://observer.co.uk/news/sport/article/talented-fearless-honest-ben-stokes-england-paul-hayward

Too right. It’s a scandal the way the game is run and the state / private divide. Plenty of polite decent players coming through for all they need, so they don’t care. IMO you won’t get leaders like Stokes, or team like 2005, without a better mix.

 

[Tredman]

Positive discrimination is paying off in South African cricket now, perhaps something similar with regards to background is needed here.

 

[Sniffer]

Stokes calling Dawson, Stokes calling Dawson, come in Dawson.
7 balls for a wicket, 8 years after his last test.

 

[Stan Hullis]

Looks much more dangerous than Bashir (not particularly difficult) in his 12 balls so far.

 

[Sniffer]

Somerset prepare a bunsen against Durham? Leech and Vaughan opened the bowling and took all 10 second innings wickets between them.

 

[Squeak]

Ugh.. Pant's foot injury looks ugly. Hope he recovers quickly but that looks like he'll be out of this test now.

 

[Squeak]

So just 83 overs bowled on Day 1... joke.

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

Not that bad considering how long it took to get Pant off the field, you don't get that time back

 

[Kenny]

Didn't play finish early as well due to the light?

 

[Squeak]

Didn't play finish early as well due to the light?

Yes, because it was after 6pm. England had spinners on.

 

[Squeak]

Not that bad considering how long it took to get Pant off the field, you don't get that time back

Disagree. It's time they had a set time for players going down with injuries. If you can't continue within 3 mins then leave the field. The only time I'd waive that is for a head injury and given most players wear helmets when in dangerous positions that would hardly happen.

I have sympathy for Pant but there is no reason that they couldn't have played on after 6pm with the spinners toiling away. The game is far too cosy now.

 

[Mel Evo]

Ugh.. Pant's foot injury looks ugly. Hope he recovers quickly but that looks like he'll be out of this test now.

Also disappointed that this skews the game a bit. Got to admit I’m less sympathetic than the general media view though. That’s on the old school basis that if you’re going to clown around reverse sweeping a fast bowler and knacker yourself in the process you’d get short shrift at my old clubs. You also know the rules on subs before you run the risk of behaving like a hoon.

 

[Carrotdude]

Pant’s on one leg and still kicking our arse

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

This bowling by India is muck