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Post by newby on Aug 21, 2024 12:55:17 GMT
Good start by England or terrible start by Sri Lanka, bit of both I suppose. I hope Sri Lanka can put on a good number of runs from here and make a game of it.
I don't like Wednesday starts and neither do the paying customers by the look of it. I don't know what they are charging but it might be too much.
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Post by davemorton on Aug 21, 2024 13:54:23 GMT
They actually look pretty good with the bat, the top-order Sri Lankans, but a couple of weak strokes and two unplayable balls (up, from Wood, and down, from Bashir) have ripped them apart.
Presumably it's financial aspects that prevent a touring team coming a month before the first Test, to give them a fighting chance.
Is Mark Wood the fastest England bowler, ever? Who would be the contenders?
Perhaps someone from the 'golden age' of fast bowling, 1900-1914. Then there was FR Foster, who wold have made modern batsmen cry with a tennis ball, according to Fred Root (writing in 1937), who went on to say that only Larwood nowadays is really fast. Another obvious contender.
Into my time, we had Trueman and Statham, who were estimated as around 90 mph, but clearly neither was as quick as Tyson. Colin Cowdrey reckoned John Snow was as fast as Frank Tyson. Both had relatively short careers, and Snow did not always feel inspired to bowl fast...but this is about the maximum pace, and Snow must be up there.
Any one else? Devon Malcolm, Bob Willis on his day? Simon Jones, Steve Harmison? Relatively brief careers, but certainly quick when on song, which brings us to Jofra Archer and Mark Wood.
Have I forgotten anyone?
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Post by newby on Aug 21, 2024 16:53:18 GMT
Not sure Sri Lanka are doing themselves any favours by opening up with spin bowlers.
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Post by donnylad on Aug 21, 2024 18:25:33 GMT
Tyson for me. Also because his slingy action meant he could bowl a really nasty one at the batsman .. just what we all want to see our quickies do. Add in the fact that the lbw law let him plant his front foot about 17 yards from the batsman.
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Post by newby on Aug 24, 2024 19:42:23 GMT
Another successful run chase for England under the guiding hand of Joe Root. Another strong red inker for him. Jamie Smith was man of the match and I wouldn't argue with that.
Consolation for Joe, apart from the win, he now has a very solid 50+ Test average and is another 104 runs to the good in the all time career Test runs table.
Wood, and possibly Woakes doubtful for the Lord's Test match next week so somebody will have to come in.
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Post by newby on Aug 25, 2024 18:26:42 GMT
Josh Hull from Leicestershire has been selected to replace Mark Wood in the squad. It's probable that Olly Stone will actually move up to replace Wood in the actual Test team.
Josh Hull has played 10 FC matches and has 16 wickets at 62.75. They are obviously looking for someone tall.
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Post by hawke on Aug 25, 2024 21:46:10 GMT
Well done Joe. Thought Pope and Smith spoke well in after match interviews. What does Rashid do much of the year?
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Post by newby on Aug 27, 2024 21:39:37 GMT
Woakes is fit so just the one change with Olly Stone replacing the injured Mark Wood. I wish him well but I'm not sure he's up to it.
National selector Luke Wright claims that Sam Cook is 'close to being called up' Yeah right.
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Post by newby on Aug 28, 2024 17:07:59 GMT
Vishwa Fernando, along with Kusal Mendis have been dropped from the Sri Lankan team for the 2nd Test.
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Post by newby on Aug 29, 2024 16:14:32 GMT
33rd Test century for Joe Root as be moves up alongside Alistair Cook in terms of centuries for England.
He might be keeping the new England captain in a job.
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Post by newby on Sept 1, 2024 12:15:56 GMT
England look like they are going to work their way through Sri Lanka and finish the game today. Not much of a crowd on show, possibly because they are charging £95 for adults.
Joe Root taking all the headlines of course, he seems at the stage of his career where he is breaking at least one new record every game.
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Post by slowleftarmer on Sept 2, 2024 7:09:31 GMT
bit tough when you score 2 tons in a game, break plenty of records, a couple of catches, do all the post match interviews and still dont get man of the match!
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Post by newby on Sept 2, 2024 8:03:31 GMT
bit tough when you score 2 tons in a game, break plenty of records, a couple of catches, do all the post match interviews and still dont get man of the match! Just a routine performance for Joe and I'm sure he doesn't mind MOM going to someone who had an unusually good test match.
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Post by slowleftarmer on Sept 2, 2024 8:29:13 GMT
Routine?!
I think that highlights the level of expectation Joe has set for himself. Only the 4th player i think to do the double ton in a Lords test, and when you compare his knocks relative to the other top 7 batters in both innings he was miles ahead of all of them - ok Atkinson at 8 was the only rival with the bat!
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Post by newby on Sept 2, 2024 9:34:38 GMT
Let's hope a 3rd 'Routine' performance from Joe will get him the nod as Man of the series.
I would always err on the side of the batsman, especially when an inning is complete, those runs are the difference between the teams. Bowlers, well perhaps someone else would have got the wickets anyway.
Harsh but fair in my view.
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