England International Cricket Summer 2022

Strumms

The oval pitch has a habit of deteriorating on the later half of day 4 into day 5 so the toss will be important. The average 1st innings score at this ground is 347 runs, whereas the average 4th innings score is just 157 runs…. Some difference…Win the toss and bat id have thought but on winning England choice is to bowl. ! 🦇

James Anderson is the 2nd highest wicket taker ever on this ground.

Rain as forecasted….

must say I agree with this sentiment…

https://twitter.com/TobyWoody/status/1567824425248071680?s=20&t=6WMHmGYBt2ZEOZKBYWYxIw

Tom Mann Centuria

There was talk (on the internet, so could also be b*llocks) Clare Connor didn't want to continue on at the ECB because of a disregard for red ball cricket from a lot of the bigwigs. It'd be a shame if a very good summer of Test cricket for England (entertainment and profile wise) ended with a whimper.

Strumms

Could be some truth in it. The ECB are certainly not backing test cricket.

on the other hand Connor’s position was as CEO… so the prime position in which to exert leadership and influence… she was the #1…..so deciding what’s best for the game and cricket lovers should have and should be paramount.

It seems she either didn’t have the stomach for the fight or is she did, there just were too many dissenting voices…

problem with T20 is that it’s a low investment proposition on behalf of supporters. Low investment as regards their time and £££. Has greater appreciation and appeal to families and younger kids..

Lancashire vs Essex blast quarter final…Adult tickets were for only £12 and £1 for kids when purchased in advance….

As for this test…1.30pm pitch inspection , forecast improved slightly but still some further rain forecast.

another fûck up was the outfield not being covered properly overnight and a substantial cleanup required..

Strumms

16.00 inspection and on Q the heavens opened in Kennington at 16.03…

Throughout the afternoon the forecast for the remaining days has slightly dis-improved with more rain now forecast tomorrow.

Strumms

So now confirmed by the ECB as a 3 day test match due to the death of their Queen and the fact SA are flying home on Tuesday.

basically a cop out decision…. ‘Respect for her majesty’ I’m sure will be a line thrown out but what about respect for people, the living who spent their hard earned money procuring tickets ?

how many test matches are decided within 3 days play ? The answer must be in the lower single digit percentages.

so the players are playing for an inevitable draw. Every cricket supporter can tune in knowing the result…great and pay for match tickets knowing the same…

what the ECB should have done was make it an innings each…

4 innings in 3 days just won’t bring about a result….tokenism at its worst.

VillaMad

3 day test match it may be, but you also have to take into account that the previous two test matches finished well inside 3 days of play in terms of overs.

And indeed South Africa have batted like a team that won't last 3 days. England have been all over them and they are struggling at 110/9 and we aren't even close to being halfway through the day.

Strumms

Maybe, hopefully...but considering the ‘maybe’ aspect of it…

when play resumes shortly, what we are waiting for now is anyones guess, a suggestion the SA team may ask as they are entitled to.. to have the rope dragged across the outfield to remove excess moisture…to delay the resumption further ..play to resume at 18.30

and yep, rope comes out..

and SA in no hurry to get bowling, PLAY !

Strumms

Brook goes early… caught at long leg… a poor delivery but a poor shot.. should just have played it along the deck. Would have gotten two runs. Instead it’s a gentle walk back to the dressing rooms..

England extinguish the lead…

Pope going very well.

VillaMad

All summer long the ball has gone dead around the 40 over mark, so it's strange to me to see this ultra aggresive approach from England as runs will come so much easier later on.

Stokes played brain dead stuff there and now Pope gone as well.

Game most definitely on!

Strumms

Michael Atherton summing up my own thinking… why the hell the ECB, ICC or both didn’t require the start of play at 10.30… ? seems like an incredibly frustration inducing incompetence.

Ward, Nasser and Butcher apoplectic and querying the same, why no earlier start ? September 10th ? Come on !

as regards the action we’ve seen, I’d say the English would be delighted with a lead of 100.

Royale with Cheese

I turned it on at 10.30 this morning just expecting an early start and was a bit surprised that they'd left it at 11.

Strumms

Is the start 10am now tomorrow ?

Strumms

Lunch on day 4… a purposeful start by South Africa following an absolute collapse by England…

Last 6 wickets just amassed 29 runs between them..

England only batted for 36.2 overs.

the Rabada wicket, sent upstairs…. If anyone wants to know why I’m constantly banging my head off the wall regarding cricket umpires and their outright incompetence… the clearest most obvious catch, ball flying off the bat at 45 degrees and nowhere near the ground.

Gillespy

Farcical going off in this situation. It needs to go back to offering the batsmen the option of staying or going.

Strumms

Ridiculous, I know those two umpires have to report to the match referee but to bring every single person responsible for…

security, police

media, journalists, photographers, producers, camera people

first aiders

players, physiotherapists, team doctors, admin staff, support staff..

All back because we need another 20 minutes play, pathetic….

wouldn’t be impressed again by the SA team with their constant get togethers, gesturing towards various parts of the ground with furrowed brows for what seemed like 2/3 minutes each time….as if to suggest by way of some immense turn around in fortune or tactical masterpiece of thinking, they may not lose…

umpires again like two tailor shop dummies, standing facilitating it in abject silence…. Neither with the stones to do anything…. Absolutely shîte performance from both.

the law is… one warning… following that if the slow play offence is repeated a five run penalty is awarded to the batting side. So do it… if you can’t do it this evening after that carry on, when can you ? Does a team have to leave the field for ice cream. .? Before it’s actioned ?

Strumms

All over, England take the test victory and the series, 2-1.

a strange test.. all four batting innings saw sub 200 run totals posted… totals not nearing 200, with South Africa’s 169 the highest total.

ball swung a lot for sure but I don’t know, wasn’t till the the final innings strangely that one batting team got to grips with conditions. 48 of Crawleys 69 runs were amassed though 12 boundaries….121.05 was his strike rate.

normally batting gets more difficult just it seems there were 3 indifferent batting performances…

the next test cricket anywhere in the world isn’t till December. Supposed to get all excited about the T20 World Cup now, apparently.

Strumms

Pakistan flying out of the traps vs England.. 83-0 after 9. From the bits I’m seeing it’s extra positive and determined, intelligent and savvy batting vs some real ineffectual bowling, England seemingly haven’t come close to getting a wicket here save a run out chance.

you have to think 200 plus is a given .

four wickets fall in quick succession so that’s my prediction out the window… Pakistan have butchered a great start

Strumms

England vs India ladies match coming to a thrilling conclusion until… mankading.

All set up for a grandstand finish but Sharma mankads Dean.. ending the match…no warning as is customary and only a matter of inches out of her crease as the bowler enters her delivery stride…and opts to halt and mankad Dean.

Dominic Cork laying into Sharma, Lydia Greenway in no doubt too that it’s not appropriate…all be it slightly more diplomatically.

Charlie Dean the batter in tears and all fair minded cricket fans given the middle finger by the Indian team who still celebrate with absolute gusto, but look embarrassed as fûck as they shake hands with the English girls who fair play, could have walked off but make a point of going up to each Indian player and looking them in the face as they extend a hand to them. Indians shake and turn around away from the English girls just as fast.

Dagnall in his interview asks Kaur about the ending and she answers a completely different question, one she isn’t asked, slithery actions on the field and in front of the camera too. But..he asks her again fair play … “you didn’t answer the question” and she squirms and is very agitated at the prospect of having to face up to their actions. Cowards basically, if you want to end a match in that manner, own it and be answerable for it… they’d won the series and we’re favourites with England 9 wickets down to win this final match but… only two words..despicable…scummy.

Tom Mann Centuria

India, not Pakistan but the sentiment was otherwise correct.

Strumms

Pakistan this time but more skullduggery…

England looking good to chase down the required 167… so Pakistan start this craic of bringing captain, bowler wicket keeper and AN Other out to mid wicket of all places and start a two minute conversation… the middle of playing…pointing to all parts of the ground and sky, very animated 🙄

the umpires again without the stones to intervene, just a cursory word when the players decide they want to play cricket again. It works, England lose momentum and a wicket.

Strumms

So a 67 run victory and England take the series 4-3… don’t fancy Pakistan’s chances but I wouldn’t write off England…they don’t lose early wickets they’ll be tough to beat. Bowled impressively today too.