Always enjoy this due to it starting mid afternoon and can watch a whole day's play without too much issue.

I expect nothing less than an England thumping of the WI at Test level. I hope I haven't set my sights too high

 

I think I spoke too soon that's Trott gone

 

usual service has resumed then lol

 

22-2 on a slow flat pitch Yep normal service has been resumed.

 

Usual comments have resumed then

 

I agree nice to be able watch a large slice of this.

As soon as you start watching the 5 day game it's like slipping back into an old comfy pair of trainers, Cricket in it's purest form

They were discussing Graves wanting to turn it into a 4 day game off the back of the slow over rate from the Windies spinners and Botham calmly but sternly chipped in "Leave it alone, dont touch it, it is the pinnacle of the sport end of story" a handful of ***** later stokes went down on one knee and swept slogged a 6 beautifully caught by an England supporter in the stand, turning to the crowd ball held high nodding to those applauding him, yes this is Test Cricket it felt so good


Plus your buddy Bell was in top nick again

 

Yep the saviour of English batting was at it again

I saw the Botham bit and did laugh, what a stupid idea suggesting 4 day test matches. If I had my way Botham would be in charge of English cricket.

I do keep swapping over to the pyjama games every so often just to keep an eye on any big hitting or close run chases It does irk me considerably that it is now on Sky as I wanted it left on ITV4 with Shonali Nagrani

 

Wanted Bothan running English Cricket since he retired lol, they'll never let him anywhere near it sadly.

 

Jerome Taylor is bowling some absolute corkers I thought their pace attack was crap but this guy is far better than I gave him credit for. I like how Ambrose fires the bowlers up, the England team are all far too reserved. And Cook is waste of space

 

I really do think Cook is an utterly useless captain, he has no idea how to pressure a team and get them out in 4 sessions. Yes it was a flat pitch but they took their foot off the gas when 6 down thinking they had done it. Cook never applies any pressure or gets the bowlers bowling hostile deliveries. They had the runs to play with so a far more aggressive attack should have been used.

 

We really should have been looking to win this series to nil.. I feel it's time for Stuart broad to be dropped.. Maybe for good. Although jimmy Anderson is now the leading England wicket taker IMHO he just not doing enough.. Obvioulsy seems strange saying that as he has just broke the record but I feel he and 6-7 other players are "comfortable".. Knowing that regardless of how they play, they will still be playing the next test and the next test and so on.. I would carry on with Cook as player AND captain.. But he needs the mother of all rockets up his **** and to be left in NO uncertain terms that his and England's perform is simply NOT good enough and hasn't been for the last year/18 months and as captain he needs to sort his **** out and that of the team..

As I said earlier I STILL wouldn't have KP back... EVER.. And moores should NEVER have been given a 'second chance'. Get that England guy in who was boss of the afghan team..

Finished

 

Cook is just too laid back, just watched the interviews at the end of the match and there is no fire in him. He is just like a big public school boy far too reserved and quiet, the captain should have aggression and be able to give the team a boll0cking when they don't perform. Christ I wouldn't have wanted to be in the dressing room when Gatting or Botham kicked off but who would give a toss about listening to Cook, he couldn't put the wind up a mouse. It's all far too namby pamby for me.

We don't have a World class strike bowler where it's pace that does the damage. Jimmy is best on the green pitches in England, take him where the pitches are bare and dry and he can't get the movement he lives off at home. Yes we had Harmison not too long ago but for me we haven't had a consistent proper World class pace bowler since Gough. We just don't produce quality pace bowlers in England and that is a big problem in my opinion.

I think Broad is alright, he can be aggressive when he gets it right like he did in the first innings and fired it in at the ribs and got a wicket but far too often he bowls it too short and wide and not in at the body. He needs more accuracy/control.

 

Mike Brearly was fairly chilled out though....

\Do not think we will ever have the killer(Australian an others) attitude''''''

 

Thought Stewart was quite passionate though....

 

Stewart was probably the last captain we had who could get aggressive with the team. Vaughan, Straus and Cook have all been too soft although I thought Vaughan was still a good captain.

 

Some good points there Anon, agree with most of them.

I think Cook has been to the Cantona school of media relations, Aardvarks and Ants, WTF ??

 

Just received an invite from American Airlines for Day 2 of the NZ test at Lords

 

You lucky bugger

 

What a ******* con, Jordan was never out. The bail has to be full dislodged and when it was the bat was over the line. For Bowden to take that long to have to decide means there is a clear element of doubt in his mind and so again any doubt it is given as not out.

These decisions are a disgrace and these 3rd umpires need to learning the ******* rules, but as always they only ever get made against England, funny that.

 

Here we go round 3

 

Trott is shot !!

 

They all need to be shot after the 2nd innings display.

 

lol, Trotty has called it a day, and it's clear to see why.

 

He had to, after the comments made by all the Sky Sports pundits he couldn't continue. I think a case of he knew that was his last test match so call it a day before being officially dropped.

 

Without Doubt, Mr Moores please take note and do the decent thing....

 

Sadly Funkii I don't think Moores will ever go willingly no matter how bad he makes the team.

 

He's gone and Strauss has replaced Downton

 

Gone but I'm not impressed with the way it was done, really pleased Strauss got the role though he wont fanny about, looks bleak for KP now.

 

It was a long time coming imo.. Should have gone straight after the World Cup..Although as I said before he should never have been given a 2nd chance.. As for Strauss.. I really hope he rattles a few trees because at the moment the ecb and England cricket team are a joke and laughing stock of world cricket.. It's a shame that the ashes are so close although I can't see us winning them I think it should be less embarrassing than it would have been with mores in charge.. New Zealand will be a test and in all honesty we should really be winning the series although it is only 2 tests....

Onwards and upwards!!

 

Strauss has now officially told KP to forget ENG as he's never playing for them again.

Queue Piers Morgan going into overdrive on Twitter