The Official Cricket Thread

[Ymx]

It’s game over now.

Well done England.

They held out against a middle order collapse.

Kiwis would need a wicket for every 14 runs now.

[Happyhooker]

The weather makes me think a draw is most likely, then a kiwi win.

There's going to be hardly any dry spells in London over the next two days.

[Enzedder]

The weather makes me think a draw is most likely, then a kiwi win.

There's going to be hardly any dry spells in London over the next two days.

Looks dryish just down the road

https://www.earthcam.com/world/england/ ... beyroad_uk

[FalseBayFC]

Glad I'm neutral for this one. One wicket down and nerves are going to start jangling big time.

[Kiwias]

England are doing it easy.

[Kiwias]

Hat off to Joe Root, 100 to win the match for England and he now has 10,000 test runs. A classy player.

[SaintK]

Hat off to Joe Root, 100 to win the match for England and he now has 10,000 test runs. A classy player.

Firts time he's scored a 4th innings test hundred and only 2nd Englishman to 10,000 test runs

[Ymx]

Congrats England

[JM2K6]

Wow, okay. So we had a world class Root ton, a Stokes blitz, a great Foakes effort, and a strangely supine NZ attack this morning.

Great confluence of events. Root getting his ton and his 10000 test runs at the same time, and at the same age to the day that Cook got his 10000th... And only the third ever 4th innings century in a winning cause at Lord's, AND done so fast today that they just beat the cut off for the fans to get a refund on the day's play.

Brilliant. I rate Foakes but his batting has suffered for England recently and I'm thrilled to be wrong.

[Torquemada 1420]

MOTM Grandhomme, surely? For England.

[Thor Sedan]

Wow, okay. So we had a world class Root ton, a Stokes blitz

Sometimes....just sometimes I can bollocks on enough to watch something right.

That Root/Stokes partnership just took it away from NZ. I felt that the bowlers came out without much in the way of belief.

Thoughts:

Both sides have great bowling units that suit these conditions.
Can't help but feel NZ made a mistake batting first (hindsight)
England (for all their worries) have genuine world class batters in their line up - NZ have one who is hopelessly out of form.

[JM2K6]

Let's not over egg it. England have one world class batsman. NZ also have one, who is not in good form, but they also have five other batsmen with test batting averages comfortably better than our second best, Ben Stokes. There's no comparison between the batting units.

[OomStruisbaai]

Let's not over egg it. England have one world class batsman. NZ also have one, who is not in good form, but they also have five other batsmen with test batting averages comfortably better than our second best, Ben Stokes. There's no comparison between the batting units.

I have told you there is to much quality in that England side. They'll do the same to our Proteas in a month.

[FalseBayFC]

Let's not over egg it. England have one world class batsman. NZ also have one, who is not in good form, but they also have five other batsmen with test batting averages comfortably better than our second best, Ben Stokes. There's no comparison between the batting units.

I have told you there is to much quality in that England side. They'll do the same to our Proteas in a month.

We're playing ODIs and T20s. We'll have the edge in the bowling department but Liam Livingstone and Joss Buttler will probably tear us a new one. They were amazing in the IPL.

[FalseBayFC]

Comfortable win in the end for England. What a madcap test! Certainly entertaining for the neutral. Quality innings from Root. A couple of purple patches and he may surpass Allister Cook and enter the top 5 highest test batters list. He would need another 2400 runs. Doable if he lasts until he's 35/36.

[JM2K6]

Let's not over egg it. England have one world class batsman. NZ also have one, who is not in good form, but they also have five other batsmen with test batting averages comfortably better than our second best, Ben Stokes. There's no comparison between the batting units.

I have told you there is to much quality in that England side. They'll do the same to our Proteas in a month.

Given we're not playing Tests, sure. We're a very, very good ODI and T20 team. Dogshit Test batting lineup though. For all the talk of "too much class", I point you to the first innings.

[Biffer]

Let's not over egg it. England have one world class batsman. NZ also have one, who is not in good form, but they also have five other batsmen with test batting averages comfortably better than our second best, Ben Stokes. There's no comparison between the batting units.

I have told you there is to much quality in that England side. They'll do the same to our Proteas in a month.

England don’t have even one top 3 batsman of test class.

[Thor Sedan]

The McCullum effect

[Enzedder]

I blame the Zimbabwean

[FalseBayFC]

What's David Pocock done this time?

[Torquemada 1420]

Can't help but feel NZ made a mistake batting first (hindsight)

NZ shot themselves in the foot in all the key moments
1) Batting 1st as the 1st tourists on the 1st day of the 1st test in an English Summer. Only Eng's batting ineptitude brought them back into the game.
2) Grandhomme's Chaplinesque display
- getting run out in comic fashion which contributed to NZ's own collapse
- failing to take a key wicked by overstepping
- and then getting injured to leave his side short of bowling options
Possibly the worst contribution (time weighted) of any touring player ever.

[Cartman]

Comfortable win in the end for England. What a madcap test! Certainly entertaining for the neutral. Quality innings from Root. A couple of purple patches and he may surpass Allister Cook and enter the top 5 highest test batters list. He would need another 2400 runs. Doable if he lasts until he's 35/36.

Yeah totally
At about ten tests a year and around 100 runs a test average, easy

[JM2K6]

Comfortable win in the end for England. What a madcap test! Certainly entertaining for the neutral. Quality innings from Root. A couple of purple patches and he may surpass Allister Cook and enter the top 5 highest test batters list. He would need another 2400 runs. Doable if he lasts until he's 35/36.

Yeah totally
At about ten tests a year and around 100 runs a test average, easy

Err... 10 tests is 20 innings. If he averages 24 over the next 5 years, if he played 20 innings a year, that's 480 runs a year, in 5 years he'd make... 2400 runs.

In reality, he usually plays a lot more than that.

2021: 1708 runs in 15 Tests / 29 innings @61
2020: 464 runs in 8 Tests / 13 innings @42.2 (COVID affected)
2019: 851 runs in 12 Tests / 23 innings @37
2018: 948 runs in 13 Tests / 24 innings @41.2
2017: 966 runs in 11 Tests / 19 innings @50.8
2016: 1477 runs in 17 Tests / 32 innings @49.2
2015: 1385 runs in 14 Tests / 26 innings @60.2
2014: 777 runs in 7 Tests / 11 innings @97
2013: 862 runs in 14 Tests / 27 innings @34.5

I think you may have not have realised how many matches these guys play. Take the COVID year out and Root averages over 13 Tests per year (over 25 innings) post-2014. He's already played 6 Tests this year and there's 2 more against NZ then 3 more to come against SA followed by 3 against Pakistan at the end of the year - and that's in a year that is dedicated to the T20 World Cup, meaning we've shortened the Test series we're playing.

If he plays on average 25 innings per year over the next 5 years, even if he just averages 30 in that time it's another 3750 runs. If he manages to average 45, it's 5625. If he averages 50 (a huge ask, obviously), that's 6250 - taking him beyond Tendulkar at the top of the tree. Shit, if he averages 40 for the rest of the year and plays every innings it's another 640 runs before we even hit 2023.

He's already played more innings at age 32 than Younis Khan managed in an 18 year career. If he plays this frequently for the next 5 years, he'll have played more matches and more innings than anyone else in world cricket.

[Guy Smiley]

It was always a case of England and Australia playing more tests than the other nations due to the number of 5 test series they get, while other teams make do with 2 match series or 3 if they're lucky... I don't know if the World Test Championship has had much effect on that distortion?

[Rhubarb & Custard]

That match was a big concern. Mostly around how the the counties hosting future games respond. The concern being if you prepare a wicket that gives a contest between bat and ball you simply miss out on revenue by dint of the game finishing early, and here even Lords was mostly empty on the 4th day. I wouldn't blame the counties for thinking they need to protect their finances at the best of times, and these aren't those. But the flat track both teams score 400+ in the 1st innings just don't give such good games, how they try and tweak so we can get to 1st innings scores of 270 with the 'talent' on display I don't know.

I also don't overly blame the batters for not having a front foot defensive game. I like test cricket but were it my career I can't say it's confusing why they set up ready to launch off the back foot and struggle to adapt to tests. Though it's a fair point not enough sides are playing 5 test series

[Biffer]

It was always a case of England and Australia playing more tests than the other nations due to the number of 5 test series they get, while other teams make do with 2 match series or 3 if they're lucky... I don't know if the World Test Championship has had much effect on that distortion?

Not yet but we can hope.

Problem is in most countries test cricket is poorly attended. There was an interview with the president if the ICC on TMS during this test where he said that lower ranked test sides will probably only be playing four or five tests a year in ten years from now.

[OomStruisbaai]

Let's not over egg it. England have one world class batsman. NZ also have one, who is not in good form, but they also have five other batsmen with test batting averages comfortably better than our second best, Ben Stokes. There's no comparison between the batting units.

I have told you there is to much quality in that England side. They'll do the same to our Proteas in a month.

England don’t have even one top 3 batsman of test class.

Well they have a match winner in nr4.

[Paddington Bear]

There's an extent to which Root's ton there will never be fully appreciated as a seriously great test ton because he made the win look so easy.

[Guy Smiley]

It was always a case of England and Australia playing more tests than the other nations due to the number of 5 test series they get, while other teams make do with 2 match series or 3 if they're lucky... I don't know if the World Test Championship has had much effect on that distortion?

Not yet but we can hope.

Problem is in most countries test cricket is poorly attended. There was an interview with the president if the ICC on TMS during this test where he said that lower ranked test sides will probably only be playing four or five tests a year in ten years from now.

They make enough money from the short forms of the game to support a fairer test schedule.

[Biffer]

It was always a case of England and Australia playing more tests than the other nations due to the number of 5 test series they get, while other teams make do with 2 match series or 3 if they're lucky... I don't know if the World Test Championship has had much effect on that distortion?

Not yet but we can hope.

Problem is in most countries test cricket is poorly attended. There was an interview with the president if the ICC on TMS during this test where he said that lower ranked test sides will probably only be playing four or five tests a year in ten years from now.

They make enough money from the short forms of the game to support a fairer test schedule.

I know, and I want more test cricket.

But the way a lot of countries are viewing things now, additional domestic T20 is more likely and its tests that will be squeezed. Money rules.

[JM2K6]

There's an extent to which Root's ton there will never be fully appreciated as a seriously great test ton because he made the win look so easy.

Yeah. Plus CDG's injury and NZ's refusal to bowl Patel - but I suppose Stokes' assault on him scared Kane off.

I actually missed some of the start of the final morning because I had assumed the bad light would hold things up so watched a super rugby game. When I turned back over we were cantering to victory. Root's innings was mental - something like 30 off 80 before Stokes got out, then 81 off 81 balls.

[OomStruisbaai]

I have told you there is to much quality in that England side. They'll do the same to our Proteas in a month.

England don’t have even one top 3 batsman of test class.

Well they have a match winner in nr4.

Who moved up to nr 2.

Hey Biffer doos, what now?

[Biffer]

England don’t have even one top 3 batsman of test class.

Well they have a match winner in nr4.

Who moved up to nr 2.

Hey Biffer doos, what now?

Are you suggesting Root is going to bat at no2?

[OomStruisbaai]

Well they have a match winner in nr4.

Who moved up to nr 2.

Hey Biffer doos, what now?

Are you suggesting Root is going to bat at no2?

Yes, good enough to open.

[Big Nipper]

Well they have a match winner in nr4.

Who moved up to nr 2.

Hey Biffer doos, what now?

Are you suggesting Root is going to bat at no2?

I apologise once again on behalf of all South Africans for OomSB

[Big Nipper]

Not sure what this means, but it is pretty exciting to see some positivity in SA cricket

[Biffer]

Who moved up to nr 2.

Hey Biffer doos, what now?

Are you suggesting Root is going to bat at no2?

Yes, good enough to open.

What the cocking fuck are you talking about

[Kiwias]

There's an extent to which Root's ton there will never be fully appreciated as a seriously great test ton because he made the win look so easy.

He is an absurdly talented batsman who makes it look so damned easy. Prick!

[FalseBayFC]

Are you suggesting Root is going to bat at no2?

Yes, good enough to open.

What the cocking fuck are you talking about

I'm not sure even Oom knows what he's on about. Oom, you do know its still Thursday! Only acceptable to start morning drinking on a Saturday or Sunday ou pal!

[FalseBayFC]

Not sure what this means, but it is pretty exciting to see some positivity in SA cricket

Big spending, big talking yanks bringing their greenbacks and pro sports nous to cricket in SA. I for one welcome our new brash, rich American overlords. We need some muscle behind us if we're to compete with the Indian pro cricket machine.