NPR

ScarfaceClaw wrote: ↑Thu Aug 06, 2020 4:36 pm That ball that got Stokes was a thing of beauty.

JM2K6 wrote: ↑Thu Aug 06, 2020 6:03 pm Root went, great catch off a spinner by keeper. Not that I'm making a point or anything. Buttler survives until close.

Ollie Pope has made batting look very easy compared to everyone else. 46 off 67 out of a total of 92/4 from 28 overs.

This has probably been my favourite Test of the summer so far.

Insane_Homer wrote: ↑Fri Aug 07, 2020 6:19 am first hour this morning crucial for Eng.

Anyone, anyone who has watched cricket and studied the game over many, many years, knows the genuinely gifted player when s/he sees one. When it comes to wicket-keeping, there is a wide ocean of difference between the player who is made into a w/k and one who is gifted in that capacity. That’s the difference between Buttler and Foakes.

Biffer wrote: ↑Fri Aug 07, 2020 8:07 am

Insane_Homer wrote: ↑Fri Aug 07, 2020 6:19 am first hour this morning crucial for Eng.

Im confident Buttler will not last the first hour.

I saw this posted elsewhere

Anyone, anyone who has watched cricket and studied the game over many, many years, knows the genuinely gifted player when s/he sees one. When it comes to wicket-keeping, there is a wide ocean of difference between the player who is made into a w/k and one who is gifted in that capacity. That’s the difference between Buttler and Foakes.

Sums up wicket keeping for me. It’s an absolute joy to watch a great wicketkeeper work, but it seems now that having someone who averages 40 and can do a decent job behind the stumps is considered a better option than having someone who averages 30 and takes the opportunities Buttler missed yesterday. Which is obvious nonsense.

I really miss watching top quality wicketkeepers. There are so few allowed to play at international level.

Biffer wrote: ↑Fri Aug 07, 2020 8:07 am

Insane_Homer wrote: ↑Fri Aug 07, 2020 6:19 am first hour this morning crucial for Eng.

Im confident Buttler will not last the first hour.

I saw this posted elsewhere

Anyone, anyone who has watched cricket and studied the game over many, many years, knows the genuinely gifted player when s/he sees one. When it comes to wicket-keeping, there is a wide ocean of difference between the player who is made into a w/k and one who is gifted in that capacity. That’s the difference between Buttler and Foakes.

Sums up wicket keeping for me. It’s an absolute joy to watch a great wicketkeeper work, but it seems now that having someone who averages 40 and can do a decent job behind the stumps is considered a better option than having someone who averages 30 and takes the opportunities Buttler missed yesterday. Which is obvious nonsense.

I really miss watching top quality wicketkeepers. There are so few allowed to play at international level.

Big D wrote: ↑Fri Aug 07, 2020 8:22 am Other than being a good mate of the captain and the selectors golden boy I don't see what Buttler brings to the test team.

Not the best wicket keeper available and the poorest batting average of the 3 available options (small sample size at test level for Foakes). I am a fan of his white ball cricket work but the very rare 50 here and there doesn't cut it.

Next time Stokes can't bowl I would consider giving the gloves to Pope and playing Crawley. On recent efforts 6 is about 1 maybe 2 spots too high for Buttler.

Big D wrote: ↑Fri Aug 07, 2020 8:24 am

Biffer wrote: ↑Fri Aug 07, 2020 8:07 am

Insane_Homer wrote: ↑Fri Aug 07, 2020 6:19 am first hour this morning crucial for Eng.

Im confident Buttler will not last the first hour.

I saw this posted elsewhere

Anyone, anyone who has watched cricket and studied the game over many, many years, knows the genuinely gifted player when s/he sees one. When it comes to wicket-keeping, there is a wide ocean of difference between the player who is made into a w/k and one who is gifted in that capacity. That’s the difference between Buttler and Foakes.

Sums up wicket keeping for me. It’s an absolute joy to watch a great wicketkeeper work, but it seems now that having someone who averages 40 and can do a decent job behind the stumps is considered a better option than having someone who averages 30 and takes the opportunities Buttler missed yesterday. Which is obvious nonsense.

I really miss watching top quality wicketkeepers. There are so few allowed to play at international level.

Ironically Buttler is the one averaging 30 (32 I think) and Foakes mid 40's in a small sample size and would expect regression. Woakes or Bess may be Popes best hope for a partner.

JM2K6 wrote: ↑Fri Aug 07, 2020 9:19 am

Big D wrote: ↑Fri Aug 07, 2020 8:22 am Other than being a good mate of the captain and the selectors golden boy I don't see what Buttler brings to the test team.

Not the best wicket keeper available and the poorest batting average of the 3 available options (small sample size at test level for Foakes). I am a fan of his white ball cricket work but the very rare 50 here and there doesn't cut it.

Next time Stokes can't bowl I would consider giving the gloves to Pope and playing Crawley. On recent efforts 6 is about 1 maybe 2 spots too high for Buttler.

By all accounts he's an excellent dressing room presence - let's face it, he's there almost all the time when we're batting - and is a solid and dependable lieutenant. But, more importantly, dropping him would be an admission by Ed 'FICJAM' Smith that he was wrong, so it can only happen in extreme circumstances.

Biffer wrote: ↑Fri Aug 07, 2020 11:24 am Woakes taking one on the head from Naseem.

This Pakistan attack is exceptional.

A6D6E6 wrote: ↑Fri Aug 07, 2020 11:32 am

Biffer wrote: ↑Fri Aug 07, 2020 11:24 am Woakes taking one on the head from Naseem.

This Pakistan attack is exceptional.

To be fair, that could be said of almost any Pakistan attack since I started watching cricket in the 80s. They produce some fantastic bowlers.

Big D wrote: ↑Fri Aug 07, 2020 12:53 pm Buttler does a lot of good in the morning session but ultimately it is another failure.

Biffer wrote: ↑Fri Aug 07, 2020 1:26 pm Terrible shot from Woakes. Ears are probably still ringing from the one he took on the head though.

JM2K6 wrote: ↑Fri Aug 07, 2020 1:32 pm

Biffer wrote: ↑Fri Aug 07, 2020 1:26 pm Terrible shot from Woakes. Ears are probably still ringing from the one he took on the head though.

When, 10 innings ago? He's a dismal batsman at the moment.

Biffer wrote: ↑Fri Aug 07, 2020 1:36 pm

JM2K6 wrote: ↑Fri Aug 07, 2020 1:32 pm

Biffer wrote: ↑Fri Aug 07, 2020 1:26 pm Terrible shot from Woakes. Ears are probably still ringing from the one he took on the head though.

When, 10 innings ago? He's a dismal batsman at the moment.

He took one today from Naseem. It bounced out to mid on.

Insane_Homer wrote: ↑Fri Aug 07, 2020 1:32 pm England looking like they're going to give Pakistan a healthy first innings lead. It's going to be tough to salvage the test from here.

fishfoodie wrote: ↑Fri Aug 07, 2020 1:46 pm

Insane_Homer wrote: ↑Fri Aug 07, 2020 1:32 pm England looking like they're going to give Pakistan a healthy first innings lead. It's going to be tough to salvage the test from here.

Not much chance of rain saving England this week.

Given the weather, & the match, it really is a pity to be playing behind closed doors

Sandstorm wrote: ↑Fri Aug 07, 2020 2:02 pm Pakistan fielding is shite. Several run outs missed, dropped catch and the tail is wagging.