Eng vs India - First Test - 20th-24th June

[Fleagle]

Tbf mate think the vast majority of us agreed with you at the time.

Hindsight a wonderful thing

Hindsight is a menace when it comes to assessing the merits of the many and various decisions that are made over the course of a test match that could influence the outcome.

There was a ridiculous feature on TMS during the lunch break on I think the third day when some idiot correspondent was assessing Stokes’s captaincy decisions. And doing so solely on the basis of whether they went onto win or lose the test match. It’s what most people do on here as well.

By which simplistic criterion, the decision to bowl first was a work of genius. It probably wasn’t. It probably didn’t make very much difference. There wasn’t the same life in the pitch on the first morning that you might expect when you insert at Headingley. But it still got easier and the difficult weather split more or less 50-50 as it turned out. In any case, as this match showed, test match cricket has far too many pendulum swings for any decision to be that big a deal.

 

[Peterlee James]

Always do it on Cricket Captain , my philosophy is runs on the board

more than one way to skin a cat in Test Cricket.

New ones out on Friday

 

[Voice of fair play]

I still won’t have anyone tell me it was a good decision to bowl first mind

Look at where India were in the game at 400-3 or whatever it was, and then all their dropped catches and 99 bonus runs for Brook on a no ball.

Another game and they could have had a 150 run lead quite easily after the first innings were done.

Like I’ve said credit to England for making them pay but India will be kicking themselves they haven’t won this match.

I think it wasn’t as bad decision as we thought at the time, as I said I thought it was a bad decision at the time.

However the two facts of Gill saying he would have bowled also and the fact the way the game panned out means I accept I may have got it wrong

 

[VenisonsMullet]

Only managed to watch the last couple of hours but a great finish to 5 days, not bloody 4 days, not 20 overs, 5 days of a test match.

Best format of the game. Thankfully the shorter, tippy tappy games seem to pay for Test cricket to exist so we're all happy.

 

[nowtgoodeverhappens]

Surprised by poor attendance last couple of days. Thought it would be wick with Indian fans

 

[Aidan11]

Surprised by poor attendance last couple of days. Thought it would be wick with Indian fans

Their God Kohli isn't playing anymore.

 

[MagicRat]

Just watching highlights, great stuff seeing Siraj hopping mad with fielders and the England openers alike

 

[Steak Pie]

Outstanding win. I was questioning Stokes decision to bowl first but can't knock it. Superb advert for test cricket. We played much like the Aussies usually do against us. Against the ropes a lot of the game but come out on top

Everyone did, especially after day 1.

But then I heard Zaltzman on TMS come up with a stat that in the last 10 years, Headingley is unique in that batman's average go up as the game progresses. i.e. Batters average more in the 4th innings than they do in the 1st.

Only ground on the planet where this is the case.

Maybe they know a thing or two about this Test cricket malarkey.

 

[rentaghost]

Hindsight is a menace when it comes to assessing the merits of the many and various decisions that are made over the course of a test match that could influence the outcome.

There was a ridiculous feature on TMS during the lunch break on I think the third day when some idiot correspondent was assessing Stokes’s captaincy decisions. And doing so solely on the basis of whether they went onto win or lose the test match. It’s what most people do on here as well.

By which simplistic criterion, the decision to bowl first was a work of genius. It probably wasn’t. It probably didn’t make very much difference. There wasn’t the same life in the pitch on the first morning that you might expect when you insert at Headingley. But it still got easier and the difficult weather split more or less 50-50 as it turned out. In any case, as this match showed, test match cricket has far too many pendulum swings for any decision to be that big a deal.

It was a good decision. I think he has great confidence in his batsmen knocking off big totals in a pitch stays relatively flat. Less confidence in his bowlers under pressure in the 4th innings. The will bat second plenty as long as they feel the pitch won’t deteriorate significantly. India woujd have done the same. It’s fine having a view one way or the other but people need to pipe down with the ‘outrageous’ stuff when the decision had plenty of logic including Headingley in particular has a great record in recent years with teams batting second winning.

 

[Raker]

You must be logged on to see media items

 

[TheRey]

Wow.

That was a proper, grown up performance. No hubris, no silly bollocks, that was a proper, mature, superb performance.

Big concerns with the ball, we can't hide that. But batting wise, if this is the new, reformed Bazball, im on board 100%. Positive and attacking without the reckless, brain dead shit. Well, bar Stokes!

Superb.

 

[Steak Pie]

Just watching TATT and yes, Harry Brook really did do that. Amazing.

 

[Parkside]

Wow.

That was a proper, grown up performance. No hubris, no silly bollocks, that was a proper, mature, superb performance.

Big concerns with the ball, we can't hide that. But batting wise, if this is the new, reformed Bazball, im on board 100%. Positive and attacking without the reckless, brain dead shit. Well, bar Stokes!

Superb.

Excellent -a balanced perspective. Hugely encouraging going forward.

 

[TheRey]

Excellent -a balanced perspective. Hugely encouraging going forward.

I'm known for my balanced, nuanced opinions marra

Bet the critics slagging us off on Friday looking a bit foolish now

They were still valid, mind. We shouldn't have bowled first, and we really didn't bowl well in the main. A couple of excellent batting displays can't hide that. Only Tongue at the tail really excelled

 

[Parkside]

I'm known for my balanced, nuanced opinions marra

nuanced(adj)-characterized by subtle shades of meaning or expression

"without the reckless,brain dead shit"
Aye - very nuanced.

 

[rentaghost]

Wow.

That was a proper, grown up performance. No hubris, no silly bollocks, that was a proper, mature, superb performance.

Big concerns with the ball, we can't hide that. But batting wise, if this is the new, reformed Bazball, im on board 100%. Positive and attacking without the reckless, brain dead shit. Well, bar Stokes!

Superb.

Fine lines - Brook caught on 99 = idiot

Duckett dropped in the deep on 97 = hero

I agree though it was a joy to watch

 

[TheRey]

Fine lines - Brook caught on 99 = idiot

Duckett dropped in the deep on 97 = hero

I agree though it was a joy to watch

Brook - meh, his attacking style had got us into that position.

Duckett - even if it was pouched, he'd got us off to a better start than we dared dream by batting that way!

Great win, well batted in the second innings from everyone bar Pope and Brook.

.

Think the rest owed them one for the first innings mind

 

[Inside Forward]

Their God Kohli isn't playing anymore.

I’ve had a few nibbles. One reckons that hockey is their national sport.

 

[rentaghost]

Brook - meh, his attacking style had got us into that position.

Duckett - even if it was pouched, he'd got us off to a better start than we dared dream by batting that way!

Think the rest owed them one for the first innings mind

I agree 100%

 

[Silly Point]

I’ve had a few nibbles. One reckons that hockey is their national sport.

Have to remember that one for when our footballers get knocked out early next year, if they get there.

I avoid it like the plague if they beat us, but social media is so so sweet to read when we beat them!