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

[Parkside]

Not sure that was the case in India’s first innings or shots by Brook and Smith in our first innings.

At least that’s not how it was perceived on here at the time

Both teams have batted at a rate of well over 4 an over for the majority of the game thus meaning 3 results still possible.

Historically in test cricket with the high number of runs scored 3 results would not have been possible and it would have been drawn game.

Excellent advert for test cricket and excellent attacking intent has us where we are which is great for the game

Yes,but what I saw was playing the situation,a balance of aggression and consolidating as the situation demanded yet still with an overall healthy run rate. My concern in the past with the new era was they were overtly aggressive regardless of the match situation.I wasn't alone in that viewpoint and regarded it as a constructive observation. Such observations don't equate to constant negativity. I think this test indicates that England have amended their approach for the better.

 

[Voice of fair play]

Yes,but what I saw was playing the situation,a balance of aggression and consolidating as the situation demanded yet still with an overall healthy run rate. My concern in the past with the new era was they were overtly aggressive regardless of the match situation.I wasn't alone in that viewpoint and regarded it as a constructive observation. Such observations don't equate to constant negativity. I think this test indicates that England have amended their approach for the better.

That’s not what I was saying though.

What I was saying is that every English test team pre McCullum and Stokes this game on this wicket would have been a draw at the very best for us, because we never scored quick enough.

Now this team under this leadership means high runs can be scored and 3 results still possible which should be applauded and praised.

Lot of talk about the need and rightly soo to keep test cricket as most important format of the game, this regime is massively helping that imo

 

[scotch]

Maybe we should only bowl tongue vs the tail

Unleash the tongue on the rear guard

 

[Jasper]

Pretty much exactly what I expected tbh. A chase in the region of 350-400 starting around about now.
Pretty much exactly what I expected tbh. A chase in the region of 350-400 starting around about now.

They've no chance of knocking off 700-800 runs in one day.

 

[Parkside]

That’s not what I was saying though.

What I was saying is that every English test team pre McCullum and Stokes this game on this wicket would have been a draw at the very best for us, because we never scored quick enough.

Now this team under this leadership means high runs can be scored and 3 results still possible which should be applauded and praised.

Lot of talk about the need and rightly soo to keep test cricket as most important format of the game, this regime is massively helping that imo

I'm not,and never have,contradicted that. The new approach has generally been praised but was not utopia. To his credit,McCullum has recognised that and compromised on the one size fits all approach.

 

[Nasser Butt-Head]

I'm not,and never have,contradicted that. The new approach has generally been praised but was not utopia. To his credit,McCullum has recognised that and compromised on the one size fits all approach.

I don't know if they have fully compromised yet or not. It all depends on how they approach the game if we lose a few early wickets tomorrow. Will they just carry on going for it or rather drop anchor and salvage a draw?

I think you and VofP are both right in this instance btw.

This is the most exciting English test team I have seen in my lifetime. Long may it continue but there comes a point when you have to balance the aggression with a bit of common sense. Like this evening. No gain from smashing it about so I was glad they were more circumspect.

Can't wait for tomorrow now. Hope the rain stays away. Could be a humdinger of a finish.

 

[Pedrovansank]

Had 2 days there Fri/Sat - great craic and good atmosphere.

Little tip - if you are fancying a few beers, ignore the queues under the stand and go to the Rugby stand end. Just after entrance A of the Western Terrace there are some self service beer machines. Go past them, up the stairs on the left to the concourse - it was far, far quieter than the bars under the Western Terrace

Aye, good view from there too

Morning all

Carse gets Gill bowled early 92 for 3 lead of 103

This is going to be a classic finish

Was a good day, especially the last 90 mins

 

[Ghfd]

Aye, good view from there too

Was a good day, especially the last 90 mins

Brilliant

 

[Sea to Shining Sea]

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This is the type of talk that I think Rob Key was agitated by.

Because there are plenty of scenarios in which a draw is a good result for England. Surely the players can be positive and say they’re approaching the game to win it but just leave it at that? This is just silly talk

 

[MagicRat]

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This is the type of talk that I think Rob Key was agitated by.

Because there are plenty of scenarios in which a draw is a good result for England. Surely the players can be positive and say they’re approaching the game to win it but just leave it at that? This is just silly talk

Completely agree, if we’re 80-5 at lunch a draw would be a fantastic result

 

[Sea to Shining Sea]

Completely agree, if we’re 80-5 at lunch a draw would be a fantastic result

And other scenarios as well. 290-7 after rain delayed and ten overs to go with some spice in the pitch and unfavourable overheads. Are they saying that a draw from that position is not a good result?

Essentially what Tongue is saying is that it’s better to go 1-0 down in some scenarios. Which of course he doesn’t mean at all but it’s just mindless talk that leaves the team wide open to criticism

 

[Mr Redknapp]

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This is the type of talk that I think Rob Key was agitated by.

Because there are plenty of scenarios in which a draw is a good result for England. Surely the players can be positive and say they’re approaching the game to win it but just leave it at that? This is just silly talk

He got good taste, buds.

 

[rentaghost]

And other scenarios as well. 290-7 after rain delayed and ten overs to go with some spice in the pitch and unfavourable overheads. Are they saying that a draw from that position is not a good result?

Essentially what Tongue is saying is that it’s better to go 1-0 down in some scenarios. Which of course he doesn’t mean at all but it’s just mindless talk that leaves the team wide open to criticism

While I think it’s nonsense they probably know this themselves. I think the reason behind this regular rhetoric is as much to create a narrative in the minds of the opposition that we can chase anything down or win a game from any situation. This might impact on decisions they make over the series such as batting on too long etc before declaring

 

[Provider]

That’s not what I was saying though.

What I was saying is that every English test team pre McCullum and Stokes this game on this wicket would have been a draw at the very best for us, because we never scored quick enough.

Now this team under this leadership means high runs can be scored and 3 results still possible which should be applauded and praised.

Lot of talk about the need and rightly soo to keep test cricket as most important format of the game, this regime is massively helping that imo

Yes but it has been widely acknowledged by virtually everyone is listened to that this game has seen a much less extreme version of "Bazball". So it does seem like even they themselves have admitted the previous incarnation needed changing against the best teams.

And India deserve a lot of praise also, even more so maybe given they are the ones who have batted twice. The way they managed the first session yesterday before really stepping up the attacking shots and scoring rate.

 

[Voice of fair play]

Yes but it has been widely acknowledged by virtually everyone is listened to that this game has seen a much less extreme version of "Bazball". So it does seem like even they themselves have admitted the previous incarnation needed changing against the best teams.

And India deserve a lot of praise also, even more so maybe given they are the ones who have batted twice. The way they managed the first session yesterday before really stepping up the attacking shots and scoring rate.

Yeah that’s fair, the point I was making and continue to make even taking into account your point.

Is historically in any other era involving a England cricket and most test teams for that matter this game would be a cast iron draw due to the high number of runs scored.

And the runs would have been scored too slow and everyone would have just said fair enough that test cricket.

Would we have now under this regime is better watchable cricket, that is also rubbing off on other teams ( India deserve massive credit too) and furthermore it’s briiliant for test cricket as a whole going forward with the ongoing competition from other formats.

Win, lose or draw this game it should be applauded from the rooftops

 

[Provider]

Yeah that’s fair, the point I was making and continue to make even taking into account your point.

Is historically in any other era involving a England cricket and most test teams for that matter this game would be a cast iron draw due to the high number of runs scored.

And the runs would have been scored too slow and everyone would have just said fair enough that test cricket.

Would we have now under this regime is better watchable cricket, that is also rubbing off on other teams ( India deserve massive credit too) and furthermore it’s briiliant for test cricket as a whole going forward with the ongoing competition from other formats.

Win, lose or draw this game it should be applauded from the rooftops

I'm not so sure about it rubbing off on other teams to be honest. I think India bringing attacking cricket to the test arena comes from how important the IPL is to them and that most of their players are schooled there now.

 

[MSC]

Yeah that’s fair, the point I was making and continue to make even taking into account your point.

Is historically in any other era involving a England cricket and most test teams for that matter this game would be a cast iron draw due to the high number of runs scored.

And the runs would have been scored too slow and everyone would have just said fair enough that test cricket.

Would we have now under this regime is better watchable cricket, that is also rubbing off on other teams ( India deserve massive credit too) and furthermore it’s briiliant for test cricket as a whole going forward with the ongoing competition from other formats.

Win, lose or draw this game it should be applauded from the rooftops

Been a casual cricket fan for years and preferred the one dayers/20/20 but happily watch hours of this England team play against other top teams for the reasons you point out.

It's probably saved test cricket from being an also ran commercially and it's really brave from McCullem and Stokes etc coz I guess they will be wide open to criticism if and when it doesn't come off being so positive?

He's supposedly a very impressive leader from what I've heard from a couple of lads I know who've met him.

 

[Voice of fair play]

I'm not so sure about it rubbing off on other teams to be honest. I think India bringing attacking cricket to the test arena comes from how important the IPL is to them and that most of their players are schooled there now.

I think a bit of both and again that’s great for test cricket.

The IPL has brought standards on in a lot of ways, batting, bowling and especially fielding despite its knockers.

Either way watching test cricket in this country is as watchable and as entertaining as it has even been.

Bar 2005 which was a once in a generation series, these Stokes/McCullum years are without doubt in my 45 years watching cricket the most entertaining test cricket has been in this country by a country mile.

Personally just my opinion but that fact doesn’t get celebrated enough!

Just as well mind the prices they charge nowadays

 

[rentaghost]

Yeah that’s fair, the point I was making and continue to make even taking into account your point.

Is historically in any other era involving a England cricket and most test teams for that matter this game would be a cast iron draw due to the high number of runs scored.

And the runs would have been scored too slow and everyone would have just said fair enough that test cricket.

Would we have now under this regime is better watchable cricket, that is also rubbing off on other teams ( India deserve massive credit too) and furthermore it’s briiliant for test cricket as a whole going forward with the ongoing competition from other formats.

Win, lose or draw this game it should be applauded from the rooftops

More importantly for me isn''t necessarily the 'changing the face of test cricket' stuff. We haven't. However playing at a fast tempo, taking the game to the bowlers, trying to upset their lines etc suits the players we have in English cricket at the moment. We don't have many great technicians but we have very good attacking batsmen. We are just playing to our strengths and a way in which we think gives us the best chance of winning. We scored the neck end of 500 runs without our one brilliant technician contributing. I doubt we would have done playing more conventionally.

 

[Jasper]

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This is the type of talk that I think Rob Key was agitated by.

Because there are plenty of scenarios in which a draw is a good result for England. Surely the players can be positive and say they’re approaching the game to win it but just leave it at that? This is just silly talk

Exactly. A draw when bowling first on a batting pitch in one of the games Bumrah is playing is a good result.