England vs Ireland, one off Test - thread

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

First topic message reminder :

England have announced their squad for the one off test match against Ireland, it is as follows

Joe Root
James Anderson
Moeen Ali
Jonny Bairstow
Stuart Broad
Rory Burns
Sam Curran
Joe Denly
Lewis Gregory
Jack Leach
Jason Roy
Olly Stone
Chris Woakes

Lewis Gregory, Jason Roy & Olly Stone could make debuts.

James Anderson included & Jack Leach returns.

Buttler and Stokes are rested.

Wood & Archer not considered because of injury. Wood out for 4 to 6 weeks.

[Nathaniel Jacobs]

The ball starts to reverse and Roy's awful technique is exposed. Until the Ashes are played on pancakes he's a walking wicket

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Leach certainly has the luck of the Irish on his side today doesn't he, plays and misses, lobs just over fielders, flicks just past fielders and a dropped catch. Make the most of it Jack!

[alfie]

The ball starts to reverse and Roy's awful technique is exposed. Until the Ashes are played on pancakes he's a walking wicket

Right on cue...

[Dolphin Ziggler]

Bumble's point on Roy was very good at lunch. Roy doesn't need to worry about the run rate etc, he just needs to play his natural game now. Never force it, just play

He tried to force it

? He's missed a drive, that is his natural game!

Come on, he was notably looking to go at something he's got nowhere near and he's looked itchy to get at something. There was a lack of control in that

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

The ball starts to reverse and Roy's awful technique is exposed. Until the Ashes are played on pancakes he's a walking wicket

Right on cue...

To reappear around 6pm tonight when Moeen is out for 10 (21)

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Bumble's point on Roy was very good at lunch. Roy doesn't need to worry about the run rate etc, he just needs to play his natural game now. Never force it, just play

He tried to force it

? He's missed a drive, that is his natural game!

Come on, he was notably looking to go at something he's got nowhere near and he's looked itchy to get at something. There was a lack of control in that

We can't say he should play his natural game, then go "oh crap he's got out playing expansively" when playing expansively is his natural game. He's literally said this himself

[Dolphin Ziggler]

There's definitely a line between playing naturally and playing something s***

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Also I know it's never going to happen, but I'd definitely be in favour of just chucking in the youngsters in Sibley and Crawley to open and Roy at 3 going forward.

[alfie]

Also I know it's never going to happen, but I'd definitely be in favour of just chucking in the youngsters in Sibley and Crawley to open and Roy at 3 going forward.

Well it certainly won't happen overnight , Olly. But it could , down the road a little. They are young...

Though I think if Roy does succeed in settling into the team it will be as an opener. The way he plays he'd be vulnerable either way ; and I think the "shock and awe" effect is better utilized from the start rather than in that rather more necessarily flexible role at three.

[Dolphin Ziggler]

I would prefer him at three, and two new openers to come in and learn and grow.

[Dolphin Ziggler]

Well, I hate cricket forever now. Leach gone for 92, having survived many scares

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Did Leach make a deal with the devil before play today?

Ah he's gone. Bugger, albeit can't say it wasn't coming

[alfie]

Leach dropped at slip ! Tougher chance this time...but he's riding his luck .

Deserves some , mind , for the spirited effort he's put up. I'm willing him for eight more runs...ah rats !

Caught this time...alas no hundred

But well played Jack

[Duty281]

Top innings from Leach. England would have been properly in the mire, but a fellow with a FC average of 10 and a previous HS of 66 has bailed them out! Sport is cruel; probably the closest Leach will ever get to a test ton.

Opening for Ireland now. Two new batsmen at the crease.

[alfie]

Anyway the game is live again now as England are effectively 60/3 with rather a lot of all rounders to come... Those wickets will have given Ireland a lift.

Time for Cap'n Joe to play an innings.

[Nathaniel Jacobs]

Marvellous effort by Jack Leach. Not only is he the best spinner in England but he showed that fool Moeen how to bat as well

[No name Bertie]

England are now 60 ahead with three wickets down.  Don't know how Leach managed to get to 92 when his batting average from this ground in county cricket is 4.7 runs / innings with a top score of 9 (according to the BBC)

[Duty281]

Since the start of the Sri Lanka tour, Root has batted 13 times in test matches. 6 times he's been out for single figures. Twice he's made a century. Averaging a snip above 30.

Pressure growing, perhaps.

[Duty281]

Four hours of play and we've had a whopping 49 overs!

[Duty281]

Root sells Denly down the Thames. Farce.

Ireland still well in the game and they'll really fancy it if they get Root out in the next few overs.

[compelling and rich]

oh dear denley, not a great way to cement your place.


game on this! don't think we'd need loads but need another 150 at least

[compelling and rich]

oh dear denley, not a great way to cement your place.


game on this! don't think we'd need loads but need another 150 at least

oops thought it was the other way round. really poor from someone of roots experience

[VTR]

Bairstow out now. Should not be playing, clearly not up for it after the World Cup, has had an awful match. England still in danger of losing this one.

[compelling and rich]

big trouble now

ali's a walking wicket these days

[Nathaniel Jacobs]

Aside from 2016 when Bairstow went through a purple patch, the rest of his Test career he averages 29. Bairstow isn't a test batsman.

[Duty281]

Big innings for some of England's players - specifically Burns, Denly and Bairstow who all have something to prove.

Oh dear. Burns and Bairstow - another blow to their reputations!

Starting to look doubtful that England will bat three sessions, let alone five. They need a lead of at least 175 to be favourites.

[robbo277]

Big innings for some of England's players - specifically Burns, Denly and Bairstow who all have something to prove.

Oh dear. Burns and Bairstow - another blow to their reputations!

Starting to look doubtful that England will bat three sessions, let alone five. They need a lead of at least 175 to be favourites.

175 is fair, but that only requires another 100 with 5 wickets and Root there.

If any of Moeen, Woakes or Curran can hang about with him, then there is another 100 run partnership to be had. A 100 partnership and a 50 one would set us right up.

[Gooseberry]

Looks like Kpf could've won some of the money he lost backing anyonebutengland in the role cup if hed put it on Leach as to run scorer in the game.

This is a silly game.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Aside from 2016 when Bairstow went through a purple patch, the rest of his Test career he averages 29. Bairstow isn't a test batsman.

It is beginning to look more and more like that year was an exception, rather than the rule. A Ballance-esque dominant year...

[Duty281]

This next session, two and a half hours, will probably decide the test. Either Ireland instigate another collapse and find themselves chasing a more-than-gettable sub-150 score, or England ride out the storm and take the lead beyond 200.

[JDizzle]

In related news, Jofra is playing for Sussex in the Blast tomorrow. Back in contention for the First Ashes Test?

[robbo277]

Outside of the immediate, Archer has been passed fit to play for Sussex in a T20.

There's a world of difference between bowling 4 overs in a county T20 and bowling 4 spells in a day of test cricket, but does Archer now come into consideration for the first Ashes test?

I'd be more tempted to go with Woakes at Edgbaston, but should Anderson miss out or Broad not fire in the second innings, Archer will definitely feature strongly in discussions.

[Dolphin Ziggler]

Ali edges one for 9, doing nothing really as he puts his bat there. That 92 from Leach could be extremely significant today, tomorrow and next month.

[Nathaniel Jacobs]

Aside from 2016 when Bairstow went through a purple patch, the rest of his Test career he averages 29. Bairstow isn't a test batsman.

It is beginning to look more and more like that year was an exception, rather than the rule. A Ballance-esque dominant year...

We agree on something...must be this weather

[Duty281]

Another tortured outing for Moeen. A mere two test 50s in the last 22 months for him.

97/6. Woakes and/or Curran must deliver a punchy 30+.

[compelling and rich]

big trouble now

ali's a walking wicket these days

there it goes, wouldn't class him as a all rounder anymore. looks more like a broad batting now (funnily enough broad was half decent with the bat when he first came through)

[VTR]

Rubbish batting from Moeen as usual. I have no issue with him in the side batting at 8 if he's bowling well, but having him as one of the top 6 (obviously batted 7 here) is not going to work. Similar feelings on Bairstow as well, good number 7, not a top 6 batsman

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

England really need to accept Moeen shouldn’t be batting higher than 8/9 at this point.

[king_carlos]

It's really difficult to view Moeen as a batting asset against Australia. His playing of the short ball is just so poor. Starc, Cummins, Pattinson and Hazlewood with the last generation duke ball will just bombard him.

[king_carlos]

Rubbish batting from Moeen as usual. I have no issue with him in the side batting at 8 if he's bowling well, but having him as one of the top 6 (obviously batted 7 here) is not going to work. Similar feelings on Bairstow as well, good number 7, not a top 6 batsman

Bowled through the gate once again for Bairstow. I agree that 7 is his best spot if keeping. Without the pressure of keeping then I think he could make a good number 5. The stats about his drop off in average in the second innings whilst keeping are really interesting, suggests fatigue being an issue.

Foakes did little wrong to be left out. He's the better keeper by a mile as well.

[Duty281]

big trouble now

ali's a walking wicket these days

there it goes, wouldn't class him as a all rounder anymore. looks more like a broad batting now (funnily enough broad was half decent with the bat when he first came through)

Broad used to be capable with a bat in his hands until the injury he sustained against India. Now he's pretty much a number 11 - averaged 8 in test cricket last year.

[robbo277]

5 and 6 are too high up the order in this test, it seems even with Leach coming in to open and scoring 92. But with Stokes and Buttler to return that pushes everyone down two spots.

A lot resting on Root now. He's got two able batting partners in Woakes and Curran and he has to get us another 100 runs at least in partnership with those around him.

It's a close game, but I don't think it will necessarily end that way. Whichever team is under more pressure in the 4th innings will crumble somewhat, and either Ireland will win by 7 wickets or we'll win by 50 runs. If Root and the tail can pull something out here then we can make sure it's Ireland under pressure.

[Galted]

The ball starts to reverse and Roy's awful technique is exposed. Until the Ashes are played on pancakes he's a walking wicket

Right on cue...

To reappear around 6pm tonight when Moeen is out for 10 (21)

Good call.

[Dolphin Ziggler]

Well, Root is doing anything here, so little Sam or Sir Chris are the last hopes

[Gooseberry]

The ball starts to reverse and Roy's awful technique is exposed. Until the Ashes are played on pancakes he's a walking wicket

Right on cue...

To reappear around 6pm tonight when Moeen is out for 10 (21)

Good call.

Rather optimistic about how long Mo would last

[Duty281]

Root goes chasing a wide one. He batted like an out-of-form player and Ireland tied him down and frustrated him brilliantly. Good line and length from the Irish all day - very persistent and sticking to their plans.

117/7. This is the last meaningful partnership as you can't expect too much from Broad and Stone.

[robbo277]

We've had a lot of counter-punches from our lower order that have changed test matches. A lot riding on them to do it again. How do they play it? Back themselves to stay in or try and attack before the new ball?

15 overs, could get 75 runs and hope that's enough?

[Gooseberry]

These are Englands best two batsmen in now (not even joking after recent summers).

I CBA to look up the stats but going back to Nathanial SAVAGING of Bairstow if you take out their best year which other England players would average over 30 in tests. Root and.... ?

Ok there goes woakes

[Duty281]

England just can't resist the wide deliveries. Haven't even batted 100 overs against a division two standard bowling attack of dibbly-dobblers and England have lost 17 wickets. Australia next week!

This latest collapse is 77 runs for 7 wickets.

[Gooseberry]

England just can't resist the wide deliveries. Haven't even batted 100 overs against a division two standard bowling attack of dibbly-dobblers and England have lost 17 wickets. Australia next week!

Fortunately the Aussies can bowl straight and when ones edged it will be fast enough to carry to the boundary. England will be just fine

This is an all time low for England

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