The summer of cricket 2020

First topic message reminder :

We have actual cricket news for the first time in forever...and some hope that we will see some test matches this summer!

England bowlers began a return to individual training on Thursday, with batsmen and wicketkeepers scheduled to make a return on 1st June, in anticipation of the West Indies series being rescheduled to begin on 8th July (all according to various reports).

There was also reports a few weeks back they might play some one day games, whilst tests are happening too. Not seen anything else about that, but with England’s depth in the shorter format it could be done you’d think players wise (and actually would present a good opportunity to some on the fringes)

ECB is going to confirm the full list of players who will resume training next week. Murmurings about Hales in the one day stuff don’t go away...

So anyways - let’s keep fingers crossed, and hope everyone who posts here is healthy and staying safe too

Trust you'll allow this here - all part of The Summer of Cricket 2020:

Government shortly allowing some spectators at sporting events on a trial basis including the 2 day friendly between Surrey and Middlesex at the Oval on Sunday 26th and Monday 27th July.

Vote now on which will come first ?

Sibley's hundred ?
Stokes' hundred ?
Roach's first wicket for the tour ?
Brexit Deal ?

Joseph finally gets an official warning.

Presuming England want 15 overs at the Windies' batters tonight, there's 59 overs left to bat.

alfie wrote:Vote now on which will come first ?

Sibley's hundred ?
Stokes' hundred ?
Roach's first wicket for the tour ?
Brexit Deal ?

Another infamous England declaration with a batsman marooned on 98*?

Well played, Dom. 4 fours, 312 balls, 101 runs

Sibley to a well earned 100.

Now to kick on

Think I'd want more than 15 overs. If they lose serious time tomorrow , they need to move this game on a bit.
Saying that , it's clear batting hasn't been all that easy. Certainly scoring hasn't .

Sibley gets the hundred ...

Took a while ...but really well deserved - and valuable .

Sibley gets there. First century of the series.

Apparently the slowest ever test double hundred took 548 balls...Sibley might eclipse that if Root lets him!

In all seriousness, I hope he bats for the team now and tries to be more proactive.

Top knock from Sibley.

Time to get on with it after lunch

Good Golly I'm Olly wrote:Top knock from Sibley.

Time to get on with it after lunch

Certainly set up now to do so. So I suppose Chase will run through the innings this afternoon

guildfordbat wrote:Trust you'll allow this here  - all part of The Summer of Cricket 2020:

Government shortly allowing some spectators at sporting events on a trial basis including the 2 day friendly between Surrey and Middlesex at the Oval on Sunday 26th and Monday 27th July.

I'm hoping you are locked into the members short list there Guildford?

Hope all those who wrote Sibley off in New Zealand are clapping him off at lunch.

alfie wrote:Think I'd want more than 15 overs. If they lose serious time tomorrow , they need to move this game on a bit.
Saying that , it's clear batting hasn't been all that easy. Certainly scoring hasn't .

Sibley gets the hundred ...

Took a while ...but really well deserved - and valuable .

Hi Alfie - I would be comfortable enough with giving the Windies 10 overs tonight. Sometimes it's easier to pick up a couple of wickets at the end of the day in a short period bowling at tired batsmen than having the entire final session.

Varied weather in England atm. Grey my neck of the woods yesterday in the morning but no rain followed by sun and very warm ever since. Hard to forecast and wouldn't put a house on it for anywhere.

king_carlos wrote:

guildfordbat wrote:Trust you'll allow this here  - all part of The Summer of Cricket 2020:

Government shortly allowing some spectators at sporting events on a trial basis including the 2 day friendly between Surrey and Middlesex at the Oval on Sunday 26th and Monday 27th July.

I'm hoping you are locked into the members short list there Guildford?

I'm writing the short list, Carlos.

Solid enough session but now it's time to put the foot down. WIs seamers all approaching 20 overs in the game after a full workload in Southampton.

Yep, time to go for it. Aim for a run rate of 4+ in this session, and get those tired fielders chasing the ball.

Stokes to a 100 now

10th test ton for Stokes.

England's finest ever all-rounder.

Stokes happy to lunch on 99. Doubt he was too nervous. Reached another ton pretty quickly since the break ...well played

Foot down time ?

Duty281 wrote:10th test ton for Stokes.

England's finest ever all-rounder.

Interesting one that, Duty. Not going to say you're wrong but if the late (of this board anyway) Hoggy Bear was still here, he would be asking you to have a look at Tony Greig's stats. His averages are surprisingly good ....

Close one for Sibley then...always thought it would be marginal on height though. Can't complain about that decision.

guildfordbat wrote:

Duty281 wrote:10th test ton for Stokes.

England's finest ever all-rounder.

Interesting one that, Duty. Not going to say you're wrong but if the late (of this board anyway) Hoggy Bear was still here, he would be asking you to have a look at Tony Greig's stats. His averages are surprisingly good ....

Chap called Botham wasn't bad

Since his banishment from the team, Stokes averages 40.42 with the bat and 28.75 with the ball.

Sibley living dangerously

West Indies getting a bit desperate with reviews ...lost their second , that was fairly clearly missing leg.
Sibley still not exactly flowing .

So , now 71 off 31 overs today. Surely Stokes will go after Chase ?

200 partnership up

That was utterly outrageous from Stokes. Phenomenal shot.

Ah ...that's more like it ! Stokes lofts Joseph effortlessly for six...think he's ready to get on with it...

6 from stokes, 25 odd added in the last half hour

Commentators talking up a charge to 500...

Suppose from here that is possible. Trouble is I reckon most 500 first innings end up producing drawn matches as the responding team just stonewalls. Different if you have a demon attack or a magical spinner perhaps...but I think England might need plenty of time to take 20 wickets . I'd rather , say , 450 scored rapidly , I think.

West Indies running out of bowlers here...

300 up, Joseph having to leave the field hurt

Bash the ball about until an hour from the close and declare. Whatever you get, you get.

Windies have lost Joseph, Gabriel is bowling rubbish and they've been in the field for four and a half sessions, as well as the exertions of the last test. Should rack up plenty here.

Best case scenario, not much rain about tomorrow and plenty of time to win the game. Worst case, lose all of Saturday's play and end up needing to enforce the follow-on to win the game.

Wouldn't be the worst thing if Sibley got out now...

Good Golly I'm Olly wrote:Wouldn't be the worst thing if Sibley got out now...

And promote Buttler up the order to 6.

alfie wrote:

guildfordbat wrote:

Duty281 wrote:10th test ton for Stokes.

England's finest ever all-rounder.

Interesting one that, Duty. Not going to say you're wrong but if the late (of this board anyway) Hoggy Bear was still here, he would be asking you to have a look at Tony Greig's stats. His averages are surprisingly good ....

Chap called Botham wasn't bad

Yes but Botham loses credit for his subsequent time as a commentator. Sorry, Soul. A game of opinions.

guildfordbat wrote:

king_carlos wrote:

guildfordbat wrote:Trust you'll allow this here  - all part of The Summer of Cricket 2020:

Government shortly allowing some spectators at sporting events on a trial basis including the 2 day friendly between Surrey and Middlesex at the Oval on Sunday 26th and Monday 27th July.

I'm hoping you are locked into the members short list there Guildford?

I'm writing the short list, Carlos.

Glad to hear it!

guildfordbat wrote:

alfie wrote:

guildfordbat wrote:

Duty281 wrote:10th test ton for Stokes.

England's finest ever all-rounder.

Interesting one that, Duty. Not going to say you're wrong but if the late (of this board anyway) Hoggy Bear was still here, he would be asking you to have a look at Tony Greig's stats. His averages are surprisingly good ....

Chap called Botham wasn't bad

Yes but Botham loses credit for his subsequent time as a commentator. Sorry, Soul. A game of opinions.

Haha You are a harsh critic , Guildford. I'd agree Botham should be gagged on camera ; but he could play cricket...

Holder with a why not review

Good Golly I'm Olly wrote:Wouldn't be the worst thing if Sibley got out now...

He's taking plenty of risks now...and forcing West Indies to waste reviews ; so I guess there's no rush. The trouble with wishing for the hitters to come in is they sometimes come in and out quickly in these situations.

Liking current progress anyway. Stokes is moving through the gears...

WIs running out of bowlers and energy now. Cash in time

Ben Stokes now moves to his second highest test score, overtaking his heroic effort at Headingley.

Stokes has woken up...

Stokes is looking ominous here.

As I often say before commenting on Sibley, I really rate him and think he has played well. But it blows my mind that he was such a poor sweep. Massive stride and big reach, it should be perfect for him to get to the pitch and smother the spin. 3 swings and a miss in a row not long ago though!

Both very much trying to up the rate but theres a fair few issues with timing still, the pace of the pitch doesnt really suit it. Killing off the west indies quicks should make the second innings easy going for england, and doe mean they can take cash in on part time spinners now.

Feel for the west indies a bit with 3 lbws in the innings going umpires call for height. Not bad decisions as such but ones that could have been given.

Stokes is actually in full T20 mode now ...that last 50 came up pretty fast!

Don't think England should be planning to bat twice at this point.Sibly just needs to turn the strike over to Stokes

England should be targeting 500 in time for declaring around 5:50 so that they get an hour at the Windies tonight.

They are in a very good position but this pitch is playing like an absolute road right now. They will need the scoreboard pressure of a potential follow on if it stays this flat.

Liking this. Stokes attacks and Sibley drains energy. Kill these bowlers today and they're not only gonna be hurting all test, they're gonna be feeling it in the next

Gooseberry wrote:Both very much trying to up the rate but theres a fair few issues with timing still, the pace of the pitch doesnt really suit it. Killing off the west indies quicks should make the second innings easy going for england, and doe mean they can take cash in on part time spinners now.

Feel for the west indies a bit with 3 lbws in the innings going umpires call for height. Not bad decisions as such but ones that could have been given.

Yeah they've had a couple of close lbw calls. When your luck is out...

Bet Holder would like that toss decision again though.

250 stand...Stokes 150. I am afraid this is going to be a monster score ...which I never find very interesting even when it's my team. OK , maybe in an Ashes Series in Australia But just because it happens on the other foot too often !

May be more in the pitch for England's (fresher) bowlers. But if it isn't , we might be in for a pretty flat few days...