God help me - the Test Cricket thread

[Professer E]

Harris is only keeping the seat warm for somebody else.  Can't do the basics of a text opener - just hang around and knock the shine off.  And it wasn't even moving around or particularly malicious bowling.  Disappointing effort. 

[ElwoodBlues1]

Butler is symbolic of England's terrible fielding, one great catch then two drops, the last was a pudding that he should have swallowed. Why Foakes who is a brilliant keeper isn't playing I don't know...
Just rubbish cricket from England in the field and it's ruined the contest.

[capcom]

Marnus is certainly living a charmed life ... they'd better get a move on if we wish to see a result.  Odds are a draw.  Quite a tame pitch and no menace in the bowling.

[ElwoodBlues1]

Marnus is certainly living a charmed life ... they'd better get a move on if we wish to see a result.  Odds are a draw.  Quite a tame pitch and no menace in the bowling.

Probably only have to bat once knowing England's poor batting lineup.
Stokes looks fitter which is probably our main concern...

[capcom]

Gonna be oppressive heat as well.

[capcom]

The way this is going looks like a follow on is a possibility

[ElwoodBlues1]

The way this is going looks like a follow on is a possibility

Game is over unless Root and Malan score big in this innings.
Burns and Hameed are club cricketers at best..

[capcom]

Game is over unless Root and Malan score big in this innings.
Burns and Hameed are club cricketers at best..

We are so averse to declaring follow ons.  But again, places the pressure back on us call innings #2 done and hope they crumble.  We'll need at least a day and a half to be confident about achieving that.

[LP]

Cricket has changed a lot over the last decade, the virtual disappearance of the follow on is a symptom of that, the bowlers get little or no off time anymore.

Finish a test and they are into T20 or ODI, the BCCI realised this and set up a system to ensure it's Test players can move in and out of the T20 or ODI without any major financial penalty. Until other regions catch up on this we will continue to suffer lack lustre Tests, with players who look stale no dissimilar to England at the moment, of course playing conditions under COVID haven't helped.

In some respects, the problem is analogous with too many AFL 5 day breaks in the turnaround for interstate games, it's draining even if they are only playing T20.

[Professer E]

Calling Burns a club cricketer is an insult to a club cricketer EB.  And Jimmy might have a zillion test wickets but his bowling has fair dinky stunk this test and his scowling and grumpy old man schtick is wearing thin.  I can see why the Aussie bowlers peppered the tail ender's... Not much love there.