It was a phenomenal achievement to get a result out of that Test.One of the most extraordinary Test matches I've seen. A team makes 550 in its 1st innings just before lunch day 4 and still loses. A team averages nearly 7 runs an over over 2 innings of Test cricket.
There's going to be some fun with this side but be prepared for the wheels coming off once it twice.
The City lol.It was a phenomenal achievement to get a result out of that Test.
Captains and coaches often talk about not being afraid to lose, but this team genuinely seem to walk the walk.
It was four and half days of desperately trying to drag an interesting game out of that pitch. It could have gone badly wrong at almost any stage, and yet still they pushed on.
If they had lost that match on the final day. If a couple of the catches hadn't stuck etc. etc. they would still deserve an immense amount of credit for pushing the match into that position.
Stokes and McCullum deserve the Freedom of Rawalpindi.
It's an interesting transiston.Bazball was summed up pretty well on TGC a week or so ago, "everyone keeps saying wait until it fails but it doesn't fucking fail". We're well down the line now and while we're not at an Ashes win guaranteed stage every time you think they've reached the point it might fail they pull it out the bag
Of course question still remains what will happen when it does inevitably at some point go wrong but they seem so confident now I'm not sure a defeat or collapse is going to be something they dwell on and allow to turn into a run of defeats
The crazy thing is this is pretty much the same set of players Root had, has any team ever turned things around like this with so little change to the playing squad, struggling to think of one
A reason why I think it'd be so much better if football got rid of U21's for 'reserves' and limited squad sizes, especially at bigger clubs. Get talented youngsters playing competitive men's football at a younger age and make them hungrier to succeed instead of spending a decade at a top academy/youth team and get released at 24 a millionaire.This England team has such momentum. Now a 18 year old pops in and takes 5 on debut - more impressive as he's done against players brought up on spin. Barring a complete meltdown it's a 3-0 win in Pakistan
One of the "benefits" of the COVID season was a lot of teenagers getting county cricket - can only be a benefit rather having a load of Kolpak or average players being kept on past their best
Just think football is a bit more difficult than cricket due to the much higher risk/reward element - promotion, relegation etc values. but Pl clubs confuse me with the huge money they spend on non-elite overseas players whilst they have had years to perfect expensive academies.A reason why I think it'd be so much better if football got rid of U21's for 'reserves' and limited squad sizes, especially at bigger clubs. Get talented youngsters playing competitive men's football at a younger age and make them hungrier to succeed instead of spending a decade at a top academy/youth team and get released at 24 a millionaire.
Comfortable win to cap an impressive 3-0. Hope people remember the wins through aggressive declarations under this new regime because occasionally it will backfire.
Positives amongst players - Harry Brook - don't mess about with him. continue him at 5.
Ollie Robinson is an elite quick bowler - cupboard not so bare when Jimmy / Broad not available.
Duckett, Ahmed thrown their hats in the ring
Bazball was summed up pretty well on TGC a week or so ago, "everyone keeps saying wait until it fails but it doesn't fucking fail". We're well down the line now and while we're not at an Ashes win guaranteed stage every time you think they've reached the point it might fail they pull it out the bag
Of course question still remains what will happen when it does inevitably at some point go wrong but they seem so confident now I'm not sure a defeat or collapse is going to be something they dwell on and allow to turn into a run of defeats
The crazy thing is this is pretty much the same set of players Root had, has any team ever turned things around like this with so little change to the playing squad, struggling to think of one
There's also a story going around of Pope saying to Stokes after his ugly 4-ball duck in Pindi that he must be in a really good space to be able to play so aggressively and not be worried about his wicket falling. It's hard to really compute how different the dressing room must be compared to previous regimes.This is a fascinating insight from Broady and really highlights the change in mindset -
Nobody can win indefinitely-but it’s about having the confidence to play the way you think the game should be played knowing it’ll succeed more often than notThere's also a story going around of Pope saying to Stokes after his ugly 4-ball duck in Pindi that he must be in a really good space to be able to play so aggressively and not be worried about his wicket falling. It's hard to really compute how different the dressing room must be compared to previous regimes.
I am much more on the side of cricket purism than the average guy I'd say. I want 5 day test matches and I had no problem watching Cook and Sibley bat for ages, but even I am finding this transformation genuinely thrilling.
Yes, Pakistan were depleted and already below average, but to bat as they did AND take 60 wickets - on different pitches and in different ways - is a monumental achievement.
Finally, in a funny way, I'm looking forward to when this new approach backfires. Maybe they'll lose a home series, or get blown away in New Zealand. And on the evidence of the first Aus v SA test, the Aussies will be fighting fire with fire come the Ashes. I think it will be fascinating to see how they respond to that.
Exactly. That first test was an embodiment of that mentality. Everybody had to buy into the distinct possibility of losing that match comfortably and looking pretty silly to boot, just in order to have a chance at an exciting finish, let alone a victory.Nobody can win indefinitely-but it’s about having the confidence to play the way you think the game should be played knowing it’ll succeed more often than not
Obviously pays off 1.85m IPL contract !!I'll put my hands up about questioning Curran but more in the longer forms. Wasn't expecting him to have this sort of tournament.
Defintiely.That declaration on the first day set this up.We had two goes at them while the ball was pretty new and held the whip hand from there on .Listened overnight much to wife’s annoyance - Broads 10 overs must have been special - will have to catch up with those on the tv - will win
Great tacticDefintiely.That declaration on the first day set this up.We had two goes at them while the ball was pretty new and held the whip hand from there on .
We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:
Do you accept cookies and these technologies?
We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:
Do you accept cookies and these technologies?