Cricket

[BigMick]

I think Lancs can write off the Bob Willis trophy, they've been up against it since having to select such a weakened team last time out. Surely now their only interest is in giving younger players valuable experience as any remote chance of qualifying went West in their very first fixture. The younger players may benefit in the long run but seem very busy showing they're nowhere near good enough at the moment.

Don't agree about writing off winning the trophy after losing one game; win the next four, three even depending on the weather, and they could easily qualify. Of course if two teams from the other groups win all five then they wouldn't get through, but I don't think you can base team selection and attitude to the competition on that scenario. Anyway, even before the competition began I think Essex and Somerset were strong favourites due to player availability, and they remain so at the moment. All Lancs can do is try to win their group - the youngsters will get their chances anyway because of the absences of Onions, Mahmood, Gleeson, Parkinson, plus the expected one of Anderson and the Lesser Spotted Buttler.

Of the younger players I think Balderson has done well, although I suspect he will develop into a batsman who bowls rather than genuine all-rounder, unless he bulks up a bit. Bohannon continues to look very promising. Tom Hartley and Ed Moulton are very inexperienced, Hurt did well against Durham, while Lamb has had some good moments previously, but both need good seasons next year when things return to some sort of normality, I hope.

 

[BigMick]

No play before lunch for Lancs, a blessing in disguise.

Just heard Vilas say he knew it was a good pitch when he put them in, but decided to do it because it was cloudy.

 

[BigMick]

The late and great broadcaster Richie Benaud knew his trade inside out when to say something and when to stay silent. His long silences were legendary because he didn't speak unless it was absolutely necessary, or to both add to and inform the viewer about what they could see right in front of them. He once related a tale about when he was just starting out in commentary and he was told the great difference between TV and radio -> With television the viewer can see what's happening and it's not as necessary to describe it, knowing when to speak and when to stay silent has to be learnt as there's an art to it - don't talk just for the sake of it - it's not radio - there is no dead air time.

To compare TV and radio to me isn't really comparing like for like at all or even comparing commentary teams doing the same job. TMS almost made its reputation despite the cricket, in days gone by the rain breaks were often more entertaining than the action. Their first great anchor Brian Johnson was from a light entertainment background, he was a very funny man with a host of amusing stories and a line in gentle ribaldry that was his forté. He would gently probe his more serious cricketing colleagues always looking for fun and laughs. I think it was his generation of broadcasters who popularised TMS even amongst so many who didn't even care for cricket.

Television is a completely different animal altogether and rainbreaks offer a whole host of cricket viewing from both past tests, ODI's and t20's to fascinating documentaries and even on occasions, test match coverage from elsewhere. There they may have a short discussion or an extended coaching section on aspects of batting or bowling, with pictures and a TV screen so much more is possible, plus a whole archive of matches and documentaries to choose from - the rain break is filled quite differently.

So commentary on the action very much depends on the media you are doing it for and rain breaks similarly, I wouldn't compare the two as to me it's apples and pears.

Agree on Nick Knight - bland is as good as he gets but he doesn't do test matches, Ward is an anchor no more really and nothing special.

Agree with all of that. The great lost TMS summarizer is David Lloyd, who did it briefly before Sky poached him. He was a natural for that that role. At Sky he too often plays the role of buffoon, but he has a fine cricket brain and has done virtually everything in the game: county player, captain, test player, umpire and county and national coach.

 

[tommye]

The late and great broadcaster Richie Benaud knew his trade inside out when to say something and when to stay silent. His long silences were legendary because he didn't speak unless it was absolutely necessary, or to both add to and inform the viewer about what they could see right in front of them. He once related a tale about when he was just starting out in commentary and he was told the great difference between TV and radio -> With television the viewer can see what's happening and it's not as necessary to describe it, knowing when to speak and when to stay silent has to be learnt as there's an art to it - don't talk just for the sake of it - it's not radio - there is no dead air time.

To compare TV and radio to me isn't really comparing like for like at all or even comparing commentary teams doing the same job. TMS almost made its reputation despite the cricket, in days gone by the rain breaks were often more entertaining than the action. Their first great anchor Brian Johnson was from a light entertainment background, he was a very funny man with a host of amusing stories and a line in gentle ribaldry that was his forté. He would gently probe his more serious cricketing colleagues always looking for fun and laughs. I think it was his generation of broadcasters who popularised TMS even amongst so many who didn't even care for cricket.

Television is a completely different animal altogether and rainbreaks offer a whole host of cricket viewing from both past tests, ODI's and t20's to fascinating documentaries and even on occasions, test match coverage from elsewhere. There they may have a short discussion or an extended coaching section on aspects of batting or bowling, with pictures and a TV screen so much more is possible, plus a whole archive of matches and documentaries to choose from - the rain break is filled quite differently.

So commentary on the action very much depends on the media you are doing it for and rain breaks similarly, I wouldn't compare the two as to me it's apples and pears.

Agree on Nick Knight - bland is as good as he gets but he doesn't do test matches, Ward is an anchor no more really and nothing special.

Agree with all of that. The great lost TMS summarizer is David Lloyd, who did it briefly before Sky poached him. He was a natural for that that role. At Sky he too often plays the role of buffoon, but he has a fine cricket brain and has done virtually everything in the game: county player, captain, test player, umpire and county and national coach.

Bumble is the perfect replacement for Johnson. Naturally funny with an encyclopedic knowledge of the game. A shame he's tucked away on sky.

 

[summerisle]

Don't agree about writing off winning the trophy after losing one game; win the next four, three even depending on the weather, and they could easily qualify. Of course if two teams from the other groups win all five then they wouldn't get through, but I don't think you can base team selection and attitude to the competition on that scenario. Anyway, even before the competition began I think Essex and Somerset were strong favourites due to player availability, and they remain so at the moment. All Lancs can do is try to win their group - the youngsters will get their chances anyway because of the absences of Onions, Mahmood, Gleeson, Parkinson, plus the expected one of Anderson and the Lesser Spotted Buttler.

Of the younger players I think Balderson has done well, although I suspect he will develop into a batsman who bowls rather than genuine all-rounder, unless he bulks up a bit. Bohannon continues to look very promising. Tom Hartley and Ed Moulton are very inexperienced, Hurt did well against Durham, while Lamb has had some good moments previously, but both need good seasons next year when things return to some sort of normality, I hope.

Good news.

 

[summerisle]

 

[summerisle]

 

[ToffeeTim]

Shake hands and go home. Waste of time playing tomorrow

 

[summerisle]

It's almost like England don't want to play, but of course that's nonsense.

 

[BigMick]

It's almost like England don't want to play, but of course that's nonsense.

Back in 1971 when England toured Australia, one of the Tests was abandoned without a ball bowled so they tagged an extra game on at the end of the series, making it 7 tests rather than 6. Don't suppose it's possible today but it's a shame that Pakistan, having spent so long in a 'bubble', now have no chance of winning the series because of the weather. The only way to do it would be to cancel the three knockabout games due to be played at OT and play some proper cricket instead!

 

[summerisle]

Back in 1971 when England toured Australia, one of the Tests was abandoned without a ball bowled so they tagged an extra game on at the end of the series, making it 7 tests rather than 6. Don't suppose it's possible today but it's a shame that Pakistan, having spent so long in a 'bubble', now have no chance of winning the series because of the weather. The only way to do it would be to cancel the three knockabout games due to be played at OT and play some proper cricket instead!

Just had a quick look for the weather for the third test, not particularly promising : showers Friday, dry Saturday and Sunday, rain on both Monday and Tuesday.

 

[Chris O'Connor]

Just had a quick look for the weather for the third test, not particularly promising : showers Friday, dry Saturday and Sunday, rain on both Monday and Tuesday.

While not hot and sunny throughout, the BBC weather app isn't anything like that gloomy and tells a different story ... It looks a decent chance of getting most of the five days in, although after this week I wouldn't be putting any money on it. Bad light is something they always have up their sleeve.

Friday, at worst up to a 23% chance of rain, 80% chance of no rain - at any particular hour of the day

Saturday and Sunday - sunny intervsls and dry

Monday and Tuesday - up to a 20% chance
of rain, 77% chance of no rain - at any particular hour of the day

 

[Chris O'Connor]

It's almost like England don't want to play, but of course that's nonsense.

The teams have no say in the matter really. The umpire's decide light and the groundstaff know the ground and how it dries and would advise accordingly. Let's face it any urgency has long gone as it's fantasyland to even pretend there's any point to playing now, even psychological points are dubious, as to a large extent dependent on conditions in the final test replicating these.

 

[BigMick]

Watching Sussex v Essex and a couple of promising young bowlers: George Garton, a 23 year old left arm quickie who's picked up 2 wickets, including Cook LBW, and Henry Crocombe, 18 and just left school, fast-medium, who could easily have had Cook a couple of times. Great to see, plus good commentary from ex-Essex bowler Don Topley, and a good discussion on the post-covid future of county cricket.

 

[tommye]

Play due to start at 15:20.

Why?

'kin clowns