To be fair, the pitches over there mean you have to move the games on to get a chance of winning.A very strange match. Pak declared their first innings at 440 odd for 6 with not out batters going well. They then conceded a 100+ first innings lead and capitulated for next to nothing in the second innings. Bangla knocked off the handful of runs required for a 10 wkt win.
All above board I’m sure.
The history means that the authorities will have a look at the betting data.To be fair, the pitches over there mean you have to move the games on to get a chance of winning.
Pakistan batted terribly in their second innings, Rizwan aside.
I doubt they’d all take backhanders to lose a test match at home.
Kookaburra ball. Hants will bat until they’re bored.Lancs trundlers not taking wickets again.
Batting wise, Root really is the cavalry, isn't he? When the fort's besieged, you wait for that bugle in the distance. Only problem is, sometimes the cavalry doesn't come.
Root will be 34 in Dec. He still looks in top nick, but I would be surprised if he bats past 35yrs old?England's batting lineup is not that far away from being really good. The middle order is excellent - Brook is going to be world class, Root has a few more years, Smith is already great for a 6.
If Crawley can keep averaging 40+ like he has done for the last 20 odd tests, England really just need Pope to wake up and deliver on his potential and the batting lineup is their strength. Duckett is never going to stand out but he works well with Crawley and is a steady run getter.
Biggest problem is Pope (averaging 2 a captain) and Stokes - he gets more single digit innings than 50s/100s - and will push Smith back down when he comes back.
Well, two more of them just got fed up. A grey and almost empty O.T. Lancs v Hants stirs dim memories of a packed ground on a hot day when Barry Richards and Gordon Greenidge came for a Gillette Cup match and Hampshire were all out for about 70 by early afternoon.Hants will bat until they’re bored.