True. The pace of the ball and the dryness of the pitch will yield the occasional boundary. It's also a case of whether these two and Bairstow can show sufficient patience and nerve not to push things along unnecessarily. That might be easier said than done.We don't need to see the ball crashing into the advertising boards every second or third ball. Or some bloke in the crowd with the hand/eye coordination of Stevie Wonder trying to catch the ball. Ones and twos would be perfectly sufficient.
They need to be extra careful around the drinks intervals and either side of lunch. They know that they cannot afford any mistakes, and those times are all too often when lapses in concentration occur.Obviously want these two to go as big as possible but think the key is when this wicket falls (which it will- as I'm sure they aren't going to stick another 200 runs on the scoreboard) the next wicket doesn't go quickly. Can see them folding like a deck of cards like usual if that's the case.
Lol here you go againStokes can defend really well. I would promote him up the order to open with Duckett, drop Crawley and bring in Foakes, leaving Bairstow as a specialist batsman. Other changes dependant on injuries
It's the hope that kills you.The odds were 27/1 when the 4th wicket went down yesterday. Currently 2/1 to win it.
He's done it before. England had Stokes open against the West indies in 2020, though then it was a case of them wanting fast runs. Could he be as disciplined and drop anchor when he has nine behind him in the order? The closer this Test finishes, the less likely there will be wholesale changes.Stokes can defend really well. I would promote him up the order to open with Duckett, drop Crawley and bring in Foakes, leaving Bairstow as a specialist batsman. Other changes dependant on injuries
Yet we’re still scoring at well over 4 runs per over so far this morning without taking too many risks. I’ve noticed we’re playing the short ball better - rather than trying to hook it for 6, these two are often hitting it flat or into the ground. Unfortunately, we were so far adrift when that 4th wicket went down that they need to probably put on another 100 for us to stand a realistic chance.So much harder for us to score runs than them, given how much boundary protection. I know we won’t but we should do the same, make it as difficult as possible for the convicts to score runs
We need to get Crawley out and a proper wicket keeper in; we have just seen the benefit of the latterHe's done it before. England had Stokes open against the West indies in 2020, though then it was a case of them wanting fast runs. Could he be as disciplined and drop anchor when he has nine behind him in the order? The closer this Test finishes, the less likely there will be wholesale changes.
Yet we’re still scoring at well over 4 runs per over so far this morning without taking too many risks. I’ve noticed we’re playing the short ball better - rather than trying to hook it for 6, these two are often hitting it flat or into the ground. Unfortunately, we were so far adrift when that 4th wicket went down that they need to probably put on another 100 for us to stand a realistic chance.
Edit: Jinxed it ffs!
Crawley got 48 in the first innings so I'm not sure they'll drop him yet. Foakes didn't even make the squad for the first two Tests, so they might look to use the players nominated rather than look outside. All will depend on this afternoon, I guess.We need to get Crawley out snd a proper wicket keeper in; we have just seen the benefit of the latter