Not just Sky. It is the number of test matches played - we used to play one five match test series at home in the summer (or occasionally six, with two three games series against lesser sides) - and one overseas tour in the winter.I was thinking of Haseeb Hameed and Keaton Jennings of Lancashire surely they would do no worse than Stoneman andf Malan.
It is ridiculous to finish 1 test on Monday, if it went to the last day, then start another one the following Thursday or Friday as there is no time for the players to play an innings for their county. All done to satisfy the demands of Sky yet again.
In reality you know that they will both be out in the first couple of overs...
You need to give credit where it is due, Pakistan outplayed England in every department, they bowled straight lines, got heads down and occupied time at the crease and held catches.
England were woeful, didn't bowl straight, didn't get heads down and occupy time at the crease and didn't hold catches.
Tempting to wander down memory lane:
- one division County Championship feeding the test team
- every country playing every other one
- one 40 over tournament confined to Sunday
- one KO 60 over completion
- one touring side 5 tests (OK sometimes 2 x 3) and playing the country sides
Seemed very simple at the time. Plus 2nd XI comps, flourishing local cricket leagues and county pros who might take a 100 wickets a season and not be within whistling distance of a test call-up.
Oh well: things change.
I don't think every county playing every other one has happened for a long, long time - certainly not in my 53 years of watching cricket. But we did used to play more than 20 CC games. You missed out test cricket on terrestrial TV - my summer holidays from school was generally at the county ground or watching test matches on the box.
Generally speaking life's got better in most things, but cricket has most definitely got worse.
Jennings in for Stoneman at least that is a positive start in team changes more to follow hopefully as the season goes on.
Keats in for Stoney is a step in the right direction.
I was thinking of Haseeb Hameed and Keaton Jennings of Lancashire surely they would do no worse than Stoneman andf Malan.
It is ridiculous to finish 1 test on Monday, if it went to the last day, then start another one the following Thursday or Friday as there is no time for the players to play an innings for their county. All done to satisfy the demands of Sky yet again.
we need to improve the batting at 1, 2 and 3 in order to leave Root at 4 so 1 has to go and he is the least effective. We could then have Stokes Bairstow and Buttler as 5,6,and 7