[Cricket] *** Official thread: England v Ireland, First (and only) Test Match, Lord's ***

[Audax]

Bit of history this morning. Toss is imminent for the first Eng vs Ire Test match, which will be a 4 day affair maximum with 98 overs per day scheduled (rather than the usual 90). Suspect with the heat getting 98 overs in will be asking a lot.

Jason Roy to make his red ball debut for England, along with Olly Stone (back from the injury that prevented him playing in the Windies back yard).

Also of interest will be how Rankin does for Ire, having previously played for Eng.

Anyone here give Ire any chance of putting up a fight? Expecting it to be over inside 3 days myself. Along with a big first up score from Roy, who's being given a nice easy outing ahead of the Ashes.

 

[PILTDOWN MAN]

Going tomorrow

 

[exKT17]

A few tickets still available

 

[Gwylan]

Should last two days but won't even reach tea time on the third day

 

[hans kraay fan club]

Should last two days but won't even reach tea time on the third day

It is going to last longer than the Australian warm up game!

 

[Horton's halftime iceberg]

Very Poor headed thread.

Were Loose

 

[A1X]

Can't wait to see how England manage to collapse embarrassingly before being bailed out by Curran and Woakes this afternoon

 

[hans kraay fan club]

Very Poor headed thread.

Were Loose

sorted

 

[Audax]

It is going to last longer than the Australian warm up game!

Yah, that was a bit of an own goal. Suspect they asked for a bowler friendly pitch and got a bit more than they bargained for in the end.

 

[Horton's halftime iceberg]

sorted

Hurrah

Guaranteed tie

 

[hans kraay fan club]

Yah, that was a bit of an own goal. Suspect they asked for a bowler friendly pitch and got a bit more than they bargained for in the end.

Thing is, nobody here is sure whether to be rejoicing in the batting ineptitude, or cowering in fear of the quicks.

Lack of time in the middle for the batsmen has to be a good thing though, on balance (from an England viewpoint, obvs)

 

[Horton's halftime iceberg]

England won the toss and elected to bat

Ed Joyce to ring the bell for the start of play

 

[Horton's halftime iceberg]

Jason Roy
Rory Burns
Joe Denly
Joe Root(c)
Jonny Bairstow(wk)
Moeen Ali
Chris Woakes
Sam Curran
Stuart Broad
Jack Leach
Olly Stone

v

William Porterfield(c)
Paul Stirling
Andrew Balbirnie
James McCollum
Kevin O'Brien
Gary Wilson(wk)
Mark Adair
Andy McBrine
Stuart Thompson
Boyd Rankin
Tim Murtagh

 

[Audax]

Another stat for this test: It's the longest gap between tests in the last 20 years. Which just goes to show how much test cricket has been played in recent decades, and the impact that having the (long) World Cup off the back of the IPL has had on test match scheduling.

 

[Horton's halftime iceberg]

Another stat for this test: It's the longest gap between tests in the last 20 years. Which just goes to show how much test cricket has been played in recent decades, and the impact that having the (long) World Cup off the back of the IPL has had on test match scheduling.

Sad demise of proper cricket. Even sadder for the first time I am going to the Sussex 20 20 tonight thinking this is our season in one competition. I dread the 100 ball launch next season and how it will add more nails into the coffin of my beloved 4 day game.

 

[Audax]

And Rot is off the mark in Test cricket with a 3.

 

[Titanic]

And Rot is off the mark in Test cricket with a 3.

That's a bit harsh.

 

[Rodney Thomas]

Another stat for this test: It's the longest gap between tests in the last 20 years. Which just goes to show how much test cricket has been played in recent decades, and the impact that having the (long) World Cup off the back of the IPL has had on test match scheduling.

I read the other day that the reason the World Cup was so long is the same reason the IPL goes on for 8 weeks... the Indians wanted it that way to increase the number of games they play and can sell to Indian TV stations.

It might be making money but it's not helping the game

 

[Horton's halftime iceberg]

That's a bit harsh.

Well he does play for those Rotters up the road. At least he wont be playing at Hove on Friday.

 

[Titanic]

Roy plumb off of a no-ball. Did he hear the call... or a massive slice of luck?