[Cricket] Pakistan-England Test Series

[Brovion]

Was I the only one who, at the time, thought Stokes was the wrong choice.

I wanted him to concentrate on his batting/bowling.

How wrong was I!

Nope, I thought the same. Thought McCullum was a great choice as coach, not least because he couldn't make us any worse, but make the superstar all-rounder captain when he needs to concentrate on his batting/bowling/fielding? Madness. A bridge too far. Didn't work with Botham, didn't work with Flintoff, won't work with Stokes. Err .... wrong.

 

[maltaseagull]

Nope, I thought the same. Thought McCullum was a great choice as coach, not least because he couldn't make us any worse, but make the superstar all-rounder captain when he needs to concentrate on his batting/bowling/fielding? Madness. A bridge too far. Didn't work with Botham, didn't work with Flintoff, won't work with Stokes. Err .... wrong.

First of all, congratulations to the whole team players and coaches etc for a great series and some wonderful performances.

But let's not get carried away please.
Pakistan had some players out injured and it would be better to be so euphoric after we have won the Ashes.!

But this is England don't forget.

 

[Brovion]

First of all, congratulations to the whole team players and coaches etc for a great series and some wonderful performances.

But let's not get carried away please.
Pakistan had some players out injured and it would be better to be so euphoric after we have won the Ashes.!

But this is England don't forget.

I was more commentating on the success of Stokes as captain. I think it's now nine wins in his first ten tests (could be 8, can't be arsed to look it up). I was not expecting that regardless of the opposition.

 

[Guinness Boy]

First of all, congratulations to the whole team players and coaches etc for a great series and some wonderful performances.

But let's not get carried away please.
Pakistan had some players out injured and it would be better to be so euphoric after we have won the Ashes.!

But this is England don't forget.

Whoever was wearing the whites, England just don’t do sub continent whitewashes - no one does. And they shouldn’t have on those pitches. The first test grinds to a bore draw on that pitch nine times out of ten, with the away team being grateful of a result. The England of the past also get spun out cheaply in Karachi.

This is a remarkable result. Can’t wait for The Ashes now and the way we play will all but guarantee people prefer that series to the wham, bam, thank you maam of The Hundred. Bazball has made Test cricket exciting again. That’s brilliant, whoever’s playing.

 

[Bold Seagull]

First of all, congratulations to the whole team players and coaches etc for a great series and some wonderful performances.

But let's not get carried away please.
Pakistan had some players out injured and it would be better to be so euphoric after we have won the Ashes.!

But this is England don't forget.

Take each series as it comes. Taking 60 wickets in a subcontinent series whitewash including a pitch rated so bad it needed a fine, starting the series with a serious bug going through the group, Bairstow and Broad out, Foakes to ill to even play the first test, trying out an untested 19 year old who gets a 5 for on debut - sorry, but I’m getting carried away!!!

 

[Bold Seagull]

I was more commentating on the success of Stokes as captain. I think it's now nine wins in his first ten tests (could be 8, can't be arsed to look it up). I was not expecting that regardless of the opposition.

When you think we lost the series to the West Indies at the end of March, then go on to white wash an excellent Kiwi team, beat the South Africans, then white wash Pakistan - playing some of the most excillerating test cricket anyone has ever.

I’m not getting carried away that we’re unbeatable or we’re going to go on and win this, win the Ashes, but I am carried away that we have potentially the most exciting England test side since Vaughan’s team 2004-2006.

 

[CHAPPERS]

When you think we lost the series to the West Indies at the end of March, then go on to white wash an excellent Kiwi team, beat the South Africans, then white wash Pakistan - playing some of the most excillerating test cricket anyone has ever.

I’m not getting carried away that we’re unbeatable or we’re going to go on and win this, win the Ashes, but I am carried away that we have potentially the most exciting England test side since Vaughan’s team 2004-2006.

Chased 378 against India in the middle of all that too

 

[dazzer6666]

Whoever was wearing the whites, England just don’t do sub continent whitewashes - no one does. And they shouldn’t have on those pitches. The first test grinds to a bore draw on that pitch nine times out of ten, with the away team being grateful of a result. The England of the past also get spun out cheaply in Karachi.

This is a remarkable result. Can’t wait for The Ashes now and the way we play will all but guarantee people prefer that series to the wham, bam, thank you maam of The Hundred. Bazball has made Test cricket exciting again. That’s brilliant, whoever’s playing.

Completely agree. What England have done is unprecedented - so many statistical records broken. Pakistan simply don’t lose 3-0 at home - they never have - for example they have lost 3 times in Karachi since 1955. Taking 60 wickets in 3 tests is astonishing, particularly when the seam bowler’s contribution is taken into account.

 

[jakarta]

If you cannot get 'carried away' by a 3 nil whitewashing of Pakistan away then what exactly will it take?

Oh and BBC SPOTY is tomorrow, if Ben Stokes doesn't get it then there will have been some serious vote rigging...

 

[Albion in the north]

Great series, great win. It wont always work but when it does its special.

 

[maltaseagull]

If you cannot get 'carried away' by a 3 nil whitewashing of Pakistan away then what exactly will it take?

Oh and BBC SPOTY is tomorrow, if Ben Stokes doesn't get it then there will have been some serious vote rigging...

what exactly will it take? A 5-0 whitwash in the Ashes would do it for me!

 

[Sid and the Sharknados]

what exactly will it take? A 5-0 whitwash in the Ashes would do it for me!

I am so fed up with people putting the Ashes above all else.
Australia haven't won an Ashes series in England since 2001.
Prior to this series, England had won two matches in Pakistan, ever.
Rolling over the Australian batting in England (in English conditions basically Steve Smith and some other guys who happen to be around with their own bats) wouldn't be anywhere near the achievement of winning this series, or drawing the series with India last year for that matter.

 

[Bold Seagull]

I am so fed up with people putting the Ashes above all else.
Australia haven't won an Ashes series in England since 2001.
Prior to this series, England had won two matches in Pakistan, ever.
Rolling over the Australian batting in England (in English conditions basically Steve Smith and some other guys who happen to be around with their own bats) wouldn't be anywhere near the achievement of winning this series, or drawing the series with India last year for that matter.

Agree, and they're playing test cricket that is making every game interesting, exciting and worth tuning into. It's not even the winning that is the thing to get carried away with, it's the manner of the approach, the spirit in the side, the players responding to the environment they are in.

2 big test matches coming up in New Zealand that again should be treated with the respect and reverence that a series against the Kiwis deserves, regardless of what goes on in the summer.

We can start worrying about the Aussies in June.

 

[timbha]

Makes you wonder if the ECB review and proposed changes are necessary

 

[Greg Bobkin]

I am so fed up with people putting the Ashes above all else.
Australia haven't won an Ashes series in England since 2001.
Prior to this series, England had won two matches in Pakistan, ever.
Rolling over the Australian batting in England (in English conditions basically Steve Smith and some other guys who happen to be around with their own bats) wouldn't be anywhere near the achievement of winning this series, or drawing the series with India last year for that matter.

I get it, because to some people it's the equivalent of beating Palace or getting a win over Scotland in... anything.

 

[Sid and the Sharknados]

I get it, because to some people it's the equivalent of beating Palace or getting a win over Scotland in... anything.

I get that, but the way some people seem to approach cricket is the equivalent of disregarding hammering Man City 0-3 just because it wasn't against Palace.

 

[maltaseagull]

I get that, but the way some people seem to approach cricket is the equivalent of disregarding hammering Man City 0-3 just because it wasn't against Palace.

I think I have got your point now.
Your analogy is a bit weird though.

Best wishes from some people

 

[Braggfan]

Was I the only one who, at the time, thought Stokes was the wrong choice.

I wanted him to concentrate on his batting/bowling.

How wrong was I!

You weren't the only one. I was concerned and thought it was a unfair on him,because 9 months earlier he'd taken an "indefinite" break from cricket to prioritise his mental health. I did wonder if being made captain had come too soon after the break. But he seems to not only have found a good place mentally, but is doing a fantastic job.

 

[Sid and the Sharknados]

I think I have got your point now.
Your analogy is a bit weird though.

Best wishes from some people

It was a general point about how some people only ever seem to consider Australia as a significant test, not a direct comparison between Man City and Pakistan (although I think I'm right in saying our away record against Pakistan before this series was worse than our away record against any other country, so it wouldn't be so ridiculous a comparison).
Edit: I was right in saying that:

Team records | Test matches | Cricinfo Statsguru | ESPNcricinfo.com

stats.espncricinfo.com

Also worth remembering how crap we always are in the West Indies next time we go over there and everybody expects us to win comfortably.

 

[Jeremiah]

Oh and BBC SPOTY is tomorrow, if Ben Stokes doesn't get it then there will have been some serious vote rigging...

I think Raducanu will win it again.