Thought I'd start the thread with the England squad for next Thursday's Ist Test v India.

http://www.sportinglife.com/cricket/news/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=cricket/07/07/15/CRICKET_England.html

I've got tickets for Trent Bridge, Radcliffe Road end and I'm really looking forward to it. I'm hoping that this bloody weather clears up for a few days. Hopefully India are going to be a much stiffer test than the West Indies were and we see some competitive cricket

I've got tickets for Trent Bridge, Radcliffe Road end and I'm really looking forward to it. I'm hoping that this bloody weather clears up for a few days. Hopefully India are going to be a much stiffer test than the West Indies were and we see some competitive cricket

Thursday looks the unreliable sort but Friday's forecast was 20C and hopefully a full-day's play?

I think this could be a very revealing tour with England still reeling from the Ashes battering, but more as several big players in the Indian squad have had their contracts cancelled as of the end of this series. Maybe they'll have summat to prove?

Two sides in transition, one more than the other; this could be a fascinating series.

Harmison out, though probably not unexpected. BBC linky (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/england/6901528.stm)

I think this could be a very revealing tour with England still reeling from the Ashes battering, but more as several big players in the Indian squad have had their contracts cancelled as of the end of this series. Maybe they'll have summat to prove?

Two sides in transition, one more than the other; this could be a fascinating series.

I think we could see a 0-0 series. 2 sides that can bat, but with very limited seam attacks.

I think we could see a 0-0 series. 2 sides that can bat, but with very limited seam attacks.

It may be different if Broad can step up.

I hear Tremlett has been drafted in for Harmison. I think he is one of the worst International cricketers I've seen.
I saw Simon Jones bowl two overs against Derbyshire (Mon eve) and one of them was particularly good. Let's hope he can soon be considered again for a Test place if Tremlett is still in the selectors' thoughts!
The England medical staff is under fire this morning for not having sent Harmison for earlier surgery to rectify his hernia. First they continued playing Flintoff when his ankle either needed more rest or earlier intervention and now Harmison! If a hernia is diagnosed, it may as well be rectified sooner rather than later as it isn't going to improve. Thus, it got worse, causing the Durham bowler more pain.
To paraphrase Wilde, once is forgiveable, twice is downright careless!

It would be good if Jones came back, it seemed like such a minor injury when it happened

I think this will be a close series I'm not sure our bowling attack is good enough unless we get the right conditions for Hoggy and Sidebotton, we cant expect Monty to do it all on his own.

Be quite interesting though to see how Broad performs (surely he will get the nod ahead of Anderson wont he :huh:)

Harmison out for series after undergoing surgery (the correct course of action).
http://www.sportinglife.com/cricket/news/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=cricket/07/07/17/CRICKET_England_Snap.html

I'm sure that Broad will get the nod above Anderson. I'd still like to see Jon Lewis from Gloucestershire get a chance.

I'm sure that Broad will get the nod above Anderson. I'd still like to see Jon Lewis from Gloucestershire get a chance.

I think Hoggard, Sidebottom and Lewis are a bit "samey" and could struggle if the conditions were not right. I agree that he should possibly be given a chance but not in the same team.

I'm sure that Broad will get the nod above Anderson. I'd still like to see Jon Lewis from Gloucestershire get a chance.

I think Lewis has been injured - he's only played two matches this season and taken 1 wicket in each match. Plus he's too similar to Hoggy and Sidebottom who are both in pretty good nick at the moment.

I don't know much about Broad - is he a bit quicker than Anderson?

Hoggard added doubt.

http://www.sportinglife.com/cricket/news/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=cricket/07/07/18/CRICKET_England.html

I think Hoggard, Sidebottom and Lewis are a bit "samey" and could struggle if the conditions were not right. I agree that he should possibly be given a chance but not in the same team.

Possibly, but overall I think Lewis has that bit of variation of pace, which the other two don't, and just seems more consistent than Sidebottom, though Ryan has played very well in recent weeks.

I think Lewis has been injured - he's only played two matches this season and taken 1 wicket in each match. Plus he's too similar to Hoggy and Sidebottom who are both in pretty good nick at the moment.

I don't know much about Broad - is he a bit quicker than Anderson?

I'd say he was a touch slower if anything, but I'd describe them both (Broad and Anderson) as fast-medium.

Lewis had an operation on his ankle, but has come out of it well. Maybe the selectors think he needs more cricket before getting back in the squad. He did well in the 20/20 mickey mouse competition yesterday, conceding just 15 from his 4 overs. Considering he was whacked for 11 off the first, it wasn't bad.

I'd still like to have a medium pacer in this attack, but it just seems there isn't one about.

CARCRASH - Hope your tickets aren't for Friday? Just seen the weather and Friday looks like blanket rain.:( You lulled me into thinking the game was at Trent Bridge whereas it is at Lord's so my above weather may vary.

Tremlett plays in his first ever first-class match at Lord's. England batting first.

I can't believe Tremlett is playing instead of Broad.

Tremlett plays in his first ever first-class match at Lord's.

Really? He must have played there against Middlesex or what about the C&G final in 2005? Will be interesting to see how Tremlett does. The players Peter Moores has brought in have done pretty well so far (Sidebottom and Prior).

I can't believe Tremlett is playing instead of Broad.

Me neither :huh:

Really? He must have played there against Middlesex or what about the C&G final in 2005? Will be interesting to see how Tremlett does. The players Peter Moores has brought in have done pretty well so far (Sidebottom and Prior).

Yes, he did play in that 2005 game but that isn't "First-Class".

I have never heard of such a load of rubbish as this "bidding" if you win the toss and choose to bat first :loopy:

Yes, he did play in that 2005 game but that isn't "First-Class".

Fair point. All going England's way at the moment. 197/1 at tea. Nice to see Strauss making runs again.

Tremlett plays in his first ever first-class match at Lord's.

and gets out for 0. Hope he does better with the ball. England collapsing 287/8 having resumed on 268/4.

I can't believe Tremlett is playing instead of Broad.

Me neither. I think Tremlett's body-language is dreadful. Just seen him LBW for 0, playing down the wrong line. Score now 291-8 at 2.30pm ENGLAND ALL-OUT 298!

Gower, Saturday, was talking about the "new, less timid Tremlett" Just remembered he reminds me of Ivan Lendl.

The players Peter Moores has brought in have done pretty well so far (Sidebottom and Prior).

Did I really say that? Prior's just dropped a catch.

An interesting day's play really for me, where England lost the initiative with a familiar collapse, but two late wickets may just leave it finely poised.

I still think the weather will win, but if VVS can score heavily along with Ganguly, when the nightwatchman disappears (if he does), how could that leave the Test?

Some nice bowling from England though really, and even though I still say Broad should have been in, Tremlett bowled pretty well, and hearty congratulations on his first Test wicket too.

Oh blimey, Anderson's got a "five-for"! He swung the ball brilliantly.

And all the criticism I've aimed at him! Actually, all our pace bowlers bowled well this morning.

Oh blimey, Anderson's got a "five-for"! He swung the ball brilliantly.

And all the criticism I've aimed at him! Actually, all our pace bowlers bowled well this morning.

I've started calling them a "Michelle" now, just to confuse people. In the same way as my lottery style bet for 99p on the fixed odds involving two-all draws involves seven 'Desmonds' in trebles and upwards.

Well, with the weather I think it's interestingly poised. A good stand by Karthik, and half of the middle order to come, there could be some interesting bowling on a 5th day wicket.

I think Monty has shown what a clever bowler he can be in this Test. He's shown some real guile. That said, I think both sides are in transition, which makes this 'mini series' so intriguing for me.

Anderson has blown hot and cold in County and the top level, and I'm still not conviced by Tremlett; I think Broad was the better option, though Tremlett has bowled well.

Both tail ends look deeply disappointing with the bat too. This could be a good 5th day to watch.

And should be over, weather permitting, before I go to watch United Reserves in Dronfield :)

Something needs sorting regarding the time it takes to get the teams back on the field after bad light or rainfall.

Yesterday afternoon (23rd July) the conditions looked good enough for the players to return. Only, there was a 35 minute wait between the decision to resume play and the players coming back out to do so. It then soon started to rain again and as we know, the game was declared a draw with England needing one wicket.

Okay, so it was England who were unlucky this time and in the past the weather has saved us many a mauling.

But why can't the umpires simply get the players back out as soon as the rain has stopped? People pay good money to watch cricket!

Not the greatest day's play from an England perspective, really .......... it should still be a good wicket to bowl on when we get the chance though.

I've got tickets for Trent Bridge, Radcliffe Road end and I'm really looking forward to it. I'm hoping that this bloody weather clears up for a few days. Hopefully India are going to be a much stiffer test than the West Indies were and we see some competitive cricket

What days have you got tickets for? I've got a ticket for monday. If the weather holds, and with the way things are going, this match could be over by then .:cry:

It might be, but we had desperate luck with the ball, and Monty in particular had two good shouts turned down, one which was as plumb as plumb can be in my opinion.

A bit more luck in the morning session, and it would have been a much more open Test. To state the obvious, the rain or an England style collapse notwithstanding, this is clearly India's for the taking.

And now India have moved to 403 for 4 - a lead of 205 now.

And at tea, India are 419 for 6

Ganguly out for 79
Dhoni out for 5

Laxman 37 no
Kumble 1 no

Wonder what sort of day carcrash has been having at Trent Bridge.

India now 450 for 6

England have just taken their 7th wicket. The only problem is there are 464 runs on the board.

And now its 473 for 8.

India finally all out for 481 - so England starting their second innings the small matter of 283 runs behind.

Granted that two awful decisions went the way of England (Tendulkar and Ganguly) today, I'd contend that two equally terrible decisions went against Monty yesterday.

Karthik was as plumb as plumb could be, and two overs later, Dravid was out too, as far as I'm concerned.

With those two down, we could have had a different match.

Good to see that no wickets fell in the tricky late period, and to be fair, at a reasonable run rate too, so lets hope for a big morning tomorrow.

By the way carcrash, how is the Radcliffe Road End since being done up, and how much was the beer? Not even Kimberley's I presume?

England now 309 for 6, a lead of only 26.

Bugger 323 for 7. Only 40 in front.

333 for 9 - only 50 in front. Looks like thats it.

England 355 all out (Collingwood 63, Sidebottom 25 no) - India set a target of 73 to win and finished the day on 10 for 0.

Just got back, the Radcliffe stand in the best stand I've been on in cricket, great view and facilities, the beer is Worthingtons or Carling and its about £3 a pint, decent takeaways over the road and ok pubs around the area and parking isnt too bad. The stand is also the closest one to the centre of Notts so getting back to the train station isn't that bad.
I tend to go for the upper tier east but today Ive been on the west side which I enjoyed but it is that bit closer to the stand where the barmy army get together.

Just got back, the Radcliffe stand in the best stand I've been on in cricket, great view and facilities, the beer is Worthingtons or Carling and its about £3 a pint, decent takeaways over the road and ok pubs around the area and parking isnt too bad. The stand is also the closest one to the centre of Notts so getting back to the train station isn't that bad.
I tend to go for the upper tier east but today Ive been on the west side which I enjoyed but it is that bit closer to the stand where the barmy army get together.

had great day out yesterday. shame about the result. Vaughan getting out was the turning point. That was my first trip to Trent Bridge. It's now my favourite test ground - easy walk from the station so none of that cramming into packed trams like at old trafford, and the less said about headingley the better. Guinness is £3 a pint too.

had great day out yesterday. shame about the result. Vaughan getting out was the turning point. That was my first trip to Trent Bridge. It's now my favourite test ground - easy walk from the station so none of that cramming into packed trams like at old trafford, and the less said about headingley the better. Guinness is £3 a pint too.

It's a lot more civilised than Old Trafford and Headingley. I've been going there for a few years now.
Carcrash top tip. There's a pizza/kebab place next door to a Domino pizza place, if you nip out quickly during the morning or afternoon drinks break and order and pay for your order they will have it prepared and and ready to go for 1pm or 3.40 and you can take the food back into the ground. Miss all the queues and the £4.50 burgers

It's a lot more civilised than Old Trafford and Headingley. I've been going there for a few years now.
Carcrash top tip. There's a pizza/kebab place next door to a Domino pizza place, if you nip out quickly during the morning or afternoon drinks break and order and pay for your order they will have it prepared and and ready to go for 1pm or 3.40 and you can take the food back into the ground. Miss all the queues and the £4.50 burgers

Cheers for the tip. I usually bring a big picnic and graze throughout the day, but I'll bear that in mind in case I don't have time to prepare one next year. I have a a good tip for avoiding the drinks queue if you're interested.

The top tier of Radcliffe Road has its own bar and the longest I've waited is about 5 minutes but tell me the tip is case I have to sit elsewhere next year

I see India have finished the first day at the Oval on 316 for 4. And to think they looked as if they might get 600 in their fiirst innings at one time when they were 189 for 1. Ganguly was unfortunate to be given out lbw when he got a thick inside edge onto the pad, which made the score 278 for 4.

Tomorrow will certainly be a fascinating make or break day for both sides.

Unlucky wasn't in it firecracker. Karthik's decision was poor, but Ganguly's was a disgrace.

And it got a hell of a lot worse for England. Last time I saw, India ran up a score of 644 for 9, with Kumble 101 not out!!!

And I couldn't help but see a spectator playing the last post on a bugle, and getting applause for it.

That wasn't a bugle

He was playing "Rule Britannia" wasn't he? I can't believe how Strauss threw his wicket away. Unless we can get a mammoth score (which won't happen), and Monty could get a "Double Michelle" on a dusty Oval, all we can do is save a draw.

India have batted their way to winning the series already.

That wasn't a bugle
I suppose a small trumpet or cornet is more accurate. And the last post would be more appropriate.

He was playing "Rule Britannia" wasn't he? I can't believe how Strauss threw his wicket away. Unless we can get a mammoth score (which won't happen), and Monty could get a "Double Michelle" on a dusty Oval, all we can do is save a draw.

India have batted their way to winning the series already.

I assumed he was playing the last post. The sound was turned down

And England finished the day on 326 for 9, still 338 behind.

326\9 :O My god.....they've given us a lesson in batting hey!

Only a few weeks ago, it was which bowlers are 'we' going to have to leave out - referring to a so-called wealth of talent with Broad and the reppearances of Flintoff and the now injured-again Jones?
Don't see much improvement from Fletcher to be honest. Moores has been let down 'big time' in this Test by 'Mr. Mouthpiece' Prior.
Goodness only knows what Chris Read must be thinking?

The latest score on the BBC for the 1 day match:

NATWEST SERIES, Lord's:
England v India 560-4 (15.4 overs)
England's Andrew Flintoff had Rahul Dravid caught behind to leave India 53-3 in over 14 of the final one-dayer.


Surely some sort of record????

The latest score on the BBC for the 1 day match:


Surely some sort of record????

Flintoff injured and having to bowl under arm?

Flintoff is struggling and I just cannot understand medics playing people with pain-killing injections. They apparently don't see any point in further surgery and plan to manage the injury with injections and physio. Flintoff must come to his senses and say "No" because he's going to end up crippled.
This was the very reason why Wednesday physio, Alan Smith, left Wednesday because Francis wanted to play Sinton with injections and Smith wouldn't wear it. A very wise decision indeed because you are only masking further damage.

Flintoff is struggling and I just cannot understand medics playing people with pain-killing injections. They apparently don't see any point in further surgery and plan to manage the injury with injections and physio. Flintoff must come to his senses and say "No" because he's going to end up crippled.
This was the very reason why Wednesday physio, Alan Smith, left Wednesday because Francis wanted to play Sinton with injections and Smith wouldn't wear it. A very wise decision indeed because you are only masking further damage.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/cricket/article2500389.ece

We seem to be arriving at sound sense, at last. Moores says he doesn't believe the injury has worsened by being at the Twenty20.
I beg to differ or else, why select him? Flintoff has been in visible pain. Pain is a mechanism to alert one to the fact that something is not right. So, if he hasn't deteriorated during this tournament - when every picture tells a story - why pick him in the first place?
The Times statement that his Test prognosis looks 'bleak' seems nearer the mark to me. This problem will only get worse and Flintoff will be doing irrepairable damage if he continues.