1st Test England v Pakistan, Lord's 14-18 July

[sussexpob]

Yes, looked not out, unless there's an angle on the camera.

To quote Ian Chappell, "I think Hawkeye was on the piss last night"..... Looked very very not out

[sussexpob]

Reading the papers it seems Jake Ball is the star of England's show despite Woakes taking the wickets. What has this young man to do to win over the pundits. Bumble in the Daily Mail announces Ball can take Anderson's place when he's done. Pardon me but the only swing on show yesterday came from Woakes.

I have almost stopped reading the cricket press now, they were starting to become "Ian Healy a la Rob Quiney" about everything Ben Stokes did, and I just got tired of the propaganda. The cricket press basically print what the ECB want them to exclusively, and the ECB wanted to justify the bizarre evelation of a guy with only a hand ful of first class games over another playing at his home ground where he has taken hundreds of wickets at just over 20.

Maybe it was important for them to focus on how great Ball was because if Pakistan make 400 and their pretty dangerous attack shreds this flimsy top order at sometime this afternoon, England will be well behind in a game that they were fancied to dominate by most.

Really looking forward to seeing Mohammed Amir today Never been a young lad who excited me more. Fingers crossed he hasnt lost that ability.

[budgetmeansbudget]

Yep, Amir looked a cut above when he burst onto the scene over here five or so years ago.

[hopeforthebest]

Today could define the direction this game will take, our bowlers need to be on the mark from the opening overs.

[sussexpob]

Yep, Amir looked a cut above when he burst onto the scene over here five or so years ago.

Well at the start of that 2010 tournament, they had a bowling attack that was considered to be potentially the best in the world, and a couple of younger batsman coming through expected to make the grade.

Umar Akmal has hardly played since despite the hype at the time.
Amir and Asif got banned for 5 years
The captain never played again
Ajmal was called for throwing and once he couldnt get away with it, turned rubbish overnight

It was a bit of a cursed team that one.

Asif was also a blow for the neutral. I thought he had potential to become a truly great fast bowler too, few players in my lifetime were as accurate and smart.

[hopeforthebest]

Instaed of BUMBLE doing a dozen push ups on SKY this morning for me one PUSH OFF will do.

[sussexpob]

Asif is actually in Oslo at the moment, believe it or not. I keep meaning to go down to see him bowl but havent found the time yet

[budgetmeansbudget]

Instaed of BUMBLE doing a dozen push ups on SKY this morning for me one PUSH OFF will do.

Watch that blood pressure Hope!

[Dr Cricket]

Reading the papers it seems Jake Ball is the star of England's show despite Woakes taking the wickets. What has this young man to do to win over the pundits. Bumble in the Daily Mail announces Ball can take Anderson's place when he's done. Pardon me but the only swing on show yesterday came from Woakes.

the papers are always a good laugh.
Not too many good writers in the mainstream papers.
well they are good writers but don't have the freedom to write good pieces.
Also a lot of them are clickbait worthy as well, maybe we should all stop reading them and maybe they will start being better in quality.

[hopeforthebest]

Looks to be more cloud cover so that might help.

[Dr Cricket]

Imagine how good the reports would be for ball or any debutant that actually had a very good game.
I would say ball had a good/ok day yesterday nothing that made him special or nothing that made him standout for being crap, thing the only standout thing about him yesterday was his speed.

Far too early to suggest he can replace Anderson effectively.

[hopeforthebest]

Poor start from Woakes Sarfraz may have got under his skin.

[Dr Cricket]

Dobell saying Cook could be suspended from the old trafford test but I doubt it though.

[sussexpob]

Gets himself on the honours board.... well done lad!

[Arthur Crabtree]

Over rates?