3rd Test England v Pakistan, Edgbaston, Aug 3-7.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Another start from Vince. Maybe those starts will see him in the team for the Oval, but Pakistan have been getting praise in this game for making decisive changes.

I wouldn't pick him again ; but I don't have a vote :)

Not saying bin him for ever ; but let him go away and work on his game , and maybe come back a better player. Keep him in the white ball squad.
There is talent there. But he isn't nailing it yet ; and I think they need to look at some other prospects with some tough tours ahead. Not to mention trying to win this tough series...

Well, Pakistan made decisive changes and lost! And England did nothing and won...

No one knows anything.

[Dr Cricket]

TBH not sure that should be used as a case not to make a change.
pakistan lost because england played better than them, not because of the changes, likewise england didn't win because of vince.
anyway expect vince to play, but the squad to india should be interesting.

[Durhamfootman]

excellent result for England... and with all the bowlers sharing the spoils, it suggests that it was very much a team performance.

Good declaration in the end.... well done

[Dr Cricket]

England will be number 1 in the world if they win at oval and Wi draw or win against india in any test.
Although Cook doesn't believe England are world number 1 and won't celebrate much since he feel the side hasn't reach the landmark yet and probably learnt from 2011-2012, that getting number 1 doesn't mean much if you can not win away from home.

[Durhamfootman]

thank goodness the 4th test isn't at taunton.... not only would Pakistan easily level the series, the spectators with day 2 tickets would be shitting themselves at the prospect of only getting to see one session before the end of the match

[backfootpunch]

England will be number 1 in the world if they win at oval and Wi draw or win against india in any test.
Although Cook doesn't believe England are world number 1 and won't celebrate much since he feel the side hasn't reach the landmark yet and probably learnt from 2011-2012, that getting number 1 doesn't mean much if you can not win away from home.

There isn't a number 1 team at the moment

The rankings are pretty meaningless

[Dr Cricket]

Hope they don't get fined would be ridiculous for ECB to be hypocrites in a season they want more pitches to take turn lol.

[Dr Cricket]

England will be number 1 in the world if they win at oval and Wi draw or win against india in any test.
Although Cook doesn't believe England are world number 1 and won't celebrate much since he feel the side hasn't reach the landmark yet and probably learnt from 2011-2012, that getting number 1 doesn't mean much if you can not win away from home.

There isn't a number 1 team at the moment

The rankings are pretty meaningless

yep, if anything being number 2 or 3 is better than being number 1.
getting number 1 means you will be humiliated overseas, all the teams are gunning for you especially the minor test teams and most number 1s are not going to beat the minor nations away from home.
being number 2 or 3 the spotlight not in you as much overseas.

Wonder when ICC will scrap or change the system, although when the new icc stuff get release guessing rankings will go, sadly looks like BCCI won't be backing the two division.
Hopefully changes happen quickly and not 5 or 10 years in the future, cricket might not even exist then.

[backfootpunch]

England will be number 1 in the world if they win at oval and Wi draw or win against india in any test.
Although Cook doesn't believe England are world number 1 and won't celebrate much since he feel the side hasn't reach the landmark yet and probably learnt from 2011-2012, that getting number 1 doesn't mean much if you can not win away from home.

There isn't a number 1 team at the moment

The rankings are pretty meaningless

yep, if anything being number 2 or 3 is better than being number 1.
getting number 1 means you will be humiliated overseas, all the teams are gunning for you especially the minor test teams and most number 1s are not going to beat the minor nations away from home.
being number 2 or 3 the spotlight not in you as much overseas.

Wonder when ICC will scrap or change the system, although when the new icc stuff get release guessing rankings will go, sadly looks like BCCI won't be backing the two division.
Hopefully changes happen quickly and not 5 or 10 years in the future, cricket might not even exist then.

Until there is some sort of test championship the rankings don't matter at all

[Dr Cricket]

agree also in a way Test cricket doesn't matter either considering no one actually can win anything meaningful either.
right now it is full of individial series but not any global achievement.
really the only actual achievements are beating india, england or number 1 team, all the rest feel low key and I think english supporters will agree opposition always look forward to england games.
WI, NZ etc all look forward to playing England and likewise India.

[bigfluffylemon]

All the rankings go to show is that there isn't a number 1 team at the moment. Depending on how the Oval test, Colombo test and the last two India-West Indies tests go, any of India, Pakistan, Australia and England could be on top of the rankings come September. Smart money says it will be India, because I can't believe they won't beat the West Indies comfortably.

Astonishing that South Africa have fallen so hard from the no 1 spot, but losses to both India and England have wiped them out. They're sitting in 6 and are about to be overtaken by Sri Lanka

Great win from England, although as I said earlier, Edgbaston recent history seems to have held true: it's pretty tough batting on the first couple of sessions, but chasing anything over 200 is even tougher. But coming back from a 100 run deficit is a pretty impressive feat, and managing to bowl Pakistan out on that wicket was also very well done. The afternoon burst from Anderson and Finn deserved to win a test match.

[bigfluffylemon]

Just looking at the stats. It's seemed like a pretty evenly-fought series for much of it, but England are dominating the statistical game. Four batsmen average over 50, and a two more over 40. Pakistan have one batsman averaging over 50 who's only played one game, and one more (Misbah) averages over 40. On the bowling side, Woakes is the standout performer, but Broad, who looks to have had a relatively quiet series, is the third highest wicket taker and third best average - 12 wickets at a pretty healthy 23. Only one Pakistan bowler averages under 30 (Khan, with 29.5), whereas all of England's bowlers other than Moeen do. By the numbers it looks a lot more one-sided than it has been to watch.

But what about Woakes? 128 runs at 42 with a 50, and 23 wickets under 15 with an SR of under 30. Astonishing all-round performance, and there's still a test to go.
Only twice has an England bowler taken more wickets in a 4 test series - Broad v India in 2011 (25) and Trueman v India in 1952 (29). There's a record in sight here.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Good stuff bfl. Cheers.

[Dr Cricket]

http://www.espncricinfo.com/england-v-p ... 43881.html

good article I essentially write the same thing and I am Anti english.

Either way, we saw a glimpse of the formula England will have to use in India at Edgbaston. And it is one that sees England play to their strengths, rely on the skill of their seamers and their depth, with bat and ball, provided by their allrounders.

There is a major caveat to all this. Even if England can create 20 chances against India in India and even if their close fielders can accept every chance that comes their way, England will still have to bat well on surfaces that could turn sharply.

[budgetmeansbudget]

Nice to see everyone in the side contribute to the victory, lots of the players under threat put in good performances. Loads of great team spirit going on. To illustrate the team effort no one really stood out for man of the match.