England v Ireland at Lord's, 24/7.

[backfootpunch]

Jack leach motm surely

[bigfluffylemon]

45 is the lowest first innings score to win a test. This is the lowest first innings score to win since 1950
http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine ... ew=innings

[bigfluffylemon]

Jack leach motm surely

Must be.

[sussexpob]

45 is the lowest first innings score to win a test. This is the lowest first innings score to win since 1950
http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine ... ew=innings

Cheers for that, BFL. So one of the lowest totals ever recorded actually lead in victory... take some beating these records (lowest ever total, lowest FI total for win)

[sussexpob]

Jack leach motm surely

Must be.

Remember when Leach didnt go to that Asia tour of BD and India, and Andy Flower told us he was immature and didnt have the mentality for test cricket....... well, he just made all our batting line up look like idiots by being the only one to show any grit and desire to stay in....

Another of Flower's golden assessments, no doubt.

[bigfluffylemon]

Well, blushes saved, but that leaves a rather bitter taste for England. Poor selection, atrocious batting, smacks of complacency. At least they finally turned up today, and in helpful conditions turned in a solid bowling performance.

Not a hopeful prospect for the Ashes.

[sussexpob]

Aye. I think in the end pressure got to Ireland. Couple of early wickets came, and they just collapsed totally under the pressure of the situation. Few boys at the top didnt look like they wanted to be there. Shame, let their bowlers down today.

[Gingerfinch]

We do have some of our main men to come back. Still, our top three does look fragile. Starc won't be having nightmare about bowling to that lot.

[mikesiva]

This four days Test match idea seems to be a good one.

[bigfluffylemon]

This four days Test match idea seems to be a good one.

[alfie]

Never in doubt , eh ?

Funny sort of match. Was always likely to be : England had something of a problem in the timing after the WC. Most of the players ideally needed resting but that would mean no red ball practice for them...so they basically left it to the players.
Buttler and Stokes are nicely rested ; YJB might have wished he had - though he seems to have sorted his keeping movement out this morning rather well - and cap'n Joe probably would have enjoyed his catching today more than his scratchy batting... But Woakes roared back to life today !
All meant - with the "spares" being less than experienced superstars - they'd be vulnerable to a spirited Ireland. Didn't think that meant 85 all out though !

Took a while . And some tail end heroics from Curran ...and top end heroics from Leach But class told in the end.

Not that they'll be glorying too much in that...avoided embarrassment is more like it. But whatever they say I think they'll be taking the lessons they need from it all.

Settles the Ashes starting team for now , I think ? Anderson , Stokes and Buttler to replace Stone Leach and Curran in the XI...which leaves those bowlers unlucky - and Burns and Denly fortunate it is a bit late to make a change at the top ; at least for the start.
Leach could play ahead of Moeen - for his batting ! But he won't. England value continuity. (They'd probably like to have Curran in for his rescue batting value ! But no room). We will see how many of those last to the Oval...

Pity for Ireland that they folded so badly at the death. Their first two days got them a lot of honour. For now they're better off playing the likes of Afghanistan ...on a damp day in Ireland ! But I do wish them well...

[yuppie]

In England Woakes now has a better average and SR than Anderson.

[alfie]

We do have some of our main men to come back. Still, our top three does look fragile. Starc won't be having nightmare about bowling to that lot.

Amazingly , there is a lot of thought here that Starc won't even make the XI for Edgbaston ! Aussies have a few fast bowlers to pick from...but not too many batsmen you'd trust to bat for your life...

[Arthur Crabtree]

Ireland bowled out while I watched yesterday's highlights (featuring awful shots from Woakes, Root and Roy). What a sickener for Ireland.

I suppose England deserve some credit for coming back after day one.

I've changed my mind over who is favourites for the Ashes.

[backfootpunch]

This four days Test match idea seems to be a good one.

I'd be very happy if we had only 4 day tests played on bowler friendly wickets (seam or spin)

Makes for much better viewing