India tour of Eng, June 20 - Aug 4

[sussexpob]

I cant comment going that far back, but there was a period where 15 overs an hour was considered the standard, and it was noticeably bad if it dropped below that. And we are talking 10-15 years ago max.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Naturally the 15/hr over rate was introduced because teams weren't bowling enough in the day. Like Stokes, WI claimed a special case, as they bowled four superquicks all day, running in from the rope. And I suppose they weren't drawing many games.

So they sacrificed something to get 90 overs into a day. Though they had also gained something by bowling at such a slow rate that they didn't run the batteries flat.

My view is Stokes doesn't have a case. Just make some plans around getting your overs in. Don't wait until the last second before referring your decisions. Compromise. Don't make an excuse of people outside the group not understanding.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Basher going to bowl in the fourth innings, but may not bat. Say England.

Well, he might not have batted, even if there was no injury.

Presume Crawley is oing to face some aggro.

[sussexpob]

He wont face much aggro if he keeps playing balls like that. Not sure what that shot was

[sussexpob]

Ouf, Bumrah gets one to spit at Crawley, loops miles in the air and misses Bumrah's hand by a cm or two. So lucky that... could have been out.

Crawley batting like hes turned up straight from the nightclub last night

[sussexpob]

Unless cralwy got bat on that, it looked plumb to me..... no, sliding down too far. Slope taking it away

[Arthur Crabtree]

Nice dry comment by Southee on Crawley's 'injury'.

“He’ll be assessed overnight and hopefully he’ll be all right to carry on tomorrow”.

Was he implying Gill getting extensive treatment on the outfield was the India captain having a rest. It seems so. But Stokes was similarly taking time out the game when having intervention.

My view is the umpires should have told them both to either bat on or retire hurt. But it seems the officials are fearful of challenging the players.

[sussexpob]

Crawley edges cms past gully now..... being outclassed here

[sussexpob]

Thats so poor from Duckett. The ball was never short enough to pull then, its a length ball, cant get on top of it...suicidal shot.

Gets a very heated send off from Siraj. Bit of a shoulder bump... Umpires now giving him a telling off.

Bumrah whistles aother past Zak.... not sure what else Bumrah can do to get him out. Next ball carves him up again.

[sussexpob]

God, Bumrah sends a hand grenade down to Ollie Pope now... cannoned the glove, think its hurt pope.

Bumrah making this pitch look like a minefield this morning.

AGAIN.... edge flies over the slip. This is incredible, how the hell has Bumrah not got both of these out.

[sussexpob]

Crawley inside edges a mm past his leg stump.... think this might be the luckiest 15 runs scored in the history of the game.

Meanwhile Siraj nearly bowls Pope...

Been high quality this morning, England could easily be 3 down

[sussexpob]

Siraj is certain, I thought it looked stone dead? What has the umpire not seen there?

Goes to review... .yep. Stone dead....

Forget about changing the ball, change the umpire. How did he not give that on field?

Pope's luck runs out

[Arthur Crabtree]

Karma keeps getting the wrong batter out.

[sussexpob]

Karma keeps getting the wrong batter out.

Karma clearly doesnt exist, because only direct intervention by an omnipotent deity could explain how Zak Crawley survived the new ball spell from Bumrah

[sussexpob]

9 lives wasn't enough.... gets out to a rubbish shot finally.

Time to get Zak in the bin, he's just not good enough... and its the same all the time.

Its too wide to drive. Ends up reaching for it and spooning it in the air. Predictable. Way too predictable