England v Ireland & Australia Test Cricket 2019

England play Ireland in a 4 day test starting tomorrow.

Jason Roy is in the team but James Anderson failed a fitness test this morning.

(23-07-2019 10:08 )Charlemagne Wrote:  England play Ireland in a 4 day test starting tomorrow.

Jason Roy is in the team but James Anderson failed a fitness test this morning.

How convenient that yet another Aahes starting XI certainty should find himself unfit. This England team will be barely recognisable when set against a first choice line - up!!

Test matches have always been 450 overs and 5 days long, and anything else means that they are not worthy of test status. There is little enough meaning to the brand - particularly in recent history - without bringing it into further disrepute and, btw, at the same time, treating Ireland with contempt.

We keep hearing from English commentators, cricket scribes etc, of the preeminence of Tests, and how they must be protected! If the only definition of this is to protect it in terms of the self interest of one particular nation or another, then it is in serious trouble. Allowing nations to redefine it is only going to make the situation worse!

Ireland would be better served in arranging (until someone has the balls to independently do so for the good of the sport itself and it alone - fixtures for all nations) unilateral series with some meaning at least, against the Afghanistan's, West Indies, Zimbabwe's of this world.

England v Ireland today from Lords. I'm looking forward to seeing Jason Roy opening the batting.

56-7 Normal batting collapse as England return to Test Match duty

Only positive not its not the Ashes, although if it was it would 51 all out by now I'd guess.

(24-07-2019 06:44 )Charlemagne Wrote:  England v Ireland today from Lords. I'm looking forward to seeing Jason Roy opening the batting.

Hope you got too see him bat lol,

England truly are a bit shite even if Ireland have bowled well, imagine keaton jennings coming back to join burns and denly in the top 4 haha.

(23-07-2019 14:33 )hornball Wrote:  Test matches have always been 450 overs and 5 days long

Not always. Test matches were originally played for either 3 or 4 days.

South Africa and Zimbabwe played a 4 day Test as recently as December 2017.

(24-07-2019 12:05 )William H Bonney Wrote:  

(23-07-2019 14:33 )hornball Wrote:  Test matches have always been 450 overs and 5 days long

Not always. Test matches were originally played for either 3 or 4 days.

South Africa and Zimbabwe played a 4 day Test as recently as December 2017.

If I'm right in remembering didn't test matches used to be 6 days long and even unlimited in days along time ago?

Also the mighty England skittle in a session for the 5 time in 3 years lol

Didn't have to wait long. 85 all out

Midsummer Murtagh!