(21-01-2024 20:51 )Boomerangutangangbang Wrote:  ^^ I don't know what is behind the strategy of Sky & cricket coverage, it could purely be a case of being out-bid by TNT, they have already lost the Ashes in Australia to BT. Sky had a monopoly for many years with Test Cricket, home & away, competition is healthy & only fair that it get shared out. They may have lost the India overseas Tests & filled the void with the SAT20.

(21-01-2024 21:33 )SecretAgent Wrote:  

(21-01-2024 20:51 )Boomerangutangangbang Wrote:  ^^ I don't know what is behind the strategy of Sky & cricket coverage, it could purely be a case of being out-bid by TNT, they have already lost the Ashes in Australia to BT. Sky had a monopoly for many years with Test Cricket, home & away, competition is healthy & only fair that it get shared out. They may have lost the India overseas Tests & filled the void with the SAT20.

TNT are owned by Warner Brother Discovery and BT merged BT Sports into TNT Sports last year so all BT Sports are now under the name of TNT. That makes them a power not only in UK Sports broadcasting but with global reach & ambitions as well. Discovery also own Eurosport and have the broadcasting rights in Europe for the Olympics until 2032 (they share some content with members of the European Broadcasting Union eg BBC)

(21-01-2024 21:02 )Boomerangutangangbang Wrote:  England will get panned by India, Brook is a massive talent & a big loss, it could actually open up a chance for Bairstow as I think that Foakes would've started. Having just one experienced spinner in Leach is a flawed selection. the other 3 spinners have 1 Test cap between them. England's hands were tied, Dawson was the obvious back-up after a good county season, reliable, if not spectacular. He didn't want to be the reserve, hanging about in case Leach falls ill, which is highly likely given his health condition, so as a 30+ cricketer he took the T20 cash. Another case of T20 wagging the tail of Test cricket, this should never happen. Test cricket has reacted a tipping point.

(23-01-2024 06:00 )lovebabes56 Wrote:  

(21-01-2024 21:02 )Boomerangutangangbang Wrote:  England will get panned by India, Brook is a massive talent & a big loss, it could actually open up a chance for Bairstow as I think that Foakes would've started. Having just one experienced spinner in Leach is a flawed selection. the other 3 spinners have 1 Test cap between them. England's hands were tied, Dawson was the obvious back-up after a good county season, reliable, if not spectacular. He didn't want to be the reserve, hanging about in case Leach falls ill, which is highly likely given his health condition, so as a 30+ cricketer he took the T20 cash. Another case of T20 wagging the tail of Test cricket, this should never happen. Test cricket has reacted a tipping point.

I agree Book is a massive loss he will be missed but I think when I look at the Indian team for the First Test we know that we have to make inroads as quickly as possible, but when you think how far down and how well India bat down the order it's going to take a lot of hard work every game and every day. McCallum said "we will not change our style" which might come back and bite him on the backsaide if things don't go well and downhill pretty quickly. We do need s plan B in place IF Plan A doesn't work!!!