Cricket fred

[Banquo]

oops #uck-ett

[Galfon]

#popethenewbell #notanumber3

that said, he actually averages better at 3 than 4-7

Ollie Pope averages 42 in Test cricket across innings where he faces 26 or more balls--- basically, a shyte starter

The present incumbent at #4 is in a decent run , so he'll have to concentrate a bit more early doors, or grovel !

[Banquo]

4 of 5 have been unforced errors, bit careless

[Galfon]

Now level with Cook at 33 tons a-piece, and he has Sangakkara and Cook firmly in his sights for the all-time 5th spot for runs scored.
Still plenty in the tank it seems.

[Galfon]

228-3 effectively since Brook going, should put this one safe at least. Pope must think this caretaker-skip malarky is ok, but Sri L not the force they were tbf.

..though previous capitano M.Vaughan thinks otherwise:
(beeb)

"I don't like him as the captain," Vaughan told the Test Match Special podcast. "He's not the kind of personality I'd want as the England captain.

"He's quite an insecure human being - a great team guy and person but throwing the captaincy on him has added the pressure. He was doing great at number three.

"Harry Brook for me is an England captain in the making. I don't see Ollie Pope as that person."

[fivepointer]

Fine innings by Joe but to get out with such an awful shot was a major letdown. Time to put the ramp away.

Pope's really not showing much as a number 3 batsman.

[Banquo]

a major letdown.

blimey thats harsh....

there's a long queue of shyte shots before having a pop at Root!

[Banquo]

Great ton by Atkinson

[Galfon]

Too many Silvas around recently, good to move them along...Sri L on the ropes a bit.Potts more to come you suspect..

[Banquo]

Too many Silvas around recently, good to move them along...Sri L on the ropes a bit.Potts more to come you suspect..

Just hop(p)ing one is called Long John

[Banquo]

Root is superb! English GOAT batsman… difficult

[Galfon]

Root is superb! English GOAT batsman… difficult

Certainly greatest since Cook..beyond that impossible to judge apart from the numbers, which for him are consistently exceptional.

[fivepointer]

There are a few with higher averages (Sutcliffe, Barrington, Hammond, Hobbs and Hutton) but only Cook has scored more runs and none played anything like the number of tests Root has.
If not GOAT he's got to be there or thereabouts.

[Banquo]

There are a few with higher averages (Sutcliffe, Barrington, Hammond, Hobbs and Hutton) but only Cook has scored more runs and none played anything like the number of tests Root has.
If not GOAT he's got to be there or thereabouts.

different times- much more test cricket, less f/c, covered wickets. Averages steadily climbing. He's way ahead of Cook for sure in most respects, save being an opener....but 'only'averages 40 v oz....

Hobbs is the hardest one to look beyond (and lost 4 prime years to ww1), but then again only played against Oz and SA, albeit on some nightmare wickets. Barrington has a very strong claim too by dint of who he played against. All great in their own ways.

Two hundreds in a test at lords and not MOTM is some 'feat'.

[Galfon]

Sco must have felt they had a sniff after the third ball, but that's some motoring by Head..
Best of 3 so still something to go at..

[Galfon]

Eng. determined to make a game of 2nd. Test -
collapsoville revisited..

[Banquo]

Eng. determined to make a game of 2nd. Test -
collapsoville revisited..

did the hard yards yesterday, daft today

[fivepointer]

SL bowled much better this morning but that was some rank bad batting. Brook, in particular, was all at sea.

Ponting good value on comms. Regularly makes good points.

[Banquo]

Not sure pope is getting his fields right.

[Banquo]

doh....hull of a drop

[Banquo]

laudable to keep playing but this is letting sl back in

[Banquo]

Pretty careless stuff tbh tho SL have bowled well post day 1

[Banquo]

Average bowling to say the least. No consistency or even plan to bowl at Nissanka, and Popes field setting is pants, though tbh with this buffet, no field would be that great.

[Banquo]

Pretty bad last 5 hours frankly.

[fivepointer]

We've been mostly poor the last 2 days. Very little application when its mattered.