West Indies have won the toss and will bat

Cook drops easy slip catch off Anderson, another one.

CleggHall wrote:Cook drops easy slip catch off Anderson, another one.

Three in a row dropped by Cook at first slip. Thankfully Bairstow got him a few balls later.

35/2 at lunch both wickets to Jimmy.

Is that James on 499 test wickets?
If he came from Esher he would be Sir James already

Just one wicket to go for Jimmys 500th I think

It is one to go - have to go out this afternoon but am waiting until he gets that 500th wicket

Will you miss the Palace game Tony?
Cricket like football is a strange game

mdd2 wrote:Will you miss the Palace game Tony?
Cricket like football is a strange game

No - he might be getting his first test century then though

mdd2 wrote:Will you miss the Palace game Tony?
Cricket like football is a strange game

mdd2 bring his usual optimistic self!

WIndies 100 for 7, England seamers up for it this afternoon particularly Stokes.

Still waiting for 500 but how on earth he hasn't got it with his last over I don't know. Absolutely brilliant over from him.

123/8

123/9 - catch for Anderson but 5 wickets for Stokes

123 all out. Stokes 6 for 22. Jimmy remains on 499.

ClaretTony wrote:Still waiting for 500 but how on earth he hasn't got it with his last over I don't know. Absolutely brilliant over from him.

123/8

that last over was incredible that it didn't result in a wicket.

quoonbeatz wrote:that last over was incredible that it didn't result in a wicket.

Could well have been as good an over as he's ever bowled.

ClaretTony wrote:123 all out. Stokes 6 for 22. Jimmy remains on 499.

Fair to say Stokes as the best all-rounder in world cricket at this time ,if he doesn't score runs, he takes wickets, and usually both.Will be a crucial man down under. with England today, why did the Windies choose to bat, strange decision has probably cost them the series,although with England's history of collapses who knows

Stokes becomes only the eight person to appear on both the batting and bowling honours board at Lords.

A wonderful talent and vital for England's middle order with the bat.

It's going to be some achievement retaining The Ashes if we continue to play with 3 batters short. If the Aussies could give us a 40 runs start in each innings in exchange for us using only 8 batters it would be a good deal for us.

nil_desperandum wrote:It's going to be some achievement retaining The Ashes if we continue to play with 3 batters short. If the Aussies could give us a 40 runs start in each innings in exchange for us using only 8 batters it would be a good deal for us.

Desperately short of batting talent now. Every single innings we need Cook, Root or both to get runs.

I was down at Lords today. I booked my International cricket tickets before the season started. I thought I'd really hit lucky today after Jimmy got the first two, felt I'd see the 500 up but it wasn't to be.
As per a couple of comments above- it almost defied belief that he didnt get his third wicket in that sizzling over he bowled in the later short spell.
Good spell from Ben Stokes though.
There might not be too much play tomorrow looking at the London forecast. That may be in England's favour if they can manage to muddle through until Saturday when batting might be a bit easier.

nil_desperandum wrote:It's going to be some achievement retaining The Ashes if we continue to play with 3 batters short. If the Aussies could give us a 40 runs start in each innings in exchange for us using only 8 batters it would be a good deal for us.

Have you seen that Aussie top order?

Warner and Smith apart, neither of whom I rate, they have zilch. Our 6, 7, 8 and possibly 9 will get us enough runs to win tests down there.

Socrates wrote:Have you seen that Aussie top order?

Warner and Smith apart, neither of whom I rate, they have zilch. Our 6, 7, 8 and possibly 9 will get us enough runs to win tests down there.

Oh, I'm very well aware of the Australian frailties. They are a poor team by Aussie standards, but they have a much better bowling attack than we have faced this summer, esp. on Australian wickets, and I think we will struggle if we constantly have to rebuild from 20-3. You are mistaken if you think it is a poor fast-bowling attack.
We have some v good players, but with serious weaknesses in the batting, and the Aussies aren't world beaters either. Neither side compares with some of the great Ashes winning teams of the recent past.

ClaretTony wrote:Desperately short of batting talent now. Every single innings we need Cook, Root or both to get runs.

We're screwed tomorrow then

Socrates wrote:Have you seen that Aussie top order?

Warner and Smith apart, neither of whom I rate, they have zilch. Our 6, 7, 8 and possibly 9 will get us enough runs to win tests down there.

You don't rate those two? That just show you up as clueless. Sorry to say mate.

nil_desperandum wrote:It's going to be some achievement retaining The Ashes if we continue to play with 3 batters short. If the Aussies could give us a 40 runs start in each innings in exchange for us using only 8 batters it would be a good deal for us.

Certainly our main worry, lack of top order batsmen. I cant for the life of me see why Moeen Ali doesn't open with Cook.

bedfords wrote:You don't rate those two? That just show you up as clueless. Sorry to say mate.

I think they both have huge flaws in their game and have been regularly found out by our bowlers. Smith's stats are impressive but I think they mask a lot.

I don't think either would challenge a top 30 all time Aussie batsmen list.

I don't think those are controversial views.

ashtonlongsider wrote:Certainly our main worry, lack of top order batsmen. I cant for the life of me see why Moeen Ali doesn't open with Cook.

Because he's been tried in bowling conditions far more favorable than in Australia, and it was a disaster. Why tinker with something that isn't broken?
Our all-rounders batting at 6 -9 are the strength of the team. (+ Jimmy of course)!.

Anyone know if CT has been sighted out and about-or is he still waiting in for Jimmy?

Socrates wrote:I think they both have huge flaws in their game and have been regularly found out by our bowlers. Smith's stats are impressive but I think they mask a lot.

I don't think either would challenge a top 30 all time Aussie batsmen list.

I don't think those are controversial views.

What huge flaws do you see in there game?

Both of their stats are impressive.

Socrates wrote:I think they both have huge flaws in their game and have been regularly found out by our bowlers. Smith's stats are impressive but I think they mask a lot.

I don't think either would challenge a top 30 all time Aussie batsmen list.

I don't think those are controversial views.

Think both players would get in my world XI's in every format of the game. I'm baffled to be honest. Smith turned himself from a leg spinning clown into one of the most effective bats in the world. I rate him alongside Root, Williamson and Kohli as being head and shoulders ahead of all other bats in the three forms. Graeme Smith had flaws, if you can be effective it's irrelevant.

Warner is a beast and would get in any team in the world.

Steve Smith as held the highest ever ICC points test ranking for a batsmen since its inception, late 80s. Them points can only be gathered by scoring your runs against the very best attacks as it works on the rankings of the quality of the bowlers you are up against. He also holds the record for consecutive World cup 50s. Smith is one hell of a player. I don't like him but I absolutely rate him.

RocketLawnChair wrote: I don't like him but I absolutely rate him.

Indeed. I don't think I've defended two players so much that I've disliked so much.

For anybody not having seen it, there's coverage (on ECB TV) of the Jimmy over referenced in posts above. They say "one of the greatest wicketless overs of all time". Maybe a bit of hyperbole but certainly a fantastic over and almost unbelievable that he didnt snaffle a wicket

https://www.ecb.co.uk/tv/466964

mdd2 wrote:Anyone know if CT has been sighted out and about-or is he still waiting in for Jimmy?

Was safe to go out today with England batting

RocketLawnChair wrote:Smith is one hell of a player. I don't like him but I absolutely rate him.

He always comes across as smug to me but couldn't agree more, an outstanding batsman.

Stokes is a monster of a player always delivers when required

Broad swinging away.

Broad now out for 39.

England lead by 71.

Bin Ont Turf wrote:Broad now out for 39.

England lead by 71.

Back to the TV for me now then for the start of the WI second innings - one wicket to go for England's finest ever bowler.

Bound to rain now.

ClaretTony wrote:Back to the TV for me now then for the start of the WI second innings - one wicket to go for England's finest ever bowler.

And born and bred in Burnley. Marvellous.

ClaretTony wrote:Back to the TV for me now then for the start of the WI second innings - one wicket to go for England's finest ever bowler.

*highest wicket taker.

500

Brilliant, absolutely brilliant. Well done Jimmy.

Well done! Sir James?

What an achievement. And what a way to do it, hitting the middle stump.

Thought they'd need a new wicket with that one - brilliant bowl and amazing achievement!!

Incredible achievement. Well done Jimmy.

I was lucky enough to see Warne get his 700th in Melbourne. Doesn't compare with seeing Jimmy doing that, even though I was only watching on the telly.

They've changed the ball after 4 overs presumably so it will be in good nick for him to take home.

Next target is 520 & then 564 to try and get past Walsh & McGrath.

What a delivery to get it with.

Well done to Englands finest ever bowler.

I remember him getting a five for on his test debut against Zimbabwe at Lord's in 2003. Who could have thought that 14 years later he'd have achieved this?