Test Cricket Prediction and Discussion Thread [self - mod]

[Vishnu.Reang]

ICC I think is giving equal opportunity to all the teams. They are considering every team the same considering most of them are not playing a lot of Test cricket nowadays. This may be the reason why they have included all 9 teams in one division.

If they want to give equal opportunity to everyone, then why they placed the three teams (Zimbabwe, Ireland and Afghanistan) in the second division? Why can't they place them with the other nine teams? I find it ridiculous to relegate a promising team such as Afghanistan, without any chance to quality to the first division. Test status should not be permanent. Teams which perform poorly should lose their test status.

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[7788bitcoin]

If they want to give equal opportunity to everyone, then why they placed the three teams (Zimbabwe, Ireland and Afghanistan) in the second division? Why can't they place them with the other nine teams? I find it ridiculous to relegate a promising team such as Afghanistan, without any chance to quality to the first division. Test status should not be permanent. Teams which perform poorly should lose their test status.

If a team is performing badly then they would loose the Test status as Zimbabwe lost their Test status in the past and there is not much countries playing this popular sport as there are only 12 playing countries and in that West Indies select players from around 15 countries and in that Zimbabwe, Ireland and Afghanistan are weak teams as they cannot challenge top teams even at home and if you play the rest of the top countries more often it will be boring. England, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and India are strong when their are playing at home and if any touring team defeats them then it will be a hard fought game.

[Vishnu.Reang]

If a team is performing badly then they would loose the Test status as Zimbabwe lost their Test status in the past and there is not much countries playing this popular sport as there are only 12 playing countries and in that West Indies select players from around 15 countries and in that Zimbabwe, Ireland and Afghanistan are weak teams as they cannot challenge top teams even at home and if you play the rest of the top countries more often it will be boring. England, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and India are strong when their are playing at home and if any touring team defeats them then it will be a hard fought game.

I would consider this as a very weak defense of the ICC's decision to include 9 teams in the first division of test cricket.

Zimbabwe lost their test status because of the corruption issues within the cricket board, and not due to the weak performance of the Zimbabwean test team. You can argue that Zimbabwe, Ireland and Afghanistan are weak teams but I am going to disagree. At least Afghanistan deserves a chance to progress to the top division. They have proved that they can compete against the big-3 nations on a regular basis. I would argue that Afghanistan is as good as any of the lower ranking first division teams, such as West Indies and Sri Lanka.

[AB de Royse777]

Hello guys!
Tomorrow we have 1st Test, West Indies tour of England at Southampton. So excited for this. After few months we will have live cricket. I really hope we will see some exciting cricket on the ground.

Let's get going with the discussion.

[BitSat19]

Hello guys!
Tomorrow we have 1st Test, West Indies tour of England at Southampton. So excited for this. After few months we will have live cricket. I really hope we will see some exciting cricket on the ground.

Let's get going with the discussion.

I was also very excited about this event I was thinking we have very little cricket community so can we start any poll or any thing interesting which help us to talk about this first test otherwise look like its going to be very bore as West Indies is not good side and they are going to face some serious troubles here against England even its without crowd.

[AB de Royse777]

I was also very excited about this event I was thinking we have very little cricket community so can we start any poll or any thing interesting which help us to talk about this first test otherwise look like its going to be very bore as West Indies is not good side and they are going to face some serious troubles here against England even its without crowd.

Not going for any pool yet, maybe in the next series. I do not have much idea about WI test team. I am curious to know the result of the warm up match. Did West Indies handled them well or it was one sided? We need to have one thing in mind that all these players are back to cricket after long time. Probably this will affect in their performance.

[BitSat19]

I was also very excited about this event I was thinking we have very little cricket community so can we start any poll or any thing interesting which help us to talk about this first test otherwise look like its going to be very bore as West Indies is not good side and they are going to face some serious troubles here against England even its without crowd.

Not going for any pool yet, maybe in the next series. I do not have much idea about WI test team. I am curious to know the result of the warm up match. Did West Indies handled them well or it was one sided? We need to have one thing in mind that all these players are back to cricket after long time. Probably this will affect in their performance.

West Indies team have no tour matches as they play few matches but these was not with counties or other teams just practice matches with Holder XI vs Brathwaite XI but Brian Lara this statement is good as he wants West Indies must win test in four days https://www.bbc.com/sport/cricket/53314798

[Vishnu.Reang]

Hello guys!
Tomorrow we have 1st Test, West Indies tour of England at Southampton. So excited for this. After few months we will have live cricket. I really hope we will see some exciting cricket on the ground.

Let's get going with the discussion.

Wow!!! Almost forgot about it. So finally we'll be witnessing some live action, after four months!!!

I am expecting a whitewash by England, but we we know, cricket is such an unpredictable sport.

BTW, the ECB today confirmed the schedule for two of the visiting teams (Pakistan and Ireland). The Pakistan cricket team has already arrived in England for the test and T20 series, while Ireland will be playing three ODI matches later this month (World Cup Super League, July 30 to August 4 in Southampton).

[JSRAW]

~snip~
I am expecting a whitewash by England, but we we know, cricket is such an unpredictable sport.

Including some bizarre show of batting collapse, both teams are known for their batting collapse once a while so i am counting on it with low scoring games.

[AB de Royse777]

~snip~
I am expecting a whitewash by England, but we we know, cricket is such an unpredictable sport.

Including some bizarre show of batting collapse, both teams are known for their batting collapse once a while so i am counting on it with low scoring games.

Well English team has Ben Stokes :-P
I mean seriously, I will be looking forward seeing if Stokes performs. He had some exciting cricket before the lockdown, in and after the world cup period. 

[JSRAW]

~snip~
I am expecting a whitewash by England, but we we know, cricket is such an unpredictable sport.

Including some bizarre show of batting collapse, both teams are known for their batting collapse once a while so i am counting on it with low scoring games.

Well English team has Ben Stokes :-P
I mean seriously, I will be looking forward seeing if Stokes performs. He had some exciting cricket before the lockdown, in and after the world cup period.  

If individual player is the criteria then they have Jason holder, number 1 all-rounder in the Test format and he's leading the team as well . Stokes sitting at 2nd spot and gap between them is wide. Stokey got famous but don't underestimate the Holder.

[pakhitheboss]

ICC I think is giving equal opportunity to all the teams. They are considering every team the same considering most of them are not playing a lot of Test cricket nowadays. This may be the reason why they have included all 9 teams in one division.

If they want to give equal opportunity to everyone, then why they placed the three teams (Zimbabwe, Ireland and Afghanistan) in the second division? Why can't they place them with the other nine teams? I find it ridiculous to relegate a promising team such as Afghanistan, without any chance to quality to the first division. Test status should not be permanent. Teams which perform poorly should lose their test status.

The only reason that I can quote for these three teams is that all three teams are very weak teams. They all have not played a lot of cricket as compared to the other nine If compare the last two years. Mind you I am talking about cricket and not any format of cricket.

[JSRAW]

Officially Cricket is back Ladies, so is flirty weather of England. Bit dark as far as weather is concern, so toss is delayed for now. Let's hope for the best and fingers crossed.

This is what 15 men squad looks like for both teams

[7788bitcoin]

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Zimbabwe lost their test status because of the corruption issues within the cricket board, and not due to the weak performance of the Zimbabwean test team. You can argue that Zimbabwe, Ireland and Afghanistan are weak teams but I am going to disagree. At least Afghanistan deserves a chance to progress to the top division. They have proved that they can compete against the big-3 nations on a regular basis. I would argue that Afghanistan is as good as any of the lower ranking first division teams, such as West Indies and Sri Lanka.

During 2004 all the senior players retired from the team because of political reasons but the ban stemmed from the fact that they were not able to pick competing players in the playing eleven and their Test status was removed not because of direct political reason but their ability to perform against top teams and the political reason was just a part on the overall picture. Afghanistan have some really world class players but they still need to have some solid batsman to compete against top opponents.

So the first Test starts today but the rains are spoiling the day and surprising to me Stuart Broad is not in the team.

[AB de Royse777]

Seeing Stokesis picture and knowing him in the squad feels good. The most exciting feeling is that cricket is back. Thank God. I am going for England without any doubt.

[JSRAW]

Seeing Stokesis picture and knowing him in the squad feels good. The most exciting feeling is that cricket is back. Thank God. I am going for England without any doubt.

Going with England seems easy choice considering home advantage and 2 regular windies missing in the test squad due to personal reasons, would be good if you dig in and say Inning win or 100 +runs/ 8-9 wickets win.

But again don't underestimate Windies bowlers and don't over estimate English batsmen.  

Raining.................. Whoosh

Update : Still raining lol

[Indymoney]

Seeing Stokesis picture and knowing him in the squad feels good. The most exciting feeling is that cricket is back. Thank God. I am going for England without any doubt.

Going with England seems easy choice considering home advantage and 2 regular windies missing in the test squad due to personal reasons, would be good if you dig in and say Inning win or 100 +runs/ 8-9 wickets win.

But again don't underestimate Windies bowlers and don't over estimate English batsmen.  

Raining.................. Whoosh

Update : Still raining lol

Frustrating we are going to lost first two sessions or a complete day really bore life without this Cricket now on edge but still thirsty common bring back something for this life.

[Vishnu.Reang]

So the first Test starts today but the rains are spoiling the day and surprising to me Stuart Broad is not in the team.

Broad was dropped in order to include Woakes and Wood. It is ironic. There is no doubt that Woakes and Wood are good pace bowlers. But Broad is one step further. He is one of the legends. For heaven's sake he has taken a total of 485 test wickets so far, and he is only 34 years old with another 2-3 years of prime game remaining in him. He has remained as one of the most underrated players in England.

[JSRAW]

England won the toss and opt to bat.

So we had 3 overs game so far before rain interrupted the fun ... (67 overs left today)

England already lost 1 wicket (Dominic Sibley)  

Score: 1/1


Some wisdom from Michael Holding.
https://twitter.com/SkyCricket/status/1280809870766284800

Edit : No more rain for now.

Edit : lol covers are back hahaha

[Haunebu]

Broad was dropped in order to include Woakes and Wood. It is ironic. There is no doubt that Woakes and Wood are good pace bowlers. But Broad is one step further. He is one of the legends. He has remained as one of the most underrated players in England.

He probably refused to play due to COVID-19. That could be a reason. If not, I do feel he should been included. The only instance when he shouldn't be included is when Yuvraj is the batsman. Also, the committee probably wanted to provide Woakes and Wood more chances.

Edit : No more rain for now.

Edit : lol covers are back hahaha

Rainy weather continues to screw Cricket matches these days. Sad stuff. Am rooting for West Indies for no particular reason.