Test Cricket Prediction and Discussion Thread [self - mod]

[bryant.coleman]

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.

Broad was dropped. Stokes actually said that it was a very tough decision to leave Broad out of the playing XI. BTW, Chris Woakes was also left out and the pace attack for the first test will be comprised of James Anderson, Jofra Archer and Mark Wood (in addition to Stokes). Let's not forget the fact that Anderson has got almost a hundred more test wickets when compared to Broad.

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[akhjob]

Too bad that we were able to witness only a few overs of play after the long pandemic break on Day 1. Rain has been ruining most of the cricket matches since last year and now it has joined hands with COVID, this sucks 

[BitSat19]

Too bad that we were able to witness only a few overs of play after the long pandemic break on Day 1. Rain has been ruining most of the cricket matches since last year and now it has joined hands with COVID, this sucks 

We cannot complaint against nature as its can do any thing any time with us so we have to wait for next movement hopefully tomorrow will be some better and we will able to have some good cricket from these two teams after today few overs cannot talk about any thing as both teams level just England going with home advantage.

[Swordsoffreedom]

~
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.

once upon a time Zimbabwe was a very good team. can you remember when legendary players like Elton Chigumbura, Chakabva, Hamilton Masakadza, Mpofu and Brendan Taylor’s were on the Zimbabwe team. they are Zimbabwean legendary players. when they started to retire one by one, Zimbabwe’s bad times keep coming. I think their team is in bad situation because of their internal quarrel. now they need a good coach and obviously they need a good cricket board. IMO, their legendary players like Masakadza or Taylor may help them. if they do not try to change their destiny now, they will soon be extinct. best wishes for their future match.

[Indymoney]

~
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.

once upon a time Zimbabwe was a very good team. can you remember when legendary players like Elton Chigumbura, Chakabva, Hamilton Masakadza, Mpofu and Brendan Taylor’s were on the Zimbabwe team. they are Zimbabwean legendary players. when they started to retire one by one, Zimbabwe’s bad times keep coming. I think their team is in bad situation because of their internal quarrel. now they need a good coach and obviously they need a good cricket board. IMO, their legendary players like Masakadza or Taylor may help them. if they do not try to change their destiny now, they will soon be extinct. best wishes for their future match.

Current Zimbabwe team is just crap right now they need some good management and very powerful board which brins revolutionary changes in domestic and national level give players some future and financial security then they can bring back some good days otherwise they are already dead and they will be more troubled in near future because governement and politicians are doing all just for own sack so its never been good for any player or team.

[Haunebu]

IMO, their legendary players like Masakadza or Taylor may help them. if they do not try to change their destiny now, they will soon be extinct. best wishes for their future match.

I only recognized Taylor among the players that you listed since I never heard about the others. I remember a couple of Zimbabwe legends like Andy and Grant Flower.

Zimbabwe are already extinct if you think about it. When was the last time they ever won something big? They are basically filled with foreign players these days.

They will probably follow teams like Kenya etc soon. Teams like Ireland and Afghanistan have already proven that they are better teams in comparison in recent times.

[BitSat19]

IMO, their legendary players like Masakadza or Taylor may help them. if they do not try to change their destiny now, they will soon be extinct. best wishes for their future match.

I only recognized Taylor among the players that you listed since I never heard about the others. I remember a couple of Zimbabwe legends like Andy and Grant Flower.

Zimbabwe are already extinct if you think about it. When was the last time they ever won something big? They are basically filled with foreign players these days.

They will probably follow teams like Kenya etc soon. Teams like Ireland and Afghanistan have already proven that they are better teams in comparison in recent times.

@Swordsoffreedom's mention players was bringing some good change in team few years back but personal issues and political interference hurt them and they leave this cricket for better future and if you talking about Andy and Grant Flower then you are nearly 25 years back mean long time ago now they have very few chances to rescue from here probably now I am feeling ICC need to stop them from top level now they are in tier 2.

[Indymoney]

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

OK good news we have no rain during match hours on 9th July hopefully we will able to have some more cricket and fun but still frustrating things can happen https://www.bbc.com/weather/2637487

[7788bitcoin]

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

There is no way West Indies could win the match but the only help they can get is if the rain keeps on interrupting the match and today just 17 overs were bowled and if that continues then we might see a draw and on the betting lines it is not a good option, i waged a bet for draw and the odds were over 7 which was really attractive to miss out.

[davinchi]

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

There is no way West Indies could win the match but the only help they can get is if the rain keeps on interrupting the match and today just 17 overs were bowled and if that continues then we might see a draw and on the betting lines it is not a good option, i waged a bet for draw and the odds were over 7 which was really attractive to miss out.

By considering the recent leap of English team, I am as well would not bet on West Indies even West Indies are known for surprising opponents. I am expecting a low scoring thriller but it seems rain is going to be playing as another team to impact the results. It is really sad a come back match is being interrupted by whether conditions.

I was curious on watching how a test match would be behind the locked doors but it seemed like usual as these days first day of test cricket usually draws less than 30% speculators hence zero audience not making any big differences while watching on TV.

If rain stays away for at least 3 days for reaming 4 days then we can see England to win this season opener under a new skipper. I like to watch Ben Stokes to be challenged in all department and this time with captaincy as well but WI may do that only in T20s, not in tests .

[pakhitheboss]

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

There is no way West Indies could win the match but the only help they can get is if the rain keeps on interrupting the match and today just 17 overs were bowled and if that continues then we might see a draw and on the betting lines it is not a good option, i waged a bet for draw and the odds were over 7 which was really attractive to miss out.

I think still west indies baller can change the game, already England has lost one wicket and if the play continues today then West indies will try to get them all out. Rain can also play the part of spoil sports.

[glowing10]

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

There is no way West Indies could win the match but the only help they can get is if the rain keeps on interrupting the match and today just 17 overs were bowled and if that continues then we might see a draw and on the betting lines it is not a good option, i waged a bet for draw and the odds were over 7 which was really attractive to miss out.

I think still west indies baller can change the game, already England has lost one wicket and if the play continues today then West indies will try to get them all out. Rain can also play the part of spoil sports.

If rain continues to hamper the games in coming 2-3 days then mostly the match would end up in the draw. For any sort of results be it England or WI win then match has to be completed without rains now from today then only we may see the chance. Though currently no one has upper hand just England have lost 1 wicket for now and still 9 to go which can become a task for WI bowlers.

[JSRAW]

Day -2 fellas.. : 60/3

Top 3 ( Sibley, Joe Denly,Rory Burns ) gone, all of them are victim of Shannon Gabriel. Denly and Rory were looking good but Gabriel was too good for them. Now its all up to Ben stokes as there is no Joe Root.

[BitSat19]

Day -2 fellas.. : 60/3

Top 3 ( Sibley, Joe Denly,Rory Burns ) gone, all of them are victim of Shannon Gabriel. Denly and Rory were looking good but Gabriel was too good for them. Now its all up to Ben stokes as there is no Joe Root.

Crucial time for both teams if West Indian bowlers able to have one more wicket then surely they can enjoy for some time as they will be on top but if Stoke start with his own style then this can create problems for them.

[JSRAW]

^^
250 is winning target here. They should try to wrap up English batsmen under 180 if they want to taste any kind of success.

3 DRS review system is working good so far, Bowling team is not hesitating to take review.

[akhjob]

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

There is no way West Indies could win the match but the only help they can get is if the rain keeps on interrupting the match and today just 17 overs were bowled and if that continues then we might see a draw and on the betting lines it is not a good option, i waged a bet for draw and the odds were over 7 which was really attractive to miss out.

What Jsraw claimed is so true, we should never underestimate Windies bowlers. As far as weather is concerned, Google shows that we won't be having much rain interruption in the following days. Now that 4 wickets are down even before 1st session ends, there is a good chance that West Indies might get ENG all out by the end of the day and we might actually have a result But your bet on Draw is too good and is worth the risk.

Edit: 5 wickets gone. Pope gone.   

[BitSat19]

^^
250 is winning target here. They should try to wrap up English batsmen under 180 if they want to taste any kind of success.

3 DRS review system is working good so far, Bowling team is not hesitating to take review.

First complete session and its belong to West Indies as now they are on top just 71 runs and 4 wickets now we have last recognise pair on crease which can play very important role in this match if they able to settle a big partnership then surely England will back otherwise currently West Indies is doing good.

[Vishnu.Reang]

Never really expected this... England struggling at 125/5 and the top order is gone. Shannon Gabriel took three of the most important wickets. When England is in trouble, normally it is Ben Stokes who come to the rescue. And this time also the same has happened. The 6th wicket partnership between Jos Buttler and Ben Stokes has so far added 38 valuable runs. Any total above 200 would be competitive, under such overcast conditions.

[AB de Royse777]

I have not tuned my Tele yet but watching the score. Stokes and Buttler needs to put more runs. It was a pain to see 5 gone for only 87 runs. Rain is going to play a vital role in this match but some if 9 sessions can be managed then maybe we will see a result.

Edit: Really!!! Stokes gone!!! :-P

[UmerIdrees]

I have not tuned my Tele yet but watching the score. Stokes and Buttler needs to put more runs. It was a pain to see 5 gone for only 87 runs. Rain is going to play a vital role in this match but some if 9 sessions can be managed then maybe we will see a result.

Stokes is out and finally the partnership between Stokes and Buttler comes to an end. England is now in deep trouble and lets see if the lower order can save them. They need another 100 runs so that their bowlers have something to bowl at.
Regardless of the poor performance from England, its good to see live cricket in action.