Test Cricket Prediction and Discussion Thread [self - mod]

[bryant.coleman]

Since Ollie Robinson has been suspended, Dom Bess will be replacing him for the second test. I don't have a good opinion about Bess and he was horrible during the series against India. On the other hand, Trent Boult will be joining the New Zealand squad, thanks to relaxed quarantine requirements. However, the New Zealand selectors seems to be in a dilemma. I would prefer leaving out either Mitchell Santner or Colin de Grandhomme. But there are talks on resting either one of the three frontline seamers who played in the first test.

[Haunebu]

The tweets in question were posted in 2012, when he was 17 years old). I would say that this is the height of stupidity. What next? Are they going to ban some other player, claiming that when he was an infant he showed dislike towards darker shades? And then we have clowns like Michael Carberry applauding the move by ECB.

It all comes down to whether his behaviour actually changed since then in my opinion. The ECB needs to investigate him thoroughly and if they find evidence that he hasn't changed his behaviour since then, the suspension is justified.

On the other hand, if they find evidence that he changed his behaviour, the suspension should be lifted immediately and he should be allowed to rejoin the squad asap.

Michael Holding, Michael Vaughan etc share similar views. No matter what the verdict is, his reputation definitely took a big blow.

[Sithara007]

It all comes down to whether his behaviour actually changed since then in my opinion. The ECB needs to investigate him thoroughly and if they find evidence that he hasn't changed his behaviour since then, the suspension is justified.

On the other hand, if they find evidence that he changed his behaviour, the suspension should be lifted immediately and he should be allowed to rejoin the squad asap.

Michael Holding, Michael Vaughan etc share similar views. No matter what the verdict is, his reputation definitely took a big blow.

One decade old tweet is not a valid reason to ban a player. The ECB seems to be in a desperate attempt to show off their political correctness. I don't think that they would have taken the same approach, if the player was Muslim or Black. If Ollie Robinson had exhibited any such behavior during the recent times, then I would have supported disciplinary action against him. But they are digging up his history and trying to find a reason to destroy his career. And now everything has got political, with the left-wing Labor party supporting the ECB move and the governing Conservatives opposing it. 

[pakhitheboss]

https://www.google.com/amp/s/sports.ndtv.com/cricket/england-face-difficult-time-as-ollie-robinson-twitter-row-rumbles-says-james-anderson-2459349%3famp=1&akamai-rum=off

Looks like the situation in the England camp is pretty bad currently thanks to the Ollie Robinson suspension which stunned many including me. This is a big blow since he performed well with both bat and ball against NZ.

Seems that another English cricketer is under investigation for his tweets though his name hasn't been disclosed yet. Karma is kicking them for their stupidity.

"Karma is a Bitch"

But it is too much I mean it is a decade old tweet. In my opinion that is very harsh on ECB's part, they could have given him a warning and allowed him to play. This guy deserves another chance, he was just a kid at that time.

[bryant.coleman]

Mitchell Santner has suffered a finger injury and has been ruled out for the next test match. Actually, this will be a huge relief for the New Zealand selectors, because they were facing a selection conundrum. Trent Boult has rejoined the squad and it was difficult to include him in the playing XI without dropping someone who is doing good. Now New Zealand is likely to go to the second test with an all pace attack, comprising of Boult, Wagner, Southee and Jamieson. Will be interesting to see what kind of pitch the curator will prepare.

[JSRAW]

https://www.google.com/amp/s/sports.ndtv.com/cricket/england-face-difficult-time-as-ollie-robinson-twitter-row-rumbles-says-james-anderson-2459349%3famp=1&akamai-rum=off

Looks like the situation in the England camp is pretty bad currently thanks to the Ollie Robinson suspension which stunned many including me. This is a big blow since he performed well with both bat and ball against NZ.

Seems that another English cricketer is under investigation for his tweets though his name hasn't been disclosed yet. Karma is kicking them for their stupidity.

"Karma is a Bitch"

But it is too much I mean it is a decade old tweet. In my opinion that is very harsh on ECB's part, they could have given him a warning and allowed him to play. This guy deserves another chance, he was just a kid at that time.

Woke culture and too much political correctness is reality in our new world. No one can do much about it except look other way or move on.

Mitchell Santner has suffered a finger injury and has been ruled out for the next test match. Actually, this will be a huge relief for the New Zealand selectors, because they were facing a selection conundrum. Trent Boult has rejoined the squad and it was difficult to include him in the playing XI without dropping someone who is doing good. Now New Zealand is likely to go to the second test with an all pace attack, comprising of Boult, Wagner, Southee and Jamieson. Will be interesting to see what kind of pitch the curator will prepare.

Kane is also taking break due to old elbow injury. Hope every unfit players recovers before the WTC finals.

[Juggy777]

https://www.google.com/amp/s/sports.ndtv.com/cricket/england-face-difficult-time-as-ollie-robinson-twitter-row-rumbles-says-james-anderson-2459349%3famp=1&akamai-rum=off

Looks like the situation in the England camp is pretty bad currently thanks to the Ollie Robinson suspension which stunned many including me. This is a big blow since he performed well with both bat and ball against NZ.

Seems that another English cricketer is under investigation for his tweets though his name hasn't been disclosed yet. Karma is kicking them for their stupidity.

"Karma is a Bitch"

But it is too much I mean it is a decade old tweet. In my opinion that is very harsh on ECB's part, they could have given him a warning and allowed him to play. This guy deserves another chance, he was just a kid at that time.

Woke culture and too much political correctness is reality in our new world. No one can do much about it except look other way or move on.

Mitchell Santner has suffered a finger injury and has been ruled out for the next test match. Actually, this will be a huge relief for the New Zealand selectors, because they were facing a selection conundrum. Trent Boult has rejoined the squad and it was difficult to include him in the playing XI without dropping someone who is doing good. Now New Zealand is likely to go to the second test with an all pace attack, comprising of Boult, Wagner, Southee and Jamieson. Will be interesting to see what kind of pitch the curator will prepare.

Kane is also taking break due to old elbow injury. Hope every unfit players recovers before the WTC finals.

@JSRAW while I don’t support his tweet, but I also don’t support his ban as it’s totally injustice against him, and I’m glad Boris is stepping in and hopefully he’ll be able to get ECB to overrun the ban. Furthermore I’m surprised that Boult has to face selection issues, because for me he’s yet one of the best bowler who’s played for New Zealand.

[Haunebu]

I’m glad Boris is stepping in and hopefully he’ll be able to get ECB to overrun the ban. Furthermore I’m surprised that Boult has to face selection issues, because for me he’s yet one of the best bowler who’s played for New Zealand.

I'm surprised to see blonde wig Boris actually defend Robinson's suspension. This case has clearly kicked up a big storm in England and I am expecting Robinson to play again soon as long as the investigation goes in his favor.

Also, I do agree with your opinion that Boult is one of the best NZ bowlers currently, but they are being careful since it's the final.

[bryant.coleman]

Furthermore I’m surprised that Boult has to face selection issues, because for me he’s yet one of the best bowler who’s played for New Zealand.

There is no doubt that Trent Boult is one of the top ranking pace bowlers in the world currently. But the dilemma for New Zealand selectors is whether they should go with an all pace attack (if de Grandhomme is also playing, that means a total of 5 pace bowlers). Mitchell Santner is injured and therefore they don't have the spin option. There is a rumor that Ajaz Patel may be included in the playing XI, replacing de Grandhomme. In that case they will have 5 full-time bowlers. Now this poses another dilemma. The batting lineup is already weakened due to the absence of Williamson. Can they afford to have 5 full time bowlers?

[SaShiRaJaVu]

Mitchell Santner has suffered a finger injury and has been ruled out for the next test match. Actually, this will be a huge relief for the New Zealand selectors, because they were facing a selection conundrum. Trent Boult has rejoined the squad and it was difficult to include him in the playing XI without dropping someone who is doing good. Now New Zealand is likely to go to the second test with an all pace attack, comprising of Boult, Wagner, Southee and Jamieson. Will be interesting to see what kind of pitch the curator will prepare.

Trent Boult is a natural selection in the team and Mitchell Santner would have been replaced even if he was not injured as he did not have any role in the first Test match but the inclusion of Trent Boult is a major boost for the team and they will trouble the England players. 

Kane is also taking break due to old elbow injury. Hope every unfit players recovers before the WTC finals.

It would be great to see both teams having a full strength team to battle for the first WTC.

[Vishnu.Reang]

Trent Boult is a natural selection in the team and Mitchell Santner would have been replaced even if he was not injured as he did not have any role in the first Test match but the inclusion of Trent Boult is a major boost for the team and they will trouble the England players. 

The question is whether they want to go with an all pace attack. Now they don't even have a part time spinner (as Williamson is injured). And let's not forget that Dom Bess has been called up to the England squad. There is a good chance that the pitch for the second test may be more conductive to spin bowling. So they need to think twice before going out there with an all pace attack. I would rather go for at least one spinner (even if that means dropping someone like Colin de Grandhomme).

[JSRAW]

Kiwis made 6 changes today and still bossing the game, they are in pretty good position right now. Indian camp should be worried about that as final is not going to be easy.

Edit
England fighting back, 7th wicket down but 250 seems good first inning score here.


Edit 1

Daniel Lawrence's record is not that impressive but he's going to be very valuable contributor to the test cricket in long term.

[Haunebu]

Kiwis made 6 changes today and still bossing the game, they are in pretty good position right now. Indian camp should be worried about that as final is not going to be easy.

Honestly, England barely managed to score a fighting total currently and am expecting them to get all out at 280 something. Once Lawrence gets out, the rest will probably fall quickly like dominoes.

If NZ bats well in the first innings, this match could end as a draw. Also, it's good to see the energetic crowd at Edgbaston in these COVID times.

[Mahdirakib]

Honestly, England barely managed to score a fighting total currently and am expecting them to get all out at 280 something. Once Lawrence gets out, the rest will probably fall quickly like dominoes. ~

Why you thinking that England haven't managed the fighting score before? England first innings hasn't ended yet, maybe the pitch condition is good for bowler and New Zealand may struggle to score much like England team. Day one has ended and England lost their 7 wickets today. I think we will see a winner of second test match if rain or other thing don't interrupt the game.

[eaLiTy]

I think we will see a winner of second test match if rain or other thing don't interrupt the game.

New Zealand is in a really good position as England already lost 7 wickets for 258 runs and Dan Lawrence along with the tail end players scored some needed runs and i think New Zealand could wrap up the innings in the morning session, like you said if there is no rain interruption then we will see a result and even in the last match New Zealand was winning most of the sessions but rain snatched away the victory from them.

[7788bitcoin]

~
like you said if there is no rain interruption then we will see a result and even in the last match New Zealand was winning most of the sessions but rain snatched away the victory from them.

England was in a really pathetic situation in this match and now they are recovering because they lost 6 wickets for 175 runs and i thought New Zealand will wrap them up before 220 runs but from that situation they were able to recover and score well above 258 and there is a possibility that they will try to bat longer and if they are able to score well above 300 then the match depends upon how New Zealand batsman are playing.

[Sithara007]

England was in a really pathetic situation in this match and now they are recovering because they lost 6 wickets for 175 runs and i thought New Zealand will wrap them up before 220 runs but from that situation they were able to recover and score well above 258 and there is a possibility that they will try to bat longer and if they are able to score well above 300 then the match depends upon how New Zealand batsman are playing.

New Zealand bowlers historically have fared poorly against lower order batsmen and I have noticed this two decades ago when India was touring NZ. Back then Javagal Srinath and Venkatesh Prasad put up a 100 plus partnership for the last wicket, despite a batting collapse in the top and middle order. Things have hardly changed and even now the Kiwi bowlers struggle against the tail end and lower middle order batsmen. I am not going to be too hard at them, because they had rested some of their premium bowlers.

[Maidak]

In the first Test against South Africa, the West Indies lost all their wickets by just 97 runs. I was surprised to see the West Indies batting. I did not expect such a bad game. South Africa scored 216 runs and lost 6 wickets. If South Africa can maintain their destructive bowling in the second innings, they can easily win.

[ene1980]

In the first Test against South Africa, the West Indies lost all their wickets by just 97 runs. I was surprised to see the West Indies batting. I did not expect such a bad game. South Africa scored 216 runs and lost 6 wickets. If South Africa can maintain their destructive bowling in the second innings, they can easily win.

I had no idea that there was a tournament going on between South Africa and West Indies and i did not hear much discussion here either, West Indies are not having the best team for Test matches but to get all out for just 97 runs is pathetic and this is the second day of the match and there is no way West Indies is going to recover in this match.

[eaLiTy]

I had no idea that there was a tournament going on between South Africa and West Indies and i did not hear much discussion here either,

It is not a highly advertised event and like you mentioned West Indies is not having the best team in Test and i was not having much expectation from South Africa as well but the bowlers took overs and bowled magnificently well.

West Indies are not having the best team for Test matches but to get all out for just 97 runs is pathetic and this is the second day of the match and there is no way West Indies is going to recover in this match.

Most of the players are focusing on T20 and they produce some of the greatest T20 players in the world and they dominate franchise cricket but they are yet to pick a good Test team like they used to have in the past.

West Indies already lost their second wicket and they still trail by 200 runs and some of the batsman has to step up their game to delay their defeat.