Cricket 2026

[The Subhuman]

It's likely to stay that way while 20 over cricket reins supreme

[whiteswan]

We have become a team (Root aside) who can't bat in test cricket anymore. Unless it's a 2/3 day wicket, we are cooked. This is the end result of the McCullum/Stokes era. We have forgotten the basics and our batsmen have a one track mind, no one more so than Harry Brook. Bethell will go down the same path if he has to stomach more years of McCullum's preferred style. Our batsmen are making so few centuries these days due to the embedded rashness of their shot selection they just end up looking like fools who are doing the same thing over and over again.

I think today will prove definitive. Seemed very much self before side as far as Stokes was concerned in coming out to open the batting and when you do things like that its probably just as well you don't plan on playing for England again. I get why he did it but that doesn't make it right. What did McCullum think about that I wonder? Who is really in charge? Who thought it a good idea to announce the captain is retiring midway through the day of a test match? England are a shambles. The ECB are a shambles.

If this is a side that still thinks it is going in the right direction, they couldn't be more wrong and have been for some time. That's on Stokes, McCullum and Key. Stokes has stood down but we can only hope the other two do the same asap.

Stokes will cash in on the franchise cricket now I expect while featuring as regularly as he can for Durham. I wouldn't be in the least bit surprised if he gets a call to arms before or during the Ashes next year if things still aren't going England's way by then and I doubt he would be able to resist having one last crack at the Aussies if he is still in good shape with Durham.

That's a good read ww.
I reckon Stokes will be hoovered up by the SKY commentary team (like they did with Broad) when he hangs up his pads and gloves for good. Maybe even before for winter overseas matches. I think he would be good at that. Chris Wood and Chris Woakes didn't make an impression on me with their attempt at it. Stuart Broad is very good.

[whiteswan]

I thought that when Harry Brook was out, the way he walked off like he didn't care Hope I'm wrong,
Stumps for the day.

Just a sudden thought......is it possible that Brook was a bit ticked off not to be told of Stokes decision earlier seeing as he is vice captain

[The Subhuman]

Just a sudden thought......is it possible that Brook was a bit ticked off not to be told of Stokes decision earlier seeing as he is vice captain

Earlier than the whole team? Shouldn't have been. Stokes gathered the team beforehand and informed them of his decision

Brook is the White ball captain and that should be it in tems of captaincy...

[The Subhuman]

14-2 this morning...it's laughable

[whiteswan]

Kamakaze cricket!

[wilsdenwhite]

Yes, it has emerged all the players were told together before the start of play yesterday. The video of Stokes telling them was taken before play started but only released at tea leading us all to believe he made the decision at tea!

Then the evening reports confirmed he told everyone together before play.

[wilsdenwhite]

That's a good read ww.
I reckon Stokes will be hoovered up by the SKY commentary team (like they did with Broad) when he hangs up his pads and gloves for good. Maybe even before for winter overseas matches. I think he would be good at that. Chris Wood and Chris Woakes didn't make an impression on me with their attempt at it. Stuart Broad is very good.

Well he has said he will keep playing for Durham but for how long is anyone's guess. Might be like Cook who carried on with Essex for a couple of years after he retired from England duties. Imagine he will go abroad when the CC finishes and play the franchise stuff but yes I wouldn't be surprised if he pops up in the studio when we tour S Africa this winter.

[whiteswan]

Did anyone see the wicket of Brook shown this morning by SKY with the sound of the New Zealand cricketers turned up. They were saying "what are they doing? "What are they doing?" and laughing at Englands kamikaze play.

[The Subhuman]

Did anyone see the wicket of Brook shown this morning by SKY with the sound of the New Zealand cricketers turned up. They were saying "what are they doing? "What are they doing?" and laughing at Englands kamikaze play.

I did .... it's not a good advert for english cricket

[Barlow Boy]

Did anyone see the wicket of Brook shown this morning by SKY with the sound of the New Zealand cricketers turned up. They were saying "what are they doing? "What are they doing?" and laughing at Englands kamikaze play.

[ShaunL]

2 partnerships have made the difference in this test match.

[whiteswan]

Hopefully Brook will see that and feel embarrassed. He needs to get a grip on his batting! He has so much talent but it appears he doesn't know how to use it at the moment

[YorkshireSquare]

I mean, the last two days of cricket have just been the epitome of Baz Ball haven’t they?

Stokes, releasing his retirement news mid-session, going on to open the batting, hitting wildly to become the hero of the hour failed. As did the rest of the batters. New Zealand proved if you batted a bit more sensibly, there was time in the game, you could build a score. But no, we couldn’t do that could we.

We are left with a squad, Root aside, devoid of experience or the right mentality. Many of them lack even decent first-class experience. The team needs a full reset, management, selectors, coaches and players. I don’t think Brook is the right man for the job, not keen on going back to Root either but there are no other options.

Fun at time but it’s hard not to think that the whole experiment has left the test side in pretty bad shape.

[whiteswan]

I had to laugh. I read that Brook would be honoured to be England test captain. I think he needs to be taught to understand exactly what a test match is all anout first and foremost.

[whiteswan]

Watching the T 20 between England v India. India bat and get over 190 runs. England come in and first ball Salt gone! third ball Butler gone. England 1-2. Poor, very poor.

[The Subhuman]

Watching the T 20 between England v India. India bat and get over 190 runs. England come in and first ball Salt gone! third ball Butler gone. England 1-2. Poor, very poor.

But that was a nice over from Brook - 27 from it

Never seen Ravi bowl before, weird

[The Subhuman]

The nature of 20/20 with no time to play yourself in means wickets will fall quickly at times. Butler is jinxed I think, needs t obe pushed down the order or dropped

[The Subhuman]

That's out though as we wait for replays.... gloved for me. but way down leg and called a wide, don't think you should be out for an illegal ball

[whiteswan]

That's out though as we wait for replays.... gloved for me. but way down leg and called a wide, don't think you should be out for an illegal ball

I thought that. How can that be out if it was a wide?