Here’s something to mull over. Why have umpires become so much more lenient with regards to ‘bad’ light – or, rather, light conditions when the natural light is all but gone and the floodlights have taken over. Last night at Lord’s they were playing in practically nighttime conditions. I’m sure in the recent past in those conditions it was considered too dangerous and the red ball was deemed too difficult to see. Abu Dhabi and the Ashes test at the Oval are two tests I remember where play was farcically stopped due to ‘poor’ light.
Not sure, really. Was certainly very dark last night, but it’s good that they carried on: no need to go off when a full house of paying punters are loving it. I reckon one of the best rule changes has been not giving the batsmen the right to take the light.
Marcus Trescothick is on Sky reminiscing about his early days in Test cricket, against the Windies 17 years ago. Some of my first memories of the game, that series. I went to the Lord’s Test actually. Might have been my dayboo.
Mad to think, then, that I watched Trescothick play yesterday. He made his 65th first-class ton this week and, as a result, his beloved Somerset have a decent chance of survival in Division One. Wonderfully, he was fielding short leg as they secured their victory over Warwickshire. Just a great man, and perhaps my favourite ever.
Lots of chatter about Jimmy’s running-on-the-pitch issues. Needs to be careful, as he’s on his final warning. Know what I reckon? I think it’s Big Toby’s day. Roland-Jones is a man who knows a thing or two about bowling at Lord’s in conditions suited to batsman. He’ll get at least four of the last seven.
Anyway, Brad McMillan reckons I’m thirsty.
If you’re anything like me, it sounds like you have plans tonight which could jeopardise your ability to clearly think tomorrow morning if you’re already considering whether the match will still be going?
Anyway, my bold prediction from the fence, if we don’t bowl them out before lunch today, we’ll see play on Monday, never mind tomorrow.
I do have plans tonight. But I don’t think they’ll frazzle my brain too much for tomorrow. And that is some prediction. The forecast for the weekend is pretty fair. I think there will be play tomorrow, but only til lunch, at which England will chase their target of 200 or so four down.
Stuart Law is talking to Athers on Sky. Law is a hilarious man. I once interviewed him over the phone in Australia about the great moments of his great career, many of which, of course, came in county cricket.
It had all been very friendly and convivial as I waxed his ego about how good he was at batting. But we had spoken briefly about his fractious relationship with Nasser at Essex and this had obviously stoked the fire in his belly a touch, ao as I was signing off the call, from nowhere he just shouts: “tell your mate Nasser he’s a [insert word far too naughty for a family-friendly OBO]!!!!”
I laughed, nervously, and said “see ya Stuart”, and haven’t seen or heard from him since. Punchy bloke.
Suprised to hear your co-commentator say towards the end of yesterday’s play that he still puts England as favourties. Their last-innings chase record is dire! The Windies have a younger, more gung-ho approach and if they get a lead of about 150 the England collapse is odds-on.
Also, any fellow listener found an overseas TMS link that works today? Today’s TMS twitter link doesn’t. Yesterday they didn’t even post one.
I think England have to be favourites, don’t they? Windies’ lead is very slim, and their top three is gone. Get SHope and Chase and they’ll be in a great spot.
You can contact me, by the way. Tell me what you’re up to on this fine Saturday morning, or tell me when this Test will end (will it make it to my OBO shift this time tomorrow?), or tell me your favourite memories of the great Jim.
For pithy ideas, get me at @willis_macp on the Twitters. For longer thoughts, slide into my inbox at the utterly cumbersome [email protected].
Well, good morning. There’s been a bit of conjecture about the timing of this Test – in September? At Lord’s? – but right now London’s skies are blue, the air is warm and it feels like summer at its highest. Just a delight. Is this the start of an Indian summer? Let’s hope so. We damned well deserve it after a filthy August like that. I’m Will Macpherson and I’m here to guide you through the first half of the day, at which point I’ll hand over to the great Rob Smyth.
So, Jimmy Anderson 501, eh? Always did love his arrers, the great man. What an achievement 500 is (stumps flying on a Friday afternoon at Lord’s – how good?), and what a ball to get rid of Kieron Powell, the 501st. So good it’s actually hard to describe, but I’ll try: slanting in, pitching on middle from round the wicket and hooping away from the left-hander’s defence and taking the top of off. What a bowler.
The show moves on under the sun today. Will it finish today? West Indies are three down, and just 22 ahead. The conditions should be better for batting, you’d think.
England Cricket
