State of quiet shock

[Michael Rolls]

After doing their level best in the first innings to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory, England have won by 5 wickets - I can emerge from behind the sofa!
Mike

[crabbyob]

Its that man again
number 66....good on yer joe

[GrannyMac]

I opened this not knowing it was about the test.

We were going to watch on BBC2 tonight! My lips are firmly sealed now, I can't spoil OHs anticipation.

[klondike]

I opened this not knowing it was about the test.

In sport. Opened by Michael Rolls. I'm sure nobody could have guess the subject... 

[GrannyMac]

True, I didn't look at the category, just the title in recent posts.  I always look there, thought it might be a nice change from the A-Z of absolutely everything..🤪🥹😁

[klondike]

Must admit that although the board is shown too I never read it either. 

[Cassandra]

After doing their level best in the first innings to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory, England have won by 5 wickets - I can emerge from behind the sofa!
Mike

Bit late Michael for this one. The past few days have been a delight for me watching every ball with two great ex England players who are my guests here. The amazing Joe Root, who all three of us would now put in an England side since WW2 batting at 5 and replacing the great Colin Cowdrey! Can you imagine him and Dennis Compton, both in their primes at the crease together on a track like this latest carpet at Trent Bridge? Two of my American neighbours joined yesterday and are really enjoying the English 'Ball Game' scene. Especially the 'live commentary' team in my living room! Apparently three more have requested 'joining' for the next Test too! Admission is a 'Becks 6 pack' and Tillie does a light lunch and then traditional Scones, Jam & Cream Tea!

Bit out of sync here in timing of course but still great fun, educating our cousins on the great game. Next time we're going to watch it 'recorded' but a day late so we can be in the same time frame for lunch and tea, which can go on a bit longer than the allotted timing in the test!

[Michael Rolls]

hope I am not spoiling any anticipation - but today WOW!!!!!!Hard to imagine ROOT not being in any post WW2 best ever side, and pretty good for any all time XI.
Licking my lips over a Valhalla XI that featured Hobbs, Gooch, Hammond, Root, Compton and Barrington as the first 6 - a group capable of dealing with anything! And as for the attack - how to chose from Trueman, Statham, Tyson, Anderson, Laker, Swann, Bedser, Snow? And keepers?
Mike

[Cassandra]

Yes, the 'panel' over here, now expanded by another distinguished guest, (ret cricket journo & another ex England player). He was visiting his daughter in Canada, heard of our gathering and was promptly invited and arrived yesterday for at least a week. Jointly we have proclaimed the following members for a post WW2 eleven

All are assumed to be 26 years of age at the time and to have played for at least 5 years, post 1945 (unfortunately therefore precludes both the great Hobbs and Wally Hammond).

1) Hutton 2) Boycott 3) May 4) Compton 5) Root 6) Barrington 7) Botham 8) Knott 9) Trueman 10) Underwood 11) Anderson

As its a 'tour', the Squad included: Graveney, Cowdrey, Gooch, Cook, Laker, Tyson, Statham & Bedser. Reserve keeper was Bob Taylor. (Graham Thorpe & Trevor Bailey as send out replacements). Almost an alternate team in their own right!

Depending on the surface, some suggested replacing Underwood with Tyson or Bedser? Personally as he was such a variable bowler (flat medium pace cutters to square turners) I'd never go into a match without him. I watched him destroy sides on seaming tracks too many times not to!

Our manager was Mike Brearley and the redoubtable Sir Len as captain with Peter May vice.

[Michael Rolls]

super side!

[Cassandra]

Yes and think of the ommissions,

No Lock, Evans, Gower, Edriches, Lamb, Willis, Amiss, Stokes, Washbrook (not exhaustive)

[Michael Rolls]

Even a third XI for Valhalla would be pretty terrific!
One thing that always amuses me is the emotion players show now - can you imagine Sir Leonard leaping up and down, waving his bat in the air to celebrate a century? Not decrying it - just entertained
Mike

[Cassandra]

Or the great Fred Trueman, personally I loathe it all, just as presenters on TV keep gushing in with their 'Brilliant, Outstanding, Awesome etc references to just average events taking place, or usually about very dull and boring people!

Excessive 'generation Z' gloop all of it.

Same thing with women commentators in the Tests. We instantly switch over to an 'atmospheric' microphone with the right background sounds and one of us takes over the commentary with one of our own 'ex Test Stars' providing comments. Seriously it's much better!

[Michael Rolls]

👍👍👍

June 16, 2022, 07:21:00 PM
Oh, and when Potts claimed his first Test wicket at Lords he leapt high into the air as did (I think) Stokes and it was replayed in slow motion - all the grace of a pair of ruptured gazelles!
Mike

[Cassandra]

Brian Statham was so calm when he took a wicket, saving all the excessive jumping etc for the energy to bowl the next ball. Its an affliction imported from T20 and other 'pyjama' forms of the game Mike and more broadly representative of the younger generation.

For example 'Ollie Pope' enjoys 'Love Island', to me vacuous rubbish - says it all really. Choice is of course subjective but does usually reflect the mentality of the appreciator?