[searacer932]

Well the Aussies choked.

Missed run-out
DRS review for a ball pitching outside the leg stump :-)

What an innings from Ben Stokes!! Test innings of the this century in my opinion along with Kusal Perera's knock against SA earlier this year.

This just shows that as long as the pitch has something in for bowlers we get outstanding cricket.

[Eddy]

It is SUCH a pleasure to watch cricket in England. Truly, the home of cricket.

[landcruiser123]

What a great game by England! Loved every moment.
Australia can't really complain that they lost because of not having Smith. England are the most inconsistent side- three totals below 100 in Tests this year- 77 against WI, 85 against Ireland and 67 against Australia but they'll come back harder with this sort of record-breaking chase.

In the meanwhile, unsurprisingly- India dominating the Test match. I'm sure it should be an easy victory for India.
EDIT- Just as I write that, WI are 5/15.

[diyguy]

Originally Posted by Eddy

Flintoff = Stokes

Stokes reminds me of Botham actually in temperament and ability to win from difficult situations.

[Eddy]

Originally Posted by diyguy

Stokes reminds me of Botham actually in temperament and ability to win from difficult situations.

I've actually only heard about Botham. My earliest recollection of watching him play is the 92 world cup when he was at the end of his career.

I've seen Flintoff in his peak so I could relate more with him.

[diyguy]

Originally Posted by Eddy

I've actually only heard about Botham.

Guessed as much and reminds me I've been around longer than many folks here

[carboy]

Originally Posted by Eddy

I've actually only heard about Botham. My earliest recollection of watching him play is the 92 world cup when he was at the end of his career.

His spell to get Tendulkar in the 92 World Cup was very good. Like the old man managed to get back some of his magic to get Tendulkar out. Ambrose also bowled a nice spell to get Tendulkar in the same World Cup.

[Eddy]

I hope NZ are able to pull off a win today, inspite of a delayed declaration. Will be a cherry on the cake.

[PPS]

I don't know if it was the 'Best Test Match' ever as proclaimed since English audiences have very little idea of cricket happening outside of England, but it certainly was the best that I have seen in the last decade!

Australia wasted their reviews. Irrespective of whether Australia win the Ashes or not their 'interim' captain Tim Paine has to be sacked as he's barely contributed.

Umpiring has been horrible this series. Why can't ICC just give the guilty umpires a break as they seem to be woefully out of form, just like players!!

[landcruiser123]

Originally Posted by PPS

since English audiences have very little idea of cricket happening outside of England

Haha, so true.

but it certainly was the best that I have seen in the last decade!

For me, the best Test in this decade will be the one Faf du Plessis made his debut - Australia vs RSA in 2012. Why?
Given 4.5 sessions to score 430 for victory, things were looking tough for RSA. They started the blockathon. There were 77/4 overnight. 248/8 at the end of Day 5.
Faf scored 110 n.o. of 376
AB scored 33 of 220
An injured Kallis scored 46 of 110

The masterpiece by Stokes is not even the best innings in 2019, it was the second-best according to me. I think Kusal Perera's 153 n.o. at Durban was only slightly better. Don't forget Jason Holder who whacked England, scoring 202 n.o. of 229 balls in Bridgetown and Pujara's 193 in Sydney.

[hemanth.anand]

New Zealand win by an innings and 65 runs against Sri lanka to level the series and take 60 points! After so much of play time lost to rain, a result itself was unexpected. NewZealand have played wonderfully to get a win.

[NPV]

West Indies are in tatters at 87/7 at end of play on day 2 of the second test, courtesy Bumrah's 6 wicket haul that includes a hat-trick

Kohli went for the DRS review for the hat trick wicket that seemed to have missed leg stump (even Bumrah wasn't too confident) and the review was successful!

Earlier, India's lower order batting came good and it was nice to see Vihari get his maiden ton and Ishant get his maiden half century

[harry10]

Just saw the highlights. Bumrah was magnificent. Noone deserves the hat trick more than him. Credit to Kohli for taking the review at the right moment. But, he is a terrible slip catcher. Rahul and Rahane are good ones. Can develop Aggarwal and Vihari as slip catchers. Great 100 by Vihari. Could have made a bigger one if Ishant wouldn't have lost his patience.

I wonder what is all coaching staff doing when they can't make Shami last more than 2 balls in every innings. I swear even Courtney Walsh was a better tail ender than Shami. Bumrah should bat 10th and Shami 11th from now on.

Looks like test is in the bag that too with a innings defeat if we opt for follow on. This series will give 120 invaluable points for the championship. 👍

[hemanth.anand]

WI all out in 47 overs in 1st innings. India lead by 299. Kohli decides to bat again. Baffling strategy. Bowlers have only bowled 15 overs today and i don't think they'd need rest and 299 itself is too much and the potch is not crumbling so much that batting last (if at all needed) is going to be difficult. It could've been easily an innings defeat.

[PPS]

Test Cricket will only be exciting if there are 2 evenly matched teams! This West Indies Test Series or for that matter the entire tour has been very very drab & add to it the horrible telecast by Sony. Can't wait for the 4th Ashes Test to start.