FighterControl

1st Test tomorrow at Headingly

1. ⁠Zak Crawley
 2.⁠ ⁠Ben Duckett
 3.⁠ ⁠Ollie Pope
 4.⁠ ⁠Joe Root
 5.⁠ ⁠Harry Brook
 6.⁠ ⁠Ben Stokes (C)
 7.⁠ ⁠Jamie Smith (WK)
 8.⁠ ⁠Chris Woakes
 9.⁠ ⁠Brydon Carse
10.⁠ ⁠Josh Tongue
11.⁠ ⁠Shoaib Bashir

1st Test starts on Friday 20th.

6th shift at work lost all sense of days

Come on boys …time to get some cracking scores on the records.

England won the toss and will bowl

That might have been a mistake; India 52 without loss.

200 for 2.

England "we'll have a bowl"

Umpire "you may regret that"

Stokes gets a break through. Jaiswal gone for 101. 221-3. Pitch not really doing much.

Always have a bat first at Headingley.

So pee'ed off that the game isnt after next weekend - when we are in Leeds !

England will resume on 209 for 3. India ended on 471. Lower than I expected, so was a pleasant surprise when I finally got a signal after Duxford

Last day, England chasing 371. Currently 125 for 0

I just hope the rain doesn’t spoil a really good, well matched ,test match.

England suffered a bit of a wobble before the rain. 269 for 4. Still needing 102. Taking tea

England win by 5 wickets

Got to admit that was a squeaky bum listen on the laptop here in Seattle.
Was sure the rain would end up helping the opposition.
So having slated England's decision to bowl first it seemed 'baz-ball' might come a cropper once they knocked up such a score.

However this run chase did set some records as well.
First time an opposition have score 5 centuries against Eng and still lost.
This is only the 3rd Test in history that all 4 innings were over 350.

Onto the next one and enjoy(from behind the sofa'!

Joffra recalled to squad for 2nd Test

Can someone please explain the rationale of selection for the England cricket team? It seems to me that it's essentially an exclusive club that once you become a member it matters little what you do thereafter.

Jofra Archer has played ONE 4-day game in over 1500 days, no Tests since 2021 and yet on the back of a very average 18-20 overs for Sussex he's straight back in the side? He's a good player with speeds only Mark Wood matches from these shores but how on earth do you earn a Test recall after playing just once in this format in 4 years?!

The selectors obviously think he will be a point of difference but he's no spring chicken anymore. Woakes likely to be the fall-guy for this experiment I expect after less than desirable figures in the first Test.

Well he seems somewhat injury prone, so I suppose the thinking is use his speed before he's out with injury again.

I do agree with you re Woakes though, he's a safety net for our bowling attack and a good batter when it gets a bit tight.

Joffra was only selected to join the squad. He is not in the playing eleven for the match.