Cricket

[NickDRFC]

Looks as though England are about to win a Test match overseas for the first time in over 2 years (I think!). I Know Sri Lanka aren't the sternest of tests but I didn't necessarily expect us to win so to play as well as we have is impressive.

I like that they've picked a team to suit the conditions with 3 spinners and a specialist keeper; the only real gripe I have with it is that Moeen Ali isn't and never has been a Test match number 3, but there isn't really anyone else in the squad to bat there unless you were to move someone out of their more natural position (Stokes, Bairstow, Buttler?) Still it's very pleasing to see an England win, onwards and upwards from here hopefully!

[Donnywolf]

Yes an amazing win* given the start we made with 5 cheap Wickets down - and no doubt some selection problems coming up especially after Foakes's great ton and his performance behind the Wicket

Agree Ali should probably not be at 3 though the b****r can Bat for sure. Back to 7 ?

*Oops getting ahead of myself - still only 9 down !

[Geoff Blakesley]

Just back from Lanka watching the first two tests ( Forgot to forecast the cup replay.) Game still in the balance at the start of day 5 in Kandy. Nerves just easing after going there and back in a tuck tuck from Kandy to the game in Pallekele each day. Wacky races !

[NickDRFC]

My old man’s just gone out there for the last test. Tried to wind him up about being a dead rubber but really I’m just jealous. Good recovery by Yorkshire’s finest this morning - not convinced that Bairstow is the answer at number 3 (I’m not even convinced that England think that or whether he’s just the latest name out of the hat) but glad he’s making a decent fist of it.

[Donnywolf]

Aye just reached a Ton

[roversontheup]

And don’t forget the England women are in the final of the T20 World Cup in Antigua tomorrow night. They play Australia. Been some great games so far.

[Donnywolf]

Really sticking it to Sri Lanka now - 227 for 7 losing 6 wickets for around 40

That Jennings can Catch !

[idler]

8 down now.

[idler]

Make that 9. Stupid run out.

[Donnywolf]

.... and now Sri Lanka 9 down (and out) in 4th Innings

Matter of time

[Campsall rover]

Think Bairstow can bat at 3 against Sri Lanka on those pitches but on wickets in England, Australia and South Africa against good pace attacks facing a relatively new ball I think woul be a big mistake.
His game strength is as an attacking batsman and he is a number 5 batsman for me. If he keeps wicket 6/7 would suit him best.
Can’t see him keeping wicket again to be honest though as Ben Foakes is by far the best keeper in England and is a very competent batsman also.
IMO we need to find a no 3 batsman before we face the Aussies next summer. Should be Joe Root but he wants to bat at 4
Need to give Joe Denly a go I think, went to Sri Lanka but not got a game. Need to try him against West Indies in the new year.

[NickDRFC]

No chance is Denly going to get a game (nor do I think he should). He went to Sri Lanka because of what he can offer as a spinner, given that won't be as important in the Windies or here I can't see him even making the squad next time round.

[Campsall rover]

No chance is Denly going to get a game (nor do I think he should). He went to Sri Lanka because of what he can offer as a spinner, given that won't be as important in the Windies or here I can't see him even making the squad next time round.

Not sure Denly was taken to Sri Lanka primarily as a spinner.
He was the main back up batsmen in the squad.
But you might be correct. West Indies tour party yet to be announced.

[Campsall rover]

Cricket season is back.
Went to Trent Bridge on Friday to watch Notts v Yorks.
Saw Joe Clarke score a century on his debut for Notts after his move from Worcs.
A future England player imo. Could well be in the Ashes team later this summer.
Flat track so in hindsight a mistake putting Notts into bat.
First time i have seen Ben Coad not take a wicket in a whole days play.
Trent Bridge looked its usual immaculate self. Superb venue.
Very large contingent of Yorkshire supporters there as well.

[GazLaz]

I’m on Notts to win the championship 7/1. Only the or Surrey can win it surely.

[NickDRFC]

I’m on Notts to win the championship 7/1. Only the or Surrey can win it surely.

Difficult to see too far beyond Surrey for me but reckon Somerset might have a chance. Notts are a decent team and have signed well this summer but not sure their attack is strong enough to really challenge.

[Donnywolf]

Still pleased to see Yorkshire are still way ahead in number of Champs won 32 which is higher than the 2 next best Surrey and Middlesex (19+11)

Do I win the grasping at straws award ?

[NickDRFC]

Well played Yorkshire for battling to a draw. I feared we would be skittled on the last day given the batting line up has had a habit of doing that the past few seasons, although obviously we were bolstered by the inclusion of the Test captain (not that his England batting line up is known for its steadfastness and obduracy!)

That said it might not have much to do with our batting but more to do with the potency of the Notts attack

[Draytonian III]

I bet the new Notts player Joe Clarke is happy with his captain for declaring on the over night score leaving him 97 no in the 2nd innings, when he could have set a record ( I think ) of successive hundreds on debut. Should have given him 2 overs just to try a get the 3 runs needed

[NickDRFC]

I bet the new Notts player Joe Clarke is happy with his captain for declaring on the over night score leaving him 97 no in the 2nd innings, when he could have set a record ( I think ) of successive hundreds on debut. Should have given him 2 overs just to try a get the 3 runs needed

Not for me, it’s a team game. They had more than enough runs on the board to not need any more this morning - if anything their captain declared too late which presumably was only done to give Clarke the chance to get his century last night.

[GazLaz]

I thought they might have had some overs last night at us. Seemed like the batted on slightly too long. Good effort by Root and GB though to save the game.

[Draytonian III]

They might have had enough runs on the board,but what about building team morale and setting a record. Maybe it could be that Clarke will be an England player and Mullaney will never get that far

[NickDRFC]

They might have had enough runs on the board,but what about building team morale and setting a record. Maybe it could be that Clarke will be an England player and Mullaney will never get that far

I think that statement is just plain wrong, and I reckon that 99% of the cricketing world would think so too. Any decent captain will always put the team above individual glory, and any individual who has the team's best interests at heart won't have any issue with that. The suggestion that it has something to do with jealousy and purposely trying to stop Clarke from playing for England is laughable. Clarke's on the selectors' radar and 3 more runs wouldn't be the difference between him making the England squad or not.

Here's a hypothetical scenario for you - on the last day against Coventry we need a win to get in the playoffs, and it's 1-1 in the 94th minute when we win a penalty. The Peterborough game has finished so we know that a draw is not enough but a win will be.

John Marquis is level on goals as top scorer of the division and one more will win him the top scorer award, and be a new record for Rovers in this division, but he has missed almost half of the penalties he's taken for Rovers. Ben Whiteman has an unblemished record from the spot and is the safer bet to score. Who would you rather take the penalty? Marquis, who has about a lower chance of scoring and could blow Rovers' season by missing, but would get a record if he does? Or Whiteman, who has about a far higher chance of scoring?

[Campsall rover]

Yes excellent performance by Balance and Root. The pitch won in the end as a very flat track indeed for April.
The pitch didn’t have as much pace in it as expected.
Yorks need some big 1st innings scores this season if they are going to get any where near challenging for the title.
Surrey must be hot favourites again and Somerset, Hampshire, Essex and Notts all look pretty strong on paper.
Only one down this season and 3 up from Div 2.
Think Kent might struggle and Warwickshire are re building so both those promoted teams might have a long season.
Yorks are also re building with a young team so mid table again would be acceptable this season.
Cricket league tables are impossible to predict as the game itself can be very unpredictable.
COME ON YORKSHIRE 

[Draytonian III]

I said Clarke will be an England player and he will be, not that Mullany was stopping him being one . Think of the man management skill of letting a player on debut score a century in each innings, Yorkshire were always going to bat out for the draw the wicket became flatter and flatter

[NickDRFC]

I said Clarke will be an England player and he will be, not that Mullany was stopping him being one . Think of the man management skill of letting a player on debut score a century in each innings, Yorkshire were always going to bat out for the draw the wicket became flatter and flatter

If I was reading an implication that wasn’t intended re Mullaney & Clarke, apologies. Last I’m going to say on it is that the only criticism I’ve read of Mullaney’s captaincy, anywhere, (other than your post) is that he should have declared sooner.

Campsall - I don’t fancy our batting line up much without the England boys but I think we have enough for a mid table finish. Can’t see a title challenge but hopefully we’ll have a cup run alongside that as well.

[Campsall rover]

We will only see Root for one more match starting tomorrow against Hampshire & we won’t see Bairstow at all.
Need big contributions from Lyth, Ballance & Kholer-Cadmore.
I am not at all sure about young Harry Brook opening the batting.
Not convinced he is ready for that role just yet. Trouble is there is no obvious candidate.

[The Red Baron]

I said Clarke will be an England player and he will be, not that Mullany was stopping him being one . Think of the man management skill of letting a player on debut score a century in each innings, Yorkshire were always going to bat out for the draw the wicket became flatter and flatter

Joe Clarke is mixed up in a rape case at the moment although not as a defendant. He doesn't appear to come out of it very well, so I think the selectors will let the dust settle a bit before picking him. I do agree that he's an England prospect though.

Look out for Sam Hain (batsman) and Henry Brookes (fast bowler) this season.

[NickDRFC]

An iffy public image hasn’t harmed Ben Stokes’ cause in the past year!

Remember there was a bit of a buzz around Sam Hain when he broke onto the scene but doesn’t seem to have pushed on too much since then, although I think he’s in and around the Lions now.

Not heard of Brookes, which county does he play for?

[The Red Baron]

Brookes plays for Warwickshire. He made his debut at the fag end of 2017 when Warwickshire were all but down. He looked a bit of a trundler. Last season he'd put on a couple of yards and terrorised 2nd Division batsmen until he got injured (fortunately Olly Stone returned about the same time). He's fit again (Brookes that is) and should play tomorrow.

Hain's an odd one. He's been very good in white ball cricket for 3-4 years but has struggled in the Championship. Last season he showed some improvement in the red ball game. If he can carry it on, he'll be an England test contender.

I think you can't compare Clarke, who is on the fringes, with Stokes who is in many ways the lynchpin of the England team. I think Clarke's opportunity will come if he scores lots of runs this season and once this case comes out of the public memory. It has a lot of echoes of another well known case which involved a footballer then playing for one of our neighbours.