My dear old things, it's STW TMS!

And like that they were gone!

Wasn’t too “Bazball” was it.

Joe Roots having a blinder!

Well, this test is bubbling up nicely!! The first session day 1 was a minefield, now its a more traditional indian pitch with a few cracks developed already. If we can finish tis off for a good 1st innings lead then I wouldnt want to be batting last!

tightest of umpires calls…. looked like it was missing leg in the replay.

it’s a bit all over the place from England spinners but it’s working 😀

I think a par chase on this pitch is 200. If we get a 100+ lead, then setting 250-300 should be well beyond reach on days 4/5

I did say if……..🤦🏻

Are we surprised? One Root innings is all that serperates this from a pretty average performance.

So Anderson calls it a day, perhaps was ‘persuaded’. Would’ve liked him to beat Warnes record. Still, not enough superlatives. 🐐

I read it today it’s hardly surprising. It’s one hell of a professional sporting achievement. His knees must be toast.

Shame he couldn’t sign off at Old Trafford, but Lord’s not a bad 2nd best. I guess the deal must have been to be given one last run out at a home test.

Sadly his place in the team isn’t a sympathy vote – short term the team will go backwards without him available for selection.

I hope he goes into coaching rather than media. Just pulls a different sweater on and stays with the team for the rest of the summer.

He was obviously forced, he has been very vocal about his desire to keep going (which is refreshing for top level sports people, who seem to be in a race to retire sometimes).  I’m sure he would have preferred to exit at OT but maybe its full circle, wasn’t his debut at Lords?

I’m sure he will appear at OT on the pitch but I would have paid handsomely to be in the crowd had he been playing, you’ve no choice but to pay handsomely at Lords…

Just listened to the Tailenders episode and from that I suspect that whilst it was a tap on the shoulder it may have been just what he needed.

It’s sad to see him go, I thought he’d play the full English summer then go, going overseas again felt unlikely to me.

Scotland absolutely belting it round, shame there was only 10 overs of that!

Although covers coming back on at the break and some pretty serious clouds around, not even sure if we’ll get a result?

RM.

Rained off 😕

I think Scotland could of edged that.

Raining here raining in the westies

No way – England would have battered that score I reckon – it’s a shame we didn’t get the opportunity.

Thriller between USA and Pakistan.

Thriller between USA and Pakistan.

Anyone else thinking what I’m thinking?

Mind you, the USA guy Jones, gives it a whack.

Unusually pleased for USA tonight – after that ending (at 20 overs) I thought they’d bottle it big time in the Super Over but the Pakistani bowlers were very weirdly completely undisciplined.

Only Pakistan could deliver a Super Over like that.

Well played USA after nearly choking it.

Meh

(Pokes hamsters)

If your referring to the fantastic Indian performance then yeah.

Although winning the toss helped, losing to bowling like that is no real shame I suppose

Yep – past it. Definitely time he retired.

Think he might be fired up?

Hope he gets his best ever figures in the first test and they have to ask him to stay on for the series

So hear we are, first test of the summer and the last of Jimmy’s career.

You can’t help but think they’ll be looking at the balcony in 2 tests time wondering if their best bowler is sat there in a tracksuit with his feet up.

All hopes are that he goes out on a high, 5 wickets and a good knock with the bat would be just about perfect.

Sat here in northern Scotland with the rain lashing horizontally past the window. I really hope the weather is better down south – it’d be a shocker if his last test is spent watching the covers for 5 days.

Something slightly odd about picking a keeper who does not keep for his county because Foakes, the bloke he has deposed, is preferred. Mind you, did Alec Stuart keep for his county – can’t remember. I know it’s not very bazball but Foakes, the defacto best keeper in the world, coming in to bat and holding up an end whilst the firecracker further up the batting order lets rip seemed to make sense.

Quite a start to the afternoon session….

Seems this Atkinson fella is pretty good, eh?

Not bad at all…

If it wasn’t for that expensive 37th over, the figures for his last five wickets would have been stunning.

Monsoon for Lords please. Got a day out there on Saturday….

Folk on TMS were saying how much Atkinson reminded them of Archer because the pace seems effortless. I can see that, but he puts me more in mind of Ben Hilfenhaus circa 2009. Nothing in the approach suggests a 88-90mph rocket is on the cards. For a year or so, Hilfenhaus was that sort of pace. But he was an upright seam, outswing bowler. From what I could tell yesterday, Atkinson was pretty much wobble-seam the whole innings.

Great start, though. Him and Sam Cook and perhaps Potts/Tongue could be the basis of the next stable England attack.

Monsoon for Lords please. Got a day out there on Saturday….

Could be over in two days, forget four! Sold out all four days and there won’t be play on Sunday at this rate.

That’s why I went yesterday.

Tongue’s going straight in to my culinary / food XI

Alongside Salt, Mustard, Onions, Beefy, and Lamb. Root (ginger) in there to add some spice and all pulled together by Captain Cook.

Not totally sure on the balance and I’m 3 short at the moment. Ideas?

(he’s too old to make the starting line up obvs, but maybe Grace could address the team at the start)

^ does it need to be recent England players or would you consider Shaun Pollock & Brad Currie? Derek Pringle if brand names are acceptable. Plenty of old school cricketers with names like Berry, Cock/Cockerell, Rice etc if you stretch eras.

This match looks to wrap up by lunch tomorrow; I feel sorry for @Bear.

Pringle’s definitely in. Pollock maybe. Currie not, because I’ve just now arbitrarily decided it’s ingredients rather than finished dishes.

Will Beer (Sussex) & George Bacon (Notts)?

Oh well, definitely over tomorrow unless a miracle happens.
Mainly disappointed for my guest as I am very lucky and can go anytime.