If England lose the first Test...

[atypical_boro]

Have you seen the attendances outside of England?
Most cricket nations see test matches as a chore, yes people have said test cricket is dying (I would say its more 25 years) since the advent of t20.
I love test cricket but I would say its getting a smaller audience year on year (ashes apart).
I watch lots of test cricket and in places like the WI NZ etc when England ate not there its one man and his dog which is sad

Attendances can be poor abroad, you're right, but its been the case for a long time and in some places tests have never been well attended in person. The main drop off I'd say has been in the Windies, however. In some countries people aren't as likely to attend but still watch. It is still well attended in Australia even not against England. Countries like New Zealand and Sri Lanka have traditionally been more competitive in ODI. It is only really in Oz and England where people seem to expect the stadiums should be packed to the rafters for 5 days, and I'm not sure that's ever been the case elsewhere except Windies.

 

[Norman_Conquest]

We have put ourselves in a great position to win the first test, against the current world test champions whilst playing some of the most entertaining test cricket seen.
If we had batted on in the first innings chances are the draw would be the only outcome.
We need to win the series whist they only need to tie.
And edgebaston represents one of our best chances.
There's a argument to pick foakes over bairstow, but bairstow scores quickly and moves the game along, plus he's just back from injury so bound to be slightly rusty.
Lets face it test cricket is dying , it needs to entertain the casual viewer as well as us test cricket die hards.
This mentality is the only hope test cricket has long term imo

I think it is the modern day (younger) cricket fan who wants to see an instant result rather than a long drawn out affair. The limited overs game and T20 is what people want to watch, it is fast and exciting. Many of the expro's didn't think the T20 would take off and thought it was a gimmick that would soon die out, how wrong they were.

Personally, I love test cricket and can sit and watch it throughout the five days and now this England team has brought the way you bat in limited overs into the test game. They are setting exciting fielding positions and have raised interest in the game.

 

[Mr Sheppey]

England have no decent test openers and the bowlers at the end of their careers.

 

[Corcaigh_the_Cat]

We have put ourselves in a great position to win the first test, against the current world test champions whilst playing some of the most entertaining test cricket seen.
If we had batted on in the first innings chances are the draw would be the only outcome.
We need to win the series whist they only need to tie.
And edgebaston represents one of our best chances.
There's a argument to pick foakes over bairstow, but bairstow scores quickly and moves the game along, plus he's just back from injury so bound to be slightly rusty.
Lets face it test cricket is dying , it needs to entertain the casual viewer as well as us test cricket die hards.
This mentality is the only hope test cricket has long term imo

Dying?

Have you tried buying tickets?

 

[Steer]

Damp and muggy weather. Surely our 3 pace bowlers are going to be able to get the ball hooping around?

 

[MichaelDebeve]

Resume at 14:15

 

[atypical_boro]

England have no decent test openers and the bowlers at the end of their careers.

Duckett averages 47, despite a poor test here.

You're right about 2 of the bowlers, though I think Broad could easily go on for another year or two.

 

[Lottowyn]

67 overs to be bowled from 2.15 pm until 7.pm.
So a bit less than 3 runs an over required. Virtually, England take another 7 wickets or Australia go 1 up.

 

[Steer]

Smith and Labuschagne have gone cheaply twice. They are botht he sort of batsmen who can take a game away from you. If England can now get Kwahaja & Head out quickly, then the Aussie tail will have a lot of work to do, and their tail was pretty dreadful in the 1st innings.

It's been a very entertaining test this.

 

[MichaelDebeve]

Kwahaja the key for me

 

[atypical_boro]

Smith and Labuschagne have gone cheaply twice.

And Warner, still a big wicket.

 

[jam69]

Dying?

Have you tried buying tickets?

Yes, mostly easy to get hold of , if a little overpriced

 

[Marvanelli]

Get in!!

Come on

 

[MichaelDebeve]

Aliiiii

 

[changingman]

Yes, mostly easy to get hold of , if a little overpriced

Wish I had your luck if I'm honest. Applied in every ballot and didn't get one. Was only looking for a couple too.

 

[BobUpnDown]

Need pace in the bowling attack.. Stokes is a batter at best, 3 other seamers are too medium / quick.. team needs at least one really fast bowler..

Batting, attack yes.. but reign in the reckless throwing away of wickets.. brains over bolllocks

 

[masquesmog]

Have you seen the attendances outside of England?

Delhi March 2023

The MCG's record for largest crowd to attend a single day of Test cricket is under threat heading into the fourth and final match of Australia's series in India.

..... although, fair to say, outside of India, Australia and England, attendances may be in decline.

We have Kiwis here, maybe they will correct me re: games in NZ

 

[Nzedred]

Delhi March 2023

The MCG's record for largest crowd to attend a single day of Test cricket is under threat heading into the fourth and final match of Australia's series in India.

..... although, fair to say, outside of India, Australia and England, attendances may be in decline.

We have Kiwis here, maybe they will correct me re: games in NZ

One man and his sheep.

 

[MichaelDebeve]

.....soooo, Bairstows fault then

 

[lostinyorkshire]

Instead of declaring why didnt a few overs earlier not instruct the batsmen just go for big boundaries and see how many they could put on before losing their wicket