Mr Popodopolous

I think this team has something about it...

Great result. Flint's superb return continues, Reid scoring again. Couldn't bear to listen after 3-2, nerves, superstition.

Well done to all though, that's a very good result.

Congratulations to Jimmy. Great landmark to reach, great player for England.

TMS without Blofeld. Another of the old crew gone.

Enjoyable series all in all. Catching was woeful from both sides though, bit of a throwback to when sides were not good at fielding.

Our lower order is invaluable... Get feeling we will need it big time in Australia. Top order was and is a concern but the ball has been doing a fair bit all summer so it's always difficult in those circs.

Windies...clearly not very good, nor awfully experienced also. Strike me as kind of side who can pull out a performance every so often. Ranging from a well fought loss to a major shock win. Been fairly similar with them for a while.

3 minutes ago, AppyDAZE said:

Another argument, I know.. but how does the captain get back in the side?

Nice dilemma to have!

Great result.

Really good result, not many sides win at Reading. Would have been happy with a point pre game tbh.

FLINT!!

His first proper game for us since the transfer saga!

Should be a result- seems to be no rain forecast for the remainder.

Very open game now.

If we can get a lead of 50 say, that would be invaluable in these conditions!

Not a lot to play for but good win for Gloucs.

By 10 wickets, wrapped up early doors.

If that rain doesn't stop looks like a local derby in the CC on the cards?? 

As for us, well it went poorly indeed. However WI DO deserve credit for raising it.

Declaration? Rather that than inch towards an overly cautious bore draw. 321 in Test cricket in 96 overs v WI at Headingley? Draw at worst scenario. In fact, both Mikes- Atherton and Brearley- were of the view that we should have declared sooner to maybe sneak a wicket on the 4th evening. Whole different game then. WI clearly batted well, we were clearly below where we should have been in all areas- but they dropped catches which cost too. One of those games, albeit one we shouldn't have lost!

Had a look at the thread- quite agree with @EmersonsRed 

Think Bangladesh won a Series in SL last year too- would go further and not just say they decent in Bangladeshi conditions but subcontinental conditions generally.

Two words?

Extremely unconvincing.

We got lucky, not one bit of doubt. When Hartbury great position to get a try they knocked on. Plus they missed a conversion that just lacked the power- after their first try.

These happened at key moments. Can understand a slow start v a seasoned Championship side...different style of play etc.

However...this is a ******* college side we scraped by against??

Seems to have come from outside the ground- seems that armed police have arrived!?

Gayle, Bravo, Sammy 3 key players who retired themselves.

Chanderpaul was aging so obviously he would have retired anyway.

Beyond that, don't seem to have a lot. Even Bangladesh in 2010 put up more than this.

58 minutes ago, Robbored said:

No they're not and seemingly unable to offer any serious challenge to England. Leaderless as well.

Its a sorry state of affairs.

Yup. Been in sharp decline since at least 2007. They can still put up useful resistance at home v most sides but beyond that...

Well it's as expected end of Day 1.

West Indies are a shambles in all honesty, have been for some time. I believe varied Test players from them have retired for the greater riches of 20/20. They are nothing, absolutely nothing like WI sides of old.

Well it's a run chase. Rain wiped out most of Tuesday.

Gloucestershire set 370 in 51 overs. Draw it will be, I would have declared on 320 lead perhaps, maybe even 290. 370 is just too high in just over half a day but let's see!

37 minutes ago, Tomarse said:

Certainly better than last weeks offering!

Better wicket I dare say.

35 minutes ago, Tipps69 said:

Their captain (Du Plessis) was also missing at late notice, so no knowing how much of an affect that had on them as a team.

Hence the reason why I stuck a wedge on England to win.

But Du Plessis is back now although rather ridiculously they will lose Rabada for the 2nd test.

Forgot about him.

Think we will win this series- unsure when we last beat SA in England Test series, feels like a while? Should be a close series though still.

Looking at SA too, it's ironic that they've finally found a useful or at least passable spinner- but lost a large wedge of batting strength that could set it up for him to take advantage. A bit like when India finally found decent pacers, their great batting side was aging together.

An excellent first day by the sound of it- pitch could be a road, may well be being an outground.

Still- Worcestershire win toss, insert us and...343-8. Gotta be good hasn't it?? Should reach 4th batting point minimum.

Well that was great. Wow.

Very interesting 4th day that- listened on TMS as usual, excellent. Funnily enough on Friday I was planning going up Day 5, thought it may have gone the distance but that's a great result. This SA...seem to lack the vintage of past SA, Smith, De Villers and Gibbs to name 3 in the batting. Steyn injured also but still take nothing away- that afternoon was stunning.

Cook out.

Incidentally, Blowers- this is his final Summer of Test cricket, after this summer he will no longer be on TMS.

TMS will be poorer without him.

2 minutes ago, Tomarse said:

Apparently having a game tomorrow 

Heard something about it on the Commentary. Something about a game, didn't catch who though.

There we are.

10 wicket win, and in less than 2 days. Good result, shame for Festival Goers who didn't see more play. Momentarily up to 5th...

1 hour ago, hodge said:

BBC have listed everything as tea, so much suspense to see what the next break is called. 

Indeed.

Still takes a bit of getting used to, but if this is tea- as a 40 min lunch break style time- whatever next?? Dinner?

Listening in to Sussex-Gloucs.

They just called it lunch, so as we were I guess!