The UK Babe Channels Forum

England will get panned by India, Brook is a massive talent & a big loss, it could actually open up a chance for Bairstow as I think that Foakes would've started. Having just one experienced spinner in Leach is a flawed selection. the other 3 spinners have 1 Test cap between them. England's hands were tied, Dawson was the obvious back-up after a good county season, reliable, if not spectacular. He didn't want to be the reserve, hanging about in case Leach falls ill, which is highly likely given his health condition, so as a 30+ cricketer he took the T20 cash. Another case of T20 wagging the tail of Test cricket, this should never happen. Test cricket has reacted a tipping point.

(21-01-2024 20:51 )Boomerangutangangbang Wrote: [ -> ]^^ I don't know what is behind the strategy of Sky & cricket coverage, it could purely be a case of being out-bid by TNT, they have already lost the Ashes in Australia to BT. Sky had a monopoly for many years with Test Cricket, home & away, competition is healthy & only fair that it get shared out. They may have lost the India overseas Tests & filled the void with the SAT20.

TNT are owned by Warner Brother Discovery and BT merged BT Sports into TNT Sports last year so all BT Sports are now under the name of TNT. That makes them a power not only in UK Sports broadcasting but with global reach & ambitions as well. Discovery also own Eurosport and have the broadcasting rights in Europe for the Olympics until 2032 (they share some content with members of the European Broadcasting Union eg BBC)

^^ Cheers mate, that's passed me by. I did wonder how the mighty Sky had lost it's dominance. You would assume that Sky UK will have to prioritize the home Tests if possible.

(21-01-2024 21:33 )SecretAgent Wrote: [ -> ]

(21-01-2024 20:51 )Boomerangutangangbang Wrote: [ -> ]^^ I don't know what is behind the strategy of Sky & cricket coverage, it could purely be a case of being out-bid by TNT, they have already lost the Ashes in Australia to BT. Sky had a monopoly for many years with Test Cricket, home & away, competition is healthy & only fair that it get shared out. They may have lost the India overseas Tests & filled the void with the SAT20.

TNT are owned by Warner Brother Discovery and BT merged BT Sports into TNT Sports last year so all BT Sports are now under the name of TNT. That makes them a power not only in UK Sports broadcasting but with global reach & ambitions as well. Discovery also own Eurosport and have the broadcasting rights in Europe for the Olympics until 2032 (they share some content with members of the European Broadcasting Union eg BBC)

Yes I thought I knew that from somewhere!! Hopefully this time, SKY will have the true competition that has been lacking for so long.

Will this mean that there is a very SMALL chance then that cricket may get back to being free to air in UK?

(21-01-2024 21:02 )Boomerangutangangbang Wrote: [ -> ]England will get panned by India, Brook is a massive talent & a big loss, it could actually open up a chance for Bairstow as I think that Foakes would've started. Having just one experienced spinner in Leach is a flawed selection. the other 3 spinners have 1 Test cap between them. England's hands were tied, Dawson was the obvious back-up after a good county season, reliable, if not spectacular. He didn't want to be the reserve, hanging about in case Leach falls ill, which is highly likely given his health condition, so as a 30+ cricketer he took the T20 cash. Another case of T20 wagging the tail of Test cricket, this should never happen. Test cricket has reacted a tipping point.

I agree Book is a massive loss he will be missed but I think when I look at the Indian team for the First Test we know that we have to make inroads as quickly as possible, but when you think how far down and how well India bat down the order it's going to take a lot of hard work every game and every day. McCallum said "we will not change our style" which might come back and bite him on the backsaide if things don't go well and downhill pretty quickly. We do need s plan B in place IF Plan A doesn't work!!!

(23-01-2024 06:00 )lovebabes56 Wrote: [ -> ]

(21-01-2024 21:02 )Boomerangutangangbang Wrote: [ -> ]England will get panned by India, Brook is a massive talent & a big loss, it could actually open up a chance for Bairstow as I think that Foakes would've started. Having just one experienced spinner in Leach is a flawed selection. the other 3 spinners have 1 Test cap between them. England's hands were tied, Dawson was the obvious back-up after a good county season, reliable, if not spectacular. He didn't want to be the reserve, hanging about in case Leach falls ill, which is highly likely given his health condition, so as a 30+ cricketer he took the T20 cash. Another case of T20 wagging the tail of Test cricket, this should never happen. Test cricket has reacted a tipping point.

I agree Book is a massive loss he will be missed but I think when I look at the Indian team for the First Test we know that we have to make inroads as quickly as possible, but when you think how far down and how well India bat down the order it's going to take a lot of hard work every game and every day. McCallum said "we will not change our style" which might come back and bite him on the backsaide if things don't go well and downhill pretty quickly. We do need s plan B in place IF Plan A doesn't work!!!

Depends on how much England and their supporters want the victory over the headlines for the brand they play?? On a couple of podcasts I watched previewing the series - Talksport - following on in particular - the talk was around how quick the series could be done and dusted one way or the other, with England determined to play the 'Bazball' brand come what may. Both podcasts came down on the result not mattering as much as the entertainment?? Changed days indeed! Try convincing Boycs' of that. I guess it speaks to the World Test Championship not being the pinnacle prize in Test Cricket. Maybe another issue for those that want to 'protect it' to address??

The results not mattering goes against everything about what sport, or at least elite level sport is all about. On recreational level it's can be said that it's the taking part that counts, fair enough. Top level sport is all about results.
Buttler was using the brand of cricket being important before the World Cup & look what happened there. Morgan was the opposite, he won matches & series, that is the bottom line.
I doubt it will matter what brand of cricket England play, the may believe that taking the positive option gives them the bast chance to win. For me the types of wickets that they will face will be a big factor, but above all we don't have the personnel. Cook had Swann & Panesar, Stokes has Leach & the rest are unproven.

The overall strength of the Indian bowling line up worries me enormously.
Even if their spinners don't get you their seamers probably will.
Their attack in their own conditions will cause England batsmen a load of problems.
Worried Snooks .

Someret spin bowler Shoaib Bashir is having to fly back to England for Abu Dhabhi to get the correct approval at the Indian embassy.
He hopes to return to India by the weekend but will miss the first Test.

It seems a silly thing to demand as they could have sorted the paperwork once they reached India

But the Indian authorities actions are giving the ECB a decision to make:
1. Do they play the 1st test without Shoaib.
2. Do they not play the first test
3. Do they all come home in dispute.