England's Summer Of Cricket against New Zealand and AUSTRALIA!

[Chazza]

Player of the series for me.

Nick Hoult @NHoultCricket
England now have three batsmen with 20 Test hundreds as Bell reaches three figures. long, long ovation from the crowd

[RichC]

Easily player of the series so far.

[Hollowman]

Never got it myself, the number of times you see the NWM skittles over before the close as well - pointless

I could understand back in the day, no helmets, lights fading, Jamaicans wanting to brain you. Maybe protect a couple of batsmen then. But these days it just looks an anachronism that has no reason in the modern game.

[RichC]

It's very current day England side though, ultra cautious

[RichC]

Oh and with Curtly and Courtney steaming in at you there's no blaming them back in the day

[Shaggy]

That last time we had half an hour to see out and Trott due in next but they sent in Bresnan. You want someone to go and block for half an hour so why not send one of the best blockers out to see out the day? Lots of times it doesn't make sense to me, and this with Prior/new ball is another one.

[Aj34]

All in all a good day for England

[Neil Young]

That last time we had half an hour to see out and Trott due in next but they sent in Bresnan. You want someone to go and block for half an hour so why not send one of the best blockers out to see out the day? Lots of times it doesn't make sense to me, and this with Prior/new ball is another one.

I get your point and there are times when it's going a bit far. But you know as well as I do the idea behind it: if Prior had come in, he couldn't win, the best he could do was not get out. So that means the Australians would have had two shots at him, one tonight and one in the morning.

If the nigh****chman gets out then ok, Prior comes in, but why not let someone less important take the flak if he can.

[Shaggy]

When Alastair Cook was on 11, he and Kevin Pietersen had both scored 7,731 Test runs at the same average of 48.31.

Cook has played 96 Tests to Pietersen's 98.

[Shaggy]

I get your point and there are times when it's going a bit far. But you know as well as I do the idea behind it: if Prior had come in, he couldn't win, the best he could do was not get out. So that means the Australians would have had two shots at him, one tonight and one in the morning.

If the nigh****chman gets out then ok, Prior comes in, but why not let someone less important take the flak if he can.

Of course, I just don't really agree with it. Prior could've come in, played some shots and got some runs on the board. Sure, had he managed to stay in, he'd still have to face the new ball tomorrow - but better to do it with a few runs under your belt surely.

[Neil Young]

And they've now both been out for England 161 times.

[Neil Young]

Of course, I just don't really agree with it. Prior could've come in, played some shots and got some runs on the board. Sure, had he managed to stay in, he'd still have to face the new ball tomorrow - but better to do it with a few runs under your belt surely.

Except getting a few runs on the board tonight would have meant taking more of a chance of getting out. And if he just blocks then the Australians can crowd around the bat.

I think it was justified.

Bloody umpires and bad light was silly though. It's crazy that the players have to come off when neither side wants to.

[Chazza]

Except getting a few runs on the board tonight would have meant taking more of a chance of getting out. And if he just blocks then the Australians can crowd around the bat.

I think it was justified.

Bloody umpires and bad light was silly though. It's crazy that the players have to come off when neither side wants to.

Saying on TMS that half the reason they come off is due to the umpires not being able to see the ball and being at risk of injury.

[Neil Young]

Were they wearing light enhancing lenses?

F*ck 'em, if they're that worried, just dress them up like baseball plate umpires.

Or make them wear suits of armour, that'd be cool.

Anyway I don't think anyone would be too bothered if these particular umpires were taken out permanently.

[Chazza]

Few showers forecast for this afternoon.