Cricket

[Yozza]

565-6 declared

416 to avoid the follow on...

[Sus]

Yeah the Indians before the Ashes which will be useful

Still don't see the point of playing Zimbabwe

Yes agreed unless they have to or it's cheap points for the WTC

[ChesterDave]

Bye bye Benky, Benky bye!

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/articles/cqj7wk990evo

ancashire have parted company with men's head coach Dale Benkenstein after a winless first two months of the County Championship season.

The South African, 50, leaves with Lancashire seventh in Division Two, having been relegated from the top flight last season.

They are the only club in either division not to have won a Championship game this summer.

"Following a difficult start to the season, we feel now is the right time to make a change, as we look to improve our on-field performances," Lancashire's director of cricket performance Mark Chilton said in a club statement., external

Former Red Rose batter Steven Croft has been named as interim men's head coach, assisted by Will Porterfield, Craig White and Karl Krikken.

Croft's first game will be Lancashire's T20 Blast opener at home to Worcestershire Rapids at Emirates Old Trafford on Thursday (18:30 BST).

Having finished ninth in Division One last season, nine-time champions Lancashire are playing second-tier cricket for the first time since 2019.

But they have had a miserable start which continued on Sunday as they were beaten by an innings and three runs inside three days by Division Two leaders Leicestershire.

Defeat left the Red Rose 73 points behind the East Midlands county at the halfway point of the Championship campaign.

The loss marked a fifth time Lancashire have lost by an innings during Benkenstein's near 18-month tenure.

In his final interview with BBC Radio Lancashire, external after the game at Grace Road, Benkenstein said there was a lack of clarity within the club about whether the priority was winning or giving young players time to develop.

However, he also admitted there were glaring weaknesses within the team.

And with expectations the club should be challenging for immediate promotion, as has happened on each occasion they have previously been relegated, Lancashire announced Benkenstein's departure on Wednesday by "mutual consent".

"After relegation at the end of last season, results have not improved so far this year and after much consideration, both Dale and I feel the team will benefit from a change in direction," Chilton added.

Benkenstein had been a surprise appointment to replace previous head coach and former Lancashire captain Glen Chapple, who left the club at the end of the 2023 season.

In his two seasons as head coach of Gloucestershire, Benkenstein's side had finished bottom of Division One and then bottom of Division Two.

He inherited a team in transition upon taking charge of Lancashire, who struggled to compete against the top counties last season.

However, they have fared little better a division lower.

Just a fortnight ago, the club issued an apology to its members for how the season had started and captain Keaton Jennings resigned from his role in four-day cricket to be replaced by Australia batter Marcus Harris.

But following two more games without a win since, Croft - who only retired last summer after almost two decades of playing for Lancashire - will now be in charge in the meantime as focus shifts to white-ball cricket.

[Le Chef]

As you said - Stupid appointment in the first place, to carry him over this year was just bloody wrong. Noy sure Chiltern is the answer either.

[Zapater]

Finally, very happy with that considering how things are set up. We won't play a test match for over a year, it's bull**** tbh. Hopefully the ICC will make some changes moving forward. Huge performance after the first innings too, proper team effort.

Worth noting that this is only the third cycle of the test championship. We've had great test teams in the last decades who would have won this in the past if it exists. One day cricket has just eluded us despite having good teams, particularly in 99, 03 and 2015.

[ChesterDave]

No way Aussie's would have called Bedingham back if umpire had not said no ball

[Sus]

Finally, very happy with that considering how things are set up. We won't play a test match for over a year, it's bull**** tbh. Hopefully the ICC will make some changes moving forward. Huge performance after the first innings too, proper team effort.

Worth noting that this is only the third cycle of the test championship. We've had great test teams in the last decades who would have won this in the past if it exists. One day cricket has just eluded us despite having good teams, particularly in 99, 03 and 2015.

That was some test match and even as an Aussie I’m pleased for the Saffers - hopefully a real shot in the arm for test cricket, and an epic knock from
Markram (can’t believe he only averages 35 in tests)

I was watching on streaming and was thinking how much I would have loved to spend a few days at sunny Lords watching two proper teams go at it

Incredible that South Africa doesn’t have any tests scheduled for their upcoming summer - I’m assuming this is a financially driven decision? If so, shows the fundamental problems the longest (and best, in my view) form of the game faces

[Yozza]

Surprised England decided to bowl first...

[Sus]

And also that India said they would have bowled first if they’d won the toss

Tough day for the English - but long way to go

[ChesterDave]

Shocking over rate. 85 in a day is crap value for fans

[Sus]

Shocking over rate. 85 in a day is crap value for fans

And with a bit of spin in there as well!

[Buzzo]

England getting ground into dust so far. Big mistake to choose to bowl.

[Sus]

I don’t understand why they chose that, on a sunny day - blows my mind

[ChesterDave]

Decent response today. Last 6 wickets for 41 is either fantastic performance or a sign of the pain coming for the decision not to bat1st

[Sus]

Yep the poms needed that - keeps all results open

But it will be challenging under cloudy skies now against Bumrah. Super important first hour