Day 1 of the 4th Test match in this year’s Ashes series was just another example of how England make Test matches boring.
England finished Day 1, 9 wickets down for just 238 runs at just a run rate of 2.64 run per over.
And that was after they scored 42 in the last 10 overs of the day.
So, in the first 80 overs of the day, England only managed to put on 196 runs. Who wants to sit into the early hours of the morning and watch that?
In fact, at the lunch break after 27 overs, England only had 57 runs on the board. That is just over two runs an over.
England only had four batsmen with a strike rate of 50 and above on the day and two of them were the unbeaten tailenders at the end.
In fact, in nearly every Test match in this Ashes series, England have got off to a ridiculously slow start. However, on most occasions they have been able to score at least 3 runs an over.
Even so, most of this is just power hitting by tailenders and Matt Prior to take the run rate up to 3 runs an over mark.
To give you an idea of just how slow England batted and just how boring it is to watch, here are some stats from England’s first innings.
Alastair Cook scored 51 runs off 164 balls in 230 minutes. So, Cook batted almost all the way to tea, which is four hours of play for just 51 runs. His strike rate was 31.09, that is less than a run every 3 balls.
Joe Root, did not do much better with 16 runs off 52 balls at a strike rate of just 30.76.
John Bairstow? Pathetic he was with just 14 runs scored off 77 balls at a strike rate of 18.18. Now, if anyone can say they want to sit there and watch England build their defence like the US army, then good luck.
As for Australia, you never know what to expect.
They have batsmen like David Warner, Michael Clarke, Shane Watson, Brad Haddin, and Chris Rogers – who recorded almost a run each ball while scoring 80 odd in the 3rd Test.
If they get going then Australia’s run rate normally sits close to 4 runs an over, which is what fans want to see and Australia’s run rate was higher than 4 runs an over in their one good batting performance of the series to date.
Yes, England need credit where it is due, and their method seems to work and help them to win Test matches, but they do it slowly, gritty and determined in a way that fans might be more inclined to watch Lawn Bowls.
YahWho
Guest
The Fifth Test in England is an example of what I would site as boring. Requiring about 230 to win, Australia bowl 7 overs in the last 47 minutes. They bowl wild short pitched stuff down the leg side which the batsmen have no chance of reaching, the bowlers suddenly abort run ups in delivery stride and fielders look to the heavens, whilst gesticulating towards the umpires (even though they are supposed to be in sole charge of the decision making these days regarding bad light). But Australia are in a unique position in that they would never stoop to play negative cricket and it is only all right if they are pointing other teams flaws out, anyone who points out their flaws must be a vindictive pom or pommie sympathiser, of course.
JimmyB
Guest
This may have something to do with the fact that all the power lays with India and they are more interested in the short form of the game. I'd love to know what television viewing figures are like for test cricket around the world. They may give a more accurate yardstick to it's popularity than just looking at venue attendance figures alone.
Tall Timber
Guest
You're talking about one match that's played in 4 years. What about the rest of the Test Cricket world? It's funny when people try and point to the Ashes to try and show Test Cricket is going okay. The Ashes is pretty much the only thing Test Cricket has going for it.
anfalicious
Guest
Crowd figures would suggest otherwise. The last two boxing day tests that England played in were the biggest since '74.
Tall Timber
Guest
I don't know why people keep knocking 20-20. If it goes away then say goodbye to Test Cricket for good. Test Cricket is living on borrowed time.
JimmyB
Guest
Quite right James. Have to say this Test match has been thoroughly boring hasn't it, what with the momentum swinging backwards and forwards, Harris and Broad, Rogers and Bell. Give me a 20/20 any day of the week.
James
Guest
yeah as an english fan i wish england batted more like australia, i love cameo quick fire 20s and 30s and then losing. its so exciting. i just like the pace of test match cricket, especially whilst its late at night with a cup of tea or hot chocolate whilst listening to michael holdings voice. anyone who thinks there is a better way to spend a few hours watching cricket than that then, i pity the fool. :-)
Chris
Guest
I suspect they're more likely to sue them for libel than ignore it. Given they named Pietersen. The legal letter did state further action would be taken.
Disco
Roar Guru
Indeed. But that wasn't my point.
Scouser92
Guest
Excellently put.
Will Tearle
Guest
It's called a test match for a reason because it is a test to score runs there not going too be scoring at 4 an over -- Comment from The Roar's iPhone app.
JimmyB
Guest
You're probably right mate, but boring, arrogant etc are one thing. Using the word cheat is quite an emotive term, it's going to get a response isn't it?
swerve
Guest
No mate and they (Channel 9) won't. They aren't making these comments for this ashes series there being made for the next ashes series. The best thing the ECB can do is treat it like water of a ducks back. In fact I think they need to be a little arrogant about the comments and treat them with the disrespect they deserve. Ignore and walk away is the best way to deal with a bully. England only need to play the 11 on the field or off it.
JimmyB
Guest
Just watched Cricket writers on TV and they were talking about how England are annoyed by Warne calling them arrogant but they are absolutely apoplectic about channel 9 calling them cheats. Have channel 9 withdrawn this statement yet let alone apologised?
swerve
Guest
England should look to Australia's "Calypso Cricket" for guidance.
swerve
Guest
Yes of course JimmyB. I nearly forgot. Bugger what a boring lot of arrogant bas.......ds we are. I for one am totally ashamed of myself. How could we possibly redeem ourselves? Oh I know we should tell Pieterson not to try to hit Lyons out of the ground the first ball he faces, what an arrogant so and so. He should have blocked it and played it defensively. Oh hang on wait a minute now he's boring. I'm lost............................
JimmyB
Guest
You forgot to mention arrogant as well as boring Swerve.
JimmyB
Guest
Congratulations, possibly the stupidest comment I've read on this board.
swerve
Guest
+1
swerve
Guest
Let me get this straight England played boring rugby when they won the world cup in 2003, now that they have won and retained several ashes series they are also boring. MMM might be time for me to stop supporting the boring so and so's and get on board with the BAD LOSERS. PS Did you post this article before Australia ground their way to 222 in a day? True test cricket fans can value and enjoy tough cricket even if that means slow cricket. You sound like you are the "instant gratification generation" Stick to T20 mate, but whatever you do don't support England were boring at that too.