France in Focus

Great cricket in the test today unless you are Australian.
Zak Crawley was selected a couple of years ago to open for England. His early performance was not great and often not in double figures. There were a lot of advisers saying he should be dropped. The coach stuck by him and said to him “Zak there are 3500 batsmen in the world and only 6 of them are better than you. Go out there and enjoy yourself “
Today he opened and scored 189

In with a good chance but the weather

There's a breathless hush in the Close to-night
-Ten to make and the match to win
A bumping pitch and a blinding light,
An hour to play and the last man in.
And it's not for the sake of a ribboned coat,
Or the selfish hope of a season's fame,
But his Captain's hand on his shoulder smote
Play up! play up! and play the game!

If a tennis or golf competition is severely delyaed by the weather the organisers often run into an extra day. Why can this not be done for something as important as the Ashes? The weather forecast for Manchester is dry with some sun for today and tomorrow.

ajm wrote: ↑Mon Jul 24, 2023 9:46 am If a tennis or golf competition is severely delyaed by the weather the organisers often run into an extra day. Why can this not be done for something as important as the Ashes? The weather forecast for Manchester is dry with some sun for today and tomorrow.

Apparently there was a few hours play still available until, instead of playing, they all went to tea
If these silly rules,re. rain stops play, are taken to the extreme, does it mean that if the opening side bats & scores one run they win if the whole test is rained off for the rest of the allowed time?

ajm wrote: ↑Mon Jul 24, 2023 9:46 am If a tennis or golf competition is severely delyaed by the weather the organisers often run into an extra day. Why can this not be done for something as important as the Ashes? The weather forecast for Manchester is dry with some sun for today and tomorrow.

Some would argue that, surely five days is enough.

L Austin France wrote: ↑Mon Jul 24, 2023 7:37 pm

ajm wrote: ↑Mon Jul 24, 2023 9:46 am If a tennis or golf competition is severely delyaed by the weather the organisers often run into an extra day. Why can this not be done for something as important as the Ashes? The weather forecast for Manchester is dry with some sun for today and tomorrow.

Apparently there was a few hours play still available until, instead of playing, they all went to tea
If these silly rules,re. rain stops play, are taken to the extreme, does it mean that if the opening side bats & scores one run they win if the whole test is rained off for the rest of the allowed time?

No- it's called a draw.