1st Test: England v Bangladesh: Lord's 26-30 May

[Lemming]

Hoggard and Harmison have bowled both badly and well this morning. Hoggard occasionally pitching in the right place with good out-swing, but then no-balling regularly. Harmison mixed some well pitched, just short of a length, rearing balls with some more erratic balls. Flintoff and Jones have steadied the ship somewhat, between them taking 3 wickets. I've been very impressed with Simon Jones bowling a very lively pace with loads of swing and decent accuracy. Harmison is back on now trying to find some rhythm.

Bangladesh have scored fast but are quite suicidal with their batting. They play well off their legs but are very vulnerable outside off-stump. Disciplined English bowling would get Bangladesh wickets at will. (At least in theory)

[Maranello]

Originally Posted by Lemming

Bangladesh have scored fast but are quite suicidal with their batting.

It seems they are batting as if its a 20/20 match (at least according to the Internet commentary etc). Wwatching it live, would you agree?

[Lemming]

They definitely want to get on with things it seems. They are not hanging around and play their shots. They are very wristy (like most sub-continent players I suppose) and are very comfortable off their legs. They have minimal foot movement and so rely on timing to play outside the line of their body outside off-stump, a fatal technique in English conditions against a swinging and seaming ball.

They are playing pretty fast (I suppose not quite 20/20, but they do seem to be in one-day mode), although since Flintoff and Jones have come on they have calmed a little, but they had to being so many wickets down.

[Trescothick]

So far its a very good score for England...

Harmison and Hoggard have been ok but i wouldn't like to see this many extras against the Aussies otherwise we will suffer a lot!! So ok, but they need to step up a bit or in Hoggards case step back a bit!

S. Jones and Flintoff have been flawless great bowling with Jones only giving away 4 runs for a wicket in 4 or 5 overs... These two look to be in great knick for the Ashes

G Jones can't be faulted at all, making every catch he can with some superb dives... Tresco and Strauss have both looked good with the catches...

Things are good... Lets see what happens after lunch.

[flanflinger]

This morning just proved to me why the Bangla's should not be playing Test cricket. Apart from Jones, the bowlers under-perfomed, yet the scorecard says the opposite. Too many no-balls or balls that didn't threaten to take wickets. Yet here we are 5 wickets down at Lunch.

Very poor Test Cricket, if this was any other Test side England would be looking down the barrell. But then again if this was any other Test side England would be batting...

[Trescothick]

Come on FF. Flintoff has bowled well as well... I feel Jones and Flintoffs partnership in bowling so far has beenvery exciting. I expect more from Hoggy and Harmy though

[Richie Benauds Love Child]

Jones really has seemed to hit the ground running, bowling at a decent pace witha bit of movement. For his own sake I hope he's done enough to get the ball thrown to him by vaughan more.

[flanflinger]

Originally Posted by Trescothick

Come on FF. Flintoff has bowled well as well...

I thought Flintoff bowled OK..but he is still not quite up to his best...yet he stil picked up two wickets. My only worry is, had England bowled to their potential, could they have bowled out these boys before lunch, has that ever been done before?

[Ernest]

ff, you mean I think Harmison and Hoggard have under performed, Jones and Flintoff have bowled quote well.

Flintoff has gone for more than usual, but he has bowled a fuller length, and has got 2 wickets.

Bangladesh I don't know there is this body that says they should not bowl Test cricket, Shri Lanka were not that distinguished when they started playing Test cricket, and Zimbabwe have broke no eggs.

5 years from now, Bangladesh could well be up to the likes of India and Shri Lanka.

[Maranello]

Originally Posted by Ernest

5 years from now, Bangladesh could well be up to the likes of India and Shri Lanka.

I seriously doubt that Ern. Over the past decade or so, both India and Sri Lanka have often been better than England, and are almost the same level now. Are we seriously saying that in just five years Bangladesh have any chance of being as good as England? I doubt it. Maybe 15 years, with the right coaching and good progress.