Mattyblue

I got in the car just as 'Xavier' came on. They rarely have callers on these days, especially so close to full time. As others say he was obviously lined up beforehand. Didn't sound Lancastrian. Spent 10 minutes babbling on about the fans, then probably realised he should be a bit more balanced, said we needed to buy a striker and went. Very odd.

Tough tour of the UAE coming up, we all remember the last one and Pakistan have a tremendous record there. Seeing England flounder to Lyon at the Oval doesn't bode well.

To be fair it's not just England. So many Test matches are seeing batting collapses. This series didn't see one close match. The ongoing Sri Lanka/India series has seen India skittled for 120 in the first Test, Sri Lanka the same in the second test. The art of saving the game/coping with scoreboard pressure seems to be vanishing.

Good to see Jos play, he needs a good knock with the ODIs and T20 Finals Day (hopefully!) to come..

I'm sure he does have the club's best interest at heart, but it is a question of competence. I often hear about how Bowyer has brought the famed 'stability', 'saved us from relegation' (now into the third season since then, by the way), eye for a player etc. No issue with those statements, but what do you see in August 2015 that means he should stay on. HOW are we improving? what do you think is his style of play and does it impress you? What do you think of his results in 2015? What do you think of his tactics/in game management? Sentiment gets you nowhere in the modern game and airy statements like 'he needs 4 years', 'has the club at heart', 'learning his trade' etc. cuts no ice with me and it shouldn't with anyone who has the best interests of BLACKBURN ROVERS at heart, not the career development of Gary Bowyer.

So we 'get behind the manager' for ever more? Paul Ince was out of his depth and the fans let the board (and Ince) know about it. That WAS suppoprting the club as it was in BRFC's best interest for him to leave. However, as there is no longer an executive board at Ewood Park, any protests will fall on deaf ears- Bowyer knows this and it all feeds in to the complacent atmosphere that is pervading through the club.,

Of course, but he is attempting to be too circumspect, poking around for 30 balls and then getting out. Look at Stokes for an example of an aggressive batsman in limited overs adapting his game for Tests whilst still keeping the score moving.

In the Greame Swann era the Oval was often dry and partial to turn. But as spin is obviously not our best suit these days, I doubt the ECB would want to go down that road. Buttler needs to remember what got him picked in the first place. His keeping has improved markedly but it was for his aggressive lower order batting that got him the nod.

I love the game of cricket and its decline in the public consciousness since leaving free to air TV has been a real shame. However, this series has captured a lot of peoples attention, not 2005 levels granted, but in my office, out and about etc. I've heard plenty of folk discussing the cricket again, great to hear.

Aussies just can't cope with the moving ball, be that seam, swing or spin. They were also tonked in spinning conditions in India.

Would be interesting if Alex Hales could take on the Warner role. Cook and Hales would be a great contrast. Never really done it in four day cricket for Notts though.

Without doubt. It is a fine balance, you don't want too many 'crease occupiers' as before you know it you can be a few wickets down with not much on the board. However, the likes of Cook and Rogers are invaluable.

Almost a two day Test! I am enjoying the crash, bang, wallop approach to this (and the NZ series), I doubt Warwickshire's Cheif Exec is though!

Listening to Chris Rogers last night, he reckons the pitch will crack more and more as the game wears on, so we defintely don't want to be chasing much 4th innings. Put the game to bed today lads!

Interesting to see the pitch. Our bowlers need it to do a bit, another flat one and we won't get 20 wickets.

His 'barbs' are so naff though. 'You've as much charisma as my underpants'

Looks like a rain dance will be required for Sunday

I had a feeling pre series that the ECB would be ordering slow pitches, case in point this Lord's offering. All well and good, but if you lose the toss you have a mountain to climb after day 1. A shame really because the pitch at this ground for the NZ test was a cracker.

Also depends on the pitches. We prepared dry surfaces last time for Swann, hwever haven't got that luxury this time around. A seaming pitch with a bit of swing on a humid day could have them in all kinds of trouble. But will the ECB want to risk sporty pitches with the Aussie fast bowlers? Cardiff pitch is usually pretty flat, so lets see.

Their batting isn't all that, apart from Steve Smith the rest of them can fall in a heap. However, our issues in getting tailenders out and then facing their quicks is what will cost us.

The whole Middle-Earth thing seems very twee compared to the GRRM universe. Wonder if the Lord ut Rings films would have taken off in the same way if released now?

Bit harsh to call NZ a 'bunch of amateurs', one of the few fully professional outfits in world cricket- unlike India that often phone in performances overseas, the sadly diminshed Windies, inconsistent Pakistan. I would compare them to South Africa in their unrelenting approach.

Love Pointless (aside from the panifully bland 'comedian' Alexander Armstrong). However, what on earth is that one with Ben Shepherd? A giant version of the 2p machine in t'arcades?!

Problem with ODIs is their lack of context. These bilateral series don't mean anything, especially years away from the main event. A triangular tournament against the two touring sides should be played each year instead, not a random 5 match series against NZ crammed in before the Ashes.

He's no Greyjoy