England v Ireland at Lord's, 24/7.

[alfie]

And now Root shells a simple slip catch

Another problem with Cook retiring...slips are unsettled now ; Root not used to first. No Stokes today either...

To tell the truth Root looks all over the place today. Head still in the clouds after the WC win ?

The good thing is Broad looks to be running into some form for the Ashes. He will need to be from the batting prospects !

[Arthur Crabtree]

Broad must be the unluckiest bowler in test cricket when it comes to the slip cordon not taking their catches

Stokes has had a lot go down, or flying into the gaps left by his captain.

[sussexpob]

Sterling has turned up for a T20 match..... Leach so far getting a pasting. Broad has done everything to provide a wicket, but his bonehead captain has left him down.....

[mikesiva]

Well I'm sure England bowlers will do a good job here as well.

2 days test coming up?

Maybe not.

Ireland 85-2.

[alfie]

Wonder what the odds were this morning on Ireland taking the lead with eight wickets in hand ?

Ah well : one should be ready to expect anything on a day when Boris Johnson becomes PM

[sussexpob]

Who can we sack tonight to make us feel better? I'd say everyone and some members of the team, but I might be a little extreme.

Change of batting coach has certainly worked hasnt it.

[mikesiva]

Balbirnie gets his half century!

Ireland 127-2 at tea.

[andy]

spinners getting tap...runs flowing, innings defeat looming!

[yuppie]

Well, fair play Ireland, they have turned up.

[sussexpob]

spinners getting tap...runs flowing, innings defeat looming!

To a guy who averages 17 vs county pace attacks, and a player who managed two failure performances for Middlesex in about 7 years, before spending another three years unable to find a club.

Says a lot though, doesnt it. We cant find a one drop to save our lives and have trawled through endless lists of players.... Ireland pick a guy who cant hold a bat, and hes delivered back to back 50s.......makes you wonder what Bayliss does with test match preparation, I have a feeling it involves lots of vodka

[Arthur Crabtree]

82 partnership. Unbroken.

How many did England get?

[sussexpob]

In fact, considering his failure to develop any test match talent in his time, and the fact he's accepted another job already and stated ages ago he had no interest ticking around, why is he still coach? Great ODI coach, but as a test one Id have sacked him ages ago.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Am I putting the mockers on, or is Curran playing with a straighter bat than any of the top 6?

I said in the India series last summer, Ill say it again.... at some stage he will ditch the bowling at this level, and he will bat in the top 6. When I watch him play he seems like a natural batter, and has a range of crunching strokes. Averages 45 when not condemned to the end of the tail too..... 18 FC x 50s and hes just turned 21.

Of course England dont tend to make brave decisions like Australia did with Steve Smith for instance, so he will probably not make it, but I think he has the talent.

Batters who perform at 5-7 isn't necessarily what England are looking for. They need top three bats. If Curran is a better 5-6 than Buttler and Stokes, then fair enough, he should bat there. But it won't be that easy to get a spot at 5-6.

But if he stays in the England side coming in at 8 or 9, he may never develop as a batter, like a few young all rounders I can think of. Might be better playing for his county and batting at 4-5 for a couple of years than coming in with the tail for England.

Obviously, he could easily have batted at 5-6 today.

[yuppie]

3 down.

If England can get them out for around 200, still have England as favourites

[sussexpob]

4 down... fight back on... Irelands tail is LONG too....