Congratulations to Alastair Cook

[essexfan548]

Well done to Chef who is appearing in his 154th consecutive Test Match breaking Allan Border's record.

What a tremendous achievement 

[Andy]

Some were saying that once he broke this record he'd retire. If not after the next match, but I wonder where we're touring this winter - at least the temptation might be to take time out, although the money's much better than when that other famous ECCC opener decided not to tour Australia in 1987-88.

[bwildered]

Another day, another record !
Sri Lanka I believe .

[nat]

He'll go after the 2019 Ashes.

[JasonP]

Another day, another record !
Sri Lanka I believe .

Sri Lanka and West Indies

[Bath Hammer]

I do think it’s time he did retire. Two failures again in this test on the same wicket that Kohli scored 149. His recent innings have been very poor & he is only playing because the cupboard is bare. He has a fantastic record & carrying on is only doing himself a disservice.  I expect England to lose this test as they are incapable of dismissing Kohli & we have no batsman who can match him.

[JasonP]

I do think it’s time he did retire. Two failures again in this test on the same wicket that Kohli scored 149. His recent innings have been very poor & he is only playing because the cupboard is bare. He has a fantastic record & carrying on is only doing himself a disservice.  I expect England to lose this test as they are incapable of dismissing Kohli & we have no batsman who can match him.

Cook got two very good balls and Kohli rode his luck a lot in the earlier part of his innings.  He was dropped, played and missed a lot and edged the ball just short of slips 3 or 4 times.  He could have been dismissed countless times in his first 30 or 40 runs.  There's no doubt Cook is not the player he was but to compare him to Kohli over this Test is pretty unfair.

[Bath Hammer]

Maybe but he has scored a colossal number of runs against England in the last few years whereas Cook keeps getting “unplayable” balls 🤔

[Andy]

Unplayable balls tend to be unplayable if you don't move your feet.

[Bath Hammer]

Unplayable balls tend to be unplayable if you don't move your feet.

Agreed

[essexfan548]

Isn't it interesting that posters on here think they can judge 'unplayable' balls better than experienced commentators who were actually there at the game?

This is a congratulations thread ...

[Bath Hammer]

Experienced commentaters often describe deliveries as unplayable but they are invariably to players who are out of form or lack ability at the top level. The likes of Steve Smith, Kohli or Cooke in his prime rarely got dismissed by “unplayable” deliveries. However, I take your point about this being a congratulatory thread.

[Valentines Park]

There's no doubt Cook is not the player he was but to compare him to Kohli over this Test is pretty unfair.

To compare him to Kohli is unfair full stop.

Joe Root is his batting counterpart. 

[Bath Hammer]

I’m afraid I wouldn’t compare Joe Root to Kohli either. I doubt if Root would make a world eleven.

[Andy]

Isn't it interesting that posters on here think they can judge 'unplayable' balls better than experienced commentators who were actually there at the game?

This is a congratulations thread ...

Most of the commentators are morons, albeit morons who've made a lot of money out of basically adding little more than enthusiastic amateur like the BBC Essex guys.

The appalling attempt to interview David Steele the other day is a case in point. He was a bit rambly but a skilled interviewer could've moved the conversation along without long rambling interventions. Vaughan talks rubbish then backs down when a player gets uppity. The Graham Swann ego makes me wonder whether eutenasia should be mandatory for ex Cricketers. Even I felt that the commentators are basically obsessed with justifying their indepth knowledge into the England team - once upon a time there would be a more balanced approach. I'd prefer some more Indian comments even from "it's the way I tell em" Ganguly.

If one starts pining for the prompt return of Geoffrey Boycott then TMS has slumped to a sub Radio 5 level.