Smith so good keeper as well that you don't notice him. And his ability to bat with the lower orders (which seems to be why he has been chosen before Foakes - this not being his forte) is clear. I enjoyed the test, and look forward to the next two.
The Hundred, frankly, makes me fear horribly for the future of red ball cricket. I have come to watch some international T20, as it is less frenetic than the franchise stuff, by a long way, and has some merit.
The IPL has had one big plus - players of different countries playing in the same teams and becoming mates reduces such as uber sledging. But who cares about the teams? In The Hundred, for example, no South West county is represented. So even were I the slightest interested in it, why would I watch it? The ECB fills me with despair. An August without Test cricket is a sacrilege.
Smith so good keeper as well that you don't notice him. And his ability to bat with the lower orders (which seems to be why he has been chosen before Foakes - this not being his forte) is clear. I enjoyed the test, and look forward to the next two.
The Hundred, frankly, makes me fear horribly for the future of red ball cricket. I have come to watch some international T20, as it is less frenetic than the franchise stuff, by a long way, and has some merit.
The IPL has had one big plus - players of different countries playing in the same teams and becoming mates reduces such as uber sledging. But who cares about the teams? In The Hundred, for example, no South West county is represented. So even were I the slightest interested in it, why would I watch it? The ECB fills me with despair. An August without Test cricket is a sacrilege.