Welcome back to the Bishop and Bear – the internet’s favourite virtual cricket pub (probably).

Well, it was a right old battering for England in Rajkot. The young Jazz Whale played all the right notes in exactly the right order and there were way too many bum notes from England against Bumrah and co. The Yorkshire middle order of Root and Bairstow looks under pressure and out of sorts. Can they battle their way back into some form in Ranchi? Ben Stokes thinks the pitch there looks “interesting very interesting” to appropriate the words of the great Barry Davies.

Our guest this week is the ever-erudite Forthy, who joins your ursine landlord and episcopal barman to ask and attempt to answer some of the questions vexing England’s management. If indeed they ever do get vexed, which at least to external eyes they seem not too. We also celebrate the power of Indian run scoring and dig a bit behind Jay Shah’s comments that Indian players shouldn’t prioritise the IPL over domestic cricket.

Here is a rough idea of the topics we chat and drink our way through:

• Bazball out Bazzed in Rajkot


• What do we expect in Ranchi?


• Strong Yorkshire Strong England – what’s in the heads of Root and Bairstow?


• “BCCI says don’t prioritise IPL over domestic cricket” – sorry what??!!


• Umpires Call – is it the blind the leading the blind? (Sorry Joel!)

Settle in, enjoy your drink and do please get in touch and let us know what you think.

Cheers!

Your Ursine Landlord and Episcopal Barman

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