England Cricket Summer 17 - South Africa & West Indies

Not sure it will be easy to wrestle it away from Root, but Ali has a strong shout for MOTM.
 
Ali spinning it more than I've seen him do in recent times.

The last wicket was a nothing shot though.
 
ha_rooney said:
Ali spinning it more than I've seen him do in recent times.

The last wicket was a nothing shot though.
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It's only one game so tough to judge but I did see that he has said that Root has told him to be more attacking. When he first got in the England team he did take wickets with really good deliveries (and also at times because I think batsmen didn't respect him) even though he was loose and clearly not a front line spinner. Maybe going back to that attacking mind set, allied to the experience he's gained over the last 3 years, will make him a better bowler.
 
Absolutely love Moeen, I think he's probably my favourite player in the squad currently.
 
Snowjoe said:
Absolutely love Moeen, I think he's probably my favourite player in the squad currently.
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Don't really watch Test cricket so much these days, but whenever I do he seems to turn up big time at key moments. He's like the anti Ian Bell.
 
Just switched over to watch the women wrap up a very impressive win. Thanks for waiting for me England.

Golden arm Joe Root should bring himself on for me.
 
Good win to start the summer.

Toss was very important, I think, and South Africa rather blew their chances in the latter two sessions of day one.
 
Ali should be MotM, 10 wickets and 90 runs. Objectively more important than 190 runs.
 
Skills said:
Don't really watch Test cricket so much these days, but whenever I do he seems to turn up big time at key moments. He's like the anti Ian Bell.
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:lol:

One of the few players who could legitimately claim to be as pretty to watch as him too.
 
England's top 3 deserve a lot of praise for how they did last night and this morning. Will get brushed under the radar because only Cook got to fifty, but they were some bloody tough runs.
 
slyadams said:
Ali should be MotM, 10 wickets and 90 runs. Objectively more important than 190 runs.
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I dont know

England were in a bit of trouble at 76-4 before lunch
Root's 190 dug them out and turned what should have been no more than 250ao into 458, don't mind Ali winning it, but don't think it's clear cut
 
EdWeatherall said:
I dont know

England were in a bit of trouble at 76-4 before lunch
Root's 190 dug them out and turned what should have been no more than 250ao into 458, don't mind Ali winning it, but don't think it's clear cut
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In context at the time you're probably right, although it was Root, Stokes and Ali who lead the fightback, Ali came in at 190-5.
 
So much to unpack from this Proteas performance.

Dean Elgar should focus on his batting and forget about the captaincy. Actually, Amla should also take some of the responsibility, as the senior batsman, he should have volunteered for the captaincy in Faf's absence. Seeing the offspinner ignored in the first innings in favour of 10 overs from Bavuma and de Bruyn was a particular lowlight of his captaincy debut. DeBruyn and/or Markram should be groomed as captains of the future.

The selectors managed to do even worse. Kuhn opening instead of Markram? Why? If they wanted to include him, why not give him the gloves and put DeKock in the middle order (or even as opener). They also seem to be the only people on earth who haven't realised JP Duminy is nowhere near good enough to be a no. 4 batsmen. Considering the number of highly knowledgeable, retired Proteas cricketers who spend their days playing golf or in the broadcasting booth, the current makeup of the selection panel is a bit of a disgrace.

Speaking of JP, surely now his time is up. His maddening inconsistency is going to drive us all mad. I don't mind him at 6, as the sort-of X-factor, excellent fielder, all-rounder but he's not and has never been a number 4. Also Bavuma has to bat at 4 or 5 if he's going to be part of this squad. He needs to make runs, that's what batsmen are supposed to do. Hiding him at 6 helps no-one.

Finally this new lazy, don't care, silly mistakes attitude is a disgrace. India are so much better at fielding than the Proteas these days. Dropped catches, no balls, swearing, getting out to nothing balls, that's what we've become accustomed to seeing these days from the Proteas. Hopefully Faf's return will cure some of that.
 
No one kicking on to get a big hundred again. 7 and 8 having to do a lot of the heavy lifting again. Still need about 100 runs to be comfortable in my opinion.
 
4 in 4 overs for Anderson 335 all out.
Expect Philander to cause England all kinds of problems
 
What a ball from Morkel. Unplayable stuff.
 
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