Root should just play his natural game, rotating the strike. Getting out playing a bizarre reverse scoop to pace at 200 odd for 2 is not smart at all.
England Tour of India
- Thread starter TheGame
- Start date
Discussed to death in here! (Mainly me - sorry).
Agreed I think Bairstow should focus on white ball from now on, its his strongest format and he's at an age where juggling all formats isnt really possible even if youre world class, which he has never been in red ball.
Brook seems a natural replacement for Bairstow, but I worry he's another player that's of the "just hit everything" style, which is great when it works but won't always. It'd further emphasis the need for Root to play with rhythm and manage an innings, and then at least one of the other younger batters will need to start adding that to their game as they become more senior figures in the team.
I also really like Jacks although not sure how he will be utilised by the England set up, whether he's seen as a genuine test batsmen, all rounder, or white ball specialist.
More imminently, it'd be interesting if England decide to drop (or "rest") Bairstow and give Lawrence a game. I suspect the Baz-Stokes leadership would see that as counter productive to instilling an atmosphere of showing faith, taking pressure off and not being results orientated. But also, at some point, it needs to be a consideration. The change to bring Ali ans Woakes in changed the momentum in the Ashes, so I'm for making tactical changes mid series, but that was really an enforced change after Pope and Leach were injured.
Gill as well, once he's got his game sorted - that's a great batting XI. Unfortunately I'm not sure if Pant will ever keep again, or else it gives them room for a natural all-rounder at 7.
1. Jaiswal
2.
3.
4. Gill
5. Sarfaraz
6. Pant
Ruturaj Gaikwad, Sai Sudarshan, Tilak Varma will be competing for those slots, I think. All very high quality.
Looks a little out of context that but never sure with this lot.
Very strange thing to say there from Duckett. England have been well and truly battered on all fronts to say and there isn’t much credit anywhere.
There’s a game to be had on if something is engagement baiting or if an England player/coach actually said it.
Still half the series left to put some breathing space down to the other active tailenders on the list.
I don't know if they have been battered though, have they?
Meant in today’s play.
I’m going to be quite strong on Root. You can’t have your best player getting out to a reverse scoop 10 minutes into the day against Bumrah. It’s like Joe Root knows he’s so talented that he thinks he needs to do that, even though nothing about the situation is asking for that shot.
I’m not blaming Bazball either, as it’s about players being able to make decisions for themselves free of pressure. Nothing wrong with calling it out when those decisions are wrong though. If Crawley edges a drive to slip you accept that. I don’t accept what Root did today as a good decision, knowing that Bairstow is out of form and we’re basically a batter down from when Stokes is able to bowl.
I’m not blaming Bazball either, as it’s about players being able to make decisions for themselves free of pressure. Nothing wrong with calling it out when those decisions are wrong though. If Crawley edges a drive to slip you accept that. I don’t accept what Root did today as a good decision, knowing that Bairstow is out of form and we’re basically a batter down from when Stokes is able to bowl.
Then England fans wonder why people feel bazball has become a cult of deluded folk.
What are you on about?
Wondered when something like that would be said in here. Took longer than expected.
Sounds like Ashwin will bowl in the second innings. Hopefully means whatever emergency he had has passed.
Not sure they need him.
Not sure they need him.
It started with crediting bazball for saving test cricket by english media which evolved to ex english players crediting bazball for opponents trying to score runs instead of giving their wickets away to now finally english players claiming credit for bazball for opponents scoring quickly,. What exactly is it then if not a cult.
Some of the media comments are funny but I'd take them in the spirit they are intended.
It's obviously not a cult so I'll ignore that bit.
It's worth remembering where England's test cricket was before this. We had won one in 17 and had a top 3 of Sibley, Burns and Hameed blocking it from ball one. We were going nowhere.
I think outside of that context fans from other countries look at it and go 'what? You didn't invent attacking cricket lads, we had Sehwag, Hayden etc doing this twenty years ago'. I agree - but we have never played with so much freedom before. It's revolutionised cricket in this country and will likely become a template for test sides moving forward.
They've taken all the pressure out of the match situation and dressing room allowing limited players (Duckett a great example) to flourish and now capable of spanking far superior attacks to ours like Australia and India all over the place.
We would have lost this tour 5-0 without Bazball. We will probably lose this one 4-1 but it will be far better to watch and it's got alot more eyes on it.
I see nothing not to like. The big challenge now is can they adapt it into a winning machine alongside the entertainment.
120 more and declare..
What's the rush? England will go for it either way even if you only left four sessions. I'd take it out of reach and make it farcical like 500 to win otherwise we will have enough bravado to have a 1% chance of actually doing it.
I think batting 4 sessions for a draw may look a pretty good decision tomorrow if wickets don’t fall and the target is out of reach.. India ought to play for the win here, anything else would be a terrible result.
stupid runouts have cost each of the side in the first and second test.. This may be another.
I guarantee you we don't bat for a draw even if left four sessions. And yes it would be logical too.
You are concerned for India's position in this game?
Nope. We are well on top. It's just bad play... Indians in general play for landmarks way too much. We need to stamp it out.
Gill was only two reverse ramps away from his milestone.
https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/ashwin-set-to-rejoin-indian-team-in-rajkot-1421616
Just out of curiosity - can he bat higher than 10? do the rules allow that?
Just out of curiosity - can he bat higher than 10? do the rules allow that?
That is yet to be seen? No one is playing that way except England and there is no attempt at anyone trying to replicate England as much as England might try and claim credit for such things.
What bazball has done for England isn't something I am arguing against, it's the bs spouted by people who are enthralled by it or participating in it. We are literally just a few steps from English media ex cricketers or players claiming bazball as new Jesus if they haven't already. I have never seen an opponent claiming credit for other team's player's performance. Even the aussies didn't get this deluded and they actually won stuff not just entertained.
I thought it was a bit initially, but you genuinely seemed to find the worst in every situation, and often against insurmountable evidence to the contrary.
The mindset will almost definetly be replicated. It doesn't necessarily translate to playing the same brand of Cricket.
You have a chip on your shoulder about the comments, I'd suggest taking it a little less seriously.
The most probable explanation for comments by the English players is that they're on a WUM and it's working spectacularly well
They're not stupid(except maybe the odd player) to be running their mouth like this.
Anderson, for example, is clearly taking the piss in press conferences
You are constantly defending the folk who are claiming credit for their opponents scoring runs but I am the one with chip on the shoulder who is taking things seriously.
If the Duckett quote was not out of context then it's just funny. Imagine getting so annoyed about it. I think that's weird.
I am not annoyed by it just calling it what it is you are the one getting annoyed by me calling them a cult. It's not out of context, he was asked about jaiswal and he called him a good player and then spouted that nonsense.
Ok!
Sarfraz above Jadeja.. interesting
Was he not carded to come in ahead in the first innings? They just promoted the senior man at 30-3 which made sense (and worked).
These 2 need to bat carefully, 350 will kill this game. Don't blow this from here.