English cricket 2015 - NZ, The Ashes, Pak and SA

Despite losing 2-0, felt there were a number of positives for England. Cook's performance has been excellent, nearly won the first test and fought well to save the second. There were missed opportunities both in the 2nd and this test. We lacked quality in the spin department compared to the Pakistan spinners however our seam bowling was excellent. There is still that liability of a quick collapse which needs to be worked on. I felt Bayliss made the right decisions in terms of selection but unfortunately we were unable to execute on the field. The opener slot is still a cause for concern and perhaps now would be the time to try Hales (running out of other options). Ballance should be brought in for Bell as I believe he will be the future no 3 for England. Taylor deserves a good run in the team as he has been previously been in and out and hasn't had a fair shot. Rashid should probably play instead of Ali now although he still has a lot of work to do with consistency so hopefully he can work on that. I would prefer the following team for the SA series

Cook
Hales
Ballance
Taylor
Root
Stokes
Bairstow
Rashid
Broad
Finn
Anderson
 
Legend Beefy couldn't understand why the 'hosts' were strong pre-series favourites and is even more confident after a draw that will have sapped their self-belief

Pakistan are there for the taking.

The blows and scars that England landed on them in the first Test will take their toll in the second, and I think it will be incredibly hard for them to come back.

To score 523 and then not only lose control of the game but also come within a hair’s width of defeat, is a tough thing to accept.

They will be wondering how they ended up in that position.

They will be wondering how on earth they are going to get Alastair Cook out.

They will be wondering how to stop Joe Root scoring runs for fun.

They will be wondering how they will cope with Adil Rashid if they produce a pitch that they want to help their own spinners.

And they will be wondering whether this young and emerging England team is actually further down the road than most people thought and will be the first team to beat them in their UAE ‘home’.

But, of course, none of this will come as a surprise to those of you who share my view that this England team is on course to be one of the best and are capable of some excellent cricket in all conditions.

I could never quite understand why Pakistan were such favourites before the series - just like with Australia before the Ashes - and they certainly won’t be now.
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They will be wondering how on earth they are going to get Alastair Cook out.

They will be wondering how to stop Joe Root scoring runs for fun.

They will be wondering how they will cope with Adil Rashid if they produce a pitch that they want to help their own spinners.
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Guess we arent wondering now.
 
He's also predicted that a "young" England can easily beat an "aging" Southafrican side.
 
NinjaFletch said:
Cook was the leading run scorer and Root averaged 57 so not sure why you're quoting those, easily the least ridiculous stuff there.
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Cook scored aprox. 175 runs in the last two test matches
Root around 150

And neither scored a single hundred.

Both of them have a lower average than 50, so can say that root wasnt scoring for fun and we figured out how to get cook out.

Might not be as ridiculous as the rest but I made me laugh.
 
MJJ said:
Cook scored aprox. 175 runs in the last two test matches
Root around 150

And neither scored a single hundred.

Both of them have a lower average than 50, so can say that root wasnt scoring for fun and we figured out how to get cook out.

Might not be as ridiculous as the rest but I made me laugh.
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Not really because you figured out a way to get them out though, but because they didn't convert starts. Root had a poor game in Sharjah but passed 50 in both innings in Dubai and really should have converted both and Cook reached 50 in every innings bar two, one where he scored 49 and the other where he was clearly injured.

In fact, I've just seen a stat that Cook faced 25% of all balls the entire England team faced across the series, I don't think you caused him any real bother whatsoever.
 
What's the general stance around here on Ian Bell? Personally I would, harsh it as seems as he has been a great servant, call time on his career in the same way we did Pietersen i.e. not pick him again.
He's nearly 34 and is he ever going to become 'essential' or a game winner again? Almost certainly not.
I think there are enough decent batsmen at County level ready for a shot and as a recent poster pointed out, Ballance could yet return to the side. It concerns me how much support he has received from pundits despite his abysmal form over the last 18 months/ 2 years.
It feels like people are happy to support mediocrity and England standing still whereas I would like to see them move forward and have some new ideas. Bell has been in the side for 12 years now and it's time for a change IMO.
 
NinjaFletch said:
Not really because you figured out a way to get them out though, but because they didn't convert starts. Root had a poor game in Sharjah but passed 50 in both innings in Dubai and really should have converted both and Cook reached 50 in every innings bar two, one where he scored 49 and the other where he was clearly injured.

In fact, I've just seen a stat that Cook faced 25% of all balls the entire England team faced across the series, I don't think you caused him any real bother whatsoever.
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I suppose its about semantics in that case, whether they failed to convert starts or good bowling got them out? Particularly with cook as the spinners came into play later while our fast bowling options are generally shitter?
 
ChrisNelson said:
What's the general stance around here on Ian Bell? Personally I would, harsh it as seems as he has been a great servant, call time on his career in the same way we did Pietersen i.e. not pick him again.
He's nearly 34 and is he ever going to become 'essential' or a game winner again? Almost certainly not.
I think there are enough decent batsmen at County level ready for a shot and as a recent poster pointed out, Ballance could yet return to the side. It concerns me how much support he has received from pundits despite his abysmal form over the last 18 months/ 2 years.
It feels like people are happy to support mediocrity and England standing still whereas I would like to see them move forward and have some new ideas. Bell has been in the side for 12 years now and it's time for a change IMO.
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Saw an article where someone (can't remember if it was the coach or one of the selectors) was saying he needs to be in the team because we lack experience in the middle and lower order. To me that doesn't make sense if he's batting at 3 - from 4 down to 8 there is all young guys still. Maybe they are considering moving him down to 5 but he doesnt strike me as someone who will dig in and occupy the crease to save a faltering innings. I'd drop him entirely and go for Taylor and Ballance. It might not pay off immediately but long term it'll be better giving our best talents more matches. Not too sure on Ballance but who else is in the frame? I don't want Buttler anywhere near the Test side.
 
MJJ said:
Cook scored aprox. 175 runs in the last two test matches
Root around 150

And neither scored a single hundred.

Both of them have a lower average than 50, so can say that root wasnt scoring for fun and we figured out how to get cook out.

Might not be as ridiculous as the rest but I made me laugh.
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Root's test match average is just under 55.
 
Younis has announced he will retire after today's game.

Very random decision. He should've retired after the series or beforehand (when he was ironically complaining about being dropped from ODIs!!)
 
Don't care so much for the ODIs, but a nice start by Pakistan :)
 
Good comeback, I was fearing 280+ when Morgan and Taylor were going strong. Just need one decent partnership and this game is in the bag.
 
Only in cricket will you see such unfit players making the grade at the best international teams. The only thing Irfan can do well is bowl the first six overs. Looks dead after that. :lol:
 
Good riddance. Glad we won't be seeing Younis in ODI's again.

Krovv said:
Only in cricket will you see such unfit players making the grade at the best international teams. The only thing Irfan can do well is bowl the first six overs. Looks dead after that. :lol:
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Irfan usually grabs a wicket or two up front, nice to have him in limited overs cricket because of his height, extra bounce, dipping yorkers. Question is how players like Bilal Asif can make it to this level. Guy has the technique of a tailender yet he is opening the batting and his off spin with that dodgy action is about the worst I've ever seen in international cricket.
 
Jos Buttler's voice is hilarious. If his cricketing form doesn't improve then he might as well just audition for Family Guy or something.
 
Maybe because his father is a selector?

Irfan is a good bowler no doubt but not a patch on some of the fast bowling talent you have produced. Asif, Aamer, Wahab are recent/current players better IMO. Any other sport and Irfan would've been deemed unfit to play.
 
I don't understand how we're now so completely oblivious to whats in front of us.

The spinners have been shite again, and the seamers good. But we're bowling the spinners out?
 
Krovv said:
Only in cricket will you see such unfit players making the grade at the best international teams. The only thing Irfan can do well is bowl the first six overs. Looks dead after that. :lol:
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You jinxed him today, Wahab and Irfan's final 7 overs cost 3-35. Cracking bowling.
 
That's a shocking decision, how on earth was the umpire sure that was going to hit the stumps?
 
I thought playing Bilal in the last game was bad but this Ifthikar guy has taken it to an even worse level. Just feck off with this 6th bowler nonsense and play Shehzad as a proper opener. Stupid tinkering and opening with a middle order batsman costing the game.
 
- Playing a middle order batter as an opener to accommodate for a "sixth bowler".
- This "sixth bowler" using up a slot in the middle order without actually having the technique to bat at this level. Not only that but the "sixth bowler" is also a nothing bowler. Wanting a jack of all trades but basically ending up with a jack of no trades.
- Clueless running between the wickets. Communication for fecks sake.
- Clueless approach after a wicket has gone down. Play it safe for a while, don't just whack it straight up in the air.

There is a reason this team is ranked ninth in the world. Been calamity for a while.
 
Who is this umpire? Must have skipped the LBW classes.

Good by the tail for once. Slow outfield so add 20-25 runs to the total but still very much England's game. 260 would've been par.
 
The Pakistan spinners are getting big turn so far, England should still win from this position
 
Oh my giddy aunt Bell has been dropped!!!!!!

Compton's back as well, alongside Ballance, and Footit's in the team with Plunkett missing out.
 
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