I didn’t think it was possible to be this unenthused by a squad announcement.
English cricket thread
- Thread starter Samid
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It is less change than I thought was a possibility.
At least Lancs get to keep their team together, I guess...
Lees
Crawley
Pope
Root
Stokes
Bairstow
Foakes
Broad
Overton
Leach
Anderson
Here's to the new era, folks!
Crawley
Pope
Root
Stokes
Bairstow
Foakes
Broad
Overton
Leach
Anderson
Here's to the new era, folks!
Are there any good English coaches out there or just those from Australiasia?
Why Overton though? He's the most county of county cricketers that ever counted.
It is less change than I thought was a possibility.
At least Lancs get to keep their team together, I guess...
That is the one positive. Let Parkinson keep ripping counties apart with Hassan going back to Pakistan, Jimmy off with England and Saqib’s broken back. Should get a couple more games with Bohannon scoring too albeit I fully expect him to get called up this summer.
his name is written all wrong
I was scratching my head for a few seconds wondering why he’s named Ttom.
Confirmed that Jofra Archer will miss the entire summer due to a stress fracture of the lower back.
Big shame, although I think we're stronger as a team in the bowling department, and with slightly more depth than we are batting.
I do wonder if he will ever realise his full potential as he seems to be incredibly injury prone and very fragile.
Big shame, although I think we're stronger as a team in the bowling department, and with slightly more depth than we are batting.
I do wonder if he will ever realise his full potential as he seems to be incredibly injury prone and very fragile.
Just saw this - is this a new injury as well? I thought it was his elbow that had previously been the issue?
Either way, real shame because having to revert to the likes of Overton as a first change is a serious drop in quality.
Crazy how England are more reliant on Broad/Anderson now than they were a couple of years ago.
I wouldn't be surprised if we don't see Archer again at the top level at this rate.
Mott is a very good get tbf, that Australia womens team is up there with the best sides in all sport, and England’s white ball set up is one of the few that can stand up to them. McCullum as test coach is obviously the far bigger question mark, and outside of Kirsten who made the well documented misstep, who else is there English to give that role to?
Yeah that's what I mean, for a fast bowler in particular to have had the serious problems he's had already in what is let's be honest still a fledgling career (he came to prominence in the 2019 WC) is very worrying.
With players like this, even if they do get to full fitness you've always got the worry they will break down halfway through a match.
To be honest, it's been remarkable when you think about it how many Tests that Anderson and Broad have managed to play.
I'm staggered Anderson is still bowling the way he is 19 years after his Test debut.
It's such a shame but it happens to quite a lot of the quickest bowlers. I think it was a mistake for him to play test cricket and he'd be mad to try and play any more first class stuff - if he's even able to play any more professional cricket.
With an action that we tried to change because we were convinced it would cause him stress fractures.
Jofra was so horrifically mismanaged when he first came into the test side, that tour of New Zealand was a travesty. If I’m him I’m probably dropping red ball cricket because he’s certainly still got it in him to be effective in white ball.
Ben Compton is a run machine at the minute, definitely picked the wrong opener at Kent.
I think you have really answered your own question, there. They have just cut ties with an English-born coach, whom the ECB presumably thought was the best option available, and who won the grand total of one test match. If he was genuinely the best English coach out there, as they clearly believed, why would they go for their second choice English coach, especially when hardly any time has passed since Silverwood took up the role.
So clearly the answer is, 'no, there aren't'. Evidently, it was time to spread the net far and wide and look for someone with new ideas and a fresh perspective.
The benefit of using foreign coaches like Flower and Bayliss is that while being born in other countries they have a connection to England through ancestry, so they can relate to the players and gel with the squad. It is like asking Chris Froome (by dint of birth, a Kenyan) to coach a British cycling team.
It also means that they are not tainted by the cronyism (favouritism to Yorkshire and Surrey) that has always plagued the English selection progress.
One of the drawbacks is that it takes them a while to establish who's who on the county circuit so they may fall back on simply rotating players who've already wasted chances.
Atherton was spot on regarding Brook last night, the form he's in means he has to play next week. Bairstow is no more of a risk at 3 than Pope so it doesn't have to be him who's left out.
Meanwhile, a bad morning for NZ in their warm-up match. Jamie Porter took 5 to help reduce them to 19-6 inside 10 overs, recovered slightly now thanks to Southee slogging a quick 30
Meanwhile, a bad morning for NZ in their warm-up match. Jamie Porter took 5 to help reduce them to 19-6 inside 10 overs, recovered slightly now thanks to Southee slogging a quick 30
Im going to preface this by saying that I do agree that Brook should probably get a game if not next week then very very soon, but I can’t agree with Atherton using a T20 as proof. Brook is also in very good first class form so I’ll let it slide on Brook but after hearing all the ludicrous calls for Livi to be in the test team I think they do need to start picking the spot for these calls a bit better.
Separately, I’ve seen a bit of Dom Sibley of late and his entirely new batting technique. He’s not had a banner season so far (albeit averaging 43) but he looks in a much better place than when he was in the England setup. I still think there’s a player in there. This County Select game will be interesting as something of a barometer
I agree. Problem is if they've already told Pope he's playing then it would be a massive knock to his confidence if they don't pick him. At which point it's Bairstow or Brook and I think Bairstow would be very unlucky to be dropped. In saying that, I'd probably still pick Brook - no guarantees you'll get another opportunity to try him out when he's in such good nick again, now's the time for me.
But yeah, ideally I'd go with:
Lees (or even better, Compton)
Crawley
Root
Stokes
Brook
Bairstow
Foakes
Potts
Broad
Leach (or even better, Parkinson)
Anderson
Fair point about the T20 not meaning much but it's a good sign that he's able to transfer his red-ball form over, although I guess going the other way is more difficult. If he isn't selected then hopefully they at least allow him to get back to Yorkshire rather than running drinks.
Interesting you mention Livingstone because McCullum has been talking about possibly getting him involved. Also wants to speak to Buttler and Rashid and it seems Moeen is open to returning as well.
I’m hoping McCullum was just doing the generic speaking to everyone schtick. Livingstone should be nowhere near the test side, Jos neither (besides I’m expecting him to be the white ball skipper by the end of the year). Adil is obviously super talented but with his injury record, is it worth it? We’re already ignoring a top leggie for no apparent reason, is it worth the stress on his shoulder? Moeen I wouldn’t really be against, but at the same time we need to start looking forward even if it comes with a couple of bumps in the road
Kent's Ben Compton has scored 1,000 FC runs before the end of May.
Seems to have come out of nowhere to suddenly be scoring centuries for fun.
Are England strong enough to ignore someone who is admittedly an unknown quantity but who is scoring runs.
Seems to have come out of nowhere to suddenly be scoring centuries for fun.
Are England strong enough to ignore someone who is admittedly an unknown quantity but who is scoring runs.
Unless we have further injuries I don't think anyone's getting in to that squad for the first two matches beyond what's been named.
Anderson and Broad should have called time on their careers.
Honestly you'd think England would change it up after the ashes debarkale recently but no. Why do England keep selecting batsman who average 35 at FC level? Ben Compton has been tearing it up surely he deserved a spot?
Honestly you'd think England would change it up after the ashes debarkale recently but no. Why do England keep selecting batsman who average 35 at FC level? Ben Compton has been tearing it up surely he deserved a spot?
Cause but for rare exceptions that's about as good as it gets for us at the moment. Bit different so far this season, as the first batch of balls they've been using have done feck all, so batsmen have been having a great time even with the early season conditions.
Brook has to play at 5, I don’t see why they just don’t give Bairstow the gloves back, slot him in at 7 and let Brook play at 5. I like Foakes, but Bairstow’s average with the gloves means Foakes just stops you from utilising the prime young batsman development slot.
I thought he was really bad, to be honest. His dodgy footwork drove me mad.
Hmm, It’s been a while but my abiding memory was he was bad at first but eventually grew into being a solid if not great keeper. Unless you’re playing on turning tracks I don’t think Foakes’ glovework brings you that much and his series in the West Indies was quite poor for his standards.
McCullum was a keeper so will be interesting to see which way he goes here.
Agree with that. Livingstone needs to play more red-ball for Lancashire if he wants to get into the test side but it's difficult to see how he does that now he's established in England's ODI/T20 squads and the IPL. Moeen I think would be a good option in Pakistan this winter where 2 spinners will be needed and he can balance the side better. And I think you're right on Buttler. Morgan's been out of form a while and now add that he seems unable to stay fit enough to play back-to-back games, that's a big risk going into a World Cup. His captaincy and the strength of the batting line-up means you can get away with him not scoring many runs but you can't have him in and out of the side because of fitness.
That probably would be the best way. As you say in the post above this I don't think Foakes offers much more with the gloves unless you're in India, Sri Lanka etc and the majority of overs are spin.
We are going to pick Overton apparently
Agree with a few above that Bairstow should take the gloves and get Brooks in now while confidence is high.
Wanted to go to Lords this week. Tickets from £100-£160, insane.
Agree with a few above that Bairstow should take the gloves and get Brooks in now while confidence is high.
Wanted to go to Lords this week. Tickets from £100-£160, insane.
We are going to pick Overton apparently
Agree with a few above that Bairstow should take the gloves and get Brooks in now while confidence is high.
Wanted to go to Lords this week. Tickets from £100-£160, insane.
I’m in that neck of the woods this week and am contemplating going but it’s really struck me how high the ticket prices are and how inaccessible the ground is to anyone from outside of London. I don’t think I’d consider going if I wasn’t already in London. The only sensible way to come from the North is through the train/tube which is going to set you back a fair bit, if you’re planning a family day out you’re essentially paying for an entire holiday. This is a complete contrast to say Headingley, where I park around the corner for nothing and split the fuel costs between my mates.
I understand Lords are essentially recouping construction costs and lost revenue from Covid but it’s pricing is completely at odds with where the country is at right now.
Yeah I live in North London myself these days. There's the odd restricted view ticket available for £80 but you're miles away up the top of the big new stands.
£35 for the T20 at the Oval later also. It was £22 in 2019!
Complete mess.
We are going to pick Overton apparently
Agree with a few above that Bairstow should take the gloves and get Brooks in now while confidence is high.
Wanted to go to Lords this week. Tickets from £100-£160, insane.
£160 to watch Craig Overton FFS.
If I wanted to watch 78mph trundlers I can go and watch my local X1. And spent £160 on pints instead like a normal person.
https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/...t-at-lord-s-in-first-new-zealand-test-1317787
Hard to get excited really.
Lees is lucky to keep his place (as is Crawley, but at least he offers long-term potential). Tail looks awful.
Hard to get excited really.
Lees is lucky to keep his place (as is Crawley, but at least he offers long-term potential). Tail looks awful.
Gone for Potts over Overton, wish we went for Brook over Bairstow though.We are going to pick Overton apparently
Agree with a few above that Bairstow should take the gloves and get Brooks in now while confidence is high.
Wanted to go to Lords this week. Tickets from £100-£160, insane.
So Foakes wasn't the answer everyone thought then.We are going to pick Overton apparently
Agree with a few above that Bairstow should take the gloves and get Brooks in now while confidence is high.
Wanted to go to Lords this week. Tickets from £100-£160, insane.
Yep, no issue with Potts getting a go with our injuries.
I wanted Bairstow to take the gloves and Brooks in at 5.
Root should also be at 3.
I’d actually say the player best suited to being at 3 is Crawley, but A) we don’t really have the openers to try it and B) is Crawley even good enough.
Brooks should be playing I entirely agree with that. Maybe the second test. I really don’t even know where I stand on the keeper spot at the moment. Bairstow definitely isn’t the answer, neither is Jos. Maybe it is just a case of sticking with Foakes, he’s been in tremendous form for Surrey.
Brooks is flying in all forms at the minute, picking him then letting him run drinks is classic England.
I also agree with Crawley at 3. It would suit his counter attacking style far more.
Compton, Robson and Jennings are all potential options going forward to open. I wouldn't have dropped Burns in the first place but his ship has sailed now.