English cricket thread

FlawlessThaw said:
We do need to get the balance right, something India have sort of figured out.

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I think eventually we will get to a situation akin to football, where the players are controlled by the franchises and international competition is just something that happens occasionally.

The franchises may release players to feature in a prestige series like the Ashes or India-Pakistan, but most of the lower-profile international stuff will just disappear.

Not saying this is good or bad, just market forces.
 
FlawlessThaw said:
You're right regarding tests for other countries. I'd be stunned if Test cricket is played beyond 6 countries in 10 years time. I just think England ahead of a World Cup year, need to prioritise ODI cricket ahead of anything else.

Anyway Jofra's back! England should have won this series, the way they capitulated in the first ODI was poor
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Also an Ashes year though. Should have been Tests = ODIs > T20s. By all means tag a couple of T20s on at the end of a Test/ODI series for money, a bit of fun and a bit of practice but the whole having T20s going on in one country with Tests going on in another at basically the same time thing has been a bit ridiculous really. Hopefully now the COVID fixtures have been played that will stop but let's see.
 
To be fair England were all over the place before the T20 series in Pakistan and that series ultimately got them into the right place to win a World Cup. Sure you’d prefer a better build up but I’d argue the big game experience England have is much more valuable than winning bilaterals, as long as they find a way to get their best XI on the pitch by the time of the World Cup I think they’ll be ok.

Malan
Bairstow
Root
Brook
Buttler
Ali/Livingstone
Curran
Woakes
Rashid
Wood
Archer

You look at that and the bit that worries you is the lower middle order and bowling. I would not say those are issues because of bad planning but issues of not quite having the right players to thrive in the subcontinent.
 
ArmchairCritic said:
To be fair England were all over the place before the T20 series in Pakistan and that series ultimately got them into the right place to win a World Cup. Sure you’d prefer a better build up but I’d argue the big game experience England have is much more valuable than winning bilaterals, as long as they find a way to get their best XI on the pitch by the time of the World Cup I think they’ll be ok.

Malan
Bairstow
Root
Brook
Buttler
Ali/Livingstone
Curran
Woakes
Rashid
Wood
Archer

You look at that and the bit that worries you is the lower middle order and bowling. I would not say those are issues because of bad planning but issues of not quite having the right players to thrive in the subcontinent.
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Can see Stokes coming back in and Woakes dropping out.

Agree the bowling looks a little light, but the batting will hopefully compensate.
 
Just got up and see England at tea 270 for 5 having been put in to bat on what’s being described as a greenish pitch, so guessing that’s more than decent?
 
Rams said:
Just got up and see England at tea 270 for 5 having been put in to bat on what’s being described as a greenish pitch, so guessing that’s more than decent?
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Tbf the pitch hasn’t done a lot and Root & stokes kind of threw their wickets away but it’s been great fun as always
 
Be interested to see what’s a good score because now I am scoreboard watching. It’s certainly a big improvement on the last time England played at this ground.
 
Only just realised this is on BT sport. I guess I’ll start from ball one. Should be a good day of work today :lol:
 
I get there may be a lack of opener options but surely Zak Crawley needs to be looked at; he’s so technically poor.
 
G-manc said:
I get there may be a lack of opener options but surely Zak Crawley needs to be looked at; he’s so technically poor.
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He's got a century, two 50s and a 40 in his last four tests mate. And set up the win against SA the test before that.
 
My current sleep pattern is perfect for this. Morning coffee/breakfast coincides with the start of the 2nd session, and then briefings come during the tea break. I even get to watch a bit of the last session.

Shoutout to the lady commentator on BT Sport. She was actually really good, possibly the pick of the bunch. (and I liked her stokes theory, which I kinda agree with) - Very refreshing after the terrible female football commentators they put out.

JohnnyKills said:
He's got a century, two 50s and a 40 in his last four tests mate. And set up the win against SA the test before that.
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That dropped catch was close to unforvigable but I guess it happens. 37-4 going into tomorrow would have been close to perfect.
 
JohnnyKills said:
He's got a century, two 50s and a 40 in his last four tests mate. And set up the win against SA the test before that.
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I dunno, maybe it’s just me. I look at someone like Root who is going through a lean patch by his standards but you know he has the technique to turn it around or go on a run of scores whereas Crawley always looks on the verge of giving a chance to me.

He averaged 23 last summer and around 28 overall in tests and only around 30 in first class; no other opener has survived that. His ton was on a flat track against an inexperienced attack. He will flirt with the odd 30 because he’s aggressive but he just looks like the sort of player a good bowler will suss out quickly. He drives at any length away from his body with poor foot movement.

Having said that, McCullum seems to like him and by his own admission has stated he’s not the sort of player to be consistent.

I guess whilst England are flourishing he’ll get a pass. He’ll probably smash a hundred under the lights now to make me look stupid.
 
G-manc said:
I dunno, maybe it’s just me. I look at someone like Root who is going through a lean patch by his standards but you know he has the technique to turn it around or go on a run of scores whereas Crawley always looks on the verge of giving a chance to me.

He averaged 23 last summer and around 28 overall in tests and only around 30 in first class; no other opener has survived that. His ton was on a flat track against an inexperienced attack. He will flirt with the odd 30 because he’s aggressive but he just looks like the sort of player a good bowler will suss out quickly. He drives at any length away from his body with poor foot movement.

Having said that, McCullum seems to like him and by his own admission has stated he’s not the sort of player to be consistent.

I guess whilst England are flourishing he’ll get a pass. He’ll probably smash a hundred under the lights now to make me look stupid.
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I think a large part of it is that we don't really have a ready replacement, especially with Bairstow out. I do agree with the jist of what you're saying though
 
Duckett might be averaging 40+ after this match. Can't remember the last time we had an England opener other than Cook managing that.
 
LDUred said:
Duckett might be averaging 40+ after this match. Can't remember the last time we had an England opener other than Cook managing that.
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Makes a refreshing change not being 50-3 every test match. He’s also taken to Bazball like a duck(ett) to water.
 
Annoying that Crawley got out there, he looked good. And that opening partnership looks really promising.

Don't want to be captain hindsight but we should be looking beyond Broad now. Need a bit of extra pace to balance the attack.
 
JohnnyKills said:
Don't want to be captain hindsight but we should be looking beyond Broad now. Need a bit of extra pace to balance the attack.
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Was going to post something similar.

when there’s a bit of a lull and nothings happening it would be nice to have the option of someone with a bit more pace who can reverse the old ball or hurry someone into a mistake.

Broad has understandably lost a bit of nip in his bowling now and he doesn’t make you play as much or has the variation of Anderson.
 
G-manc said:
Was going to post something similar.

when there’s a bit of a lull and nothings happening it would be nice to have the option of someone with a bit more pace who can reverse the old ball or hurry someone into a mistake.

Broad has understandably lost a bit of nip in his bowling now and he doesn’t make you play as much or has the variation of Anderson.
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Agree.

I've always thought he was a bowler of great spells rather than a consistently great bowler. Now he's lost a bit of pace and we've essentially replaced him with Robinson.

With Stokes in the side as well, I don't think we need all three of those medium-fast seamers.

Great to see Broad's batting having a renaissance though. He's got the perfect chance to make a big score tomorrow.
 
G-manc said:
Was going to post something similar.

when there’s a bit of a lull and nothings happening it would be nice to have the option of someone with a bit more pace who can reverse the old ball or hurry someone into a mistake.

Broad has understandably lost a bit of nip in his bowling now and he doesn’t make you play as much or has the variation of Anderson.
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Won't that be Archer once he's back playing tests?
 
slyadams said:
Won't that be Archer once he's back playing tests?
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Archer and Wood will alternate in the Ashes I reckon. No point playing either though in this series given there's no WTC points on the line and the last time we played Archer in NZ we broke him
 
slyadams said:
Won't that be Archer once he's back playing tests?
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Possibly.

I think I’m in the minority that don’t really see what the fuss is about with Archer. He can bowl quick deliveries but he doesn’t bowl as consistently quick as Wood over a spell.

Wood and Mahmood seem to the two that get the most reverse for me. Problem is that no one who’s quick seems to be able to stay fit.
 
G-manc said:
Possibly.

I think I’m in the minority that don’t really see what the fuss is about with Archer. He can bowl quick deliveries but he doesn’t bowl as consistently quick as Wood over a spell.

Wood and Mahmood seem to the two that get the most reverse for me. Problem is that no one who’s quick seems to be able to stay fit.
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I don’t subscribe to Archer’s best role being a pure fast bowler who is used in short bursts, he’s a line and length bowler who can do it at a good pace (like Pat Cummins).
 
England have quite a player on their hands with Harry Brook.

He will be annoyed about getting out but there were some outrageous shots in there.
 
After all that the match is still in the balance. England have had a lot of starts in this innings and will be slightly disappointed that no one has made a big score
 
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