Don't think so, no. He bowls 78mph and he's 5'8 so can't bowl bouncers. He's looked completely innocuous for the majority of his test career as a bowler (whereas he's looked class pretty much every time he's batted).
English cricket thread
- Thread starter Samid
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Oh so you would want 4 seamers, a spinner plus Stokes and Curran in the side? Fair enough. Personally think Curran would be fine as a 4th seamer
Not sure about the makeup of the side tbh. I just think Curran will have to focus on his batting if he's going to make it at test level. I can't think of many bowlers who've succeeded at the top level with his attributes.
Hopefully he'll become a specialist batsman and a bonus bowler, a bit like Steve Smith has done (Steve Waugh also followed that path).
Anyway, I could be completely wrong and he ends up taking 300 test wickets for England. But it doesn't look likely based on his career so far.
Tbf there's been some good bowling hasn't there. None of the batsman has got themselves out (even Roy played the sort of shot you see openers play all the time in the modern game).
Buttler's looking like another problem isn't he.
I’m not sure how we’ll win tests when we don’t have any fecking batsmen in the team.
I think you're both right to think that Stokes is at a cross roads, but I don't really know what the answer is.
He averages less than 35 after 50 tests and hasn't scored a test century for 2 years. He looks like he could bat at 3, but given how cheaply he takes his wickets these days I don't really know if you're actually strengthening the side by getting him up the order and bowling him less.
What's a good score from here? 200/220?
Think we'll be all out for about 170/180.
Think we'll be all out for about 170/180.
He's been a problem since he came into the side.
When people say 'he doesn't move his feet' about most players, they normally he doesn't move them that much. Buttler literally does not move his feet. Even I think I could nick him off.
I haven’t been able to watch a lot of it today to be fair, but the conditions don’t seem that bad despite the good bowling. The main problem is not being able to see out the new ball without losing 2/3 wickets, it immediately puts us on the back foot. Then, as usual, we just crumble under pressure and lose consistent wickets.
What the feck was that shot ffs.
Poor that from Stokes.
Just a poor test side now aren't we.
Was thinking about that time we played Australia at Lords in '97 and got bowled out for 70 (only because the weather was similar yesterday).
The England team for that test was Butcher, Atherton, Stewart, Hussain, Thorpe, Crawley, Ealham, Croft, Gough, Caddick, Malcolm.
People talk about the '90s team being rubbish but the batting line-up was considerably better than the one we've got now.
Was thinking about that time we played Australia at Lords in '97 and got bowled out for 70 (only because the weather was similar yesterday).
The England team for that test was Butcher, Atherton, Stewart, Hussain, Thorpe, Crawley, Ealham, Croft, Gough, Caddick, Malcolm.
People talk about the '90s team being rubbish but the batting line-up was considerably better than the one we've got now.
Buttler's last 6 months are a microcosm of Englands issue.
After his break out season in IPL 2 years ago, England have asked him to perform as opener in T20, middle order thrasher in ODI and stroke player in Test. And subsequently he has not fired in IPL, CWC or Test cricket this year.
He doesn't seem to know what to, in what circumstance, and to be honest, that's not surprising, as its impossible to master such a variety of skillsets, mentality and technique.
England need to decide who plays what, and then develop players for these formats.
After his break out season in IPL 2 years ago, England have asked him to perform as opener in T20, middle order thrasher in ODI and stroke player in Test. And subsequently he has not fired in IPL, CWC or Test cricket this year.
He doesn't seem to know what to, in what circumstance, and to be honest, that's not surprising, as its impossible to master such a variety of skillsets, mentality and technique.
England need to decide who plays what, and then develop players for these formats.
This is like watching the England of old, doesn't look like we have an awful amount of fight - and those from whom you expect it throw their wickets away....
I heard earlier the last 7 Test matches to lose the entire first day to rain all ended up producing a result - perhaps not surprising in this era, and I feel like this one will go the same way and not the way we would have hoped.
I heard earlier the last 7 Test matches to lose the entire first day to rain all ended up producing a result - perhaps not surprising in this era, and I feel like this one will go the same way and not the way we would have hoped.
The top order's miles better but that is quite a tail!
Good post and I agree, there should be more of a distinction between the formats if you are going to have success in each.
Roy is another good example, he made his name hitting balls out of the ground in ODI's and the selectors just assumed this would make him the answer to our issues with the opening partnership in Tests. Don't get me wrong, he may well go on to succeed but it's another case of not selecting horses for courses, just picking whoever is doing well in whatever format at the time.
They got lauded, and rightly so for finally removing Alastair Cook from the ODI side and they need to make more decisions like this.
Yep, agree.
Why are we so rubbish?!
What would our score be without edges or extras? Feels like half of our boundaries have been miscues.
Warne's a great commentator isn't he. He's even getting a tune out of Botham.
Made it past 200, so not a complete disaster.
Team selection, need to go back to basics. Pick the best 6 batsmen best wicketkeeper and the best 4 bowlers
If England can somehow get to 300, they will still be in it.
Can see Archer being unplayable with cloud cover tomorrow
Should be heading for a draw at the very least now, considering its going to rain a fair bit tomorrow.
Job's a good'un
Likely to see Archer bat and bowl before end of play today 
True. But tbf he's kind of a shock bowler now isn't he, so it wouldn't be a massive change of role.
Who are the best six batsmen though? Or, to put it another way, who's significantly better than the six batsmen we've got now?
Sibley is a much better opener than Roy in red ball cricket. I would take Northeast over anyone in the middle order. Also Ballance is having a very good season doubt he will score less then Buttler. Which leaves (best 5 best all rounder)
Sibley
Burns
Ballance
Root
Northeast
Stokes
Foakes
Woakes
Archer
Broad
Leach
Someone batting while wearing glasses always looks ridiculous.
I, for one, endorse this selection.
Surprised it's not Woakes with the new ball.
Good decision I think, get Archer into the game on his debut and then give Woakes the ball over 3 or 4 overs from Archer.
England have struck gold with Archer.
feel as excited about him like I was about the likes of Younis, Ahktar, Harmison and Lee, Starc.
So long as he is managed propely, will be box office for many years.
feel as excited about him like I was about the likes of Younis, Ahktar, Harmison and Lee, Starc.
So long as he is managed propely, will be box office for many years.
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Yep, they needed to get all the hype out of the way. Give him three overs and you've still got time for a couple from Woakes under the lights.
I'm someone who loves test cricket and the English cricket summer, despite being Indian, is one of the best things every year in sport for me. Anderson is such a big part of it, though, and I was thinking it'll be down a notch after he's gone. Hopefully, Archer can fill some of the void. Was v surprised yesterday to find out that Woakes is 30.
I swear there was a nick there.
Did Warner not hit that?
Yes, there was.