England Cricket 2019
- Thread starter littlebabyjesus
- Start date
Monkeygrinder's Organ
Dodgy geezer swilling vapid lager
For all the various weaknesses England's many recent openers have had, continually waving the bat at every single ball vaguely near off stump is really raising the bar isn't it.
I see the England team have finally turned up in the West Indies - albeit too late.
Well done to Buttler and Stokes (lucky reprieve). Good knocks. Solid defence and aggressive with the bad balls. Test match batting in other words.
Burns and Denly at least blunted the new ball.
Keaton Jennings looks shot to pieces poor lad.
Root well out of form.
Perhaps the Windies have sub-consciously taken their feet off the pedal given they’ve won the series? Either way they are missing Holder today.
Well done to Buttler and Stokes (lucky reprieve). Good knocks. Solid defence and aggressive with the bad balls. Test match batting in other words.
Burns and Denly at least blunted the new ball.
Keaton Jennings looks shot to pieces poor lad.
Root well out of form.
Perhaps the Windies have sub-consciously taken their feet off the pedal given they’ve won the series? Either way they are missing Holder today.
littlebabyjesus
one of Maxwell's demons
Wrong decision at the toss, which they wouldn't have made if they'd not won the series. I think they just fancied rolling England over again. Can't really blame them.
Agree about Jennings. It was almost cruel of the Windies to drop him and force him to carry on a little longer. He was out three times essentially for his 8. Walking wicket.
Got to be concerned about Denly, missing a straight one because it was too fast for him. Is he a test batsman?
littlebabyjesus
one of Maxwell's demons
I also didn't like Burns' dismissal. He got in a right tangle and played all around it. It was a good ball, but not a killer ball. His strength is leg-side apparently, but shovelling across the line like that, you'd better bloody hit it. Both Denly and Burns were out because they didn't get themselves in line. Now that this series is lost, we are entitled to look forward to the Ashes, I think. The Aus pace bowlers will fancy both Burns and Denly. They'd fucking love Jennings, but they won't get the chance. This is going to be his last ever test match, I suspect, even if he somehow manages to make a score second innings.
Should Root bat at 3? Yes he absolutely should. And the fact he's not doing much from 4 at the moment makes it hard for him to argue against it, I think. Insisting on 4 like that, he puts more pressure on himself if anything, and that doesn't seem to be working.
Should Root bat at 3? Yes he absolutely should. And the fact he's not doing much from 4 at the moment makes it hard for him to argue against it, I think. Insisting on 4 like that, he puts more pressure on himself if anything, and that doesn't seem to be working.
Pink Panther
Well-Known Member
There will be 9 or 10 County Championship matches before the first Test of next summer (against Ireland in the last week of July) so there will be plenty of opportunity for those not involved in the IPL or ODIs to make a convincing case for inclusion. I'd like to think Haseeb Hameed might be one of them as he looked an obvious Test prospect when I saw him for Lancs in the 2015 and 2016 seasons, but he's never been the same since breaking his hand after a promising start to the India tour two and a bit years ago. I also fancy Mark Stoneman to make a case for a recall, as I believe there were mitigating factors in his dreadful form for both Surrey and England in the early part of last season. Rory Burns has been consistently productive in Championship cricket for several years now, with 1,000 first class runs in each of the last five seasons and a career average of around 44-45, so despite an indifferent start to his Test career overseas another reasonable county season ought to earn him the chance to play a Test or two in more familiar conditions unless anyone else produces something sensational.
littlebabyjesus
one of Maxwell's demons
We have a match now at least. Should be a good contest from now on. WI bowled brilliantly this morning, but Bairstow looked really out of it. Not scoring, was dropped on 2 then got out for 2 about half an hour later. Tried a couple of wild swishes, the second of which he was out to, although tbf it was a brilliant ball from Roach. Stokes might just enjoy bowling here with it hooping around. Hope Wood is told to just steam in and fling it as hard as he can, and is used in short spells - no more than five, Joe.
Roach has been the stand-out bowler this series. He has all the tricks - in, out and wobble, with the occasional surprise short one. He's definitely become a much more skilful bowler since the injuries and losing his pace. Gabriel also really impressive - consistently 145 k and right on target almost every ball.
Roach has been the stand-out bowler this series. He has all the tricks - in, out and wobble, with the occasional surprise short one. He's definitely become a much more skilful bowler since the injuries and losing his pace. Gabriel also really impressive - consistently 145 k and right on target almost every ball.
littlebabyjesus
one of Maxwell's demons
tbf Hameed needs to look like a county prospect again first. I'd love to see him overcome whatever it is that has frozen his game. Another season like the last one and that might be it for him as a professional cricketer. Think Burns will start in the Ashes, but Jennings definitely won't and I doubt Denly will either. So there are two spots up for grabs. Is James Vince worth another go? He at least looks pretty.
littlebabyjesus
one of Maxwell's demons
Mark Wood! 
Where have you been all series?
Where have you been all series?
SpookyFrank
Don't swallow the cap
Fuck me, an actual game of cricket seems to be happening.
littlebabyjesus
one of Maxwell's demons
Exhilarating stuff from Wood. Predictably he was probably bowled for two overs too many by Root, but he was hunting a maiden five-fer. It just makes the selection of Curran look even more absurd, tbh.
And credit to Moeen today as well. There was very little filth and he span it hard to create the drift that got him the wickets. He looked like a front-line spinner. Just as well, cos his batting has done a Broad.
Anderson was out of sorts today. You have to think that the Ashes this summer will be his last series. I hope he rouses himself for it. To be a bit brutal, he's looked a little ordinary this series. He's bowled mostly tidily without looking that penetrating, especially as they're using a Duke ball. Roach has outswung Anderson this series.
And credit to Moeen today as well. There was very little filth and he span it hard to create the drift that got him the wickets. He looked like a front-line spinner. Just as well, cos his batting has done a Broad.
Anderson was out of sorts today. You have to think that the Ashes this summer will be his last series. I hope he rouses himself for it. To be a bit brutal, he's looked a little ordinary this series. He's bowled mostly tidily without looking that penetrating, especially as they're using a Duke ball. Roach has outswung Anderson this series.
redsquirrel
This Machine Kills Progressives
Hmmm, I don't think you can blame the selectors too much about Wood.
I like him but even his biggest fan has to admit that before this match his figures are really pretty modest, he's a (supposed) strike bowler but he's got a strike rate of over 60. Yes injuries have hindered him but he hasn't taken enough wickets. Lets hope this is a turning point.
I like him but even his biggest fan has to admit that before this match his figures are really pretty modest, he's a (supposed) strike bowler but he's got a strike rate of over 60. Yes injuries have hindered him but he hasn't taken enough wickets. Lets hope this is a turning point.
littlebabyjesus
one of Maxwell's demons
Wood's another of those fast bowlers who lost pace after being picked for England. Great to see he's got it back.
This is a terrific cricket wicket. Something in it for both bowlers and batters, and the scores reflect where both teams are really. Only one player on either side (who has at least a test 50 to his name) with a test average of over 40. Four bowlers with lots of wickets averaging under 30. Going forwards, both WI and England have similar issues.
This is a terrific cricket wicket. Something in it for both bowlers and batters, and the scores reflect where both teams are really. Only one player on either side (who has at least a test 50 to his name) with a test average of over 40. Four bowlers with lots of wickets averaging under 30. Going forwards, both WI and England have similar issues.
SpookyFrank
Don't swallow the cap
I seem to remember no balls being a big problem for him.
a_chap
When the world came apart, where were you?
It wasn't a problem; he was working as a eunuch at the time.
littlebabyjesus
one of Maxwell's demons
The modern game is very unforgiving of no balls. Bob Willis used to bowl loads so did a few others back in the day.
littlebabyjesus
one of Maxwell's demons
Good to see Root get runs, albeit cheap runs against a tired attack that's a man down in a dead rubber. Interesting to hear his rationale about batting 4 - he needs the headspace after captaining on the field. Makes me wonder a little if he's the right man for the captaincy. Best batsman doesn't always have to be captain - du Plessis does very well for SA for instance.
Doesn't always translate but yes he surely must be given the chance. There isn't really many other options anyway.
Looking back on it they probably decided against Hales in tests too early, especially since what has happened since. He did OK and got a few scores, what we'd give for that now.
butchersapron
Bring back hanging
I don't know whether i hope today is as much of a road as weds or not. I only managed to watch eng innings that night but today i can watch both - maybe two loads of that would be too much. I def know they should not ever again make marcus wear tight suit trews with a side on camera view though.
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littlebabyjesus
one of Maxwell's demons
With the benefit of hindsight, perhaps. But at the time I didn't think he had too many arguments. Yet another specialist batsman given a decent run - in his case, 11 tests - and not managing an average of 30. Also, he seemed to get confused - his test strike rate is lower than Alastair Cook's.
I think if one-day dashers are given a go in the test top order, they need to be given a bit of a licence. If they're to come off, it won't be by blocking, it will be by playing like Sehwag or Warner.
butchersapron
Bring back hanging
Longer Gale stays in the better - other batsmen getting annoyed with him. He's damaging their strike-rate the same as he did in the first game.
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