The Cricket Thread

[Spurs_Bear]

Sounds like it was basically a difference pitch with the new ball, swinging around in difficult light conditions. If they were going to lose a few wickets it was going to be in those last two overs.

Assuming Mo doesn't turn his form around the tail will be exposed within half an hour of the start of play. We'll do well to get 300 from here.

Bairstow could claim he got a half decent ball but Root did his usual, lack of concentration when trying to convert a 50 into 100. Not good enough from the skipper, he wants to be talked about in the same breath as Smith, Kohli, Williamson, he's currently light years away.

They kept going on in commentary about "England will be bowling last on this pitch, it was a good toss to win with two spinners." My response is will it fuck...we'll be all out for 260 and be chasing leather on a flat one for two days while the Aussies rack up 600 and we got humped by an innings.

 

[Spurs_Bear]

It's really starting to do my head in this opening berth that we cant fill next to Cook. Stoneman is no different to Lyth or Carberry, or even Hales before him, we need a longer term plan and then stick with it through a bit of thick and thin, otherwise when Cook hangs up his gloves in a couple of years we'll be left with two rookie openers instead of just one.

 

[Deleted member 27995]

So many people getting starts again and not continuing.

Personally I now wouldn't make changes in the Test team to tour New Zealand. If the squad that has been playing against the Aussies cannot perform against a very good unit in the New Zealand team then you make changes at the start of our Test summer.

 

[Archibald&Crooks]

So many people getting starts again and not continuing.

This one's on Poch

 

[Deleted member 27995]

This one's on Poch

I find solice in moaning about Bayliss please don't bring poor old Poch here, I think I've seen/read it all tonight as to why we almost lost to a worldy ...

Thank fuck they don't all listen to the BT/Sky pundits of Cricket, someone might have an aneurysm!

 

[theShiznit]

Why the hell didn't crane come in as night watchman when he was clearly padded up?

Cost us Barstow and puts an under pressure Alli immediately under pressure.

 

[mpickard2087]

Drop one was pretty bad, drop two was just amazing!

 

[Deleted member 27995]

They need a couple of quick wickets, which is so cliche I might just close up shop and hibernate for the month of January.

 

[Arnoldtoo]

We're gonna get done by an innings and plenty aren't we.

 

[Deleted member 27995]

On another note, don't suppose anyone was listening to TMS last night?

They were talking about Broad and the number of runs he had scored in sixes. He is only behind Botham, Flintoff and Stokes for total runs scored in sixes and 17th all time (for anyone interested number one of the list was Cairns)

It got me thinking, if he hadn't taken that ball through the cage against the Indians I think all those years ago how good would he have been with bat and ball.

Bit of something else to think about.

 

[Deleted member 27995]

We're gonna get done by an innings and plenty aren't we.

Jimmy could snaffle a couple and we're right in it again.

Another hour of what happened late in the day and well, we're praying Crane bowls the ball of the Century ...

What is it all the angry locals say in the Spurs forums? It's the hope that kills you?

 

[Arnoldtoo]

Jimmy could snaffle a couple and we're right in it again.

Another hour of what happened late in the day and well, we're praying Crane bowls the ball of the Century ...

What is it all the angry locals say in the Spurs forums? It's the hope that kills you?

Probably why, in respect of the England cricket team (and Spurs) I feel safer adopting the Eeyore approach!

 

[Deleted member 27995]

Probably why, in respect of the England cricket team (and Spurs) I feel safer adopting the Eeyore approach!

Well at least you don't spam my posts because I may have a slightly brighter opinion on things.

It's brutal on the Spurs forums today, amazing what opinion wrapped up as fact will do to drive an agenda.

In other news Bayliss out!

 

[Arnoldtoo]

Well at least you don't spam my posts because I may have a slightly brighter opinion on things.

It's brutal on the Spurs forums today, amazing what opinion wrapped up as fact will do to drive an agenda.

In other news Bayliss out!

Ah but pessimism why I can read the news that Barkley has gone to Chel$ki with nothing more than a sage nod of anticipated inevitability.

The bastard.

Smith's double century falls into the same category.

 

[Deleted member 27995]

Ah but pessimism why I can read the news that Barkley has gone to Chel$ki with nothing more than a sage nod of anticipated inevitability.

The bastard.

Smith's double century falls into the same category.

Ha!

I still do get wound up by it all then you'll just have that moment where it dawns on that in precisely a months time at this very moment, you'll be a month on and it doesn't matter, that or the cat has puled the coffee jug and contents of a tray all over the floor whilest trying to climb up onto the sideboard.

Either way levity prevails and life moves on.

 

[dimiSpur]

This series has shown up all the small niggling issues that have been boiling under our summer victories in spectacular fashion.

It's shown the fragility of our top order and the lack of Test cricket batsmen in our side. Cook and Root have been below par, with Root unable to turn good starts into big scores like Smith has done. It's also shown our heavy reliance on the middle order. Facing 90mph bowlers and a spin-bowler worth his salt in Lyon, the middle order have been blown away more often than not. Stokes being missing obviously hasn't helped.

It's also shown up the inconsistency of Ali as our main spin-bowler. He's capable of tremendous bowling sessions/days, but more often than not he's rather ineffective. It's also shown that in conditions that are not suited to swing/seam bowling, Anderson and Broad's lack of true pace is an issue. Yes they keep it tight, especially Anderson, but wicket taking has been a severe issue. Our backup pacemen also lack true pace to truly scare in form batsmen like Warner and especially Smith.

On the other hand, Root's "lack of form" is him only averaging 50-odd in the series, which is only considered under par when you compare him to Smith's antics. Malan has also impressed me with his determined stints at the crease although his performance has been typical of England's performance. Almost. Never quite enough.

Alas it's time to regroup and go again against New Zealand. There's no doubting Australia's supremacy, especially in home conditions. They've outbowled us, outbatted us and outfought us. Having 3 bowlers that bowl 90mph helps too.

 

[Spurs_Bear]

This series has shown up all the small niggling issues that have been boiling under our summer victories in spectacular fashion.

It's shown the fragility of our top order and the lack of Test cricket batsmen in our side. Cook and Root have been below par, with Root unable to turn good starts into big scores like Smith has done. It's also shown our heavy reliance on the middle order. Facing 90mph bowlers and a spin-bowler worth his salt in Lyon, the middle order have been blown away more often than not. Stokes being missing obviously hasn't helped.

It's also shown up the inconsistency of Ali as our main spin-bowler. He's capable of tremendous bowling sessions/days, but more often than not he's rather ineffective. It's also shown that in conditions that are not suited to swing/seam bowling, Anderson and Broad's lack of true pace is an issue. Yes they keep it tight, especially Anderson, but wicket taking has been a severe issue. Our backup pacemen also lack true pace to truly scare in form batsmen like Warner and especially Smith.

On the other hand, Root's "lack of form" is him only averaging 50-odd in the series, which is only considered under par when you compare him to Smith's antics. Malan has also impressed me with his determined stints at the crease although his performance has been typical of England's performance. Almost. Never quite enough.

Alas it's time to regroup and go again against New Zealand. There's no doubting Australia's supremacy, especially in home conditions. They've outbowled us, outbatted us and outfought us. Having 3 bowlers that bowl 90mph helps too.

Agree with all apart from Anderson. He's got 17 wickets which is a good return for a series in Oz in my eyes.

Broad and Ali have been the problem.

 

[mpickard2087]

I don't think there are any easy solutions. I think there are faults with selection and what the coaches/selectors have done, but they've given a lot of people a lot of chances which haven't been taken. At some point you then have to look at what the counties/system is doing in producing quality players for the red ball game.

There are problems with bat and ball. With the bat we are just getting a succession of technically and mentally weak players. We're in the position where a declining Cook is still the only one who can bat, and bat, and bat - taking the game away from the opposition. The rest, and I'm afraid led by Captain Roooooot, might be good for a session, two if we're lucky, but are a bit soft and don't have the ruthless streak and rarely tough it out. Malan to be fair has at least shown some guts since he came in the team and looks up for the battle and can dig in, but its slim pickings.

With the ball we just don't have enough weapons. Just a lottery of right arm fast-medium seam bowlers. No variety such as a left arm, or a genuinely quick hostile bowler. No real spinner, so they've asked a part-timer to try his best (with mixed results) and then with no one else persisted with him, even when he's clearly having problems and now destroyed his confidence with bat and ball. This is probably all a reflection of the fact of how the county championship is scheduled at the start and end of the season, and tipping it even more in certain bowlers favour and means you don't need to be anything more than medium pace to start getting results.

What are the solutions? I don't know. As I say repeatedly I think you definitely need more separation between red and white ball cricket and to have more specialists for both, but that's never going to happen. I think the schedule needs looking at, although in England we are always going to be at a certain mercy to weather/conditions. Above all else though I think the ECB/Counties/whoever need to have some higher standards and be a bit more critical of what is being done.

It's a mediocre era of test cricket, and we're a good reflection of that.

 

[aussiespursguy]

I watched my local Big Bash team (Adelaide Strikers) in action last night against the Hobart Hurricanes. We lost our first match of the series away to them. I was rather impressed by one of their imports, a young West Indian quick named Jofra Archer. This young 22 year old is seriously quick (150kph) and makes it look easy. Has a great slower ball as well. Very impressive all round.

Why do you care I hear you ask. Well he plays for Sussex, and I'm sure the keen fans over there are fully aware of that. Are you also aware he wants to represent England and will be available for selection in 2 years i believe. This is a guy with genuine scary pace, and will be 24 when ready to be available. Something for you guys to be exited about!

 

[Deleted member 27995]

I watched my local Big Bash team (Adelaide Strikers) in action last night against the Hobart Hurricanes. We lost our first match of the series away to them. I was rather impressed by one of their imports, a young West Indian quick named Jofra Archer. This young 22 year old is seriously quick (150kph) and makes it look easy. Has a great slower ball as well. Very impressive all round.

Why do you care I hear you ask. Well he plays for Sussex, and I'm sure the keen fans over there are fully aware of that. Are you also aware he wants to represent England and will be available for selection in 2 years i believe. This is a guy with genuine scary pace, and will be 24 when ready to be available. Something for you guys to be exited about!

Glad you got to watch him.

He has been touted as having plenty about him, Tymal Mills has raved about him and he has done some fine things in the shorter formats of the game over here already.

There are a few articles about him saying he wants to play for England, I don't know about posting them though, copyright and all that.

Thanks for the info though, I would bet Sussex fans are excited to have him in all formats this coming season.