The Cricket Thread

[Spurs_Bear]

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.

I agree with all this apart from the separation, a discussion we've had before. We are missing out on some serious talents by pigeon holing them as white ball specialists. Interesting to think that when the ODI's start, we will fuck about with our bowling line up by bringing in players who are white ball specialists, and the Aussies (fitness permitting) will have the same opening attack and first change bowler that they have on show in the test series. I'd rather take Jos Buttler as a specialist batting option on a test tour than Gary fucking Ballance.

 

[mezza84]

The first 4 deliveries of the day were some of the most bizarre i have seen i think. Never seen a forward defensive played a foot and a half outside off before.

 

[theShiznit]

Steve Smith is such an ugly watch. Fucking effective but a bizarre hybrid of Chanderpaul and Jack Russell. for Anderson coming around the wicket he's practically standing straight onto him!

For all the old stiffs like boycott saying about moving the feet, bat coming down straight and keeping your head still it shows that hand eye coordination tops everything else.

 

[Deleted member 27995]

Steve Smith is such an ugly watch. Fucking effective but a bizarre hybrid of Chanderpaul and Jack Russell. for Anderson coming around the wicket he's practically standing straight onto him!

For all the old stiffs like boycott saying about moving the feet, bat coming down straight and keeping your head still it shows that hand eye coordination tops everything else.

Kim Barrnett didn't do too badly either especially in the latter part of his career.

Agree though Smith is just that good. Looking ominous for todays play.

 

[theShiznit]

Kim Barrnett didn't do too badly either especially in the latter part of his career.

Agree though Smith is just that good. Looking ominous for todays play.

Can understand why bowlers lose their line and length bowling to him the positions he takes up at the crease are so unusual it must be so frustrating.

 

[Deleted member 27995]

Can understand why bowlers lose their line and length bowling to him the positions he takes up at the crease are so unusual it must be so frustrating.

He makes bowlers (well at least some of ours this series) bowl to him as you say instead of sticking to the plan. Just on or outside to him, it may be monotonous but eh, I'm sat here with a cup of tea and a packet of digestives .. What do I know?!

 

[LSUY]

I think it might be time England hired a full time spin coach.

 

[Wsussexspur]

I know we tried it few years ago with Ashley Giles and Andy Flower and it didn’t really work but I feel it’s time to have another look at splitting test and one day management up. Bayliss has been fantastic for our limited overs side completely changed the team and the way we play and made us one of the top limited over teams in the world. However his test record especially away from home is nothing short of abysmal. As mentioned above Maybe the ECB should look at bring some one else in to manage the test team leaving Bayliss to manage the one day team. Not sure who mind you.

 

[Arnoldtoo]

I know we tried it few years ago with Ashley Giles and Andy Flower and it didn’t really work but I feel it’s time to have another look at splitting test and one day management up. Bayliss has been fantastic for our limited overs side completely changed the team and the way we play and made us one of the top limited over teams in the world. However his test record especially away from home is nothing short of abysmal. As mentioned above Maybe the ECB should look at bring some one else in to manage the test team leaving Bayliss to manage the one day team. Not sure who mind you.

Would this new management have taken a different squad to Oz do you think?

 

[Archibald&Crooks]

I actually sat up and watched last night, mainly because watching Crane bowl was actually interesting although ultimately, our attack managed to do what it usually does. And in our second innings, I'd bet both my bollocks our batting does what it usually does too. It totally wouldn't surprise me if this is over by this time tomorrow with that turtle headed **** spinner of theirs running through us like a knife through butter.

 

[Arnoldtoo]

I actually sat up and watched last night, mainly because watching Crane bowl was actually interesting although ultimately, our attack managed to do what it usually does. And in our second innings, I'd bet both my bollocks our batting does what it usually does too. It totally wouldn't surprise me if this is over by this time tomorrow with that turtle headed **** spinner of theirs running through us like a knife through butter.

Like I said after our first effort, we're going to lose by an innings and plenty.

 

[theShiznit]

Have to say despite our ineffectual bowling unit (not just Ali) and inability to post batting partnerships or hundreds after getting a start, the standard of the third umpiring in this series has been rank bad.

 

[theShiznit]

Also, i find it hard to believe that there is no one in the County game that can bowl over 82mph for a sustained period. with little seam or swing why have an attack (and squad) full of right arm medium/fast bowlers of varying height?

The only time our bowlers gave the Aussie batsmen the hurry up was when they were late finishing their prawn sandwiches at tea...

 

[aussiespursguy]

Have to say despite our ineffectual bowling unit (not just Ali) and inability to post batting partnerships or hundreds after getting a start, the standard of the third umpiring in this series has been rank bad.

Genuine question. When have they got it that wrong? Certainly not in this match.

 

[Arnoldtoo]

Genuine question. When have they got it that wrong? Certainly not in this match.

When one side is so much better than the other it should be the third umpire's job to even things up a bit.

 

[theShiznit]

Genuine question. When have they got it that wrong? Certainly not in this match.

Two glaring errors spring to mind, both got the right call for the wrong reasons.

In the match where someone was given out and you couldn't tell if the ball hit the hand that was off the bat or not, third umpire gave it straight out on first viewing, right call but got to poorly.
And today, Curran had an LBW and the third umpire gave it not out on a snicko anomaly, when at the point of the 'snick' it showed there was clear daylight between the bat and ball, as it was the ball was missing leg stump so right decision reached wrongly again.

 

[aussiespursguy]

Two glaring errors spring to mind, both got the right call for the wrong reasons.

In the match where someone was given out and you couldn't tell if the ball hit the hand that was off the bat or not, third umpire gave it straight out on first viewing, right call but got to poorly.
And today, Curran had an LBW and the third umpire gave it not out on a snicko anomaly, when at the point of the 'snick' it showed there was clear daylight between the bat and ball, as it was the ball was missing leg stump so right decision reached wrongly again.

Yeah the incident today with Curren was a big balls up by the field umpire. Was never out missing down leg regardless. But that was the field umpires mistake. Not the third. I will agree i think there has been several glaring mistakes by the field umpires during the series, but when the bad ones have been referred they have got it right.

 

[aussiespursguy]

When one side is so much better than the other it should be the third umpire's job to even things up a bit.

Years ago before the world umpiring pool that used to happen by the field umpires on the sub continent!

 

[theShiznit]

Yeah the incident today with Curren was a big balls up by the field umpire. Was never out missing down leg regardless. But that was the field umpires mistake. Not the third. I will agree i think there has been several glaring mistakes by the field umpires during the series, but when the bad ones have been referred they have got it right.

Regardless of whether the on field umpire should have given it out that was a clear error by the third umpire.
He's there for the sole purpose of clearing up the on field umpires' mistakes not making more...

 

[Arnoldtoo]

Years ago before the world umpiring pool that used to happen by the field umpires on the sub continent!

I remember it well ...

That is, I well remember my father talking about it.