The Cricket Thread

[SargeantMeatCurtains]

Hameed hasn't been able to buy a run all season and can't even get into Lancashire's first team.

I know. I have spoken about that before but a lot of the talk around the team is that Hameed will be back in the team regardless of his county form.

Whilst I don’t necessarily agree with that thinking, Hameed has the temperament we’re missing and England have history of players underperforming for their county but performing well at test level.

 

[Archibald&Crooks]

This is a shambolic display really. Again.

Outbowled in their own conditions, our attack need to hang their heads in shame. Fair play to India who applied themselves really well with the bat, it's highly likely that they could declare right now and win by a fair margin.

And the batting? Well, here's a few stats plucked from the BBC

England lose all 10 wickets in afternoon session; bowled out for 161
Third time in two years England have lost all 10 wickets in a session
That didn't happen once in previous 78 years (1938-2016)

 

[dondo]

I agree, we have far too many shot playing batsman in the team. Cook is still a good player and frankly, there doesn't seem anyone better to replace him.

I personally think Bayliss needs to go or just become the one day coach. His test record hasn't been great and we don't look like we are improving. I would personally play defensively sound batsman in the top three with Root at 4 and Vince or Malan at 5. Bairstow would be number 6 and Stokes at number 7 (not bothered by Stokes wanting to bat at 6). Woakes would probably be fantastic a number 8 and I would play Bess or Leach with Anderson and Broad following up.

I think Burns needs to have an extended run in the test team (at least two years for me).

I agree with most of this but for me cook is done at international level, his record over the last 2/3 years is not good enough.
Stokes place should be in question based on his form on the pitch let alone the stuff off it. To be an all rounder you should be good enough to get in the team as a batsman and a bowler. I’d argue he is just below that level with bat and ball, woakes is s better all rounder imo

 

[alfie103]

I agree with most of this but for me cook is done at international level, his record over the last 2/3 years is not good enough.
Stokes place should be in question based on his form on the pitch let alone the stuff off it. To be an all rounder you should be good enough to get in the team as a batsman and a bowler. I’d argue he is just below that level with bat and ball, woakes is s better all rounder imo

Yes he seems to have declined somewhat over the last couple of years but to be honest, I don't think we have anyone else to replace him.

 

[alfie103]

This is a shambolic display really. Again.

Outbowled in their own conditions, our attack need to hang their heads in shame. Fair play to India who applied themselves really well with the bat, it's highly likely that they could declare right now and win by a fair margin.

And the batting? Well, here's a few stats plucked from the BBC

England lose all 10 wickets in afternoon session; bowled out for 161
Third time in two years England have lost all 10 wickets in a session
That didn't happen once in previous 78 years (1938-2016)

I don't think you can criticise the attack too much, they have really pulled England out of so many messes over the last couple of years and they can't keep doing it. You cannot regularly get under 300-350 in your first innings and expect to win a lot of games.

In my opinion, the test and one day sides need to be treated as seperate teams with seperate coaches, staff and players. The batting skills sets and conditions are just too different and I think it is too much to ask for most players to flourish in both formats.

Plus county cricket really needs to be overhauled with a maximum of 8 teams in the County Championship, 50 Over Competition and T20s.

 

[southlondonyiddo]

Our display so far in this Test has been a shambles
Sums up our recent test match history. Some good, some bad and some absolute shockers

Bringing back Stokes for me was the correct decision but they dropped the wrong bloke

How can you possibly drop Curran after his performances in the first two tests. Look at some of the dross that get chance after chance after chance after playing pretty poorly with far far less impact than Curran

Terrible decision but pretty much in keeping with this current setup & skipper

 

[dondo]

Our display so far in this Test has been a shambles
Sums up our recent test match history. Some good, some bad and some absolute shockers

Bringing back Stokes for me was the correct decision but they dropped the wrong bloke

How can you possibly drop Curran after his performances in the first two tests. Look at some of the dross that get chance after chance after chance after playing pretty poorly with far far less impact than Curran

Terrible decision but pretty much in keeping with this current setup & skipper

Who would you have dropped for Curran out of interest?

 

[southlondonyiddo]

Who would you have dropped for Curran out of interest?

For me it was a toss up between Jennings and opening with Bairstow or dropping Butler (the vice captain!!!)

I’d have dropped Buttler

I love Buttler but don’t think he’s a test batsman. Although maybe that’s just the way test cricket is going now with all the 20/20 stuff etc watering down the best format of the game!

 

[dondo]

For me it was a toss up between Jennings and opening with Bairstow or dropping Butler (the vice captain!!!)

I’d have dropped Buttler

I love Buttler but don’t think he’s a test batsman. Although maybe that’s just the way test cricket is going now with all the 20/20 stuff etc watering down the best format of the game!

Fair point but for me 5 seamers is to much.
It was a straight choice between stokes and Curran for me and I would have gone for Curran

 

[southlondonyiddo]

Fair point but for me 5 seamers is to much.
It was a straight choice between stokes and Curran for me and I would have gone for Curran

Your probably right and that is 1 too many seamers but I couldn’t have dropped Curran

The team needs some more tinkering....

 

[dondo]

Your probably right and that is 1 too many seamers but I couldn’t have dropped Curran

The team needs some more tinkering....

I would completely shake up the batting order

Cook
Burns
Root
bell
Bairstow
Pope/buttler
Stokes/woakes
Curran
Rashid/Alli
Broad
Anderson

 

[aussiespursguy]

West Indian import??

Jofra Archer. Has declared he is waiting to qualify for England. He is scary quick.

 

[Buggsy61]

That was a pretty inept batting performance yesterday. Not singling him out as it was pretty widespread, but how many more gormless performances with the bat and in the slip cordon do we need to see from Jennings before finally accepting he is not good enough.
I would bring back Bell, at least till the end of the series. The man has real class, plus experience and is good against spin. I would also persist with Pope until the end of the series.

 

[Archibald&Crooks]

Seriously Root? Really?

 

[Arnoldtoo]

Seriously Root? Really?

Wot?

 

[Arnoldtoo]

What are India faffing about at? They've got a 400 lead, more than enough to bowl us out even if Bairstow can bat, and they're poking at balls like they're playing for a draw. Fuckin' hit it. Get another rapid 75 and put us in before tea.

 

[longtimespur]

What are India faffing about at? They've got a 400 lead, more than enough to bowl us out even if Bairstow can bat, and they're poking at balls like they're playing for a draw. Fuckin' hit it. Get another rapid 75 and put us in before tea.

Probably trying to eek the game out till the 4th day

 

[Archibald&Crooks]

What are India faffing about at? They've got a 400 lead, more than enough to bowl us out even if Bairstow can bat, and they're poking at balls like they're playing for a draw. Fuckin' hit it. Get another rapid 75 and put us in before tea.

If they put us in before Tea we're all out before the char lady has washed up the cups

Wot?

Gave Rashid one slip then brings himself on to bowl and surrounds the bat with about 50 close catchers.

Plum of a captain. Root out

 

[mpickard2087]

As I was saying, this England team is mediocre. Test Cricket as a whole right now is mediocre.

India have done the right thing today, bat on and on, try and grind some of the English bowlers into the dirt and see if it has an effect on the rest of the series.

 

[Arnoldtoo]

As I was saying, this England team is mediocre. Test Cricket as a whole right now is mediocre.

India have done the right thing today, bat on and on, try and grind some of the English bowlers into the dirt and see if it has an effect on the rest of the series.

That's the only reason I can think of why they're still bowling. Going to look pretty stupid if the English weather saves us though.