- Feb 1, 2005
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WTF? Has Captain Pugwash really just taken Leach, a bowler who’s just taken three wickets off?
Change of end for Leach?
Change of end for Leach?
WTF? Has Captain Pugwash really just taken Leach, a bowler who’s just taken three wickets off?
Change of end for Leach?
I guess we'll find out a lot more once this tour is over and a coach is named, the I'd like to see Saqib Mahmood given a game if Wood is out of the next test too, but they'll pick Robinson.
She wasn't selected, but maybe is a bit raw still. However she did well down in Australia in the WBBL. Lauren Bell is probably the next bowler to come in and she is in the squad so maybe will get a game soon. The youngsters waiting have great potential but like most England sports teams you have to bide your time. One person who should have been in the squad is Alice Capsey. I reckon she is now a shoe-in for the summer for England.Is Izzy Wong in the squad? She stood out in the Hundred it surprises me we haven't seen much of her in an England shirt. Or has she been given a crack and I missed it.
She wasn't selected, but maybe is a bit raw still. However she did well down in Australia in the WBBL. Lauren Bell is probably the next bowler to come in and she is in the squad so maybe will get a game soon. The youngsters waiting have great potential but like most England sports teams you have to bide your time. One person who should have been in the squad is Alice Capsey. I reckon she is now a shoe-in for the summer for England.
You were never going to get a full reset until the summer tests, you cant pluck bowlers out of thin air who haven't played any cricket over the winter apart from running in the indoor nets at Loughborough. Similar with the batting, Alex Lees is the same age as Burns give or take, has a similar (slightly worse) first class record as well, so I'm not really sure what they are expecting of him. The main reset we've seen is in the coaching department, the Director of Cricket removal, and the talk about how much we need to focus on the red ball stuff. At least it's now being talked about.What I find strange about England's red ball reset is that, bar Robinson who missed out through injury, the bowling attack would have been identical to that which started the First Ashes Test. It's very clear that this is no reset in the bowling department, but an axe of people who spoke out about the batting in Australia and personalities that Root cannot captain.
In plainer terms, it means we haven't seen England's best bowling attack in Antigua, because Root doesn't know how to lead them. That is very disappointing.
As to the Test itself, hard to gather any real information from what was a slab of soft concrete. The pitch was horrid. If it was a 6 dayer I still think we wouldn't have bowled them out. Obviously hampered with no Wood in that 2nd Innings.
I think Leach bowled accurately and did well in the circumstances, perhaps encouraged with a show of confidence in him. All in all though, I cannot get excited about a bowling attack which includes Overton & Woakes (away at least). I hope Mahmood gets a go in the next one.
Not sure I'd leave both out entirely. I still believe that Broad and Anderson have a lot offer, not just on the pitch but off it. Having over 1,000 Test wickets in experience at home when the new bowlers are struggling is just baffling. Unless of course they're moody fuckers!You were never going to get a full reset until the summer tests, you cant pluck bowlers out of thin air who haven't played any cricket over the winter apart from running in the indoor nets at Loughborough. Similar with the batting, Alex Lees is the same age as Burns give or take, has a similar (slightly worse) first class record as well, so I'm not really sure what they are expecting of him. The main reset we've seen is in the coaching department, the Director of Cricket removal, and the talk about how much we need to focus on the red ball stuff. At least it's now being talked about.
The first CC games are in April, the first squad selected will show how big the reset actually is. Convinced Jimmy will be in there, not so much Broad and I'm ok with that. I don't rate Overton and never have, Mahmood should get a go especially if Wood is out. But that pitch really was a stinker.
Overton is ill so Fisher also makes day-boo. Chosen over Robinson who was passed fit but deemed a risk.
England bat.
Yeah he's **not very fit is he**I'm glad Overton is out, although hope he gets better obvs. Will be interested to see Fisher, haven't seen much of him in CC.
I know Robinson had a back spasm, but in general his fitness needs a real kick up the arse if we want to be able to rely on him.