Ashes 2015

[Matt_]

Well it stops us getting carried away, at least. We're still very much a work in progress.

Can't seem to bat under scoreboard pressure at all. Cook and Bell got good balls but the rest have been some terrible shots

This pretty much sums up my views on things.

England aren't a good side (yet) they are an inconsistent but improving side with every chance of being a very good side. It's very much a work in progress and there will be plenty more of the ups and downs of recent series until the side really beds in and performances settle down.

It's disappointing that we're not going to win the series 3-1 or 4-1 but hey the Ashes are coming home, good times.

 

[Matt_]

For me, Lyth has to stay simply because there is no ready made replacement. My major concern is Buttler, great one day player, shite Test batsman

England have gone through too many opening partners for Cook in recent years so there is a decent argument for persisting with Lyth, my problem is he keeps repeating the same mistake and that's very worrying. The likes of Compton and Carberry could certainly class themselves as unlucky not to get a longer run and on that basis the selectors may look at their past decisions and decide to give Lyth a longer run.

There is plenty of talk about Alex Hales being the next in line but I have a feeling the selectors have been waiting on Alex Lees. Many good judges consider him to be a class above but he's had a fairly average time this season.

I think it's much too soon to be talking in terms of looking for alternatives to Buttler, he came into this summer averaging over 50 with the bat in test cricket, so he deserves plenty more chances yet.

 

[Ciderhead]

England have gone through too many opening partners for Cook in recent years so there is a decent argument for persisting with Lyth, my problem is he keeps repeating the same mistake and that's very worrying. The likes of Compton and Carberry could certainly class themselves as unlucky not to get a longer run and on that basis the selectors may look at their past decisions and decide to give Lyth a longer run.

There is plenty of talk about Alex Hales being the next in line but I have a feeling the selectors have been waiting on Alex Lees. Many good judges consider him to be a class above but he's had a fairly average time this season.

I think it's much too soon to be talking in terms of looking for alternatives to Buttler, he came into this summer averaging over 50 with the bat in test cricket, so he deserves plenty more chances yet.

The thing is in this innings Lyth did a good job of knuckling down and getting through that opening spell, and then from the very first ball he faced from Siddle he plays that horrible half-arsed pull shot straight to mid on. It's not just the shot, it's the timing of it. Really suggests he hasn't got the mentality for test match cricket.

I'd be surprised if they go for Lees just yet, choosing Lyth over him before shows they thought he was the weaker option. Thing with Hales is one day he'll hit a sparkling run a ball hundred like he did yesterday but then he'll follow it up with a string of single figure scores. Needs to find that consistency. And people worry about Buttler's defensive technique; I fear Hales could get badly exposed at this level.

But he's got a great opportunity now with the onedayers. If he comes in and has a great series it will be hard to leave him out. And if it did work he would be the perfect counter-balance for Cook, like what Australia have with Rogers and Warner. It's a big shame for them Rogers is retiring as that's probably the best opening partnership in world cricket right now.

But for me moving Ali up to open would be the neatest solution. We need to get a second spinner in somehow, and it seems to me we've got 3 options:

a) Drop Lyth - Ali up to open
b) Drop Buttler and have Bairstow keep
c) Take out a seamer

I agree with you on Buttler. He's had a very poor series but it's a first real low in a great start to his international career, he's clearly got masses of potential and I think it's too early to drop him just yet. Plus he's an ex-Somerset lad

And c) just seems a slightly negative option. The sort of thing I can see England doing but I think we need as much bowling variety as possible. Plus Ali is too good a bat for No.8 and I think it stifles him a bit batting in the lower order.

The only way I'd want us to do that is if Hales has a stunning One Day series, hits centuries every game and makes it completely impossible to leave him out. Otherwise, Ali to open for me.

But whatever we do it's going to be a very tough series. Probably as tough a series as there is out there for us at the minute with our dearth of spinning options and Pakistan's form at home. I hope people aren't too hard on them if we lose, for me if we just win a test we'd come out of it with great credit

 

[Hooray]

We should open with Ali in this second innings now we've been asked to follow on. He's spent 40 minutes this morning getting his eye in, and looked in good touch overall. Get him straight back out there.

 

[SpireiteDan]

Hopefully Buttler can find a bit of form in the ODI's. Not test cricket, obviously but just to give him some confidence of scoring runs at international level again. Hope they stick with him because i really enjoy watching him bat when he's on his game but at the same time he really has looked all at sea in this series there will be question marks. Maybe they should think about moving him down below Moeen in the order though.

Not sure i'd be sticking with Lyth on the the other hand. I'm pleased they've given him the full series here instead any knee-jerk drop but what is it now, 1 score above 50 in 13 innings? you expect a better return than that from a top order bat. But again, is there anything better in the county game right now? I like Hales but i don't know how he'd get on facing the new red ball, he is he a realistic shout or not?

 

[TheArtfulDodger]

First time Clarke has ever forced the follow on I think, seems like a good wicket to bat on though. With rain to come there is a potential for England to save this.

 

[Ciderhead]

Shame Cook went right at the end, that's likely our chance of saving it gone.

Not had the greatest series, but it's classic Cook that his 2 scores have come here and at Lords

 

[Matt_]

The problem with opening with Moeen in the UAE is that it would be no more than a stop gap and a deferring of the decision about who will then partner Cook in South Africa.

Moeen isn't an opener, he's never opened for Worcestershire outside of one day/T20 cricket and his technique as an opener will be found out in South Africa.

I also fear Hales technique will be found out in South Africa, but to be fair that is currently the sternest examination a test opener will get. If Hales is considered the next opening batter in line he should go to the UAE and South Africa in my opinion, stop gap selections don't really do England any favours in the longer term.

The question about how to get two spinners into the side in UAE needs to be accommodated by other means. Maybe Moeen should bat at five in UAE in place of Bairstow/Ballance for example?

 

[Bobbin']

That is just rubbish from Buttler.

 

[TomPNE94]

Next Ashes series to be shown by BT Sport!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-34038149

 

[Matt_]

Next Ashes series to be shown by BT Sport!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-34038149

On one hand I guess this is good news in terms of competition and breaking the Sky monopoly.

However, unfortunately I think what it will mean for most cricket lovers is having to fork out for both a Sky Sports and BT Sport subscription in order to watch the England team play live. Almost certainly at more expense than is currently the case with a Sky Sports subscription.

 

[Pyeman]

Whilst putting Moeen Ali to open seems to solve two problems [who to replace Lyth / how to fit Rashid in without losing a seamer] I think it would be a bad idea.

Moeen has been batting well down the order, but opening is an entirely different beast altogether. Different role in the team, different skill set, different temperament. Plus if you have Ali open, Stokes at 6, Rashid at 8, followed by Broad, Anderson and Wood/Finn, then you're lining up with 6 bowlers. I'm not convinced 6 bowlers is really necessary, especially if it means weakening your batting line-up.

 

[JJH]

Next Ashes series to be shown by BT Sport!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-34038149

Don't have BT so that's shit for me, and I'm not gonna bother paying it for an overnight series.

Don't really understand why Sky would get their rights taken from them, their coverage of Cricket is absolutely sublime, better than any other sport they cover I'd say, so it seems strange.

Ah well - at least the next Ashes home series is where it rightfully belongs!

 

[hodge]

Because BT have bought the rights to all Aussie home series, therefore Ashes

 

[lordofthepies]

Don't have BT so that's shit for me, and I'm not gonna bother paying it for an overnight series.

Don't really understand why Sky would get their rights taken from them, their coverage of Cricket is absolutely sublime, better than any other sport they cover I'd say, so it seems strange.

Ah well - at least the next Ashes home series is where it rightfully belongs!

Money.

Also, the cricket rightfully belongs on the BBC or Channel 4, not Sky or BT.

 

[Pyeman]

This might be a stupid question, but why can't Sky show the 2017 Ashes as well as BT?

I understand BT have a deal to broadcast all Aussie home series, but if Sky have a contract with the ECB to show all England games, surely they have the right to broadcast the series also.

Is there some sort of rule that only one broadcaster in a country can show the matches? Or do you have to buy the rights to show a game from the home nation?

It seems a bit unfair that BT can come along with a bid to show Aussie matches, and everyone else just has to miss out.

 

[Super_horns]

Good win having looked like losing for a while.

Decent final over restricting the Aussies.

 

[Matt_]

The T20 international was a really enjoyable watch this afternoon.

Plenty of positives in the England performance, Morgan and Mooen were superb with the bat and Topley very promising with the ball. The highlight for me was the dismissal of the gobshite Watson though, hilarious!

 

[Super_horns]

Rashid again impressing with 4 wickets checking the Aussie's progress,

 

[JJH]

Hales and Roy made a superb start here. Despite what the commentators said, 305 is below par on that ground, and we should chase that down.

Rashid bowled superbly, admittedly assisted by some very poor batting. Two of his wicket were full pinters!

 

[Pilgrim Meister]

This might be a stupid question, but why can't Sky show the 2017 Ashes as well as BT?

I understand BT have a deal to broadcast all Aussie home series, but if Sky have a contract with the ECB to show all England games, surely they have the right to broadcast the series also.

Is there some sort of rule that only one broadcaster in a country can show the matches? Or do you have to buy the rights to show a game from the home nation?

It seems a bit unfair that BT can come along with a bid to show Aussie matches, and everyone else just has to miss out.

Because the rights for Australia are controlled by Australia Cricket them and not the ECB

 

[Pyeman]

Because the rights for Australia are controlled by Australia Cricket them and not the ECB

So then can the ECB dictate which Australian broadcasters show Ashes series in England?

 

[Pilgrim Meister]

So then can the ECB dictate which Australian broadcasters show Ashes series in England?

Yes