The Cricket Thread

[Ciderhead]

I think Borthwick, in form for Durham and looking ahead to the winter his spin option would be useful in the sub-continent. And if you are thinking along those lines you'd want him to get a bit of experience at this level beforehand.

 

[MJA]

I think Borthwick, in form for Durham and looking ahead to the winter his spin option would be useful in the sub-continent. And if you are thinking along those lines you'd want him to get a bit of experience at this level beforehand.

That's a good shout. Was talking about English spinners and the sub-continent in the office the other day and how it's clear to see that players like Ali and Rashid wouldn't be the options going over there as they don't have the level of consistency that is required by spinners on pitches over there

 

[Ciderhead]

That's a good shout. Was talking about English spinners and the sub-continent in the office the other day and how it's clear to see that players like Ali and Rashid wouldn't be the options going over there as they don't have the level of consistency that is required by spinners on pitches over there

I don't think we have any spinners at the moment you'd be confident to go out and do a job, it's the glaring weakness in our side. So I think you'd just want loads of options. Ali, Rashid, Borthwick, maybe even Samit Patel - he's done alright out there before and has started the season well for Notts I believe.

How's Panesar getting on? He's got experience. Know he's trying to make a comeback but don't know how he's doing?

 

[Skinner]

It'll only really be an issue for a few years as Mason Crane is going to be a beast.

 

[RavenBish]

I'm not so sure I agree, if they're the in form players then why not if that's the way it falls? It's not as if we're awash with batsman making a really big claim to get in the side at present. A few good young prospects but you'd think it'll be a year or 2 before the likes of Bell-Drummond and D'Oliveira are ready to be considered.

If you had a team of, say: Cook, Hales, Borthwick, Root, Bairstow, Stokes, Ali, Woakes, Broad, Finn, Anderson. I'd say you've got enough batting in there.

But I agree Vince should get the Pakistan series at least

You do but what purpose is Woakes serving at 8? If he's a good enough bowler you have him instead of Finn and you have 4 seamers and you could afford to pick a specialist spinner or batsman something instead. Of course, it's great to have a long batting line-up but you've got to consider the balance on the bowling side - if you've got 5 seamers then one of them is going to hardly bowl, in which case you might as well pick another batsman. Woakes can certainly bat, but against top attacks, you'd rather have a more proven batsman and one of Woakes/Finn.

One series against Sri Lanka doesn't make Woakes a proven option with the ball or bat for me, especially given his underwhelming Test career overall.

Anyway, what do we reckon for the ODI/T20 squad?

Hales
Roy
Root
Morgan (unfortunately)
Buttler
Ali
Billings
Vince
Willey
Bairstow
Rashid
Jordan
Mills (for T20)
2 out of Ball/Finn/Woakes/Plunkett

I'd quite like to see Craig Overton or Tom/Sam Curran get a go though I must admit.

 

[Ciderhead]

You do but what purpose is Woakes serving at 8? If he's a good enough bowler you have him instead of Finn and you have 4 seamers and you could afford to pick a specialist spinner or batsman something instead. Of course, it's great to have a long batting line-up but you've got to consider the balance on the bowling side - if you've got 5 seamers then one of them is going to hardly bowl, in which case you might as well pick another batsman. Woakes can certainly bat, but against top attacks, you'd rather have a more proven batsman and one of Woakes/Finn.

One series against Sri Lanka doesn't make Woakes a proven option with the ball or bat for me, especially given his underwhelming Test career overall.

I don't think it needs to work as rigidly as that, I think you go with the balance of the players you've got, who's playing well - if you feel Woakes would contribute more as a bowler than whoever would as a batsman then you go with him. Especially when you've moving someone like Ali up the order who's far too good for No8, you're not compromising the batting. In fact it's improving it because Ali will do better even just up one place to 7, psychologically you feel more of a batsman and less of a tailender. Don't have the stats to hand but I'm sure Ali has a far better record at 6/7 than at 8. And in that team Stokes would be the one to bowl less, for me.

We're in a lucky position where two of the players that are good enough to get into the side as batsman are also genuine all-rounders in Stokes and Ali, which basically gives us a spare player. And in that situation I think you just go for whoever's better in their respective discipline, batsman or bowler.

And I agree with the second bit but he'd consider himself hard done by to be dropped now, he's done enough to warrant a more extended spell in the side

 

[Ciderhead]

Ah, gutted for Hales

 

[kieran_vale]

Feel very sorry for Hales there, he's getting closer to that first century for England. That said an average of near enough 70 for the series is an excellent return for him. Think England should look at declaring soon.

 

[RavenBish]

Hales has been getting hammered on TMS all series. A man who has averaged 59 in his first Test series on English soil. English cricket fans really are a fucking thick and negative bunch.

 

[lordofthepies]

I don't expect Sri Lanka to win this text but I'm glad that they have put up a bit of a fight for the first 4 days at least. One sided test cricket doesn't help anybody.

 

[Saddlerrad]

Hales has been getting hammered on TMS all series. A man who has averaged 59 in his first Test series on English soil. English cricket fans really are a fucking thick and negative bunch.

Why and by who? Idiots who clearly are absolutely clueless. Hales, Bairstow and Anderson are having the best series of all our players.

Shame the weather is ruining the final day so far, it's basically going to be an 80 over game, BEST CASE scenario. I suspect we will probably call a quick draw around tea time with not that many overs having been bowled.

 

[Super_horns]

ODI and T20 squads named:

http://www.espncricinfo.com/england-v-sri-lanka-2016/content/story/1026159.html

Couple of new faces included.

 

[Aber gas]

If anyone hasn't seen Tymal Mills bowl yet you're in for treat. This lad is rapid. Shame he's made of glass.

 

[Pilgrim Meister]

Why and by who? Idiots who clearly are absolutely clueless. Hales, Bairstow and Anderson are having the best series of all our players.

Shame the weather is ruining the final day so far, it's basically going to be an 80 over game, BEST CASE scenario. I suspect we will probably call a quick draw around tea time with not that many overs having been bowled.

You were right, it ended as you said it

As for Hales, I think we have found a partner for cook at last who can hold his own. Now No3 to sort out. I suspect Compton will be left out, but who will come in

 

[Super_horns]

Gloucestershire the big scorers today.

322-1 off 46 overs so far.

 

[Matt_]

We're in a lucky position where two of the players that are good enough to get into the side as batsman are also genuine all-rounders in Stokes and Ali.

I think you're being rather generous to players that average 33 and 30 respectively with the bat. Without their bowling I don't think either would currently be considered as out and out batters.

The depth of the batting in the current side allows the luxury of having players like this is the middle and lower middle order, something that wouldn't have happened back in the days of six batters, Prior and four bowlers.

On the subject of Ben Stokes, hopefully the daft bugger doesn't re-offend and spend a bit of time at her majesty's pleasure.

http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/durham-cricketer-ben-stokes-warned-11477097

 

[Saddlerrad]

England have such a long batting line up that there is always someone that clicks and scores the runs, even in dire situations. Look at this series for example, when Compton and Root failed, Cook or Hales got at least a score. When they all failed or England were 60-3/100-4 Bairstow scored the runs, when he didn't Ali scored the runs, Woakes added runs and so on.

I agree that Stokes and Ali aren't consistently great with the bat, but with our long line up, I don't think they need to be. How often will Root miss out on a big score? How often will Root AND Cook AND Bairstow miss out on a big score? Then you have the added influence of the entertainment. If Stokes/Ali/Buttler etc all average 30.. but 1 in 7/8 innings is an amazing match changing 120 then I'm happy.

For too long England cricket has been boring, overally traditional and miles behind the times. This setup is different however and even losing to a degree has bright sparks. We should all enjoy this reign/era before certain players get old, or injured, or a new setup comes along.

 

[.V.]

 

[.V.]

Play abandoned at lords

 

[Saddlerrad]

Sri Lanka batting first then, 22-1. Willey with the early wicket.

Sun is out, pitch looks great, quick outfield and small boundaries.

Looks like the perfect kind of day to put some big scores up to me.

 

[EricSabin]

Indeed. Like the look of our side today.

 

[claret50]

50-2

 

[Super_horns]

Sri Lanka were pushing on a bit but Woakes and Ali have taken a couple of key wickets.

Now 188-5.

 

[RavenBish]

Some start by Roy that. Christ.

 

[RavenBish]

Any danger of these boys playing a shot on the front foot?

 

[RavenBish]

Bizarre performance this, very tentative for an England ODI side - look out of sorts, almost like they've completely not adjusted to the format - I know it's Trent Bridge and the ball's going to move late but it's 17 overs in and they're still incredibly late on the shots. Wouldn't be surprised to see the lower order fare better if they come out positively and look to play on the front foot.

 

[RavenBish]

Just as I type that, Ali drags on playing a shot with his heels almost touching the stumps. Fucking weird innings this - put it down as a blip as we've been largely brilliant at this for the last 12 months, but a side that bats down to 11 like this really shouldn't all be toppling over like this against a bang average attack in friendly conditions.

 

[Super_horns]

Jos Buttler show aided by Chris Woakes.

 

[RavenBish]

That's unlucky that. don't think Prasanna was the one to target though. Gonna need Willey, Woakes or Plunkett (or Rashid but he's not that type of batsman) to have a worldy to finish this off.

 

[RavenBish]

That's a No ball! 100%.

Fucking hell.