The Cricket Thread

[Saddlerrad]

Moores and Downton's interviews basically said. We need a wider pool of players to pick, but we are going to back this team, these players, this setup and coach. If that's the case, they can kiss goodbye to my support and viewership. We have been so painful in ODI cricket for a long time. If this were the equivalent in league football, England would be playing an archaic 4-4-2 with Michael Owen and Emile Heskey upfront. It just doesn't work anymore, sadly - even if it used to.

It's dour, unwatchable dross.

Thankfully, the REAL form of cricket is back in just a few weeks time. NEVER let the ECB organise 6 months without test cricket just to focus on ODI cricket EVER, EVER again.

 

[JJH]

Don't understand England's reluctance to play players in their preferred batting position.

Ali (as well as he's done) is not an opener, Bell is not an opener, Hales IS an opener, so why play him 3?! Ballance is most certainly not a 3, he's not even an ODI player for fuck sake, and would be much better use further down the order..

There are many more, but I can't be bothered to keep this fresh in my mind, it's a joke from top to bottom, and needs a serious shake up.

 

[RavenBish]

Surprised no-one's mentioned Billings, I was at Uni with him - year ahead of me. He'd be ahead of Vince certainly (who is outrageously overrated).

 

[JonBCFC]

Surprised no-one's mentioned Billings, I was at Uni with him - year ahead of me. He'd be ahead of Vince certainly (who is outrageously overrated).

I like billings. I'd be happy with him coming through.. Isn't he a wicket keeper?

 

[JonBCFC]

I think Peter moores needs to get hold of indias data. It's clearly better than ours

 

[Super_horns]

Heavy defeat for the Irish - got to beat Pakistan or hope for rain I guess...

 

[NiallQuinnDiscoPants]

we need variety in our bowling attack.

4 right arm medium fast seamers and 1 off spinner isn't going to get results i'm afraid on a flat wicket

we should have at least 1 left arm quick in that attack, and i would also pick a fast bowler. if he goes for runs, he goes for runs. we need variety.

 

[hodge]

I like billings. I'd be happy with him coming through.. Isn't he a wicket keeper?

Doubt Buttler would be happy, being an excellent fielder he'd get shunted from the keeper slot.

 

[Pyeman]

This whole World Cup has been painful. Even when we dedicate our entire schedule to preparing for the tournament, we still get beaten consistently. I mean, this is how we perform when we put all our efforts into performing well at ODI cricket. What the fuck are the management team doing? I don't think they could have done a worse job had they tried.

So many bad decisions made throughout the whole process, decisions that were so blatantly wrong to anyone who knows anything about cricket, yet our so called experts were carrying on regardless. It's baffling - I genuinely don't understand how we got THIS bad.

 

[Matt_]

I couldn't give a twopenny toss about the pyjama cricket, plainly embarrassing as it clearly has been.

My concern is over the possible knock on effects these appalling performances may have when the proper stuff starts up again with just a handful of test matches scheduled before the convicts arrive for the main event of the summer.

England made good progress last summer in terms of test cricket and there were plenty of reasons for cautious optimism going into the Ashes off the back of the fine series win against India. Several key test match players need to get this World Cup out of their systems and performing again in the real stuff, but I fear a potential hangover.

 

[lordofthepies]

This whole World Cup has been painful. Even when we dedicate our entire schedule to preparing for the tournament, we still get beaten consistently. I mean, this is how we perform when we put all our efforts into performing well at ODI cricket. What the fuck are the management team doing? I don't think they could have done a worse job had they tried.

So many bad decisions made throughout the whole process, decisions that were so blatantly wrong to anyone who knows anything about cricket, yet our so called experts were carrying on regardless. It's baffling - I genuinely don't understand how we got THIS bad.

It's amazing that they targeted this World Cup for years - the ECB even had the fucking Ashes moved forward by a year to allow a proper preparation. Yet somehow they look like they haven't put any preparation in. Ridiculous.

 

[RavenBish]

Doubt Buttler would be happy, being an excellent fielder he'd get shunted from the keeper slot.

Nah, Billings would field I imagine. Like when Bairstow used to get drafted into the ODI team. Buttler's the future and a better batsman now/potentially. Billings is just young and a talented enough slogger to give a chance in limited overs, a bit like Roy - they're hardly central contract players.

Batting seems to have got the focus but bowling is where England's problems lie over the next couple of years. Once Anderson's gone, they do not have a lot coming through (they need to persevere with Stokes because he could be the next Flintoff but the next best guy is Jordan and...well, the jury is still out there) - and the spinner situation is dire unless a couple of the young guys start improving.

 

[hodge]

Nah, Billings would field I imagine. Like when Bairstow used to get drafted into the ODI team. Buttler's the future and a better batsman now/potentially. Billings is just young and a talented enough slogger to give a chance in limited overs, a bit like Roy - they're hardly central contract players.

Batting seems to have got the focus but bowling is where England's problems lie over the next couple of years. Once Anderson's gone, they do not have a lot coming through (they need to persevere with Stokes because he could be the next Flintoff but the next best guy is Jordan and...well, the jury is still out there) - and the spinner situation is dire unless a couple of the young guys start improving.

Depends how similar their keeping ability is though, if similar Buttler is excellent in the field, its why Kieswetter kept and Buttler fielded at Somerset, they were a similar standard behind the stumps but Kieswetter wasn't as good out in the field. It's the fine margins in the field in international cricket that can make a difference.

2 games England's batting let them down, the bowling was never great at any point. Being honest I don't rate Jordan would rather see someone like Willey given a chance. Stokes maybe but needs to show improvement. I'd like to see them stick with Woakes for a bit, can hold his own with the bat in ODI's and his strike rate with the ball is good, he just needs to learn to contain the runs a bit more, maybe giving him some more experience will do that, but first and foremost he can get wickets. Dunn of Surrey is a prospect I like. Tad old but end of last season Tom Smith would have been on the edge of my ODI team, good average with the bat, decent with the ball.

Spin wise, serious question, how long before England move to get George Dockrell the young Irish spinner....? After Ali very few options, Dockrell has international experience, economy under 4.5 in ODI's and offers variety being a left armer.. I reckon England will try especially if he keeps doing well for Somerset.

 

[LeoRahi]

We certainly need a reform.

 

[TomPNE94]

Kerrigan will come good....

 

[Saddlerrad]

Nah, Billings would field I imagine. Like when Bairstow used to get drafted into the ODI team. Buttler's the future and a better batsman now/potentially. Billings is just young and a talented enough slogger to give a chance in limited overs, a bit like Roy - they're hardly central contract players.

Batting seems to have got the focus but bowling is where England's problems lie over the next couple of years. Once Anderson's gone, they do not have a lot coming through (they need to persevere with Stokes because he could be the next Flintoff but the next best guy is Jordan and...well, the jury is still out there) - and the spinner situation is dire unless a couple of the young guys start improving.

I can honestly say, I had completely forgot that Bairstow ever existed. Has he improved at all?

 

[RavenBish]

No idea but he has so many flaws as a batsman it's untrue despite his talent and range of shots (hence why he gets a lot of runs domestically) - he can't play the short ball and he has really odd footwork issues too. His wicket-keeping has always been a bit too shoddy for me as well on occasion although he'd be a competent enough fielder. I think he gets overshadowed a bit down at Yorkshire too, batting 5th/6th behind the likes of Lyth, Lees, Ballance, Williamson, Finch, Root etc...fuckload of batting talent basically.

 

[JJH]

Was Ali injured or dropped last night?

Didn't bother wasting my time watching it..

 

[hodge]

injured officially I think

 

[Saddlerrad]

I reckon he was injured. He was one of England's performers with a good, proper ODI mind and skillset. He is one of the last players they should drop naturally. Ian Bell looked embarrassed to appease the applause and raise his bat when he got to 50. At least he's in good test form.

We should beat the Windies, but I reckon New Zealand will beat us, then Aus/SA will demolish us.

 

[Super_horns]

Can anyone see past India,South Africa, Australia and New Zealand for the semis?

 

[JonBCFC]

David saker has left the coaching staff

 

[DarkSithLord]

Can anyone see past India,South Africa, Australia and New Zealand for the semis?

No

 

[NiallQuinnDiscoPants]

Can anyone see past India,South Africa, Australia and New Zealand for the semis?

The closest one of those QF's is Sri Lanka v South Africa. That's 60-40 in SA's favour for me.
The Aus v Pak & NZ v WI should go according to plan for the host countries, but you never know which team your getting with Pakistan and the West Indies. I'd especially keep a small eye on the NZ v WI game.
India v Bangladesh is a virtual bye for India.

 

[LeoRahi]

Tomorrow's one has to be the closest QF. SA have never won a knockout in WC. But they have never lost to SL in WC.

50-50 for me, whoever bats first, wins.

 

[Skinner]

Tomorrow's one has to be the closest QF. SA have never won a knockout in WC. But they have never lost to SL in WC.

50-50 for me, whoever bats first, wins.

This post couldn't have been more wrong!

A.B isn't even going to bat lol

 

[LeoRahi]

This post couldn't have been more wrong!

But still you never know with SA, they have the tendency to out choke you.

 

[Super_horns]

But still you never know with SA, they have the tendency to out choke you.

Making it pretty easy ATM...

Almost too simple.

 

[DarkSithLord]

So the Test Squad has just been announced. Trott is Recalled, Adi Rashid, Adam Lyth and Mark wood on Debut while Moeen and Chris Woakes are injured

 

[Saddlerrad]

Is Ali injured or dropped?

Batsmen - Cook, Ballance, Bell, Lyth, Root, Trott.

Keepers - Buttler, Bairstow.

All Rounders - Rashid, Jordan, Stokes

Bowlers - Anderson, Broad, Plunkett, Wood, Tredwell.


Cook
Trott
Bell
Ballance
Root
Stokes
Buttler
Rashid
Broad
Anderson
Wood


Has there ever been a more insipid and uninspiring top 4 in test cricket history?