The Cricket Thread

[DarkSithLord]

This is a big surprise - Wish him well - http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/sp...s_new_boss_of_Northern_League_side_Ashington/

 

[Skinner]

5-19 for Woakes against the Windies.

 

[Skinner]

I'm not watching it but according to the score centre, Windies have just given away 5 wides in the first over, what the fuck...

 

[LeoRahi]

Windies are so shyte. We couldn't even practice batting properly.

 

[Super_horns]

Bit of a mess on and off the pitch aren't they!

 

[Saddlerrad]

5-19 for Woakes against the Windies.

Just me that thinks he's pretty average still?

 

[DarkSithLord]

Just me that thinks he's pretty average still?

No I do too.

 

[Who Needs Mourinho]

No I do too.

Seems to pop up with a very impressive performance when you least expect it.

 

[Saddlerrad]

Seems to pop up with a very impressive performance when you least expect it.

To me, he's one like Bresnan. He takes wickets when Batsmen make a mistake or the pitch is very favourable, but if the batting conditions are good and/or the player plays well, he looks like a medium pace carthorse that can get taken apart with minimum of fuss. Don't want him anywhere near the test scene, just like Bresnan never should have been.

 

[lordofthepies]

Massively unfair to say that Bresnan should have never been anywhere near the test team. He was excellent for most of his first 15 tests or so. He should not have been selected for his last 2 or 3 series, when he was nowhere near fit enough.

 

[LeoRahi]

Yeah agree, apparently he's (Woakes) one who wants help from the pitch. Dare I say, even Mitchell Johnson is shyte when pitch isn't helping him.

 

[Saddlerrad]

Massively unfair to say that Bresnan should have never been anywhere near the test team. He was excellent for most of his first 15 tests or so. He should not have been selected for his last 2 or 3 series, when he was nowhere near fit enough.

Bresnan was okay, but massively 'average' on wickets that did nothing. He very rarely took big wickets with a brillant ball, or broke a huge vital partnership. He's just a wicket to wicket, 80mph trundler that won't bowl any team out or have any MOTM performances. Just average. Play well vs him and he mays well not be in the team. Personally, I found him painfully dull. Slow, boring, poor with the bat, added no exitement etc.

 

[Saddlerrad]

Yeah agree, apparently he's (Woakes) one who wants help from the pitch. Dare I say, even Mitchell Johnson is shyte when pitch isn't helping him.

Yeah but Johnson then has other things in his armoury. If it's not swinging he has pure pace, or pure bounce, or gets reverse on the ball. It's the difference between back up bowlers and front line, world class bowlers - of which Bresnan nor Woakes is anything like.

 

[Aber gas]

The thing with woakes is that in county cricket he's considered a top player and tbf his stats are excellent but sometimes county stats can be misleading when it comes to international cricket . A combination of dodgy wickets and inexperienced batting can lead to some bowlers looking like world beaters when actually there bang average . Saying that , clearly the selectors see something in the lad and I wish him the best but honestly I'd rather we were looking at some more exciting and raw talent .

 

[Skinner]

57 for Ballance, wish we could fit him into the side.

 

[RavenBish]

RUN RATE. When was the last time England properly got on the front foot in the first 10 innings?

Also, nice to see Cap'n Morgan in such dazzling form. The bloke's been found out in International cricket.

 

[LeoRahi]

Woakes will do well eventually, has a pretty great action and athletic body. Needs to get his lengths right.

 

[CFC91]

Clarke out for the Aussies it seems. Actually looking forward to watching some of this

 

[LeoRahi]

Clarke and Faulkner out. Golden chance for us to sneak in.

 

[JonBCFC]

Faulkner is out too? Good, he's dangerous.

 

[SeasideKurt]

Hmm, amazing how quick Morgan is getting the criticism. Still prefer him ahead of Captain Cook.

 

[Skinner]

So, who's waking up for tonight's game then?

Hopefully not Australia, we might win then.

 

[Saddlerrad]

May catch an hour or so of it in the morning, not getting up at this early stage of the tournament to see us take a certified hammering and not learn any lessons of playing Johnson or pace. Especially not when tommorrow is lie in day!

 

[RavenBish]

Wake up for the 2nd innings is the plan. If I see a big Aussie score or a typically piss poor 210 or something from England then I'll just go back to bed.

At least Bopara's getting the chop for Ballance.

I'd still have Hales, Bell, Ballance, Taylor, Root, Ali as the top 6 it were me. Alas it isn't. Our lack of big hitters in the middle/lower order is utterly depressing compared to, well, pretty much every other country. It's not even like they're being left out and we can blame the selectors, we literally just don't have them.

Limited overs in the year 2015, say it with me, power-hitting and pace off the ball, power-hitting and pace off the ball. Meanwhile England have their Test player nudgers and 4 seamers. Don't get me wrong, I'd prefer we were a country that prioritised Test cricket above all else but it'd be at least nice and entertaining to have a few exciting limited overs specialists. The way Australia do things is mouth-watering.

 

[Aber gas]

Wake up for the 2nd innings is the plan. If I see a big Aussie score or a typically piss poor 210 or something from England then I'll just go back to bed.

At least Bopara's getting the chop for Ballance.

I'd still have Hales, Bell, Ballance, Taylor, Root, Ali as the top 6 it were me. Alas it isn't. Our lack of big hitters in the middle/lower order is utterly depressing compared to, well, pretty much every other country. It's not even like they're being left out and we can blame the selectors, we literally just don't have them.

Limited overs in the year 2015, say it with me, power-hitting and pace off the ball, power-hitting and pace off the ball. Meanwhile England have their Test player nudgers and 4 seamers.

There's players out there , it just means taking risks which selectors won't do . Carberry has had a great big bash , rashid has got something about him , luke Wright , trego and tymal mills are all Mavericks that offer something different but it would take a very brave or mad selector to include them .

 

[RavenBish]

None of them are anywhere near the calibre of big sloggers that Australia, India, South Africa, New Zealand - heck, even Sri Lanka have though.

 

[Aber gas]

Il agree there . Those sides have got some ridiculous hitters but considering that no one gives us a chance anyway why not chuck in a few weird choices and a few perceived wrong uns to see what happens. All hypothetical though

 

[Saddlerrad]

I'd be tempted to get Vince and Roy into the squad. Stuff experience. If they are in form, scoring runs and can give the thing a whack. Select them. I like Ali at the top, but I'd like Hales in somewhere too.

Meanwhile - NZ are 168-2 after 30 in the opening World Cup game.

 

[Aber gas]

Why not ? Roy , vince , Ali , hales , buttler , Morgan , Wright . Could be a disaster , could be brilliant . Definitely a bit more exciting than the current formula.

 

[Aber gas]

Oh and stokes !! Why he isn't there is beyond me .