The Cricket Thread

[Pyeman]

Does today's innings from Buttler have any impact on his potential selection for the first test in SA? I really want him to be a success in test cricket, but I don't think innings like we saw today give much of an indication as to how he will perform in tests.

It's obviously great to see him playing with confidence again, but he'll most likely have to play a completely different innings in test match cricket. Is he capable of adapting his game? I'm still not 100% convinced.

 

[SpireiteDan]

Does today's innings from Buttler have any impact on his potential selection for the first test in SA? I really want him to be a success in test cricket, but I don't think innings like we saw today give much of an indication as to how he will perform in tests.

It's obviously great to see him playing with confidence again, but he'll most likely have to play a completely different innings in test match cricket. Is he capable of adapting his game? I'm still not 100% convinced.

I know it's easier said than done (especially when up against a good attack like the Aussies) but he should go out in tests with the same mind-set he has in one-dayers, go out there and play some shots. IMO part of the problem this summer was he seemed to be just trying to "survive" instead of playing his natural attacking style. Broad came in during the summer and put on a few quick counter-attacking partnerships with Moeen, so if Broad can have a bit of success playing like that then surely a better batsmen in Buttler can?

Bairstow will probably get the first test in SA which is fair enough, but is his record actually that much better?

 

[Pyeman]

I know it's easier said than done (especially when up against a good attack like the Aussies) but he should go out in tests with the same mind-set he has in one-dayers, go out there and play some shots. IMO part of the problem this summer was he seemed to be just trying to "survive" instead of playing his natural attacking style. Broad came in during the summer and put on a few quick counter-attacking partnerships with Moeen, so if Broad can have a bit of success playing like that then surely a better batsmen in Buttler can?

Bairstow will probably get the first test in SA which is fair enough, but is his record actually that much better?

It depends a lot on the situation really. If Buttler comes in with 300 already on the board then he might well feel he can open up and play a bit more freely. But if he comes in mid way through a classic middle order collapse [which is all too common] he'd be crucified if he got out attempting to smash a six when we've just lost 3 wickets for 15 runs.

 

[Aber gas]

I'm delighted for jos especially after all the negativity surrounding his form. It was a brilliant innings, one of the best. Power ,poise,guts and technique. This is what he brings to English cricket and the reason that he shouldn't be discarded for a poor run of form. Bairstow is fine but he can't do what buttler did today( not many in the world can ). We need to stop being so negative about our flair players,encourage them and accept their flaws.

 

[RavenBish]

Not sure anyone suggested discarding Buttler. He's clearly the best keeper we've got for the T20 form and probably ODI too (Bairstow's done well too) - it's just funny how people now perceive the 'positive brand of cricket' (eurgh) as being a case of short-form players all being your next David Warner who can step up and play the same way in red ball. You can't. There's still a significant difference between the two forms, and Buttler's struggled massively with his technique (footwork and playing away from his body) - it's not just a form thing - he's hardly got the best Test record full stop. It's also dead easy to say 'accept their flaws' in hindsight but you can't be stubborn and keep selecting out of form (long stretches of poor form) players when there's a 25 year old smacking massive domestic scores. Bairstow was the best batsman in domestic cricket this season, he deserved his chance. The selectors can't really get it wrong though for the first test between the two of them.

 

[Aber gas]

Not sure anyone suggested discarding Buttler. He's clearly the best keeper we've got for the T20 form and probably ODI too (Bairstow's done well too) - it's just funny how people now perceive the 'positive brand of cricket' (eurgh) as being a case of short-form players all being your next David Warner who can step up and play the same way in red ball. You can't. There's still a significant difference between the two forms, and Buttler's struggled massively with his technique (footwork and playing away from his body) - it's not just a form thing - he's hardly got the best Test record full stop. It's also dead easy to say 'accept their flaws' in hindsight but you can't be stubborn and keep selecting out of form (long stretches of poor form) players when there's a 25 year old smacking massive domestic scores. Bairstow was the best batsman in domestic cricket this season, he deserved his chance. The selectors can't really get it wrong though for the first test between the two of them.

Tbf ive been pretty consistent in my support for buttler so it's not really hindsight. Jos will get it right in test cricket, he needs to find the tempo that best suits him and stop worrying whether he looks the part or fits in. If it's a straight shootout between buttler and Bairstow for the test place then buttler every time imo. He's the better keeper and the better batsmen.

 

[RavenBish]

He probably is, doesn't mean he's undroppable though or they weren't right to explore another option with him so out of form. It's nothing to do with tempo or mindset either, he's got a technique issue.

 

[Super_horns]

Hope he is right..(and the daily mail wrong)

Pakistan coach Waqar Younis has dismissed suspicions over his side's performance in the third one-day international against England.

England won by six wickets after a Pakistan batting collapse featuring three run-outs in Sharjah on Tuesday.

The Daily Mail reported that the match was the subject of an investigation into suspicious betting patterns

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/34886479

 

[Matt_]

My gut feeling would be this probably being an over the top reaction to the sort of thing that is far from uncommon, particularly in the shorter forms of the game, simply on the basis that this happened to Pakistan.

Criticising Pakistan for suspect dodgy running between the wickets? Have people not been watching them for the last 20-30 years?

In the first game England only managed 56 off the last 10 overs having managed 227 off the first 40 overs. That was (quite rightly) mostly attributed to excellent Pakistan bowling in those 10 overs, but I do wonder what the reaction in some quarters may have been had Pakistan been batting at that time.

It would be naive to think that match fixing has gone away or doesn't still happen to some degree but I hope I'm right in thinking this doesn't look a likely occurrence.

Michael Vaughan needs to wind his neck in and stop trying to be controversial for the sake of being controversial, both in his commentary and in this case on social media. Even if there is something dodgy shown to have happened on this occasion that general criticism of Vaughan still stands.

 

[lordofthepies]

I bloody love this Pakistan team so I'd be upset if anything was wrong. I guess they're never far from suspicion though.

 

[Super_horns]

Doubt a 80 run win over the UAE will tell us much about the up coming Twenty20 games v Pakistan.

Can we complete a limited overs double?

 

[blademan89]

Doubt a 80 run win over the UAE will tell us much about the up coming Twenty20 games v Pakistan.

Can we complete a limited overs double?

A couple of t20 games are anyones for the taking. Same with our finals day in england if you can make it to that its anyones for the win.

 

[Saddlerrad]

Roy slapped 59 again today I believe, so a decent day all round.

 

[Super_horns]

Would this work?

The toss could be scrapped in County Championship Division Two matches next season under proposals being considered by the England and Wales Cricket Board.

The ECB's executive board will discuss the plan on Thursday after it was recommended by its cricket committee.

If it is approved a one-year trial will take place in 2016 to try to improve pitches and encourage spin bowlers.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/34917711

Producing pitches that help spin would be a more ideal solution maybe rather than relying on a lack of toss.

 

[Saddlerrad]

India have produced a wicket absolutely ragging square one day 1 of the 3rd test at Nagpur. Batting first, India went from 70-1 to 215 all out. In reply South Africa are 8-1 batting 8 overs until the end of the days play and it's just ripping square. This will be a 3 day test tops. Ashwin with the wicket. In other news, Steyn has already left the tour and Morkel had to go off injured today after taking 3 wickets. Be good for England if both of those have niggles going into our series.

 

[Saddlerrad]

Make that 10-2.

 

[Bobbin']

Would this work?



http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/34917711

Producing pitches that help spin would be a more ideal solution maybe rather than relying on a lack of toss.

Don't agree with it personally, teams will always prepare pitches that suit them, the toss is 50/50 and the away team choosing is only the same as the home team losing the toss. Leave it as it is in my opinion.

 

[George Reilly's Hairpiece]

I think the idea is that the toss is currently weighted in favour of the home team as the conditions would suit them more. If the home team has an 80% chance of winning the game if they win the toss, but has only a 50% chance if they lose the toss, then when they can call a toss:

Win Toss 80%
Lose Toss 50%
So Expected Value of 65% (80% x 50%) +(50% x 50%)

If they can't call a toss then it's the same as losing the toss which would be an equivalent EV of 50%

 

[Super_horns]

South Africa bowled out for just 79 by the spinners of India - hardly a contest!

 

[Saddlerrad]

Batted first, no Buttler or Root.

19-3 after 4 overs.

Looking dismal.

 

[Bobbin']

Relying on Billings to carry us through then

Three cheap wickets.

 

[Saddlerrad]

10 an over in the final 8 gets us 160 - we need that minimum I think.

 

[Bobbin']

Good knock from James Vince, this.

 

[Saddlerrad]

Good comeback that - 160-5, bang on what I said with 10 an over.

161 to win then.

 

[JJH]

Superb knock at the end there from RavenBish's hero. Came in and did exactly what we needed, and was well supported by Morgan. Like Bumble said, he looked like Buttler out there with some of the extravagant shots he was playing, the ball was going all over the gaff. Fantastic depth of players in the short formats of the game, completely unrecognisable from the team that disgraced the nation at the world cup.

 

[hodge]

Bet Bish must be loving seeing Billings do well

 

[Matt_]

Good to see Stephen Parry back in the side. A bowler that I always thought looked to have a huge amount of potential in all forms of the game.

 

[hodge]

Very nicely bowled for the wicket.

 

[Super_horns]

Good performance from the "2nd string" so far shows we have good deapth.

 

[Saddlerrad]

Well you could hardly drop Parry, Billings or Vince after this performance could you? Really like the look of Vince. Pakistan losing 3 wickets in an over, one with another terrible piece of running between Maqsood and Akmal.