The Cricket Thread

[hodge]

Looking onwards I'd go along the lines of:

Roy, Hales, Vince, Morgan, Buttler, Billings, Ali (I'd be happy with Patel in T20), Woakes, Willey, Plunkett (or another), Rashid

Maybe harsh on Root but I could see England going the way some have suggested in resting Root for T20 to preserve him for the other two formats and his likely replacement in Vince is more than capable.

 

[hodge]

He bowled a few of them throughout his spell to be fair, and they were the ones that weren't getting punished. He was obviously intending to bowl yorkers and over-pitching it, but the batsman seemed to be struggling to get underneath it.

His first 5 balls of the super over were excellent, but if that last ball had gone to the boundary you're looking at 7 or 9 instead of 3 due to a bad ball. Just think he's not consistent enough.

 

[Pyeman]

Looking onwards I'd go along the lines of:

Roy, Hales, Vince, Morgan, Buttler, Billings, Ali (I'd be happy with Patel in T20), Woakes, Willey, Plunkett (or another), Rashid

Maybe harsh on Root but I could see England going the way some have suggested in resting Root for T20 to preserve him for the other two formats and his likely replacement in Vince is more than capable.

I think Root will be included for the world T20, but wouldn't be surprised to see him removed from this format once that tournament is out of the way.

As for Jordan bowling the super over, I was as surprised [and frustrated] as anyone to see him bowling, especially considering the number of full tosses he chucked down in his last regulation over. But fair play to him, I don't think any of our other bowlers could have kept them to three.

 

[Super_horns]

3 of our guys in the ICC team of the Year.

David Warner (Australia), Alastair Cook (England, captain), Kane Williamson (New Zealand), Younis Khan (Pakistan), Steven Smith (Australia), Joe Root (England), Sarfraz Ahmed (Pakistan, wicketkeeper), Stuart Broad (England), Trent Boult (New Zealand), Yasir Shah (Pakistan), Josh Hazlewood (Australia). 12th man: Ravichandran Ashwin (India).

None in the ODI Team of the Year although Root is 12th man.

Tillakaratne Dilshan (Sri Lanka), Hashim Amla (South Africa), Kumar Sangakkara (Sri Lanka, wicketkeeper), AB de Villiers (South Africa, captain), Steven Smith (Australia), Ross Taylor (New Zealand), Trent Boult (New Zealand), Mohammed Shami (India), Mitchell Starc (Australia), Mustafizur Rahman (Bangladesh), Imran Tahir (South Africa). 12th man: Joe Root (England).

 

[Saddlerrad]

How are non of our team in the ODI setup? Morgan and Root have had a brilliant year?

 

[Saddlerrad]

1st mornings of the 1st tests between New Zealand/Sri Lanka and Australia/Windies. No surprise to see both bats on top and both of the home sides. Neither of the touring teams are test international quality away from home IMO.

New Zealand are 110/1 at lunch with Guptill on 50 and Williamson at the crease. Meanwhile, Kemar Roach and the Windies are having a mare, spraying it all over the place. The Aussies are 64-0 after 8.

Poor. I see the Aussie media all over the Windies. They got smashed by 10 wickets against an Aussie XI including 6 first class debutants and a ruck load U19s. I feel a little for Ambrose because he has an impossible job. The Windies are done as a competitive test side. They have been for a decade or so.

 

[Aber gas]

1st mornings of the 1st tests between New Zealand/Sri Lanka and Australia/Windies. No surprise to see both bats on top and both of the home sides. Neither of the touring teams are test international quality away from home IMO.

New Zealand are 110/1 at lunch with Guptill on 50 and Williamson at the crease. Meanwhile, Kemar Roach and the Windies are having a mare, spraying it all over the place. The Aussies are 64-0 after 8.

Poor. I see the Aussie media all over the Windies. They got smashed by 10 wickets against an Aussie XI including 6 first class debutants and a ruck load U19s. I feel a little for Ambrose because he has an impossible job. The Windies are done as a competitive test side. They have been for a decade or so.

Didn't we recently draw a series with them?

 

[Super_horns]

Sri Lanka seem to have got their bowling working a bit albeit the Kiwis still on 409/8 but the Aussies again piling on the runs (except for Smith)

 

[lordofthepies]

Didn't we recently draw a series with them?

Sri Lanka beat England in England last year as well.

 

[Saddlerrad]

Didn't we recently draw a series with them?

Sure did. I did point out that I meant away from home in the post though. They aren't TOO abysmal at home.

Sri Lanka beat England in England last year as well.

As a one off. They won't beat many teams away from home now. They are right on the barrier of a potential 'league 2'. Especially now they are without Kumar and Mahela.

 

[Matt_]

Interesting squad selection by South Africa.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/35059931

De Villiers to keep wicket and no Tahir or Harmer included.

 

[Aber gas]

Sure did. I did point out that I meant away from home in the post though. They aren't TOO abysmal at home.




As a one off. They won't beat many teams away from home now. They are right on the barrier of a potential 'league 2'. Especially now they are without Kumar and Mahela.

I've got a fair bit of sympathy for the windies. Due to a combination of lack of money, politics, injury and a few dodgy actions they've lost Bravo, Gayle, Sammy, Smith, Pollard, Rampaul, shillingford, Narine and Badree. That's a lot of talent to lose for any side let alone one that has such a small player pool. I really hope the board can sort out its contracts because test cricket is better with a strong windies.

 

[Super_horns]

Interesting squad selection by South Africa.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/35059931

De Villiers to keep wicket and no Tahir or Harmer included.

Probably don't need any spinners really - doubt we will use one that much?

 

[Baz]

Well Piedt has 12 wickets from 2 tests so he's obviously handy enough, also averages under 30 in first class cricket. AB keeping wicket makes sense due to the horrid form of the overs.

 

[Pyeman]

Not sure why this is only coming out now, but a potentially significant incident nonetheless.

http://gu.com/p/4fxan?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

 

[Aber gas]

Not sure why this is only coming out now, but a potentially significant incident nonetheless.

http://gu.com/p/4fxan?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

Pretty fucking terrible really. Maynard needs to have a chat with himself " he was referring to Tom cooper over a misfield " no he wasn't Matthew.

 

[Super_horns]

England drawn in Group A for the T20 twenty world cup.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/35071757

 

[Baz]

Tis a tough draw too, especially when only two progress. You'd imagine Sri Lanka will get out the group in the sun continent and Windies have a few players playing IPL so will be used to Indian conditions. I suppose the positive is you won't be getting Bangladesh or Ireland as the qualifier in the group so no upset expected as i'd imagine Zimbabwe will win their qualifying group so England will do them methinks.

 

[lordofthepies]

the sun continent

sounds like a lovely place

 

[Baz]

sounds like a lovely place

Haha, indeedy. However there will be lots of dusty patches, sounds like they're playing in the Sahara really doesn't it?

 

[Pyeman]

Pretty fucking terrible really. Maynard needs to have a chat with himself " he was referring to Tom cooper over a misfield " no he wasn't Matthew.

Absolutely. But he's a promising young English player, so naturally we'll all have to pretend like it's not a big deal.

I can't believe more wasn't made of this.

 

[Aber gas]

Absolutely. But he's a promising young English player, so naturally we'll all have to pretend like it's not a big deal.

I can't believe more wasn't made of this.

Tbh mate I'm a Somerset supporter and I didn't know about it . The ecb should be all over this but as you point out it doesn't really fit in with the image they want to promote.

 

[JJH]

Steven Finn added to the test side for SA.

Big bonus that, he'll be good over there on those wickets.

 

[S2_Blade]

Great to have Finn back in the squad! Roll on cricket been back on TV because it fills my 4 hour breaks at home from work nicely.

 

[Saddlerrad]

Opening day of the tour match. We have batted first and are going well after a slow start.

450-5 with a few overs left to go in Day 1.

Compton batted at 3 and got 50, Cook, Root and Hales went cheaply leaving us 50-3.

Taylor score 120 before retiring and Stokes spanked 130 odd before retiring as they put on 195 for the 5th wicket.

 

[Super_horns]

I see we suffered the usual collapse in our tour match - having scored 400 in the first innings.

Par for the course I guess!

 

[Saddlerrad]

Cook and Root with tons in the latest game and then Ali with 6 wickets to see us over the line with an innings spare.

Unfortunately and more importantly, James Anderson is likely to mid the 1st test because of a calf strain. Not what we needed.

I see Brendan McCullum has announced his retirement from international cricket after NZ's 2 test series vs Australia in February. Been a good advertisement for the game:

 

[Super_horns]

Yes generally a positive match against South Africa "A" but the Anderson injury is a shame - Finn and co look like they are in good form though.

How fit are the likes of Steyn and Morkel?

 

[RavenBish]

Steyn's had injuries recently but he'll be fine. Would've been a good tour for Wood this with his pace and style, never mind.

Looking forward to this series anyway, South Africa are a superb Test side and England are in a very good place in all 3 formats for 2016 (even though everyone will call for changes a couple of Tests in after a MIDORDERCOLLAPSEOMGSOTYPICALENGLANDALWAYSHAPPENSANDONLYEVERTOENGLAND)

Minor on-going quibble. Where's Plunkett?! How's he not at the very least made one of the limited overs squads? Starting to think someone very important isn't a fan of his at all because on merit he should be there.

 

[EricSabin]

Yeah weird how he's been left out. Bowled well in the UAE t20's and he's got some serious wheels.