Cricket Talk

I've never seen a frontline spinner have to be told he's not first choice to be able to not feel pressure. That was bizarre. And when the going gets touch he usually swished his bat and doesn't buckle down. But then a lot of the team are like that. I'm not sure I'd have many of them in a test team. Probably retain Foakes, Anderson til he cant move anymore, Broad... probably Bairstow... after that, I think every place is up for grabs.

 

I've just sacked Ed Smith and employed DWLC . Give me your 11 .

 

Sacking Ed Smith and Bayliss would be a fantastic start!

Depends on the conditions, but we've a major lack of technical ability, so not only are we struggling in overseas conditions, we're not very good at batting in the Uk either. Thankfully we have the best bowler in the world in swinging conditions and a few others who can get by.

I'd get rid of Stokes without doubt, never rated him, still don't rate him. Easy to goad and affect. Again today, verbals started, he played at wide short one, gone. He's one of our flat track bullies who flatter to deceive when it gets tough. I'm not sure there are the players around who can just bat time and be confident in their technique. Burns has had several decent seasons, but I'm not a fan, but he's the best of the bunch for now. See how Denly does. Seen him play a few times and he can be quite tidy but never seen him face pace or good turn.

I'd stick with Rashid as the front line spinner. He can be a bit erratic, but he can turn it further than anyone and has good variation. I like Curran. Seen a lot of him and his brother (as the Oval is 20 minutes away on the bus!). Both have spirit and reckon it might not be long before Tom is in the team too. We need an all rounder, and I don't know of anyone to be honest.

Batting.... i've no idea. Next in line might be Bell Drummond, but his technique can be very expansive and we need stayers to wear bowers out. We're too easy to get at early and that's why we always struggle to get good scores. If we could get a tough technically solid opener and a number 5 in the ilk of Thorpe, we could pick any of the other smashers to fit around but til we do, we'll be out for less than 300 most of the time.

 

If there's anything we don't need it's an all rounder!

Including keepers, 7 out of the 11 are all rounders - of which one could hold down a place as a specialist in one area (Bairstow).

Buttler and Foakes aren't good enough, but have to play because we don't have any specialist batters.

Ali and Stokes aren't good enough to hold down a place with either bat or ball, but are in the side because there's nobody better.

Curran is a tough little fecker, but again isn't good enough with bat or ball.

We've basically got a side full of one day specialists who neither excel with bat, ball or gloves but are adequate enough to hold down a place because nobody is knocking down the door.

Look at the respective averages. Only Root averages over 40 with the bat and only Anderson and Broad average under 30 with the ball.

Our side is made up of blokes who average 25 with the bat and 40 with the ball.

 

Ever thought of changing your number?

 

Agree with the sentiment about it being an ODI side... and as you point out, our allrounders are pretty cack… hence why we need one, one good one. I'd stick with Foakes. He's the best wicketkeeper having seen quite a bit of him, and he's pretty gutsy, but stupid to play him as a fielder. Give him a run, play Bairstow as a batsmen, and try and find somebody with technique, and if we can't find them, focus development in that area.

 

Absolutely.

With the talent pool we have I'd keep Foakes and play Bairstow as a batter. But he's probably too high at 3 - he's a number 5. The trouble is that there's nobody to bat 3. Or 1. Or 2. Stokes is probably ok at 6 but no higher.

When Anderson and Broad retire were in the doo doo.

Here's a nice stat. They showed Cook in the stand earlier then showed Denly. Cook has retired after 161 years aged 33. Denly is making his debut aged 32.

Where are the young batter?

 

I've thought about changing the wife but she said I'm not allowed .

 

Usual middle stump removal threats....

Bairstow batting at 3 is keeping, though we have a keeper who doesn't keep batting at 8.

Is that right?

 

No wonder Cook retired after 161 years he must have been tired

 

FFS.

 

Foakes is off injured at the minute.

 

No your right it's nuts . We've got a team full of all rounders which in principal is a fail safe . But it's the easy option when it comes to picking the team .

 

Cheers!!

Hard to keep up unless you're glued to it.

 

All rounders used to mean batting/bowling. One in the team.

You only needed one wicketkeeper who could bat.

And often you played wicketkeepers who couldn't bat.

I suppose it boils down to whether they can or they can't.

We have higher order batters who can't do one thing - bat.

 

Ive just clocked, Foakes is playing but Barestow is keeping, wtf, play an actual bowler ffs.

 

Bit of a horlicks of a run chase this. 67-5 chasing 200.

Towing.

 

Reallity check for our super batters .

 

Good hand from Foakes and Curran.

Looks a difficult track and bloody cold.

 

it was just like one of those boring old one dayers from yester year when 220 was a decent total on a slow low pitch. Well done Ireland but even more well done England for seeing it through .