England vs India first test

It's very evident Cook and Trott are on a different planet to anyone we might wish to bring in for Sibley et al.

 

He's not out at lunch against a very good bowling attack. He's not rattling along scoring wise, but he's improved his technique and hasn't followed the swinging ball away.

 

We have the right opener in Burns. I know he hasn't scored today but he has the finesse Sibley doesn't have. You don't need two grinders at the top.

 

True, but Sibley needs to develop an off side game if he wants to be successful at this level. Otherwise, Hameed should be given a chance.

 

I think he's the reason the top order have so many waffs at it. The none striker gets that bored and frustrated watching him hogging the shrike with dot ball after dot ball. They're chomping at the bit to get bat on ball and play loose shots.

 

You can go through that whole team and find flaws before you even start to look at them with any level of scrutiny.

I'd love the character, technique, grit and flamboyance of a team with Strauss, Cook, Trott, Pietersen, Bell, etc, but the cupboard seems really bare at the minute. I can't say I've seen any county stats or action to know if Hameed is a better option. His last call up wasn't especially impressive after a very good start. Maybe he's evolved, but there doesn't seem a particularly loud clamour for him.

 

I disagree. The ones who waft are generally those who play that way anyway. Sibley isn't a natural scorer, especially on the offside, but given we were often 40-4 or 5, as sad as it is to say, this is actually some form of progress.

 

Lateral progression.

 

Has Hameed played for England since he got injured in his third test?

His form fell off a cliff for Lancashire after returning from that injury, but the move to Notts has done him good, to the extent that he's back in the squad, and personally I think he deserves a chance, given the returns of the top order at the moment.

 

I couldn't tell you. I just remember him as another turgid opener that looked to be technically lacking.

Hopefully he has come on, and I'm sure he'll get a chance given how they've rammed the schedule. I'm no huge fan of Sibley, but if he can take his time and get his average up, that at least provides a bit of glue in that top order.

But like all players, they have to take the opportunity when presented with it.

 

.... i take it all back!!! ;-)

 

Fgs Sibley!

 

That was a terrible dismissal. Can't even play his bread and butter shot along the ground. And now Bairstow comes in with only 60 odd on the board, so Sibley batting through the first session doesn't really count for anything now.

 

Top order is truly awful. The Aussies will have a field day in this winter's Ashes

 

They ought to drop players that constantly fail and bring in fresh blood.

 

He should be happy.... 50% better than coming in with 40 on the board ;-)

 

And if the fresh blood isn't good enough too?

 

Better coaching. Sibley would have been boll acked in my under 13's playing leg side so often. In fact balls down the leg side were automatically given as wides in my local league. Everything was on the off side. Play straight was the mantra. Also keeping the ball down, finding gaps and rotating the strike so teams couldn't work out strategies against you. Even at that lowly level.

 

I think it may be a smidge different at international level. Just hazarding a guess and all! ;-)

 

The basics remain the same.