Cricket 2019

[StanSP]

46 minutes ago, Lionator said:

This is interesting as it co-incides with us becoming good at one day cricket. 

 

I honestly think that this is a consequence of directing more resources towards having a successful oneday team and winning the world cup. The coach is a one day specialist and we have a complete lack of international class batsman within the county game. Add to that the lack of spinning option and we're screwed. It's going to take some time for us to become a top test team once again, however it's the sacrifice we've had to make in order to win the World Cup.

Genuinely resonates with how I felt about the India test side, which was severely emphasised in the test series last summer.

 

We had Kohli who is genuinely world class and could handle himself in any situation, then other players who were predominantly specialist at the shorter format(s) of the game. The transition of these players from ODI/T20 in Test format was tough to watch. It was all gung-ho, attempt to hit a 4 or 6 every other ball, waft at every wide delivery. Painful to watch by itself, let alone against world-class English bowlers on English pitches. 

 

We directed so much focus on to the ODI team and T20 teams (and obviously the IPL) that Test cricket ideology seemed to be sent by the wayside. It was a secondary thought and then we became heavily under-prepared for a test series against a good side in away conditions. 

 

As a lover of Test Cricket first and foremost (have always maintained this; I do love the ODI/T20 competitions for its explosiveness but nothing, for me, beats Test cricket tactics, strategy and discipline/patience, ability etc), it was disappointing to see how much we'd regressed as a Test side.

 

I see similarities in this England side. A lot of focus on the World Cup which isn't a bad thing, but to be under-prepared and lack a sign of class and time to focus towards the Ashes is disappointing.

[Guest MattP]

1 hour ago, Izzy said:

I've never been able to get past the fact he looks and sounds like a 16 year old.

 

I'm sure he's a nice chap and all that but he's never come across as captain material to me. I'm probably being unfair but to me he lacks charisma and credibility as a leader.

 

Stokes all day long for me..

As silly as it sounds I do agree with this. 

 

I want my cricket captain to have a massive brain, some machismo, be a bastard and be that bloke you want in the trenches with you who will die rather than lose. 

 

Stokes ticks all the boxes on that aside from the brain.

Edited 5 August 2019 by MattP

[AKCJ]

6 minutes ago, MattP said:

As silly as it sounds I do agree with this. 

 

I want my cricket captain to have a massive brain, some machismo, be a bastard and be that bloke you want in the trenches with you who will die rather than lose. 

 

Stokes ticks all the boxes on that aside from the brain.

Wouldn't say that sounds silly. Best captains in cricket have been complete tossers who don't give a **** about anything other than winning test matches for their country.

 

Stokes would be a good captain I think, we ought to let Root concentrate on his batting because God knows its shit at the moment.

[David Guiza]

2 hours ago, MattP said:

https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/12231/scorecard/569245/new-zealand-vs-england-3rd-test-england-tour-of-new-zealand-2012-13

 

This is the match, brilliant show of patience and mental application. 

 

Look at the balls seen off by Cook, Bell and Broad then. None of this lot could do that now. 

Absolutely. I think Root is one of the few in the side that still has the patience to bat like that, but he's needed to be moved around the order to fill holes in the batting order.

 

Warner hardly covered himself in glory either across both innings, but at least he's proven himself in the past I guess. Smith is going to be the difference across all 5 I think, even when he's batting with crap the other end, he seems in control. Whereas our more competent batsman just cannot absorb pressure and rotate strike. 

[Manini]

2 hours ago, Voll Blau said:

I agree, but there's such a lack of alternatives. Realistcally I'd say Stokes is the only alternative candidate at present.

I don’t think he fits the ECB’s idea of captain. I think they’re still picking up the pieces from the Pietersen debacle. They won’t give it to a controversial figure like Stokes. I wish they would, I think he’d be a cracking captain. I just can’t see it. 

 

3 hours ago, StanSP said:

Away from Ashes a bit, Dale Steyn has retired from cricket. Injury affected him last few years but before that he was one of the best bowlers in the game. 

One of my favourites. Not unexpected to see him retire given his recent injuries but South Africa had one hell of a bowler on their hands when he played! 

Old fashioned nasty fast bowler. He’s definitely had an influence on Rabada, who is a cracking bowler IMO. I’d have hated to have faced have faced Steyn in his pomp. He wanted to take your off stump out the ground, and failing that, your head off your shoulders. 

 

 

Aside from the above. Michael Vaughn loves to stick the boot in doesn’t he? He’s so bloody negative, and I know there’s not much to be positive about after the past week, but surely he should know better than anybody that the series isn’t gone after one game. 

[theessexfox]

The problem with the captaincy is that there are very few who you're confident will still be in the test team in two years. Root and Stokes are the only ones who seem nailed on, probably Bairstow, Woakes, and Butler - it's anyone's guess who will make up the other 6 slots.

[Bobby Hundreds]

3 hours ago, AKCJ said:

Wouldn't say that sounds silly. Best captains in cricket have been complete tossers who don't give a **** about anything other than winning test matches for their country.

 

Stokes would be a good captain I think, we ought to let Root concentrate on his batting because God knows its shit at the moment.

You’re thinking of Australians only. We do it differently, Brearley and Vaughan have been two of our better captains, they were well liked but more importantly, respected and sound tactically. Root’s tactics have been bizarre, not sure how much Bayliss’ ODI mantra has rubbed off on him.

 

Don’t see why we can’t have a test coach and a white ball coach seeing as they get ever further apart in skill set and application. 

 

Edited 5 August 2019 by Bobby Hundreds

[Bert]

4 episodes through the KP story of a genius. All then years ago when Graeme Swann blocked me on twitter because I said he was an arrogant twat have been confirmed it’s still true. Blokes an absolute dickhead with one of the biggest egos I’ve ever seen. 

[walkerleeds]

4 minutes ago, Bert said:

4 episodes through the KP story of a genius. All then years ago when Graeme Swann blocked me on twitter because I said he was an arrogant twat have been confirmed it’s still true. Blokes an absolute dickhead with one of the biggest egos I’ve ever seen. 

 

Yep. Never really warmed to him either. Watched about 2 minutes of his YouTube Podcast thing before turning it off.

[Bert]

40 minutes ago, walkerleeds said:

 

Yep. Never really warmed to him either. Watched about 2 minutes of his YouTube Podcast thing before turning it off.

“So we got rid of him”. Self entitled ****. Searched twitter and there were plenty of others saying the same. 

[UpTheLeagueFox]

1 hour ago, Bert said:

4 episodes through the KP story of a genius. All then years ago when Graeme Swann blocked me on twitter because I said he was an arrogant twat have been confirmed it’s still true. Blokes an absolute dickhead with one of the biggest egos I’ve ever seen. 

The documentary is very good.

Nasser doesn't pussyfoot around with his questions.

KP is clearly difficult to manage but I bloody love him, what a sensational batsman he was.

[purpleronnie]

KP arrogant or swann?  Just checking.

[AKCJ]

48 minutes ago, purpleronnie said:

KP arrogant or swann?  Just checking.

Yeah, lets be real here. They're both incredibly arrogant.

Edited 7 August 2019 by AKCJ

[deejdeej]

Can somebody let me know where i can watch this KP doc?

[fuchsntf]

3 hours ago, Bert said:

4 episodes through the KP story of a genius. All then years ago when Graeme Swann blocked me on twitter because I said he was an arrogant twat have been confirmed it’s still true. Blokes an absolute dickhead with one of the biggest egos I’ve ever seen. 

Enjoyed every minute..!!

Too many tossers on here..FT.  Might be snowflakes und Not Enjoy his occasional up front arrogance or confidence.

Hes a Quality sportsman....he Entertained in his sport...Thats the only Thing that counts....Ditto for other sportsman arrogant or humble.

Edited 7 August 2019 by fuchsntf

[Bert]

3 hours ago, UpTheLeagueFox said:

The documentary is very good.

Nasser doesn't pussyfoot around with his questions.

KP is clearly difficult to manage but I bloody love him, what a sensational batsman he was.

Agree - we’ll do well to see another batsman that can do what he did for England I genuinely think he’d still be able to do a better job than what we’ve got out there now. 

 

2 hours ago, AKCJ said:

Yeah, lets be real here. They're both incredibly arrogant.

Agree. Although, KP seems to be able to hold his hands up about some things, can’t say the same for Swann. 

 

1 hour ago, fuchsntf said:

Enjoyed every minute..!!

Too many tossers on here..FT.  Might be snowflakes und Not Enjoy his occasional up front arrogance or confidence.

Hes a Quality sportsman....he Entertained in his sport...Thats the only Thing that counts....Ditto for other sportsman arrogant or humble.

Not suggesting that he was shit at his sport, perhaps the best spin bowler we’ve ever had. There’s arrogance and then there’s Graeme Swann which went beyond cricket. 

[fuchsntf]

12 minutes ago, Bert said:

Agree - we’ll do well to see another batsman that can do what he did for England I genuinely think he’d still be able to do a better job than what we’ve got out there now. 

 

Agree. Although, KP seems to be able to hold his hands up about some things, can’t say the same for Swann. 

 

Not suggesting that he was shit at his sport, perhaps the best spin bowler we’ve ever had. There’s arrogance and then there’s Graeme Swann which went beyond cricket. 

How many times have you Met him..!! how long in his prescence...Its all relevant..

[Bert]

48 minutes ago, fuchsntf said:

How many times have you Met him..!! how long in his prescence...Its all relevant..

Only if that’s how you relate to things. It doesn’t take knowing someone or spending time with them to know they are arrogant. It’s clear to see. 

[StanSP]

Yeah I've never met Ibrahimovic but still know he's arrogant as fvck

 

[fuchsntf]

More English tribulationes..!!!

Oli stone...Back problem.......

Add Anderson,Wood,Archer....All put Top pacemen,either fully or temporarily missing the Ashes.

Is there again a Recall for Finn..!!

Fächer maywell,get bis first cap.and make some History.

Broad cant so it all..!! Plus I bet a rest was in the offering for him.

Curran Now becomes more important,und also Woakes.

I want Curran,to Play Next Game at Lords...

Now though....our high powered Pacemen,are Falling apart.....

Edited 7 August 2019 by fuchsntf

[Corky]

Steven Finn with 5-16 tonight. Good to see him bowling well.

[Voll Blau]

Leach and Archer in for Ali and Anderson. As expected.

 

https://www.ecb.co.uk/england/men/news/1304119/england-name-squad-for-second-ashes-test?utm_source=FBPAGE&utm_medium=England+Cricket&utm_content=100000853671414%2B&utm_campaign=Men's+Ashes+2019

[StanSP]

Archer to open

 

[Voll Blau]

1 hour ago, StanSP said:

Archer to open

 

Harsh on Leach imo.

[Izzy]

Can't see there being much play today