Cricket (None Leicestershire County Cricket Club)

[theessexfox]

Even more annoying that they choose to knuckle down and show what could be done on this pitch, would rather they just committed to the bit and carried on ramping 

[David Hankey]

Pity out top order couldn't play like these two.

[Super_horns]

Least these two have shown some resilience  but for how long?

 

Once one goes the rest will...

[Rubbersoul]

Smith might as well just start the slogging now 

[David Hankey]

Bloody hell, we've got to lunch. That's amazing!!

[Tommy Fresh]

Also being shown up again by another side having a good keeper, but remember as Rob Key said you don't win test matches with bowlers a keeper can stand up to. 

**** Key and McCullum off and get Foakes back in.

[Wsl]

Given they lost one of their best ever batsmen who retired in Williamson, lost Henry and Phillips to injury for this test, have been peppered and hit in this game and barely got three bowlers for this last innings, the NZ performance has been brilliant. Properly shown England up. Absolutely deserve a great series win against England at home.

[ealingfox]

Complete embarrassment and opponents now laughing at us.

 

No secret at all that I've hated Bazball and most that it entails for a good while now - they lost me forever on the first day of the last Ashes series in England. But this has gotten completely out of hand now, results are getting worse and team culture looks unsalvageable. There have to be consequences for this beyond Stokes no longer being part of the team.

 

Edited Monday at 13:25 by ealingfox

[leicsmac]

Well done to the NZers, showing a team is often much better than the sum of its parts. 

 

England do need a change of personnel, approach, or both. They'd still be better off not listening to the "traditionalists" and "purists" who think their way is the only way the game should be played though; that was the reason that this team had to change things up in the first instance four years ago. 

[Lionator]

More than anything, well played Kiwi’s, another great away series win for them and full deserved.

[RowlattsFox]

Difference between now and the early part of the Baz ball era was they were getting themselves into positions to attack. Now they are not giving themselves the foundations to attack. Root, Brook, Stokes and Bairstow/Smith were coming in after Ducket/Crawley/Pope have given them a decent start, that's just not happening consistent enough now. Also the bowlers aren't as consistent and the attack is ever-changing. 

 

Brook needs someone to come in and remind him what test cricket is all about - yes, you can be aggressive but trust your ability to keep in on the ground FFS and give yourself a chance. Maybe the captaincy will force him to do that but to me he doesn't seem intelligent enough to be captain. 

 

Bethell is probably the most natural captain material, but he needs to concentrate on making himself a test player first. 

 

We have to have a spinner who can bat - especially without Stokes. 

 

[trabuch]

Rather like LCFC the problems go right up to the top. The ECB are a shambles.

Edited Monday at 14:02 by trabuch

[Tommy Fresh]

20 minutes ago, RowlattsFox said:

Difference between now and the early part of the Baz ball era was they were getting themselves into positions to attack. Now they are not giving themselves the foundations to attack. Root, Brook, Stokes and Bairstow/Smith were coming in after Ducket/Crawley/Pope have given them a decent start, that's just not happening consistent enough now. Also the bowlers aren't as consistent and the attack is ever-changing. 

 

Brook needs someone to come in and remind him what test cricket is all about - yes, you can be aggressive but trust your ability to keep in on the ground FFS and give yourself a chance. Maybe the captaincy will force him to do that but to me he doesn't seem intelligent enough to be captain. 

 

Bethell is probably the most natural captain material, but he needs to concentrate on making himself a test player first. 

 

We have to have a spinner who can bat - especially without Stokes. 

 

Very debatable Crawley and Pope were giving good starts.

 

Agree about Brook I don't think he can play situations enough to be a red ball captain.

 

Rehan seems the natural option to play the Stokes role, then go with 4 seamers

 

Edited Monday at 14:05 by Tommy Fresh

[RowlattsFox]

10 minutes ago, Tommy Fresh said:

Very debatable Crawley and Pope were giving good starts.

 

Agree about Brook I don't think he can play situations enough to be a red ball captain.

 

Rehan seems the natural option to play the Stokes role, then go with 4 seamers

 

Consistently no, but at it's best we often had starts of 70/80 which at least set a decent foundation. But it was reliant on Duckett's form mainly  

 

 

[Corky]

They have become unpopular as well as unsuccessful - the worst combination.

 

That innings was appalling. New Zealand's attack was decimated. We could have applied some proper pressure but no, brainless, barely bothered batting in the main.

[Silebyfox_89]

Key and Mccullum can get in bin.

 

Get Alec Stewart in as DOC.

Coach wise shame Kirsten isn't available, Either Kerr or Dawson on the domestic season or maybe Voges, Shastri/Gambhir as an international option?

Keep white ball coaches separate and see if Morgan fancies it yet.

 

Next captain is a tough one as Brook isn't a leader for tests and on current form I wouldn't choose any of the current squad. I'd let the coach pick based on his preferences for the squad.

 

Player wise I think we need some with a better mindset to play the long game have a better balance. For me id drop Bethall, Bashir, Smith, from the current XI for balance of the side.

 

I'd bring in another opener/spinner and WK, something like this:

Haines (c), Duckett, Gay/Hain, Root, Brook, Foakes/Cox, Ahmed, Atkinson, Carse, Archer, Tongue.

Haines has captained Sussex previously and more than handy off-spinner. In the squad I'd include probably Sibley, Rew, Abell,  Carson , Bamber.

 

[Super_horns]

Well not long till the next game - the T20s start this week.

 

What a mess and shame its all turned so sour and Stokes has gone out like this.

 

Credit to New Zealand for two excellent test match performances.

 

Fully deserved winners. 

Edited Monday at 19:55 by Super_horns

[StanSP]

This was fairly epic. One of the greatest chases ever, made all the more spectacular given the jeopardy of playing in such a way with only 1 wicket remaining. It was heroic. 

 

 

[RonnieTodger]

14 hours ago, StanSP said:

This was fairly epic. One of the greatest chases ever, made all the more spectacular given the jeopardy of playing in such a way with only 1 wicket remaining. It was heroic. 

 

 

I watched the full hour partnership of his and Leach yesterday. I never thought the WC Final drama would be beaten but you could argue it was a month later.

 

The burnt review, the not out, the run out fumble. Just incredible sport.

[Wsl]

It wasn’t just his astonishing hitting, 74 off 45, 4 fours and 7 sixes, it was how he combined it with farming the strike so Leach only face 17 balls, and the finest 1 not out there’s ever been.