The Cricket Thread

[RavenBish]

Big fan of his and hes still clearly not fully got his pace back but Wood has been absolutely terrible this series so far.

Need to make some tough decisions for the next Test because this XI isn't right. Playing a second spinner on this pitch is the sort of decision someone should lose their job over

 

[Super_horns]

Will South Africa declare to have a little bowl at us in the last hour?

 

[Luke_1884]

28 for 2, Jennings and Balance have gone cheaply.

I was hoping we'd put up a bit of a fight for a day or so but looking very unlikely after this start.

 

[Super_horns]

Both dropped for the next test?

 

[kieran_vale]

Try and avoid knee jerk reactions but neither Jennings or especially Ballance are Test level batsmen. Problem is there is not a mass swathe of people to replace them with.

 

[Aber gas]

Bit of a shambles tbh

 

[Aber gas]

There probably needs to be a selection rethink. Ballance is a walking wicket, Jennings doesn't appear to have any confidence in his game and I'm still not sure what the point of Dawson is. Possibly Stoneman in for Jennings, Buttler on for Ballance with Root and Bairstow moving up 1. If they want two spinners then Leach/ Rashid in for Dawson.

 

[GodsGift]

That was woeful from Bairstow.

Are we now completely incapable of digging in?

 

[Dave]

The way Hales has been batting recently, wouldn't he be worth a go at opening?

 

[Luke_1884]

Doesn't matter in the grand scheme of things but still irritating that we're pissing wickets up the wall.

 

[kieran_vale]

It would have been nice if they could have shown some application and taken it into the last day at least. Will be lucky if they survive until tea at this rate.

Probably reading way too much into it but it does feel like Englands decline in Test cricket has coincided with the rise in ODI's. The batsmen are almost allergic to leaving the ball now instead going hard at everything.

 

[Saddlerrad]

I had a funny feeling we might have a good day today, carry it over into tomorrow and just fall short in terms of time. Couldn't have been more wrong. South African bowling attack streets ahead of ours with Rabada to come back in. Ballance, Jennings and Dawson all to go out, more so to break the left handed top 3 up than anything else. Arguement for Wood to be dropped too, never 100% fit, not bowling at full speed, not producing wickets or runs.

What an absolutely abysmal performance in every sense of the word, 6 defeats in 8 now and this was spineless tripe.

Changes to be made, especially to the top order. We can't continue to rely on Root downwards to score runs.

 

[kieran_vale]

Says it all that SA have needed just 96 overs to bowl us out twice. At least thinking back to the 90's there was some top order resistance from the likes of Athers before the inevitable collapse, this was just an abject surrender. God help this team if Steyn had been fit as well.

Definitely need to find a way to replace Ballance and Jennings. Both of their techniques do leave you wonderring how they ever score any runs.

 

[Super_horns]

We are a good side when in front but when having to fight and save a game we crumble - like the teams in the 90s did!

 

[slaphead]

Definitely need to find a way to replace Ballance and Jennings. Both of their techniques do leave you wonderring how they ever score any runs.

Just goes to show how poor a state country cricket is in at the moment, the bowling particularly. Too many counties are getting overseas players in on short contract, thereby promoting a lack of consistency. Too many counties, like my own, employing loads of Kolpak players and blocking young English talent. Something has to change.

 

[Camborne Gills]

That made my team who are currently bottom of Cornwall division 5 (Fal) look like 11 Donald Bradmans. Only Root got done by a good ball.

 

[SMH]

Shaun Pollock made a good point on Sky, all the dismissals basically told the story of the entire England batting lineup. Jennings and Ballance out due to technical issues, the two top guns Root and Cook done by beauties and the rest out playing like it was a limited overs match. Ballance and Dawson need to go for me, Westley to come in at three and Rashid, Crane or even Samit for Dawson. If Wood isn't 100% fit then he should be out as well for TRJ assuming Woakes is still injured. I prefer Stoneman over Jennings but I think Jennings will be given the rest of the series to prove himself.

 

[RavenBish]

I guess you've got to distinguish between good county players and players with technique to play Test cricket. Hameed is out of nick but looks to have a more solid game than the likes of Jennings and Stoneman. Biased of course but I'd like to see Hales get another crack at some point - he's matured massively as a limited overs player since his Test failings.

Realistically for the next Test, Westley should come in at 3 - I think you stick with Jennings (although ideally I think he'd like to bat 3 too) and then I'd bring in another batsman for Dawson (Ballance down to 5 and Bairstow to 7?) - drop Wood as he looks out of sorts, TRJ seems to be the likely next man up (although I confess he's one of the those players I can't remember seeing bowl a lot despite the fact he's been around for ages).

 

[Super_horns]

Well done to the ladies for reaching the World Cup final against either the Aussies or India.

 

[Ciderhead]

I guess you've got to distinguish between good county players and players with technique to play Test cricket. Hameed is out of nick but looks to have a more solid game than the likes of Jennings and Stoneman. Biased of course but I'd like to see Hales get another crack at some point - he's matured massively as a limited overs player since his Test failings.

Realistically for the next Test, Westley should come in at 3 - I think you stick with Jennings (although ideally I think he'd like to bat 3 too) and then I'd bring in another batsman for Dawson (Ballance down to 5 and Bairstow to 7?) - drop Wood as he looks out of sorts, TRJ seems to be the likely next man up (although I confess he's one of the those players I can't remember seeing bowl a lot despite the fact he's been around for ages).

Yeah that's the team I'd pick. 7 seems too low for a player of Bairstow's class but I guess with Stokes and Ali in the side you're always going to have that issue with somebody

 

[Super_horns]

Balance out with a broken finger - without wishing to sound harsh makes picking the team easier as it forces the selectors hand.

 

[SMH]

Has to be between Westley and Stoneman. Westley is the natural number three but Stoneman is probably nudging him in the pecking order plus the game is at his home ground. If Stoneman gets the nod, he has to open and Jennings moves to three. Don't make the same mistake they have with Ballance and play him in his proper position.

 

[Ciderhead]

Has to be between Westley and Stoneman. Westley is the natural number three but Stoneman is probably nudging him in the pecking order plus the game is at his home ground. If Stoneman gets the nod, he has to open and Jennings moves to three. Don't make the same mistake they have with Ballance and play him in his proper position.

To be honest I'd play both. Dawson is a complete waste of a spot. Stoneman to open as you say and ease Westley in at 5 or 6

 

[Aber gas]

I believe Surrey often play 2 spinners at home. Leach/ Rashid for Dawson would be my choice ( preferably Leach)
Stoneman for Jennings and Buttler for Ballance.

 

[Super_horns]

Has to be between Westley and Stoneman. Westley is the natural number three but Stoneman is probably nudging him in the pecking order plus the game is at his home ground. If Stoneman gets the nod, he has to open and Jennings moves to three. Don't make the same mistake they have with Ballance and play him in his proper position.

He has been picked (and Dawid Malan)

 

[RavenBish]

it's always with trepidation you make bold claims like this but women's cricket really isn't much of a spectacle at all - there's this little leg spinner bowling 36mph flighted deliveries defending tiny boundaries and the English batsmen are playing her off the back foot deep in the crease.

Come on. I know the game is in it's relative infancy and financial support is only just arriving in any real measure but the general standard (of course there's the odd exception) just isn't good enough currently to warrant any sort of rebuttal if you think it's a bit shit to watch.

 

[lordofthepies]

it's always with trepidation you make bold claims like this but women's cricket really isn't much of a spectacle at all - there's this little leg spinner bowling 36mph flighted deliveries defending tiny boundaries and the English batsmen are playing her off the back foot deep in the crease.

Come on. I know the game is in it's relative infancy and financial support is only just arriving in any real measure but the general standard (of course there's the odd exception) just isn't good enough currently to warrant any sort of rebuttal if you think it's a bit shit to watch.

I haven't seen any of the final because I've only just got back from work but I've always enjoyed women's cricket when I've seen it. The England semi final was brilliant.

 

[RavenBish]

It's a weird one - I actually really enjoyed the last 10/15 overs of that but only because India's tail started at 6. A team 3 wickets down like that should never look like not winning when the required rate is 5 an over. Only exception for me was Sarah Taylor who looks a genuinely very good keeper.

David Willey's biffing it in T20 this year isn't he. At this rate he'll get picked for England on his batting and not his thoroughly average bowling.

 

[hodge]

Adam Hose leaves Somerset for Warwickshire after turning down a new contract, however has asked to leave immediately so has been released on loan to Warwickshire.... I'm sensing some sort of argument/bust up between Hose and Maynard....

 

[Aber gas]

Adam Hose leaves Somerset for Warwickshire after turning down a new contract, however has asked to leave immediately so has been released on loan to Warwickshire.... I'm sensing some sort of argument/bust up between Hose and Maynard....

This season can fuck off. Lurching from one disaster to another tbh.