******Cricket Thread******

[Protein Junkie]

No arguments from me on that. But it's not just the quantity played that is important. It needs to be played at the opportune time, be truly competitive, and be on pitches that help create Test players who can play in Test conditions.

As usual you write with sense and I agree with every point above.
I don’t see Hameed as a test quality opener however. I think Crawley is.
I really don’t know the answer either to who pairs up with him atm.

 

[Gabriel]

As usual you write with sense and I agree with every point above.
I don’t see Hameed as a test quality opener however. I think Crawley is.
I really don’t know the answer either to who pairs up with him atm.

Your guess is as good as mine. They had Alex Lees in the Lions squad, so maybe they’ll give him a whirl. Heavens, to think there was a time when the selectors fretted over such things as having a left-handed and right-handed opener together; now, they would settle for anyone who could just get through the first twelve overs.

 

[The Light Was Yellow Sir]

What are you on about? Do you not understand what the word schedule means, because you've gone on about England's record.

On a normal schedule, ie every tour of Australia ever, there are 3 or 4 practice matches to get the players into 4 day/test match cricket.

England's first match was the first test, and it showed.

You seem to be implying that we’d be much better if we’d followed a normal schedule. I’m saying we’ve been shit in Australia for years, whatever schedule we’ve followed. I didn’t think it was either controversial or complicated to be honest.

 

[jonah62]

Burns is definitely not the future or the present.

Plus he looks an absolute twat with that hair!!

 

[domalino]

Foakes was sent home after the Lions tour.

Hameed turns 25 this month and with 19 innings averages 24.38.
Burns will be 32 in August and with 57 innings averages 30.92.

I agree that they’ll probably make the change, but I’m not sure Burns is the future and changing every couple of Tests won’t do Hameed any good. It really is a mess.

Burns is definitely not the future or the present.

They should keep Hameed, recalling Burns won't fix anything and like said above he's not the future.

Give Hameed the last test, then let him go away and work on his game like Crawley seems to have. He isn't a t20 player, he's not in the ODI side, so he's got time to address technical issues and come back for next summer.

24 years old is young enough to have a bad first (real) series.

 

[shemnel]

There’s a worrying sense of achievement doing the rounds today, after we managed to salvage a draw to prevent a 5-0 whitewash.

Shows how far we have fallen as a Test side. Players and fans alike.

I know what you're saying and England should absolutely NOT see this as some sort of psychological victory, and I'm really sure they're not, but the trajectory of performance of the team, and a growing number of individuals, is positive

That for me is at least something, instead of just folding they have shown a bit of grit finally. I think it's perfectly ok for fans to hold onto something after a chastening tour, but keep perspective that there's a shit load of work to be done. Anyone who thinks differently does indeed need their head checking. I think the improvements might be indicative of a completely bollocksed warm up schedule too.

 

[Gabriel]

They should keep Hameed, recalling Burns won't fix anything and like said above he's not the future.

Give Hameed the last test, then let him go away and work on his game like Crawley seems to have. He isn't a t20 player, he's not in the ODI side, so he's got time to address technical issues and come back for next summer.

24 years old is young enough to have a bad first (real) series.

I’m inclined to agree, though I’m not sure where he could go to hone his skills. He needs time in the middle rather than with a coach in the nets.

 

[domalino]

I’m inclined to agree, though I’m not sure where he could go to hone his skills. He needs time in the middle rather than with a coach in the nets.

I think he definitely needs some coaching to fix some of his technical issues that have been discussed - low hands, not opening up the off side and when to leave it.

Work on that over winter, then if they think he's made loads of progress play take him to West Indies in March, if he needs more confidence, keep him home and let him play County Championship from April to June before New Zealand.

New Zealand and WI should be a nice change because neither of them have a great fast bowler.

 

[eastmanc]

No arguments from me on that. But it's not just the quantity played that is important. It needs to be played at the opportune time, be truly competitive, and be on pitches that help create Test players who can play in Test conditions.

True. The only time the county championship became really competitive was when the powers that be divided the championship into two leagues.

 

[Gabriel]

I think he definitely needs some coaching to fix some of his technical issues that have been discussed - low hands, not opening up the off side and when to leave it.

Work on that over winter, then if they think he's made loads of progress play take him to West Indies in March, if he needs more confidence, keep him home and let him play County Championship from April to June before New Zealand.

New Zealand and WI should be a nice change because neither of them have a great fast bowler.

Definitely want to see him go to the Caribbean. I’d like to see that series as a new start where a first team is built rather than a first-team squad where players are also left at home. Looking forward to seeing Jayden Seales, too.

 

[eastmanc]

Which is one of the reasons why I would persist with Hameed. If he's sacrificed now after three atrocious Tests, then the likelihood is he won't tour the Caribbean. It would also mean he'd have future question marks over his ability to tour Australia in future. I appreciate that there are already question marks over his position in general, but that's arguably true of the whole team (save Root), so I'd persist with Hameed and Crawley at the top for now.

I'd also allow all batsmen to tell any coaches who've been saying they should tinker with their techniques where to go. Any coach saying "trigger movements" and "time out of the firing line" should be shown the door.

I would say that Root is safe as a player but there is a question mark as a captain. Obviously Ben Stokes will be ok as well, the other players have to prove they are good enough.

 

[Gabriel]

True. The only time the county championship became really competitive was when the powers that be divided the championship into two leagues.

It’s back in a two league format next season. However, it won’t be until later this month that we discover what the powers have decided in terms of dates.
https://www.thecricketer.com/Topics...ures_not_expected_until_after_mens_ashes.html

• Division One: Essex, Gloucestershire, Hampshire, Kent, Lancashire, Northamptonshire, Somerset, Surrey, Warwickshire, Yorkshire
• Division Two: Derbyshire, Durham, Glamorgan, Leicestershire, Middlesex, Nottinghamshire, Sussex, Worcestershire

 

[Postman Pep]

Your guess is as good as mine. They had Alex Lees in the Lions squad, so maybe they’ll give him a whirl. Heavens, to think there was a time when the selectors fretted over such things as having a left-handed and right-handed opener together; now, they would settle for anyone who could just get through the first twelve overs.

Based on your last point I think they will stick with Hameed. Forget the runs column by hanging around for 20 overs he did contribute in some small way to today's 'escape'.
There was a line from Root's interview that suggests to me that there is no way back for Burns. Talking about Crawley he highlighted that he has 'a sound technique which will stand the test of time'.
Reminded me of a discussion I heard about Burns the other week. I'm paraphrasing but somebody, maybe Farbrace, described him as uncoachable. How do you go about ironing out the flaws in a technique as weird as that, let alone during an Ashes series?
In the context of series gone by there is a bigger justification for calling him unelectable than there ever was for Steven Finn.



but this is England he's nailed on to start on Friday..

 

[Gabriel]

I would say that Root is safe as a player but there is a question mark as a captain. Obviously Ben Stokes will be ok as well, the other players have to prove they are good enough.

Would agree but we need to remember that the two forthcoming Test series overlap with the IPL, so some players may have to decide where their priorities lie, and the ECB needs to decide how it’s going to manage these realities as it rebuilds its Test team. Going to be a fascinating year and won’t be without bumps and surprises.

 

[Gabriel]

Based on your last point I think they will stick with Hameed. Forget the runs column by hanging around for 20 overs he did contribute in some small way to today's 'escape'.
There was a line from Root's interview that suggests to me that there is no way back for Burns. Talking about Crawley he highlighted that he has 'a sound technique which will stand the test of time'.
Reminded me of a discussion I heard about Burns the other week. I'm paraphrasing but somebody, maybe Farbrace, described him as uncoachable. How do you go about ironing out the flaws in a technique as weird as that, let alone during an Ashes series?
In the context of series gone by there is a bigger justification for calling him unelectable than there ever was for Steven Finn.



but this is England he's nailed on to start on Friday..

Hope you’re right. I think they just need to decide and stick with him come what may. I didn’t pluck that 12 overs figure out of the air, that is indeed what he’s been averaging, but if he can develop some ‘stickability’, the runs will come. Irrespective of the Test result, I’m sure England would take a 300+ first innings score in Hobart with the runs shared across the top 5.

 

[Dr Jacoby]

Going first 3 days
No idea what the team will be
Drop Buttler?

I like your optimism.

 

[jonah62]

I like your optimism.

…well, I’ve GOT tickets for the first 3 days!!!
Whether they get used is another matter!

 

[Postman Pep]

Hope you’re right. I think they just need to decide and stick with him come what may. I didn’t pluck that 12 overs figure out of the air, that is indeed what he’s been averaging, but if he can develop some ‘stickability’, the runs will come. Irrespective of the Test result, I’m sure England would take a 300+ first innings score in Hobart with the runs shared across the top 5.

Got to give him a fair crack at it. He's had 10 tests, all against India and Australia, the majority away from home over 5 years. Inbetween his game has fell off a cliff and has had to rebuild his career at a new county ... and he only turns 25 on Saturday!

 

[Dr Jacoby]

Work on that over winter, then if they think he's made loads of progress play take him to West Indies in March, if he needs more confidence, keep him home and let him play County Championship from April to June before New Zealand.

New Zealand and WI should be a nice change because neither of them have a great fast bowler.

Boult and Roach are excellent bowlers.

 

[domalino]

Boult and Roach are excellent bowlers.

They are good bowlers, I wouldn’t say excellent.

Roach is a bit past it and rightly ranked 14th in the world and Trent Boult is really medium-fast, 85mph not blistering pace.

It’s not comparable to facing Starc, Cummins and Hazlewood, nor Shami and Bumrah.