Cricket Thread

[The Stockport Iniesta]

Jennings doesn’t have 2500 runs, but has a 25 average.

There’s not an ideal candidate ready to step up. I’m not suggesting that Crawley is the answer as he’s pretty crap. Maybe it’s time to try someone else. It’s a shame Ahmed is injured.

Jennings is a better player now than when he was given a brief opportunity in test cricket. If only they all got as many chances as Crawley.

 

[Alan Harper's Tash]

Jennings is a better player now than when he was given a brief opportunity in test cricket. If only they all got as many chances as Crawley.

He might be worth a try, but he’s been pretty streaky for Lancs.

 

[The Stockport Iniesta]

He might be worth a try, but he’s been pretty streaky for Lancs.

Not a cat in hell's chance that they would pick a batsmen like Jennings. They would be more likely to pick Bethell and tell him to do what he wants.

Historically opening batsman are there for a reason. To see off the new ball and the opening bowlers, not expose the lower middle order early on.

Stokes and the coach know better though. Have a slog lads, it doesn't matter if we don't bat 70 overs in the match and make ourselves look complete idiots in the ashes, as long as we're having a good time.

There's absolutely no balance with this England team. They have no idea when to dig in and graft with the bat for even one session.

 

[Alan Harper's Tash]

Not a cat in hell's chance that they would pick a batsmen like Jennings. They would be more likely to pick Bethell and tell him to do what he wants.

Historically opening batsman are there for a reason. To see off the new ball and the opening bowlers, not expose the lower middle order early on.

Stokes and the coach know better though. Have a slog lads, it doesn't matter if we don't bat 70 overs in the match and make ourselves look complete idiots in the ashes, as long as we're having a good time.

There's absolutely no balance with this England team. They have no idea when to dig in and graft with the bat for even one session.

Especially in Oz with the Kookaburra ball.

Defend the first 30 overs and then when the ball is soft, play Bazball, à la Travis Head last night.

 

[The Stockport Iniesta]

Especially in Oz with the Kookaburra ball.

Defend the first 30 overs and then when the ball is soft, play Bazball, à la Travis Head last night.

It's like they have the one gear, which is the foot to the floor from ball one, there's nothing else.

It's entertaining at times but also brainless at other times.

 

[Alan Harper's Tash]

It's like they have the one gear, which is the foot to the floor from ball one, there's nothing else.

It's entertaining at times but also brainless at other times.

Or have a mix of players that are free spirits like Duckett, and others that are from the Root/Collingwood school of managing their innings.

We’ve seen that Stokes can change tempo of his innings from his Headingley knock.

Vibes based test match cricket can only get you so far.

 

[The Stockport Iniesta]

Or have a mix of players that are free spirits like Duckett, and others that are from the Root/Collingwood school of managing their innings.

We’ve seen that Stokes can change tempo of his innings from his Headingley knock.

Vibes based test match cricket can only get you so far.

Stokes is a great example, he and Root are the only two who can play the situation. You'd think as skipper he'd lay down the law occasionally.

 

[chris63]

 

[domalino]

Stokes is a great example, he and Root are the only two who can play the situation. You'd think as skipper he'd lay down the law occasionally.

Stokes’ batting has been shit for 5+ years now. You’re still thinking of him as the batsman that was averaging nearly 50 between 2017-2020 but for the last 2 years it’s been 27.

Any semblance of playing the situation left when he became high priest of Bazball. He routinely arrives at the crease with England needing to steady things and throws his wicket away to prove to everyone over-aggressive chasing boundaries from ball 1 is the only acceptable way to play in this team.

 

[Dr Jacoby]

Interesting stat.

Out of all the opening batsman, to score at least 2500 runs in the history of test cricket, Crawley has the worst batting average.

There's far better opening batsman than him, they just don't fit into the bazball style of cricket. Players like Jennings and Lyth to name just two.

I think McKinney and Gay are the next two in line for the opening spot should Crawley continue to struggle.

 

[Corky]

South Africa look like putting India to the sword again after their low scoring classic last test.

A long way to go but India only giving SA two games at home and possibly losing them both will make it difficult for them to reach the WTC.

SA last 8 tests, 6 at home, 3 each v Aus and Eng, and 2 away v Sri Lanka.

NZ haven't started yet but 9 of 16 games are on tour 3 Eng, 4 Aus, 2 SR.

Pak have the easiest fixtures and could qualify after 1-1 home v SA.

Eng playing 5 tests in Aus means they are unlikely to qualify after the 2-2 at home v India.

Australia 4-0 so far are my favourites to play SA in the final.

 

[supercity88]

I think McKinney and Gay are the next two in line for the opening spot should Crawley continue to struggle.

Got 42 from 59 balls for the Lions against a Cricket Australia XI. Gay got 78 batting at 3 in the first innings and 32 opening in the second innings.

Chasing 232, the Aussies managed to win by 8 wickets. Sound familiar?

Said before the tour, whilst our batting looked better on paper they would find some form and their bowling attack is better than ours. Combine it with the historic performances of England down under and our recent results in 5 test series home or away and you'd have to be dreaming to believe we could go and win the ashes.

England can win 4 of the 5 days but be so bad on one of them that we undo that work.

Hopefully we can win a test or two at least.

 

[brian the blue]

Stokes’ batting has been shit for 5+ years now. You’re still thinking of him as the batsman that was averaging nearly 50 between 2017-2020 but for the last 2 years it’s been 27.

Any semblance of playing the situation left when he became high priest of Bazball. He routinely arrives at the crease with England needing to steady things and throws his wicket away to prove to everyone over-aggressive chasing boundaries from ball 1 is the only acceptable way to play in this team.

Stokes is one of the most overrated crickers of all time.

He’s had a couple of special moments which he dines out on (Leeds 2019 and the WC final). But his batting is terrible. He’s a handy bowler but can’t be relied on for fitness. Yet he’s spoken about as if he’s one of the greats of the game. It’s bizarre.

This series is going to be another heavy defeat, but that’s no different to previous away ashes series. Ultimately we’ve enjoyed more success playing this way than we did in the years prior so I can’t see it changing until stokes and McCullum go.

 

[waspish]

Stokes is one of the most overrated crickers of all time.

He’s had a couple of special moments which he dines out on (Leeds 2019 and the WC final). But his batting is terrible. He’s a handy bowler but can’t be relied on for fitness. Yet he’s spoken about as if he’s one of the greats of the game. It’s bizarre.

This series is going to be another heavy defeat, but that’s no different to previous away ashes series. Ultimately we’ve enjoyed more success playing this way than we did in the years prior so I can’t see it changing until stokes and McCullum go.

He is the top 5 best all rounder ever

 

[brian the blue]

He is the top 5 best all rounder ever

Thanks for proving my point.

He’s not even close to that.

 

[waspish]

Thanks for proving my point.

He’s not even close to that.

Name the top ten stat wise of all rounder that’s better than him! He also for me one of Englands best ever captain

 

[brian the blue]

Name the top ten stat wise of all rounder that’s better than him! He also for me one of Englands best ever captain

There’s a whole host of all rounders with similar stats to him. Even in this county with flintoff and Botham. He’s just one of the pack but I’d rather have any of the following over him.

Kallis
Pollock
Sobers
Shakib Al Hasan
Jadeja
Imran Khan
Jayasuriya
Hadlee
Chris Gayle

 

[robbieh]

There’s a whole host of all rounders with similar stats to him. Even in this county with flintoff and Botham. He’s just one of the pack but I’d rather have any of the following over him.

Kallis
Pollock
Sobers
Shakib Al Hasan
Jadeja
Imran Khan
Jayasuriya
Hadlee
Chris Gayle

Like Botham, Stokes is a player of great innings that linger in the memory. However neither are that consistent.

Surprised you didn't put Warne in that list.

However a great all-rounder should get in a team with bat as well as ball.

Of the list above only Kallis, Sobers, Jadeja and Imran qualify. Then you could add Keith Miller, Clive Rice.

 

[brian the blue]

Like Botham, Stokes is a player of great innings that linger in the memory. However neither are that consistent.

Surprised you didn't put Warne in that list.

However a great all-rounder should get in a team with bat as well as ball.

Of the list above only Kallis, Sobers, Jadeja and Imran qualify. Then you could add Keith Miller, Clive Rice.

Yeah the likes of Warne, Broad, Starc just done quite have a high enough batting average to be considered. But I’d much rather all 3 than stokes.

Also have to take into account who people were facing.

I’d rather have Flintoff averaging 32 and 30 playing against the likes of Ponting, Hayden, Clarke, Gilchrist, Warne, Lee, McGrath, Kallis, Pollock, G. Smith, Ntini, Kumble, Dravid, Laxman, Tendulkar, Gayle, Chanderpaul, Lara, Sangakkara, Jayawardene, Jayasuriya, Murali, Vaas etc than Stokes averaging 35 and 32 against the cricketers of the last 10 years.

 

[waspish]

There’s a whole host of all rounders with similar stats to him. Even in this county with flintoff and Botham. He’s just one of the pack but I’d rather have any of the following over him.

Kallis
Pollock
Sobers
Shakib Al Hasan
Jadeja
Imran Khan
Jayasuriya
Hadlee
Chris Gayle

Quality list that and looking at that I have to hold my hands up your right..

Probably because of stokes captaincy I’d have him better than maybe 2/3 of those!