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

[Wretched Vengeance]

The aussies batting is not much better than ours.

We'll make every one of their batsmen look like peak Bradman.

 

[PannickAtTheDisco]

The aussies batting is not much better than ours.

Steve Smith will just do a miracle series again.

 

[melrose40yarder]

Steve Smith will just do a miracle series again.

He is there Joe Root

 

[Pubteam Lomas]

The aussies batting is not much better than ours.

Smith and Labuschagne are levels above our middle order, root aside.
Pope could be our answer to Labuschagne, but he needs to get fit, play red ball cricket and stay in the team.
Problem is their bowling is levels above.

 

[Gabriel]

Yes, Root needs to be more forceful. My concern is that he is clueless tactically. Setting the field back to a tailender when wickets are what's needed? Genius.
Sorry, he has to go as skipper.

I don’t disagree, but I think he’s not going to be replaced until after the Ashes. However, I think he can use the next 8 Tests and lay down a marker for his successor.

 

[Citizen in Pakistan]

There is a fair amount of break till the next test, stokes should consider coming back. This is the weakest English side i have seen in years. Top 2 are clueless, I'd rather open with Roy and Crawley. May be vince could be given another chance in the middle order too

 

[liamctid]

Smith and Labuschagne are levels above our middle order, root aside.
Pope could be our answer to Labuschagne, but he needs to get fit, play red ball cricket and stay in the team.
Problem is their bowling is levels above.

Smith and Labuschagne are two top level batsmen but apart from that they're not really up to much, not really sure what's going on with Warner at the moment. Lyon is better than anything we can offer spin wise by a distance but as far as the quicks go I don't think there's loads in it between the teams. On paper anyway, we all know that our mentality is shit out there.

 

[Pubteam Lomas]

Smith and Labuschagne are two top level batsmen but apart from that they're not really up to much, not really sure what's going on with Warner at the moment. Lyon is better than anything we can offer spin wise by a distance but as far as the quicks go I don't think there's loads in it between the teams. On paper anyway, we all know that our mentality is shit out there.

I like Robinson and think he adds something. Problem is Archer and Wood are made of glass. Woakes is currently injured and Sam Curran is great if it swings.
Ollie Stone is sharp, but currently injured, which leaves us short of bowlers.
Can we play both Broad and Anderson in Australia? I'm not sure.

I love Saqib (Lancs bias I know), but not sure we can compete with Hazlewood, Cummins, Pattinson and Starc.
Lyon is decent, but I honestly think Mo has the potential to be a top test spinner in all conditions.

Thing is as you say our mentality is shit. I fully expected to lose yesterday even with less than two sessions to bat.
Worse was so did Root, as you could see from his body language when he was caught straight after tea.

 

[supercity88]

Not so sure it will be 5 nil i was more along the 2 nil or 1.
Brisbane and Perth we have no chance.However Adelaide and Sydney are more English type conditions and we usually do ok at those venues.Melbourne is where the series will be decided.

I like your optimism but I think we will struggle to bowl them out with our pace attack. Archer is a huge miss in Australian conditions.

They have got issues but will no doubt find some form with the bat and their bowling attack is high class.

 

[waspish]

Need 3 new players to fill the 11
One bowler I’d go for is Willey seems always to get early wickets in the one Day games swings it and can bat maybe have him open the batting ;)

Hameed
Burns
Root
Ali
Butler
Bairstow
Anderson
Robinson