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

[Stiff Little Wingers]

The irony is that when Agnew picked up his memento on Friday, he told the assembled England team that he thought they had deserved to win this series. The next day‘s performance undid everything that had been achieved.

Last 17 test matches.

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This is absolutely damning. This has been the test equivalent of Norwich v Burnley. The West Indies are a poor team who have just been hammered by Sri Lanka. I'm thinking WI are possibly now starting their recovery as they fought pretty well and didn't give it up when the going was tough. Plus the new keeper may actually for once be the real deal. And we can't even draw the series
England have lost series in all kinds of conditions against different opposition including outclassed in India and Australia. The best cricket brains are in the commentary box as I've never rated Root as a captain. The same sort of refresh as when Fletcher and Hussain came in is required. They absolutely need a top class batting coach because the ones used to date have not improved anything one iota - all good England batsmen in their time but clearly cannot get the top order to play. Anyone who loves cricket knows that first innnigs runs are important but in the last 18 months I bet we haven't scored 300 + more than a few times
The ECB has devoted itself to keeping it's snout in the trough and this is the result. Out of the top order I think only Root, Crawley and Stokes can play. The rest are pretty bobbins

 

[Gabriel]

This is absolutely damning. This has been the test equivalent of Norwich v Burnley. The West Indies are a poor team who have just been hammered by Sri Lanka. I'm thinking WI are possibly now starting their recovery as they fought pretty well and didn't give it up when the going was tough. Plus the new keeper may actually for once be the real deal. And we can't even draw the series
England have lost series in all kinds of conditions against different opposition including outclassed in India and Australia. The best cricket brains are in the commentary box as I've never rated Root as a captain. The same sort of refresh as when Fletcher and Hussain came in is required. They absolutely need a top class batting coach because the ones used to date have not improved anything one iota - all good England batsmen in their time but clearly cannot get the top order to play. Anyone who loves cricket knows that first innnigs runs are important but in the last 18 months I bet we haven't scored 300 + more than a few times
The ECB has devoted itself to keeping it's snout in the trough and this is the result. Out of the top order I think only Root, Crawley and Stokes can play. The rest are pretty bobbins

To be fair, England put 300+ on the board in the first two Test innings and 300+ in the second innings in Antigua as well, which, you are quite correct, is about as many as they had managed in the whole of 2021. They just had a truly wretched day on Saturday, and they did so in a series where they are also choosing to build a new bowling attack- one that seems to be continually hampered by injury. There was never going to be a dramatic improvement six weeks after leaving Australia, and I guess it's just the nature of Saturday's fiasco, when a series win was conceivable, that makes it hurt so much more.

 

[waspish]

Maybe, but does he really think they played some "brilliant cricket" and just an extra push will bring winning results?

All rhetoric! It’s fine being positive for the team because negativity in sports eats at you, Root as captain his job is to keep every one in a positive mood! They know batting and the bowling is a worry.

If your a coach of the batting your better if telling them the things they’d done well then point out the things they need to improve! For example Crawley he knows he can get 100’s he knows he can bat for a long time his main problem when under sever pressure is his shot selection! He himself needs to work on that and tell himself not to play certain shots which is hard when you got instincts to play certain shots!

All England batsman have this shot selection problem when under the cosh even Root.

 

[Pubteam Lomas]

All rhetoric! It’s fine being positive for the team because negativity in sports eats at you, Root as captain his job is to keep every one in a positive mood! They know batting and the bowling is a worry.

If your a coach of the batting your better if telling them the things they’d done well then point out the things they need to improve! For example Crawley he knows he can get 100’s he knows he can bat for a long time his main problem when under sever pressure is his shot selection! He himself needs to work on that and tell himself not to play certain shots which is hard when you got instincts to play certain shots!

All England batsman have this shot selection problem when under the cosh even Root.

Strauss identified his own shortcomings and left certain shots alone. Crawley will have to do the same to succeed. However I stand by my earlier comment that he's not an opener.

 

[leighton]

Englands next test series should be against Ireland might be a bit more competitive lol. I used to like watching cricket but havnt seen much the past year i dont mind it for a hour or 2 then i am out a bit like the Englands team top batters. Sure they will be back again the biggest problem is the shorter games England are just top class and the players just know how to play to that way hit everything if you can take risky shots and score runs.

 

[Cricket Blue]

Feels like the end of a era for Root's captaincy.

 

[Stiff Little Wingers]

To be fair, England put 300+ on the board in the first two Test innings and 300+ in the second innings in Antigua as well, which, you are quite correct, is about as many as they had managed in the whole of 2021. They just had a truly wretched day on Saturday, and they did so in a series where they are also choosing to build a new bowling attack- one that seems to be continually hampered by injury. There was never going to be a dramatic improvement six weeks after leaving Australia, and I guess it's just the nature of Saturday's fiasco, when a series win was conceivable, that makes it hurt so much more.

Yes, fair points but meet the new bowling attack....same as the old bowling attack really. There have ben issues with injuries especially with Archer and now Wood and Robinson but again I would question whether Archer and Wood could have been managed better? I don't know.

 

[Protein Junkie]

Ok so there has been a rightful criticism of the England set up. The side is very poor and the buck has to stop with Roots captaincy.
Whilst we collectively rubbish the likes of Crawley Leach etc the only reply seems to be -well there is no one.
So I’m going to stick my neck and suggest we do a deep clean sweep.
I will retain a small number of experienced players and keep this squad together for the next three years. Obviously keep the door open for any outstanding newcomers

1. Tom Haines
2.Jake Libby
3. Rob Yates
4. Joe Root
5. Sam Hain
6. Ben Stokes
7. Ben Brown Wkt
8. Will Rhodes -Captain
9. Callum Parkinson
10 Luke Fletcher
11 Jimmy Anderson/Stuart Broad.

Squad places/rotation for injury, state of pitch etc
13. Joe Clarke
14. Harry Brook
15. Chris Woakes
16. Matt Critchley
17. Matt Parkinson

hides for cover :-)

 

[mat]

Strauss won't get rid of Root. He's already said so after the ashes disaster. A handy human shield.

I wonder how much the ECB will bung India to lose their rescheduled test match?

 

[melrose40yarder]

Ok so there has been a rightful criticism of the England set up. The side is very poor and the buck has to stop with Roots captaincy.
Whilst we collectively rubbish the likes of Crawley Leach etc the only reply seems to be -well there is no one.
So I’m going to stick my neck and suggest we do a deep clean sweep.
I will retain a small number of experienced players and keep this squad together for the next three years. Obviously keep the door open for any outstanding newcomers

1. Tom Haines
2.Jake Libby
3. Rob Yates
4. Joe Root
5. Sam Hain
6. Ben Stokes
7. Ben Brown Wkt
8. Will Rhodes -Captain
9. Callum Parkinson
10 Luke Fletcher
11 Jimmy Anderson/Stuart Broad.

Squad places/rotation for injury, state of pitch etc
13. Joe Clarke
14. Harry Brook
15. Chris Woakes
16. Matt Critchley
17. Matt Parkinson

hides for cover :-)

Id like to see Pat Brown play more red ball cricket for Worcester always thought he has something about him.
Dont think you need to hide as the current crop have had countless chances.