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Post by Deleted on May 31, 2015 21:15:49 GMT
A modest West Indian Attack ? Are you by any chance from Yorkshire ? .....A test hundred is a test hundred ....you can only score them on the pitch you are playing on .Bell will come good. No I'm a Cheshire man. Strong in the arm, weak in the head I think is the expression. But that also applies in Yorkshire. And, possibly, all points north of Watford Gap. Anyway, I'll defend my comments a little. The Windies attack is modest when compared to NZ and the Aussies bowlers. Improving for sure, promising - absolutely. But a long way from the best. And there are test centuries and there are test centuries - some undoubtedly more significant than others. As I said Bell, after a poor two years, should have been able to use his as a platform to better performances as Cook has done. Instead - he's been very poor. I think he has had more than enough time. There's other players that have done enough to take his spot. I beg to differ with you of course .....We shall see how things turn out in the end .
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Post by ukcstokie on May 31, 2015 22:40:14 GMT
Another really great Test - played in the right spirit.
The concerns this game is highlighting are: Moeen - just not recovered his form that he had against the Indians. Bell - his form just continues to be poor. Very poor. Ballance - just how poor did he look in that first innings? Anderson - just hasn't look threatening for me. For our premier strike bowler he really needs to show more penetration.
Wednesday is the first West Indies vs. Australia Test (live on Sky Sports BTW) - be interesting how the Aussies fair against the Windies. Suspect we'll get a better view of what we're in later in the summer from this.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 1, 2015 0:25:29 GMT
Another really great Test - played in the right spirit. The concerns this game is highlighting are: Moeen - just not recovered his form that he had against the Indians. Bell - his form just continues to be poor. Very poor. Ballance - just how poor did he look in that first innings? Anderson - just hasn't look threatening for me. For our premier strike bowler he really needs to show more penetration. Wednesday is the first West Indies vs. Australia Test (live on Sky Sports BTW) - be interesting how the Aussies fair against the Windies. Suspect we'll get a better view of what we're in later in the summer from this. Moeen is a useful cricketer ...but we really need to look for a better spinner , he has looked what he is for me ....a bits and pieces player . Bell is currently out of nick , but one decent knock and he will be back to his best ......it's all too easy to discard good players .....his record shows his quality ......just why are some people so keen to drop our best players ? Balance diid look poor , but he has that kind of technique that looks good when he is in form but awful when out of nick ...he is averaging over 50 , so he can obviously bat .....bear with him . Anderson's bowling is not the type that that can be judged in that way .....he is a swing bowler who needs the right conditions to be effective ...how does he look to show more penetration ? ....he has just taken 400 wickets for goodness sake !
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Post by partickpotter on Jun 1, 2015 5:57:19 GMT
Another really great Test - played in the right spirit. The concerns this game is highlighting are: Moeen - just not recovered his form that he had against the Indians. Bell - his form just continues to be poor. Very poor. Ballance - just how poor did he look in that first innings? Anderson - just hasn't look threatening for me. For our premier strike bowler he really needs to show more penetration. Wednesday is the first West Indies vs. Australia Test (live on Sky Sports BTW) - be interesting how the Aussies fair against the Windies. Suspect we'll get a better view of what we're in later in the summer from this. Moeen is a useful cricketer ...but we really need to look for a better spinner , he has looked what he is for me ....a bits and pieces player . Bell is currently out of nick , but one decent knock and he will be back to his best ......it's all too easy to discard good players .....his record shows his quality ......just why are some people so keen to drop our best players ? Balance diid look poor , but he has that kind of technique that looks good when he is in form but awful when out of nick ...he is averaging over 50 , so he can obviously bat .....bear with him . Anderson's bowling is not the type that that can be judged in that way .....he is a swing bowler who needs the right conditions to be effective ...how does he look to show more penetration ? ....he has just taken 400 wickets for goodness sake ! Some interesting selection questions. Moeen - clearly not a front line test spinner. Be useful as a back up. Bat at 6 and support 4 main bowlers. But that position has gone to Stokes. Sadly I don't see a place in the team for him. It's been said before - pick your four best bowlers for test cricket. Bell - we've discussed earlier. Needs to get his act together fast. The next innings would be ideal. His ton in the Windies is looking very much the exception to 2 years of poor batting for England. Ballance - looked awful in the first innings. Almost Broad like in his inability to cope with a well pitched up swinging ball. But he has scored a stack of runs in the last 12 months so has his place in the side for a while yet. Anderson - class act. Still takes wickets. What he needs is his fellow seamers to chip in. Looks like Wood can do just that and Broad looking, in patches, like he is back to his best. Nice not to have to debate Cook in a list of "worries"!
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Post by Staffsoatcake on Jun 1, 2015 10:48:44 GMT
The Ali problem, is there a case of Monty or Rashid to be given a chance? Albeit another chance in Monty's case, He's had his problems, but he's proved he can do it at Test level. Wasn't Rashid in the West Indies with England but not played? If England thought he was good enough to go there, then why not give him a go v the Aussies.
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Post by estrangedsonoffaye on Jun 1, 2015 14:09:28 GMT
Handy rain this, but it could be said it's forcing us into a defensive mind-set for tomorrow.
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Post by estrangedsonoffaye on Jun 1, 2015 16:14:34 GMT
That's it for the day then, 90 overs to survive.
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Post by partickpotter on Jun 1, 2015 16:14:49 GMT
Bloody rain! And this test isn't even at Old Trafford.
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Post by StokieAsh13 on Jun 2, 2015 11:06:47 GMT
That was 4 quick wickets.
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Post by ukcstokie on Jun 2, 2015 11:12:33 GMT
Balance, Bell and Root gone for 15 runs. Looks like game over unless the weather intervenes. Balance looks horribly out of form. Bell not much better. I joked the other day that as soon as we'd lost one of the openers, that would be 3 wickets down .
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Post by Deleted on Jun 2, 2015 11:12:43 GMT
Our 6 monthly collapse begins...........
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Post by Staffsoatcake on Jun 2, 2015 11:32:16 GMT
3 and 4 are really starting to look a problem, if they don't find some form, the Aussies will be rubbing their hands.
Although N Zealand have a good attack, they are not as good has the Aussies, England are in for a hiding methinks in the Summer.
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Post by partickpotter on Jun 2, 2015 12:07:24 GMT
3 and 4 are really starting to look a problem, if they don't find some form, the Aussies will be rubbing their hands. Ballance is a real worry - at just the wrong time he seems to have developed an inability to play a full straight ball on middle and off. Bell is just Bell. A confidence player who's touch has deserted him. Result seems to be one down, three down. Not good news. Question is do we make a change ahead of the Aussies? Answer - very unlikely. May depend on which Strauss is in charge; whether it's the ruthless "Mr Strauss" or the players friend "Straussy".
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Post by partickpotter on Jun 2, 2015 12:09:27 GMT
We've had better mornings. 102-5.
Odds of 500-1 being offered yet?
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Post by redstriper on Jun 2, 2015 12:21:13 GMT
Roots comments about chasing down the 400+ were ill advised, its one thing to be confident - but the odds were stacked against England... in fact the odds on a NZ victory this morning were overly generous.... I'd have piled in but for the fact that I don't feel good backing against England.
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Post by Staffsoatcake on Jun 2, 2015 12:21:51 GMT
We've had better mornings. 102-5. Odds of 500-1 being offered yet? Get yer pads on Sir Ian.
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Post by estrangedsonoffaye on Jun 2, 2015 12:49:24 GMT
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Post by ukcstokie on Jun 2, 2015 13:58:23 GMT
Cooke and Ali gone.
Will we make it to tea?
Just to add, there is no shame in being beaten by a bloody decent Kiwi side.
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Post by ukcstokie on Jun 2, 2015 15:34:38 GMT
Last pair in.
The Burnley Lara needs to survive 25.2 overs.
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Post by Staffsoatcake on Jun 2, 2015 15:42:34 GMT
W Indies and N Zealand. 1-0 up against both of them in a 3 and 2 test match series, yet fail to win any of the two series.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 2, 2015 15:46:50 GMT
One real positive is that Buttler looks a class act with the bat....
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Post by ukcstokie on Jun 2, 2015 16:22:45 GMT
Plus points: Cookes continued resurgence. Good debut 100 from Leith Buttler's batting. Broad getting some confidence back with the bat. Wood is looking like he could be a decent 3rd seemer or strike bowler.
Negative points: Balance looks as though he's forgotten how to bat. Bell continues to struggle. A dip in form from Root - nothing more - hopefully. Moeen looks like a part time spinner.
There's a lot to sort out for the Ashes.
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Post by partickpotter on Jun 2, 2015 17:03:44 GMT
Plus points: Cookes continued resurgence. Good debut 100 from Leith Buttler's batting. Broad getting some confidence back with the bat. Wood is looking like he could be a decent 3rd seemer or strike bowler. Negative points: Balance looks as though he's forgotten how to bat. Bell continues to struggle. A dip in form from Root - nothing more - hopefully. Moeen looks like a part time spinner. There's a lot to sort out for the Ashes. Good points. One positive to add - Butler's keeping is getting better. Starting to look the part behind the stumps. One change to your negative, Ali looks like a part time spinner because he is a part time spinner. Plenty to think on for the first test.
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Post by Staffsoatcake on Jun 2, 2015 17:25:44 GMT
I cant see us winning a single Test in the Ashes series.
There must be a vast improvement in crucial areas, 2 & 3 in the batting order,plus the Spin department, to give us any chance at all.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 2, 2015 17:25:48 GMT
I'd go with the same XI in the Ashes test squad plus Adil Rashid, Liam Plunkett and Alex Hales.
Bell has enough credit in the bank to start the Ashes series but a couple more failures and it might be time to give Hales a chance.
I still think Rashid may have the x-factor in test cricket, as long as he's used in short bursts and taken off fairly sharpish if he's expensive then he can be managed. One thing he will do is cause the tail problems, we're regularly getting the last 3/4 batsmen put 100+ runs on against us at the moment and it needs addressing rapidly....
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Post by Deleted on Jun 2, 2015 17:30:13 GMT
I cant see us winning a single Test in the Ashes series. There must be a vast improvement in crucial areas, 2 & 3 in the batting order,plus the Spin department, to give us any chance at all. When it clicks I still think we have a decent side there, I'm going for 3-1 Australia. We need more consistency in our bowling plans though, plus fielding and catching needs to improve dramatically. I'm hoping Harris gets plagued with injuries and Starc can't transfer his one day form into the test arena in English conditions....
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Post by partickpotter on Jun 2, 2015 17:33:19 GMT
I'd go with the same XI in the Ashes test squad plus Adil Rashid, Liam Plunkett and Alex Hales. Bell has enough credit in the bank to start the Ashes series but a couple more failures and it might be time to give Hales a chance. I still think Rashid may have the x-factor in test cricket, as long as he's used in short bursts and taken off fairly sharpish if he's expensive then he can be managed. One thing he will do is cause the tail problems, we're regularly getting the last 3/4 batsmen put 100+ runs on against us at the moment and it needs addressing rapidly.... The thing is what we need mostly from a spinner in this country is to close down an end when the seamers are struggling. Don't see Rashid bring able to do this. Much as I'd like to see him in the side. Bell won't be dropped just yet - but the clock is ticking. And there are other people waiting. Ballance deserves more time - but not much if he continues to look do fad. I could see both of those not lasting the Ashes series bring replaced by Hayles at 3 and Taylor at 4.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 2, 2015 17:45:03 GMT
I'd go with the same XI in the Ashes test squad plus Adil Rashid, Liam Plunkett and Alex Hales. Bell has enough credit in the bank to start the Ashes series but a couple more failures and it might be time to give Hales a chance. I still think Rashid may have the x-factor in test cricket, as long as he's used in short bursts and taken off fairly sharpish if he's expensive then he can be managed. One thing he will do is cause the tail problems, we're regularly getting the last 3/4 batsmen put 100+ runs on against us at the moment and it needs addressing rapidly.... The thing is what we need mostly from a spinner in this country is to close down an end when the seamers are struggling. Don't see Rashid bring able to do this. Much as I'd like to see him in the side. Bell won't be dropped just yet - but the clock is ticking. And there are other people waiting. Ballance deserves more time - but not much if he continues to look do fad. I could see both of those not lasting the Ashes series bring replaced by Hayles at 3 and Taylor at 4. Agree but unfortunately that spinner doesn't exist in the current climate. Riley is out of form, Kerrigan they clearly don't trust, and Zafar Ansari is unproven. Tredwell would be a backward step in my opinion but has a chance, Monty Panesar would need to be in the form of his life in the next few weeks to warrant a call up. Good move to be fair leaving Moeen out of the one dayers to concentrate on red ball cricket as I wouldn't write him off just yet. If they don't trust any of them, don't play a spinner I guess.....
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Post by Deleted on Jun 2, 2015 23:48:38 GMT
Moeen is a useful cricketer ...but we really need to look for a better spinner , he has looked what he is for me ....a bits and pieces player . Bell is currently out of nick , but one decent knock and he will be back to his best ......it's all too easy to discard good players .....his record shows his quality ......just why are some people so keen to drop our best players ? Balance diid look poor , but he has that kind of technique that looks good when he is in form but awful when out of nick ...he is averaging over 50 , so he can obviously bat .....bear with him . Anderson's bowling is not the type that that can be judged in that way .....he is a swing bowler who needs the right conditions to be effective ...how does he look to show more penetration ? ....he has just taken 400 wickets for goodness sake ! Some interesting selection questions. Moeen - clearly not a front line test spinner. Be useful as a back up. Bat at 6 and support 4 main bowlers. But that position has gone to Stokes. Sadly I don't see a place in the team for him. It's been said before - pick your four best bowlers for test cricket. Bell - we've discussed earlier. Needs to get his act together fast. The next innings would be ideal. His ton in the Windies is looking very much the exception to 2 years of poor batting for England. Ballance - looked awful in the first innings. Almost Broad like in his inability to cope with a well pitched up swinging ball. But he has scored a stack of runs in the last 12 months so has his place in the side for a while yet. Anderson - class act. Still takes wickets. What he needs is his fellow seamers to chip in. Looks like Wood can do just that and Broad looking, in patches, like he is back to his best. Nice not to have to debate Cook in a list of "worries"! I never thought it we had to debate Cook as a worry.....you did of course !.......he was a victim of his own prolific performances ....a dip in them and you get unwarranted criticism ....Bell is struggling a little at the moment .....he fell for the three card trick today ....but he has the class that is required , he will pull through this dip in form ...Ballance on the other hand frightens me to death ! ....the lad can clearly bat as his statistics show ...but I have never seen such a a poor technique from a top line player ....he was playing well last summer ....marvelous results , so you don't tend to notice his faults so much ,when he is out of touch however .....his faults are glaringly and worryingly apparent ....almost basically deficient ...I hope the break from tests allows him some serious work in the nets and the middle .
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Post by Deleted on Jun 2, 2015 23:53:05 GMT
I'd go with the same XI in the Ashes test squad plus Adil Rashid, Liam Plunkett and Alex Hales. Bell has enough credit in the bank to start the Ashes series but a couple more failures and it might be time to give Hales a chance. I still think Rashid may have the x-factor in test cricket, as long as he's used in short bursts and taken off fairly sharpish if he's expensive then he can be managed. One thing he will do is cause the tail problems, we're regularly getting the last 3/4 batsmen put 100+ runs on against us at the moment and it needs addressing rapidly.... The thing is what we need mostly from a spinner in this country is to close down an end when the seamers are struggling. Don't see Rashid bring able to do this. Much as I'd like to see him in the side. Bell won't be dropped just yet - but the clock is ticking. And there are other people waiting. Ballance deserves more time - but not much if he continues to look do fad. I could see both of those not lasting the Ashes series bring replaced by Hayles at 3 and Taylor at 4. I'm all for Hayles opening in ODI's ....but I'm not so sure about No3 in Tests ?
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