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Post by partickpotter on Mar 11, 2019 7:43:17 GMT
So we are all done with what was a fascinating tour that answered few questions for England but raised a few for our hosts.
For England as far as the tests are concerned it was something of a disaster - appalling selection decisions from start to end (not picking Broad then, later, recalling Jennings) and no solution in sight to our top order woes. The one bright spot was Mark Wood's performance in the first innings of the final test - the best genuinely quick bowling we've seen from an Englishman since his Durham compatriot Steve Harmisson. The biggest mess (and there were several to choose from) was the collapse in the 2nd innings of the first test to a spinner who doesn't spin the ball. As abject a capitulation as I can recall by an England team.
The white ball cricket showed that while we have plenty in the tank we are prone to occasional lapses. A special word for Rashid who was outstanding. After a dismal experience for him in the first test it seemed Morgan had lost some faith in him in the first ODI by delaying introducing him while Gayle was going strong. But when he came on, he was the one bowler Gayle couldn't cope with and nor could anyone else in the Windies team for the remaining limited overs games.
For the Windies, they will be delighted with the tour as a whole. The test series win was built on solid top order batting and consistently aggressive quick bowling. They dominated England in the opening two tests. Let's hope this is a sign of things to come from them. They'll be happy enough with the ODIs but will draw a veil over the T20s: it looked like they'd ran out of steam at the end of the tour.
The question for the Windies is is this the start of better days in the long format. The ingredients are there. But is the attitude.
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Post by thequietman on Mar 12, 2019 12:37:26 GMT
So we are all done with what was a fascinating tour that answered few questions for England but raised a few for our hosts. For England as far as the tests are concerned it was something of a disaster - appalling selection decisions from start to end (not picking Broad then, later, recalling Jennings) and no solution in sight to our top order woes. The one bright spot was Mark Wood's performance in the first innings of the final test - the best genuinely quick bowling we've seen from an Englishman since his Durham compatriot Steve Harmisson. The biggest mess (and there were several to choose from) was the collapse in the 2nd innings of the first test to a spinner who doesn't spin the ball. As abject a capitulation as I can recall by an England team. The white ball cricket showed that while we have plenty in the tank we are prone to occasional lapses. A special word for Rashid who was outstanding. After a dismal experience for him in the first test it seemed Morgan had lost some faith in him in the first ODI by delaying introducing him while Gayle was going strong. But when he came on, he was the one bowler Gayle couldn't cope with and nor could anyone else in the Windies team for the remaining limited overs games. For the Windies, they will be delighted with the tour as a whole. The test series win was built on solid top order batting and consistently aggressive quick bowling. They dominated England in the opening two tests. Let's hope this is a sign of things to come from them. They'll be happy enough with the ODIs but will draw a veil over the T20s: it looked like they'd ran out of steam at the end of the tour. The question for the Windies is is this the start of better days in the long format. The ingredients are there. But is the attitude. TBH I thought Gayle was the only WI player who could pick Rashid. Although Rashid rightly (and very cleverly) bowled a high percentage of googlies to him and didn't give Gayle much of a chance to tuck into him. Rashid was indeed outstanding all told. High quality bowling.
I think the Windies will be the same old Windies for a number of years. Flashes of brilliance, periods of can't-be-arsed and bickering off the field about money. There weren't any games in Jamaica on this tour, were there? How come? Money?
And I bl00dy hate them for their abject performances in the last two T20's. They've cost me a week of doing all the household chores. Mrs Q is getting into the cricket & we watched some of the ODI's & all the T20's. After the first T20 she said we should have a bet between us, loser has to do all the chores for a week. She decided the bet should be on WI's total runs scored in the last two T20's.
I thought her totals were way on the low side but obviously didn't try & dissuade. She bl00dy well went for 45 in the 2nd T20 and 65 in the 3rd T20. Needless to say, I plumped for much higher totals. Two lessons learned:
don't bet with Mrs Q when the ante is the household chores
Put some real money on next time she makes a cricket prediction.
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