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Post by professorplump on Aug 23, 2022 18:17:17 GMT
Stokes since becoming captain has shown considerably more brawn than brain. In the region of 95% brawn. I suspected he would take a hammering as part and parcel of the way he plays... win big, lose big. never a dull moment. Never die wondering. But that is just a brain dead approach in a nuanced game like test cricket. You have to play the situation, which first means recognising there are situations that require different ways of playing. We got out of jail numerous times in the early summer. Constantly putting everything on long shots is never ever going to lead to long term success. I suspect, this captaincy could end up being a short term arrangement because Stokes lacks the nous for the job. Don't you also think it is just laziness on the part of these senior players and coaches. They have one way of playing and that's it. Well that saves quite a considerable amount of work doesn't it. Have a slog and if it doesn't work out go home and put your feet up until next time around. There doesn't seem to be much thinking going on behind this approach. I'll be amazed if he finishes up with a Test Batting average of over 35 at this rate which means he wouldn't get in any other major international test team Top 6. I think you are both being quite harsh. If anything I think the problem with the last test was that we reverted from the attacking cricket we had been playing and were playing the sort of timid cricket that we played under Silverwood.
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Post by partickpotter on Aug 23, 2022 18:28:12 GMT
Don't you also think it is just laziness on the part of these senior players and coaches. They have one way of playing and that's it. Well that saves quite a considerable amount of work doesn't it. Have a slog and if it doesn't work out go home and put your feet up until next time around. There doesn't seem to be much thinking going on behind this approach. I'll be amazed if he finishes up with a Test Batting average of over 35 at this rate which means he wouldn't get in any other major international test team Top 6. I think you are both being quite harsh. If anything I think the problem with the last test was that we reverted from the attacking cricket we had been playing and were playing the sort of timid cricket that we played under Silverwood. I’ve heard that said from a few folk. But I don’t buy it. It’s not that we played timidly or attacking. We played badly. It’s that simple. Out batting just wasn’t good enough to cope with the South African bowlers. And our bowling was the same as ever; pretty good with the new ball but less so as it ages and fucking gormless bowling to the tail. Of course, the concerning thing is playing badly is basically how we have played cricket for the past few years largely because our batsmen have been shite while our bowlers have been a mixed bag, pretty good at home, garbage away. I worry that high summer was something of a false dawn with Bairstow having one of those miracle but never to be repeated months. Thankfully we have some more tests coming up that will help us figure out if our success earlier this year was a flash in the pan or part of a change in fortune.
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Post by thehartshillbadger on Aug 23, 2022 18:35:13 GMT
I think you are both being quite harsh. If anything I think the problem with the last test was that we reverted from the attacking cricket we had been playing and were playing the sort of timid cricket that we played under Silverwood. I’ve heard that said from a few folk. But I don’t buy it. It’s not that we played timidly or attacking. We played badly. It’s that simple. Out batting just wasn’t good enough to cope with the South African bowlers. And our bowling was the same as ever; pretty good with the new ball but less so as it ages and fucking gormless bowling to the tail. Of course, the concerning thing is playing badly is basically how we have played cricket for the past few years largely because our batsmen have been shite while our bowlers have been a mixed bag, pretty good at home, garbage away. I worry that high summer was something of a false dawn with Bairstow having one of those miracle but never to be repeated months. Thankfully we have some more tests coming up that will help us figure out if our success earlier this year was a flash in the pan or part of a change in fortune. In a nutshell I think we’re going through the kind of transitional period Stoke tend to go through. As in it seems to take absolutely ages to get a good settled side together with potentially good young batsmen coming in and by and large failing whilst all our decent quicks are constantly injured leading to a kind of beige group trying to be something they aren’t. Archer, Wood, Stone. 3 quicks who would walk into the side of not constantly injured. I also don’t think, as has been the case for a number of years, that the county championship is a good enough breeding ground for quality batsmen. There needs to be some big changes, and as usual I don’t have any answers.
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Post by Olgrligm on Aug 24, 2022 11:29:04 GMT
Team for the second test:
Zak Crawley, Alex Lees, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Jonny Bairstow, Ben Stokes, Ben Foakes, Stuart Broad, Jack Leach, Ollie Robinson and James Anderson.
I'm glad Robinson is back, but I think you have to say that Potts is unfortunate to miss out.
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Post by spitthedog on Aug 24, 2022 15:40:47 GMT
Team for the second test: Zak Crawley, Alex Lees, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Jonny Bairstow, Ben Stokes, Ben Foakes, Stuart Broad, Jack Leach, Ollie Robinson and James Anderson. I'm glad Robinson is back, but I think you have to say that Potts is unfortunate to miss out. Yep because clearly the reason we lost that Test match was down to Potts Butcher is going to be in meltdown on the commentary if he is on the mic when Crawley bats and he fails again. Broad batting No.8 again!
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Post by cobhamstokey on Aug 25, 2022 11:13:22 GMT
Good start now let’s make it count and get to the tail.
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Post by partickpotter on Aug 25, 2022 12:08:44 GMT
77-5 at lunch.
Definitely England’s session.
This looks like it’s going to be an interesting day!
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Post by spitthedog on Aug 25, 2022 13:55:17 GMT
Just wondering who will be batting at the close of play today?
I'll go for Foakes and Broad.
Come on England, surprise me!
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Post by Rednwhitenblue on Aug 25, 2022 14:42:13 GMT
Hopefully their lower order rally is a sign that it's getting a bit easier to bat out there.
If not, I shudder to think what their attack will do to our batting line-up.
I can only assume Crawley's continued presence is on the basis of "you've got the series, last chance to prove yourself". But I still don't get how someone with such a shit FC average ever got near the team in the first place.
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Post by partickpotter on Aug 25, 2022 14:44:41 GMT
143-8
South Africa’s session.
That familiar failing appearing again… we struggle with an ageing ball.
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Post by cobhamstokey on Aug 25, 2022 15:28:41 GMT
It’ll be interesting to see when we lose our first wicket. I’ll go with 2.
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Post by partickpotter on Aug 25, 2022 15:31:24 GMT
Righto… squeaky bum time.
England are batting.
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Post by spitthedog on Aug 25, 2022 15:46:16 GMT
It’ll be interesting to see when we lose our first wicket. I’ll go with 2. You underestimate the quality of our opening batsmen!
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Post by fullmetaljacket on Aug 25, 2022 16:19:15 GMT
Bit quick ain't he Nortje...
After you Claude
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Post by partickpotter on Aug 25, 2022 16:34:04 GMT
It’ll be interesting to see when we lose our first wicket. I’ll go with 2. Less interesting is the near certainty we’ll be three down before we reach 50. Which is where we are now.
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Post by spitthedog on Aug 25, 2022 16:36:07 GMT
3 wickets to Broad!
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Post by partickpotter on Aug 25, 2022 17:38:03 GMT
Well, we’ve definitely got the honours from day 1.
111-3 is a pretty good response to 151 all out.
Still lots of work to do, but I’m quite happy with where we are now.
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Post by cobhamstokey on Aug 25, 2022 17:47:06 GMT
A good day. Now need to build on it and get a 150-200 lead if possible.
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Post by GeneralFaye on Aug 25, 2022 20:14:10 GMT
I was far from comfortable when Root got out and I'm still concerned a collapse is only 1 wicket away but you can't ask for much more on day 1.
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Post by lordb on Aug 25, 2022 20:15:52 GMT
Erm Well done Crawley
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Post by thehartshillbadger on Aug 25, 2022 20:16:33 GMT
Good solid day. We should get a lead of at least 100
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Post by stokeuk474 on Aug 25, 2022 20:42:03 GMT
Good day out at Old Trafford today after the sun came out ☀️
It deffo nipped about more this morning with the cloud cover, which we exploited. It was a good toss to lose and I'm surprised at their choice to play 2 spinners and drop Jansen.
England in a good position, need a lead of at least 100 and to push on from here.
Shite bowling at the tail again though 🤦♂️
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Post by cobhamstokey on Aug 26, 2022 12:10:38 GMT
Interesting mornings cricket. If we can bat past tea should put us in a strong position though we’d need to bowl well with the new ball.
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Post by spitthedog on Aug 26, 2022 12:58:42 GMT
Excellent effort from Stokes and Foakes here, hope at least one of them can go on for a big score
If one of these gets to 100 that will be a game changer.
Long way to go yet, but they should be thinking that way.
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Post by partickpotter on Aug 26, 2022 15:09:21 GMT
Well batted Mr Stoke. A fantastic and important century. Proper batting too!
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Post by cobhamstokey on Aug 26, 2022 15:29:34 GMT
Foakes really is a class act. Brilliant wicketkeeper and bats like a proper test player with a good technique. Should have played many more tests than he has and should be in the team long term.
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Post by partickpotter on Aug 26, 2022 16:15:20 GMT
Absolutely superb Mr Foakes. What a knock.
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Post by thehartshillbadger on Aug 26, 2022 16:56:07 GMT
Unfortunately not been able to keep abreast of the cricket as much as I would like due to work commitments but we’ll done lads, pick up a wicket or even two tonight and an innings victory could be on the cards which would be quite some turn around. Special praise to Foakes, looks like he’s cementing himself into the side now after one or two slightly dodgy performances with bat and gloves.
We still MUST look at the openers though!
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Post by cobhamstokey on Aug 26, 2022 17:13:25 GMT
need a wicket.
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Post by partickpotter on Aug 27, 2022 6:32:25 GMT
One reflection on yesterday’s batting…
Hopefully that put “Bazball” in the bin.
Yesterday was classic test batting. Get in, wear the bowlers down then attack.
Stokes’ innings typified this. Apparently this was his slowest test 50 (if the TMS podcast is correct). For sure he played some big shots and sashayed down the pitch a few times, but this was controlled and calculated not the premeditated hit and hope that has typified his batting this summer.
That saying that you learn more in defeat than victory would seem to apply with the change in approach following that hammering at Lords.
We will be a much better side for that.
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