Sport Cricket - Summer 2021

[Sarge]

Wouldnt be at all surprised if its the same 11 for the next test.

”They’re quality players, we see it every day in the nets”.. blah blah blah......

I really hope not ..... but you're probably right @yellowbow

 

[Leysboy]

Sibley Lawrence and Crawley shouldn’t be anywhere near the test team at present.

Open up with
Burns
Hameed
Hales
Root

That’s your top 4. See how they get on.

Also what’s wrong with Chris Woakes is he injured? He can bowl nicely and bat.

 

[SteMerritt]

Not a chance with Hales, he's more a white ball specialist anyway.

 

[Leysboy]

Not a chance with Hales, he's more a white ball specialist anyway.

Yeah it would just be nice to give someone else a chance. There is no Eoin Morgan in the test team, so thought I’d mention him honourably.

They opened once with Jason Roy in the test side, and we are getting to that stage when anyone is worth trying.

 

[Oufcrealist]

Hales has got no chance. He probably won't play for England again.
How about some new blood, players who are in form in first class red ball.
Kiran Carlson Glamorgan, one of the highest run getters in CC this season who qualifies. Averages nearly 66. 790 runs this season.
Ed Barnard Worcester all rounder averages 64 with the bat. 580 runs this season.
Jake Libby Worcester. Averages 61. 798 runs this season. All have played plenty of matches this season.
For me Bairstow and Buttler should just play white ball now. They just can't build an innings slowly anymore without throwing their wickets away. Also they look vulnerable when the ball is moving even slightly. Flat tracks suit them not test pitches.
Problem is the England camp is far too cliquey.

 

[Big Ron]

Yeah it would just be nice to give someone else a chance. There is no Eoin Morgan in the test team, so thought I’d mention him honourably.

They opened once with Jason Roy in the test side, and we are getting to that stage when anyone is worth trying.

Unfortunately we are short of options - the mention of Hales exemplifies that (he should be back in the shorter forms mind). The only realistic option at the moment is Hameed. The brilliant way our season is structured and the current Hundred onslaught ensures we can’t even look for form players! The cupboard is very bare.
..

 

[Leysboy]

I was just having a laugh on you tube watching Ajit Agarkar 7 ducks in a row against Australia.

Not even Sibley could manage that. Some feat!

 

[Foley]

Also what’s wrong with Chris Woakes is he injured? He can bowl nicely and bat

Woakes is just coming back from injury.
I reckon Hameed will be in for Sibley and maybe Pope for Lawrence?

 

[SteMerritt]

Pope is as frustrating as hell. Comes in and looks like the new Ian Bell for half hour or so, then gets out for 20. I'm sure there is a top test batsman in there somewhere.

 

[Leysboy]

Pope is as frustrating as hell. Comes in and looks like the new Ian Bell for half hour or so, then gets out for 20. I'm sure there is a top test batsman in there somewhere.

Yeah I really like the look of Ollie Pope, and agree he does look a lot like Ian Bell. Like you say he plays a couple of lovely drives, and looks to be getting into his stride, and looking comfortable only to get himself out with a daft shot.

He needs to be more disciplined at the crease, and have someone at the other end having a chat with him, and giving him encouragement.

I to believe there is a decent player in there.

 

[Sarge]

Pope is as frustrating as hell. Comes in and looks like the new Ian Bell for half hour or so, then gets out for 20. I'm sure there is a top test batsman in there somewhere.

Yeah I really like the look of Ollie Pope, and agree he does look a lot like Ian Bell. Like you say he plays a couple of lovely drives, and looks to be getting into his stride, and looking comfortable only to get himself out with a daft shot.

He needs to be more disciplined at the crease, and have someone at the other end having a chat with him, and giving him encouragement.

I to believe there is a decent player in there.

Thirded re Pope

 

[Oufcrealist]

Woakes is just coming back from injury.
I reckon Hameed will be in for Sibley and maybe Pope for Lawrence?

That's my prediction too!!

 

[Big Ron]

That's my prediction too!!

That would seem to be the logical move and let's be honest, we don't exactly have a lot of options here.

On the bowling front we don't have a top-class spin option - Silverwood and Root obviously don't fancy Leach and Bess - so it would seem we go with the same bowling line-up. Curran is a bits-and-pieces bowler in Test cricket but he has regularly contributed with the bat after yet another middle order collapse.

 

[Oufcrealist]

Pope is as frustrating as hell. Comes in and looks like the new Ian Bell for half hour or so, then gets out for 20. I'm sure there is a top test batsman in there somewhere.

He played loads of white ball coming through and like plenty of others he just can't seem to shake off the 'going for shots' syndrome!!
Unfortunately over the last ten years or so Test cricket and red ball has been sacrificed for white ball and it will carry on.
We have seen players like Roy, Malan, Pope etc all struggle to build an innings and now Bairstow and Buttler can't build one unless the pitch is flat and devoid of any movement. At the moment only Root seems to have the nous to access a pitch and play accordingly. There were runs to be had on that Trent bridge pitch as Root showed but the rest didn't seem to appreciate that the Indians were bowling wicket taking balls every couple of overs and consequently got out.

 

[Leysboy]

England squad for the 2nd Test.
Joe Root (capt), Moeen Ali, James Anderson, Jonny Bairstow (wk), Dom Bess, Stuart Broad, Rory Burns, Jos Buttler (wk), Zak Crawley, Sam Curran, Haseeb Hameed, Dan Lawrence, Jack Leach, Craig Overton, Ollie Pope, Ollie Robinson, Dom Sibley, Mark Wood.

Who is is your best Xl from that lot.

 

[Leysboy]

1) Burns
2) Hameed
3) Bairstow
4) Root
5) Pope
6) Buttler
7) Moeen
8) Curran
9) Wood
10) Broad
11) Anderson

I want to put Robinson in there, but we need runs as well as wickets. Take Wood out for Robinson then.

 

[Junior_1]

1) Burns
2) Hameed
3) Bairstow
4) Root
5) Pope
6) Buttler
7) Moeen
8) Curran
9) Wood
10) Broad
11) Anderson

I reckon it’ll be

Burns
Sibley
Hammed
Root
Bairstow
Pope
Buttler
Ali
Robinson
Broad
Anderson

 

[Junior_1]

I would play Leech for Curran

And stick with Crawley but dropping Sibley

 

[Scotchegg]

On a separate note, Chris Cairns us on life support following a serious heart issue. Always came across as a decent guy and he pulls through.

 

[Leysboy]

On a separate note, Chris Cairns us on life support following a serious heart issue. Always came across as a decent guy and he pulls through.

Chris Cairns was a terrific all rounder for New Zealand, and a bloody big lad.