The Cricket Thread

[Toonpack 12615]

1 hour ago, Alex said:

You’re right though. India chucked wickets away in very strong positions in both innings. But even more so their catching and fielding in general was terrible. If it had just been average then you would think that decision would have cost England the match. 

 

That's another thing, we managed for once!, to skittle the tail, well Josh Tongue did. Evidently Ducket nicknamed him "the mop" when they played together at county level because of his ability to get through the tail, something we've struggled with so far.

[wykikitoon 24356]

Just gone through Headingley. Wow it's a mess 😂

[Alex 38360]

16 minutes ago, Toonpack said:

 

That's another thing, we managed for once!, to skittle the tail, well Josh Tongue did. Evidently Ducket nicknamed him "the mop" when they played together at county level because of his ability to get through the tail, something we've struggled with so far.

A bit of genuine pace and bounce makes all the difference though, doesn’t it? As these days even the relatively poor tailenders can all hold a bat. England have struggled at times with that lack of variation in their attack when the ball isn’t doing much. And while it’s great to see Archer playing red ball cricket again, the performances of Tongue and Carse should mean there’s absolutely no rush to get him back in the England test side. 

Edited 6 hours ago by Alex

[Toonpack 12615]

I would hope Archer has at least one more county game before he comes in tbh even if deemed fit he must be undercooked to play a 5 day test.

 

Not sure how you'd change the team at the minute tbh.

 

[David Kelly 1458]

1 hour ago, Alex said:

A bit of genuine pace and bounce makes all the difference though, doesn’t it? As these days even the relatively poor tailenders can all hold a bat. England have struggled at times with that lack of variation in their attack when the ball isn’t doing much. And while it’s great to see Archer playing red ball cricket again, the performances of Tongue and Carse should mean there’s absolutely no rush to get him back in the England test side. 

I thought Carse was very unlucky with the figures he had for the test.  He was genuinely threatening throughout and took big wickets.  

[Craig 8040]

2 hours ago, wykikitoon said:

Just gone through Headingley. Wow it's a mess 😂

You say that as if it's any different to normal

[wykikitoon 24356]

4 minutes ago, Craig said:

You say that as if it's any different to normal

That's true

When I worked in Headingley, there was a very noticeable difference when the students fucked off for summer.  The place was tidy then with less pavement pizza's.

[Dr Gloom 24611]

4 hours ago, Alex said:

You’re right though. India chucked wickets away in very strong positions in both innings. But even more so their catching and fielding in general was terrible. If it had just been average then you would think that decision would have cost England the match. 

 

yeah - it could have backfired but i can see why stokes decided to put the in. i also agree with tom that it was an arrogant move, but one with some reasoning behind it. they're rightly confident in chasing down a target on a decent pitch though. they no longer seem certain to collapse when wickets start falling. that's multiple chases of 300+ to win games in recent years. 

 

feels like we're moving into the second chapter of bazball. they're still playing aggressively, ticking along at well over 4 an over with the bat, but it's not as macho/brainless as it seemed at first.  

[Dr Gloom 24611]

2 hours ago, Toonpack said:

I would hope Archer has at least one more county game before he comes in tbh even if deemed fit he must be undercooked to play a 5 day test.

 

Not sure how you'd change the team at the minute tbh.

 

 

apparently he could be coming back into the squad for the edgbaston test next week. seems a bit reckless when you look at how his body has broken down and how little red ball cricket he's played in recent years. they're desparate to see if his body is up to a few tests before deciding to pick him in the ashes squad. 

 

 

[Alex 38360]

8 minutes ago, Dr Gloom said:

 

yeah - it could have backfired but i can see why stokes decided to put the in. i also agree with tom that it was an arrogant move, but one with some reasoning behind it. they're rightly confident in chasing down a target on a decent pitch though. they no longer seem certain to collapse when wickets start falling. that's multiple chases of 300+ to win games in recent years. 

 

feels like we're moving into the second chapter of bazball. they're still playing aggressively, ticking along at well over 4 an over with the bat, but it's not as macho/brainless as it seemed at first.  

Apparently it’s the only ground since the analysis began (think it includes something like 80 odd test venues) where the average amount of runs per wicket increases by innings as the match progresses. So that would have possibly fed into the decision too. I still think it was wrong  but they won in some style so I guess it doesn’t matter. 

[Alex 38360]

The other thing I would say is having Stokes able to actually bowl gives the team the sort of balance it has lacked for a few years now. 

[Dr Gloom 24611]

He looks super fit too. A bit rusty with the bat but that’s to be expected after all that time out and he’s still soneone to be feared at number 6

[Dr Gloom 24611]

I was listening to TMS yesterday and they were talking about the importance of having an established top 7 going into the Ashes. We have that now Pope has found some form, and Bethell breathing down his neck will hopefully spur him on.

 

And despite the criticism of Bazball, often justified in its early stages, what Stokes and McCullum have done is create an atmosphere where batters play their natural game now while also adapting to the game situation.

 

The questions for me are still about the bowling attack. Agree with Alex that a fit Stokes helps provide balance but it would be great to have a pool of genuine pace bowlers that we can rotate in Australia. We need to wrap Wood up in cotton wool so he’s fit. Play bowlers more suited to English conditions against India if that’s what needed to endure Wood is on the flight. Archer feels like a Hail Mary pass at this stage but it would be amazing if it comes off and he’s part of the Ashes squad. 

[Toonpack 12615]

16 minutes ago, Dr Gloom said:

 

apparently he could be coming back into the squad for the edgbaston test next week. seems a bit reckless when you look at how his body has broken down and how little red ball cricket he's played in recent years. they're desparate to see if his body is up to a few tests before deciding to pick him in the ashes squad. 

 

 

 

That'll be their thinking, but I'd rather that few tests was after he'd proven his body won't break down by playing a couple of championship games before tests, there's 5 of them so no need to rush.

 

Who'd he come in for is another question, Edgbaston is Woakes' home turf, so I would assume it'd be Tongue, unless you go with no dedicated spinner and use Root, maybe Bethel comes in for Pope as well, be a bit of a surprise as Pope's seriously in the runs just now (got an absolute jaffa, second innings).

 

Then there's also Wood, who's hoping to be fit for the 5th Test, nice problem to have I suppose.