The Cricket Thread

[Tooj 17]

Sick of Morgan at the minute like.

[Gemmill 35481]

Fucked here.

[Gemmill 35481]

Root.[emoji38]

[Tooj 17]

Eugh.

 

Abysmal over from Stokes.

[Dr Gloom 20147]

Ah man, I thought we were favourites going into the last over. That was the first one the windies played like that all game. Fair play to them though. They just went along patiently knowing they had that in their locker with wickets in hand.

 

England did better than I expected in the end but it was always going be hard work to defend that total - probably about 30-40 runs short of what was needed.

 

Cracking tournament though tbf, a real advert for this format of the game. So many matches quickly twisted from one team's favour to the other. Test cricket still the best, for me, but I reckon the 50 over game has an uncertain future with such an impressive rival one day format.

[David Kelly 1117]

Thought a final over like that from Stokes had been coming for a while. He's still pretty inconsistent with his bowling and had been excellent in the previous couple of games.

 

But it was our batting that lost us that game. In general the bowling was superb yesterday. Willey in particular was brilliant. Just a shame we carried Morgan as a batsman for the entire tournament. His captaincy has been good though. When you consider where our white ball cricket was a year ago, it's fantastic we got so far and you have to consider the tournament as a success as a whole. West Indies were the most deserving team though.

[Kid Dynamite 6082]

Surely Jordan would have been a better choice? Stokes is a good bowler but I can't remember him being a death specialist at any point prior to this tournament?

[Alex 30764]

Aye, Jordan's the best death bowler we have. I suppose the logic, which I can understand, is that most batting sides in that situation would have tried to win it (not literally) in the penultimate over. By bowling Jordan then you hope to prevent them doing that then put the pressure on the batsman for the last over. Tbf to Morgan it should've worked. Agree with him and DK that being those runs short from our innings is really what cost the match though.

[David Kelly 1117]

James Taylor has had to retire due to a serious heart condition. Real shame that, I think he had a lot of potential as a test player for us.

[Alex 30764]

Yeah, terrible news. Good that it's been discovered though

[David Kelly 1117]

Aye of course. Lifes more important.

[Dr Gloom 20147]

He probably would have played in the tests this summer after finally getting his chance. Gutted for him

[David Kelly 1117]

Think he was a near certainty to play. Possible way back into the test team for Butler now or maybe Roy? Or maybe even Bell?

[Dr Gloom 20147]

I think Roy could have the same issues Hales has struggled with, with three slips and a gully in place

[Dr Gloom 20147]

Buttler, I think should get another go. He's got a lot to prove at test level as well. No doubt about his ability to strike the ball, but you could play him down at 7 or 8.

[Alex 30764]

I don't think they'll play Butler as a specialist batsman and the 'keeper's spot is Bairstow's to lose now.

[Dr Gloom 20147]

Bairstow has played as a specialist batter before for England when Prior kept wicket.

 

Which of the two is considered the better with the gloves? I think the're both wicket keeping all rounders whose biggest strengths are batting rather than specialist keepers, which seems to be the modern way.

[David Kelly 1117]

I thik Butler as keeper and Bairstow as specialist batsman is the most likely at this stage. But Roy has improved quite at bit at first class level over the last season or two. And Bell hit a century the other day.

[Alex 30764]

Bairstow has played as a specialist batter before for England when Prior kept wicket.

 

Which of the two is considered the better with the gloves? I think the're both wicket keeping all rounders whose biggest strengths are batting rather than specialist keepers, which seems to be the modern way.

I know that but I think the current set-up have (rightly imo) decided Bairstow is the wicket-keeping option. I.e. it's where he's had the great recent success with his county. Being an all-rounder (in the wicket-keeper / batsman sense) is similar to a traditional all-rounder in the sense that there's less pressure on your batting. I'm not saying it's impossible but the other issue you have by bringing a WK into the test side as a specialist batsman (and one that particularly applies to these two who are still very much learning their trade) is that you hinder their development as a wicket-keeper. Particularly with the amount of time spent away from your county whilst playing for England (but, conversely the dearth of practice games available to England with the schedules now).

 

[Alex 30764]

I thik Butler as keeper and Bairstow as specialist batsman is the most likely at this stage. But Roy has improved quite at bit at first class level over the last season or two. And Bell hit a century the other day.

Aye, more likely. I hope they don't in a way for the reasons mentioned above. Contrariwise, there aren't loads of other options. I think what you suggest is more likely because Butler needs to play with freedom. When he tries to rein his game in he isn't half the player - see his performances against Australia last summer in the tests. I think that would only be made more the case were he a specialist batsman. I suppose another option is moving Moeen and the wicket-keeper up the order one place and bringing is someone like Woakes or Jordan. With Rashid being another option, especially on a pitch that looks likely to offer some turn. None of which really helps much in solving the problem of Number 3 and the other opener.

[David Kelly 1117]

Aye, more likely. I hope they don't in a way for the reasons mentioned above. Contrariwise, there aren't loads of other options. I think what you suggest is more likely because Butler needs to play with freedom. When he tries to rein his game in he isn't half the player - see his performances against Australia last summer in the tests. I think that would only be made more the case were he a specialist batsman. I suppose another option is moving Moeen and the wicket-keeper up the order one place and bringing is someone like Woakes or Jordan. With Rashid being another option, especially on a pitch that looks likely to offer some turn. None of which really helps much in solving the problem of Number 3 and the other opener.

I think they'll stick with Hales and Compton for the May matches at least. You've only got to look at players like Voges for Australia to see how keeping faith with a player after he's had a relatively poor series can be rewarded (admittedly he's only done it at home so far). Plus as you suggest there's a lack of real standout options (Stoneman or Ballance again maybe). Edited April 15, 2016 by David Kelly

[Alex 30764]

I wouldn't be averse to switching Hales and Compton round.

[David Kelly 1117]

Possibly but Compton and Cook opening? Think I'd rather have a more positive player with Cook. Of course if Hales keeps getting out for nothing then you're virtually left with Cook and Compton by default. Or one of them with Root with 30 on the board as quite often happens.

[Alex 30764]

Possibly but Compton and Cook opening? Think I'd rather have a more positive player with Cook. Of course if Hales keeps getting out for nothing then you're virtually left with Cook and Compton by default. Or one of them with Root with 30 on the board as quite often happens.

There's enough quick scorers in the team so I don't really mind the idea of those two opening. Hales has played at 3 a lot for Notts too. Ideally you'd have a more attacking opener but there aren't many around who are also good enough.

[David Kelly 1117]

There's enough quick scorers in the team so I don't really mind the idea of those two opening. Hales has played at 3 a lot for Notts too. Ideally you'd have a more attacking opener but there aren't many around who are also good enough.

Aye I suppose so. Giving those quick scorers a platform to score from might be our best bet. It's got to be better than regularly losing 3 wickets for 30.