2019 Cricket

[HomerJSimpson]

No but he swings it and he extends the batting line up. Very much an insurance selection. He’s young and could end up as a genuine all rounder. First change and batting 7 especially if you use Bairstow behind the stumps and bat him at 3. Balances out the team nicely

I think you have a point depending on how the selectors see future team policy panning out but again I guess that depends on location and opposition. Will Bairstow keep in the Ashes or will we go for a specialist keeper and what does that do to the batting/bowling line ups?

 

[Deleted member 18588]

No but he swings it and he extends the batting line up. Very much an insurance selection. He’s young and could end up as a genuine all rounder. First change and batting 7 especially if you use Bairstow behind the stumps and bat him at 3. Balances out the team nicely

So compound one error with another.

Bairstow is not and never will be a Test quality keeper and Curran's talents at Test level lie with the bat. Certainly not a first change seamer unless conditions are extremely helpful.

 

[Captainron]

So compound one error with another.

Bairstow is not and never will be a Test quality keeper and Curran's talents at Test level lie with the bat. Certainly not a first change seamer unless conditions are extremely helpful.

If I was selecting then I would have Bairstow as number 5 in place of Butler as a batsman, Foakes as keeper and Wood in as a bowler. Numbers 1-3 are a blooming mystery for you guys though

1.
2.
3.
4. Root
5. Bairstow
6. Stokes
7. Foakes
8. Ali
9. Broad
10. Wood
11. Anderson

 

[Dan2501]

1. Burns
2. Duckett
3. Bairstow
4. Root
5. Stokes
6. Buttler
7. Foakes
8. Curran / Woakes
9. Broad
10. Leach
11. Anderson

That's the side I'd be picking. Duckett has been playing some nice stuff for the A side, clearly has something about him to grind out an innings when teammates are falling around him (like he did in the recent game vs India A) and didn't get enough of a chance first time around, especially when you think how long Jennings was given. Leach should also be our #1 spinner. Moeen is too dodgy with the bat and inconsistent with the ball to keep his place for me, he's being constantly targetted with short stuff and is still incapable of playing it, he'll get peppered by the teams we've got coming up. Woakes potentially comes back in for Curran as well, but hard to drop the lad given his performances in Test cricket so far. MOTS against India, didn't have a great game in the 1st Test against the Windies but he's only 20, should be persisted with. Does possibly look a batsman short, and Buttler might end up making way but I'd persist with him for now personally due to the lack of better options.

 

[Deleted member 18588]

1. Burns
2. Duckett
3. Bairstow
4. Root
5. Stokes
6. Buttler
7. Foakes
8. Curran / Woakes
9. Broad
10. Leach
11. Anderson

That's the side I'd be picking. Duckett has been playing some nice stuff for the A side, clearly has something about him to grind out an innings when teammates are falling around him (like he did in the recent game vs India A) and didn't get enough of a chance first time around, especially when you think how long Jennings was given. Leach should also be our #1 spinner. Moeen is too dodgy with the bat and inconsistent with the ball to keep his place for me, he's being constantly targetted with short stuff and is still incapable of playing it, he'll get peppered by the teams we've got coming up. Woakes potentially comes back in for Curran as well, but hard to drop the lad given his performances in Test cricket so far. MOTS against India, didn't have a great game in the 1st Test against the Windies but he's only 20, should be persisted with. Does possibly look a batsman short, and Buttler might end up making way but I'd persist with him for now personally due to the lack of better options.

Certainly wouldn't be averse to giving Duckett another chance as he does seem to now realise that there is more to batting than a quickfire 30 or 40.

Problem with leaving out Mo is that there are so many left-handers about now in Tests and he does cause problems for many of them. But I certainly feel that Leach merits a run in the side.

As for Curran/Woakes the bowling record of the former speaks for itself. Only 15 wickets in 8 Tests does not really fill me with confidence.

Someone mentioned Mark Wood but whilst he is quicker than some he lacks bounce to match the pace.

Better to look at one of the younger generation. Porter, Stone, Overton et al.

 

[fundy]

Nick the Greek! He was an underrated player. At school he was just dominant with the bat. Unlucky for him that South Africa had Boucher.

Good player and even nicer bloke, was a joy to be around, especially to bat up the other end to! He got 150odd for saffer U19 v England when they toured coming in at 30/5! As you say never got a look in because of Boucher

 

[fundy]

I played hockey with him once, his brother was supposed to play but couldn't make it. So sent Nik to play for us, probably the best sweeper I've played behind. Nik he's 30 yards behind you, yeah that's ok.

He just seemed to have a 10 foot reach on either side, really nice bloke although only meet him the once

We had his brother as an overseas player too, similar mould albeit far more expansive a player. Was the first time I saw a switch hit for 6 a long long time before it was fashionable, onto the tennis courts at Sawbo. Just to prove it wasnt a fluke he repeated it the next ball too lol

 

[fundy]

No but he swings it and he extends the batting line up. Very much an insurance selection. He’s young and could end up as a genuine all rounder. First change and batting 7 especially if you use Bairstow behind the stumps and bat him at 3. Balances out the team nicely

Woakes swings it, is a better batter and has far better figures in the book, Ill take him every day of the week personally. Curran may develop in the future but a very long way from being 1st change at test level

 

[fundy]

Utterly farcical the way Duckett was treated last time around, became the scapegoat for something minor whilst other far more high profile players were being excused for far more serious issues, whether he'll get another chance so soon im not so sure

 

[patricks148]

Woakes swings it, is a better batter and has far better figures in the book, Ill take him every day of the week personally. Curran may develop in the future but a very long way from being 1st change at test level

only trouble is he is a bit samey with Anderson isn't he, i can see why they went for Curren as something different, but not much good if he doesn't get any wicket.... unless he plays in the top 3 , he would def do a better job than jennings

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I have a feeling, not sure it has been reported or announced anywhere, that Anderson will call it a day after we get the Ashes back (hopefully) so that automatically leaves a big bowling hole to fill. Broad must be in the Autumn of his career, so another space potentially on the horizon but having seen all the debate on here about who can and can't do things with the ball and can or can't bat, do we actually have players coming through that can be real game changers like these two have been? Who do we rely on now to turn a game? There seems to be no succession planning, or indeed any selection planning going on

 

[Deleted member 18588]

only trouble is he is a bit samey with Anderson isn't he, i can see why they went for Curren as something different, but not much good if he doesn't get any wicket.... unless he plays in the top 3 , he would def do a better job than jennings

You mean a non-wicket taking bowler is viewed as something different!

Woakes is a superior bowler although it is fair to say that his record in England is much better than overseas. This tends to be true of most English seamers.

As for Curran's batting I am unconvinced how he would go against a new ball attack.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

When i played Kent league premier cricket Bexley’s keeper stood up to every bowler. As an opening bat it was a bit unnerving the first time he was stood there chatting to you

Running theme this but when I was a kid there was a lad a couple of years older than me, think he came out of Grappenhall CC, who was good enough to do this. He went pro, was back up keeper at Lancs and then went to Worcs as back up to Steve Rhodes. Never got a chance, his batting was not quite there, but he was phenomenal to watch, an absolute pleasure. Nice bloke as well, beggared if I can remember his name.

Like many of us on this thread it makes my heart sink when we have these plastic keepers for England time and again.

 

[Deleted member 3432]

You mean a non-wicket taking bowler is viewed as something different!

Woakes is a superior bowler although it is fair to say that his record in England is much better than overseas. This tends to be true of most English seamers.

As for Curran's batting I am unconvinced how he would go against a new ball attack.

I am unconvinced that by any of our supposed 'batters' against a new ball attack.

Top order have proved clueless for at least 2 years maybe 3 and we keep juggling around our all rounders and have no balance to the team whatsover.

 

[patricks148]

You mean a non-wicket taking bowler is viewed as something different!

Woakes is a superior bowler although it is fair to say that his record in England is much better than overseas. This tends to be true of most English seamers.

As for Curran's batting I am unconvinced how he would go against a new ball attack.

so you wouldn't have picked him full stop, even the home series win?

 

[Deleted member 3432]

so you wouldn't have picked him full stop, even the home series win?

If he is batting at 8 or 9 then surely his has been selected as a bowler first and foremost and any runs are a bonus.

I think we are selecting bowlers based on the failure of our batting. Curran's bowling is not good enough at this level and what will happen is Stokes will get injured after bowling too many overs. Four seamers then Woakes plays all day long for me, good enough to hold a spot as a bowler alone but he is a very capable batsman.

 

[Deleted member 18588]

so you wouldn't have picked him full stop, even the home series win?

He did well last summer, mainly with the bat, but the real point is that we should not have to pick 8 batsmen.

As yet his bowling is not good enough at Test level.

 

[fundy]

I have a feeling, not sure it has been reported or announced anywhere, that Anderson will call it a day after we get the Ashes back (hopefully) so that automatically leaves a big bowling hole to fill. Broad must be in the Autumn of his career, so another space potentially on the horizon but having seen all the debate on here about who can and can't do things with the ball and can or can't bat, do we actually have players coming through that can be real game changers like these two have been? Who do we rely on now to turn a game? There seems to be no succession planning, or indeed any selection planning going on

Good to know Anderson is carrying on for several more years Cheers Homie

 

[Captainron]

He did well last summer, mainly with the bat, but the real point is that we should not have to pick 8 batsmen.

As yet his bowling is not good enough at Test level.

He is left handed which is a bonus as it provides a bit of variation. He is still young and should come on as he matures. I doubt he will get up to 90 clicks but all he has to do is work on his accuracy. Be the Philander type bowler who gets poles by building pressure relentlessly.

There was absolutely no reason to drop him after his first test series but I do think he will get a rest if he doesn't grab wickets in this game. Wood needs a blast. Quick and hostile which is what you have required on both surfaces so far.

 

[Captainron]

Good to know Anderson is carrying on for several more years Cheers Homie

England have been super lucky to have Anderson fit for 95% of his career. Remarkable longevity and he is still very capable at 36 years old.

I would love to have him retired before you go to South Africa at the end of the year.