2019 Cricket

[HomerJSimpson]

who would you like to see get a go? would you stick with the selectors? who do you replace Bayliss with? how do you juggle 3 tours this winter?

Not sure at this stage, but wonder if Root will make the decision at the end of the Ashes anyway? Putting it out there does James Taylor with only 7 tests to his name really have the understanding of test cricket especially as the game has moved on?

 

[fundy]

Agreed it’s never going to happen - expect Woakes will come back for Overton and then depends on what’s happening with Stokes

Will be nice to see a good old green home surface being prepared

haha we wouldnt get 50 on one!!!!!

 

[fundy]

Not sure at this stage, but wonder if Root will make the decision at the end of the Ashes anyway? Putting it out there does James Taylor with only 7 tests to his name really have the understanding of test cricket especially as the game has moved on?

Taylor hardly has a say anyway, completely irrelevant in the bigger scheme, would just about sum the ECB up if he was the fall guy lol At a guess he probably understands it more than Ed Smith does!

 

[TheDiablo]

Disappointing, but not the time for major change with the chance to level up at 2-2. Take stock after next week. Curran will come in somewhere I am sure.

We've then got the chance to fully assess, plus take away the likes of Sibley, Northeast and Pope away for a full winter so coaches have a proper look at them on a daily basis. Not sure there's much more in the cupboard worryingly. Possibly a look at Hain who has had a decent year too.

Ali should come back in for the winter and challenge for a place as a batting all rounder.

Obviously Foakes for Bairstow - I'd seriously be giving him, Buttler and Roy the full winter off.

Bowling wise I think we're probably OK with what we've already seen.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Taylor hardly has a say anyway, completely irrelevant in the bigger scheme, would just about sum the ECB up if he was the fall guy lol At a guess he probably understands it more than Ed Smith does!

What has Smith brought to the role? What would you change from the top down if anything? How can we change things to climb the test rankings and become a stronger side home and away

 

[fundy]

What has Smith brought to the role? What would you change from the top down if anything? How can we change things to climb the test rankings and become a stronger side home and away

How long you got lol? Id start by getting rid of the ECB

In the real world Id completely restructure the domestic calendar, Id cancel the vanity project undred, Id ensure that there was championship cricket in the heart of the summer, T20s on a weekday night.

Id ensure players were properly compensated for playing Test cricket that they didnt need to chase T20 contracts, and that if they did they would forfeit a chunk of their test contract to do so (the contract would need top be written that by accepting to play for England they have control over your workload and calendar for a period of time afterwards)

Id make it 2 formats maximum per player, ie Test and ODI or T20 and ODI only

Id reduce our winter program so that it gave the players a proper rest period

Id ensure that a small proportion of each format was on FTA TV without taking the crown jewels from the likes of SKY who have funded cricket for many years

Id make sure that English coaches were prioritised rather than giving jobs to overseas names who are no better but leaching off out county structures success


Then Id have a proper think and make some proper changes

 

[HomerJSimpson]

How long you got lol? Id start by getting rid of the ECB

In the real world Id completely restructure the domestic calendar, Id cancel the vanity project undred, Id ensure that there was championship cricket in the heart of the summer, T20s on a weekday night.

Id ensure players were properly compensated for playing Test cricket that they didnt need to chase T20 contracts, and that if they did they would forfeit a chunk of their test contract to do so (the contract would need top be written that by accepting to play for England they have control over your workload and calendar for a period of time afterwards)

Id make it 2 formats maximum per player, ie Test and ODI or T20 and ODI only

Id reduce our winter program so that it gave the players a proper rest period

Id ensure that a small proportion of each format was on FTA TV without taking the crown jewels from the likes of SKY who have funded cricket for many years

Id make sure that English coaches were prioritised rather than giving jobs to overseas names who are no better but leaching off out county structures success


Then Id have a proper think and make some proper changes

Gets my vote. However a bit like PL wages and player power, I think the chances of stopping them chasing the T20 worldwide cash has gone. Everything has to change from the top down and I really can't see how that can be achieved or how we can lose the ECB

 

[fundy]

Gets my vote. However a bit like PL wages and player power, I think the chances of stopping them chasing the T20 worldwide cash has gone. Everything has to change from the top down and I really can't see how that can be achieved or how we can lose the ECB

Nah its simple, if they sign an England contract to represent England then they sign a waiver to playing elsewhere without ECB say so for a period of time after their last England appearance. They arent getting the big T20 contracts without proving themselves on the international stage first, its really simple if you structure their England contracts correctly and reward them fairly for what they do rather than trying to make too much money as the ECB!

Comparison to the PL, you dont see Aguerro popping off to play in the US major league for mega money in the off season!

 

[Tongo]

As expected the Headingley result was merely a delay in the almost inevitable. For the first couple of tests I was of the opinion that Smith was the difference between two fairly even sides but you could easily conclude that Australia have the four best players of the two teams in Smith, Labuschagne, Hazlewood and Cummins. The Aussie bowling is remorseless in asking questions. Broad and Archer look dangerous with the new ball but don't seem to have the same threat after that.

If the selectors have any thought toward the future they should drop Roy, Bairstow and Buttler for the final test. Roy just cant cut it at test level, whilst Bairstow hasn't done it with the bat at test level for a long time. (save for his strop hundred in Sri Lanka) Its also debateable whether Buttler has the game for test cricket. The hiding of him at 7 is an absolute joke. But Roy and Buttler are Ed Smith vanity projects so will likely stay for no other reason that Smith saving face whilst Bairstow seems to get more chances cos he's Root's mate. I think Denly should be persisted with. He probably isn't a test match player but, like Collingwood in years past, is getting the very most out of his ability and has shown some fight in the last two tests.

Root himself should step down as skipper but, like Cook before him, seems to be being stubborn and is banging on about being the best man for the job. He is tactically limited and the captaincy is clearly hampering his batting. I would get Broad or a fit Anderson to skipper in the short-term. England need to look at this test squad as a 2 year project now. Burns has shown that if the right player is given time he can prosper in the test team. The problem is that Smith rarely picks the right players.

 

[Swinglowandslow]

The difference was the batting. What was the strengths of Smith and Labushagne(sic).
It was the ability to leave the ball. Doing that well, we couldn't get them out.
Which meant when they were attacking, they got runs. Yes, it took time, but they got runs.
And when they were defending, wickets were not lost and time was won.
Until our batsmen can do that then we will never progress in attack, nor have the ability to salvage a draw.
A draw was the only thing we could get from our second innings in this last test. So there was only one thing to do. From the openers , and down through the team.Everyone had to play to stay there. There was no evidence that that was the objective.
As well as skill, there seems an absence of strategic intelligence.

 

[Junior]

Best team won. Smith, Hazlewood and Cummins were a cut above.

Fine margins, and i'm picking holes here, but twice, once in this test, and once in the first test, the ozzies got the ball changed and it accounted for wickets. They say the "back up balls" are 2018 Dukes and swing more. No wonder England were constantly trying to change it.

Watching the test , one of the main issues in the field was that we are quite ill disciplined with the ball. Broad and Archer were good, but the rest offered easy runs and they couldn't build up pressure. Michael Holding had it spot on. Bowl 5th , 6th stump to Smith and pack the off side. England just tried to do too much, leg gully's, shot bowling, round the wicket etc etc.

Batting wise , well, Burns and Root played well on Friday and showed what could be done. Denly showed Glimpses. Bairstowe has gone from one of the best in the world in recent years, to not really pushing on. Whats Buttler's roll in the team ? Is Roy good enough ? For me, Pope needs a run in the side now, i'd stick with Baristowe (forms temporary?) but Buttler and Roy shold be replaced with specialist 5 days batsmen.

 

[Piece]

As expected the Headingley result was merely a delay in the almost inevitable. For the first couple of tests I was of the opinion that Smith was the difference between two fairly even sides but you could easily conclude that Australia have the four best players of the two teams in Smith, Labuschagne, Hazlewood and Cummins. The Aussie bowling is remorseless in asking questions. Broad and Archer look dangerous with the new ball but don't seem to have the same threat after that.

If the selectors have any thought toward the future they should drop Roy, Bairstow and Buttler for the final test. Roy just cant cut it at test level, whilst Bairstow hasn't done it with the bat at test level for a long time. (save for his strop hundred in Sri Lanka) Its also debateable whether Buttler has the game for test cricket. The hiding of him at 7 is an absolute joke. But Roy and Buttler are Ed Smith vanity projects so will likely stay for no other reason that Smith saving face whilst Bairstow seems to get more chances cos he's Root's mate. I think Denly should be persisted with. He probably isn't a test match player but, like Collingwood in years past, is getting the very most out of his ability and has shown some fight in the last two tests.

Root himself should step down as skipper but, like Cook before him, seems to be being stubborn and is banging on about being the best man for the job. He is tactically limited and the captaincy is clearly hampering his batting. I would get Broad or a fit Anderson to skipper in the short-term. England need to look at this test squad as a 2 year project now. Burns has shown that if the right player is given time he can prosper in the test team. The problem is that Smith rarely picks the right players.

I'm with you on this. The frustrating aspect is the obvious things that most of us pointed out before The Ashes started have come true. Roy was not and never was a Test opener and I feel sorry for him. The experts all in unison that he can transition. Don't what they were watching! So easy to work out how to get him out. Bairstow the same - a walking wicket for those bowlers who pitch it up and get movement. Buttler is the better of the three but still has the technique of ODI. Root's foot movement has all but disappeared. Too much ODI stuff. Common theme in that we've focussed on the short form, become very successful to the detriment of the longer game. Never more apparent right now.

Root's captaincy. I think it's clear he's not great and worryingly, I don't think he has the backing of all his players either. Watching the excellent KP series shows me the path we should have taken not the path we have taken, both on and off the field.

 

[Tongo]

The difference was the batting. What was the strengths of Smith and Labushagne(sic).
It was the ability to leave the ball. Doing that well, we couldn't get them out.
Which meant when they were attacking, they got runs. Yes, it took time, but they got runs.
And when they were defending, wickets were not lost and time was won.
Until our batsmen can do that then we will never progress in attack, nor have the ability to salvage a draw.
A draw was the only thing we could get from our second innings in this last test. So there was only one thing to do. From the openers , and down through the team.Everyone had to play to stay there. There was no evidence that that was the objective.
As well as skill, there seems an absence of strategic intelligence.

Cummins and Hazlewood are a cut above England's bowlers as well. Constantly asking questions even with the old ball in a mannee that England's bowlers didn't.

 

[Beezerk]

Typical, it's lashing it down in Manchester today 🤭

 

[Tongo]

Best team won. Smith, Hazlewood and Cummins were a cut above.

Fine margins, and i'm picking holes here, but twice, once in this test, and once in the first test, the ozzies got the ball changed and it accounted for wickets. They say the "back up balls" are 2018 Dukes and swing more. No wonder England were constantly trying to change it.

Watching the test , one of the main issues in the field was that we are quite ill disciplined with the ball. Broad and Archer were good, but the rest offered easy runs and they couldn't build up pressure. Michael Holding had it spot on. Bowl 5th , 6th stump to Smith and pack the off side. England just tried to do too much, leg gully's, shot bowling, round the wicket etc etc.

Batting wise , well, Burns and Root played well on Friday and showed what could be done. Denly showed Glimpses. Bairstowe has gone from one of the best in the world in recent years, to not really pushing on. Whats Buttler's roll in the team ? Is Roy good enough ? For me, Pope needs a run in the side now, i'd stick with Baristowe (forms temporary?) but Buttler and Roy shold be replaced with specialist 5 days batsmen.

Bairstow's form with the bat in tests has been poor for a good couple of years now. His form in ODI's is masking his lack of runs in tests. And his keeping is suspect at test level.

 

[Tongo]

Same squad for the fifth test

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Same squad for the fifth test

Einstein's definition of insanity spring to mind. Why keep doing the same thing over and over? The Ashes have gone so does it matter we draw the series 2-2 or lose 3-1 giving some new faces a go

 

[fundy]

Same squad for the fifth test

not in the slightest bit surprised

 

[fundy]

some finish to see Afghanistan beat Bangladesh in a test match!!!!

 

[Lord Tyrion]

Typical, it's lashing it down in Manchester today 🤭

It's a nice thought but it would just be papering over the cracks. We have been second best in this series. Yes Smith has been huge but I think the Aussie bowlers have edged ours and too many of our batsmen have failed. We have no excuses, sad to say