Cook and Trott Out

[HomerJSimpson]

Cook fails again against a mediocre West Indies side (certainly compared to the Aussie or SA attack). Trott's return lasted three balls. I think Cook has reached the end of the road. He's not in form, lacks confidence and needs to go back to the county game and find some form. Not sure Trott should have come back. After leaving the last tour because of "stress" he's back away from home again and didn't make a contribution.

I'd like to see England begin to build and blood the youngsters on this tour ahead of the arrival of New Zealand and then the Aussies. If Cook makes runs at county level, then bring him back into the fold but I think Trott is finished at this level. Find an opening pair that can survive the opening barrage and then attack like the better test playing sides seem to do regularly

 

[LUFC 1972]

Not sure why Trott comes in ahead of Adam Lyth, Cook has to stay in unless they bite the bullet and make Joe Root Captain and bring Moeen in to open (think he will replace Ballance. Would also have picked Rashid as spinner but shows we dont have faith in our seamers as Treadwell will hold an end up but not going to bowl a team out. It is proved in all forms of cricket a leg spinner will get wickets, especially as will be bowling last. Broad has had his day.. Personally I would have prefer Plunkett playing.... bet you cant guess which county I support !

 

[fundy]

Only this England side could send in a nightwatchman to not face a ball!!!! Just sums up the (mis)management

 

[Deleted member 18588]

Not sure why Trott comes in ahead of Adam Lyth, Cook has to stay in unless they bite the bullet and make Joe Root Captain and bring Moeen in to open (think he will replace Ballance. Would also have picked Rashid as spinner but shows we dont have faith in our seamers as Treadwell will hold an end up but not going to bowl a team out. It is proved in all forms of cricket a leg spinner will get wickets, especially as will be bowling last. Broad has had his day.. Personally I would have prefer Plunkett playing.... bet you cant guess which county I support !

You were doing so well until you suggested Rashid and Plunkett!

Agree about the effectiveness of leggies but they still have to be good leggies and Moeen as an opener. Really!? Against the Aussies in Test cricket. I don't think so.

 

[TigerIsAmazing]

I thought this was about preparing a quick meal before going out for the night!



I have no idea about cricket!

 

[Deleted member 15344]

First test - first innings and let's get rid of two already. Both the openers are two of the most talent batsmen we have - would rather wait and see how they do throughout the whole series before throwing them out.

 

[Tongo]

Not sure why Trott comes in ahead of Adam Lyth, Cook has to stay in unless they bite the bullet and make Joe Root Captain and bring Moeen in to open (think he will replace Ballance. Would also have picked Rashid as spinner but shows we dont have faith in our seamers as Treadwell will hold an end up but not going to bowl a team out. It is proved in all forms of cricket a leg spinner will get wickets, especially as will be bowling last. Broad has had his day.. Personally I would have prefer Plunkett playing.... bet you cant guess which county I support !

No I don't understand that either. I'd be pretty miffed if I was Adam Lyth.

 

[Tongo]

Only this England side could send in a nightwatchman to not face a ball!!!! Just sums up the (mis)management

Why would you send in a nightwatchman anyway? Its not as if this Windies attack is particularly potent. Just shows England's cautious / cricket catenaccio equivalent style of play.

 

[Deleted member 15344]

Good to see all the focus is on the positives of a very good first day with a great ton from Bell and support from Root and the returning Stokes

341-5 is a great start and hopefully they can put on another 150-200 and then skittles the Windies out

 

[Break90]

The ball that got Trott was a beauty and would have done for many top class batsmen. Cook not so much, dodgy footwork but he's bound to be a bit rusty with no test cricket for 9 months.

A bit early in the peice to be calling for their heads IMO

 

[Lord Tyrion]

Can't argue with most of these comments. Lyth should be in, this is the time to see if he can cut it at test level. A gentle introduction against mediocre opposition. If Cook continues on this downward spiral then we could be looking at an Ali / Lyth opening partnership against New Zealand. Cook's poor run, otherwise known as test bowlers no longer bowling wide and short at him, has been going on for a very long time now and is beyond a bad trot of form. If you are going to play Trott then play him at 3, round pegs, square holes etc. Ballance has done well but looked awful yesterday. That was a pub team shot that he got out to. If he fails in the second test then he drops out for Trott at 3. If they both bomb this tour then bring in James Taylor from Notts and give him the chance he has earned and deserves.

Playing Treadwell is pointless. Good one day bowler, not good enough at Test level. Why take Rashid and then not play him? Everyone keeps saying this pitch will turn so give him a chance and let us see if he can do it.

Great to see Stokes come in and play well. He can be a wonderfully destructive and positive player but I understand why he was dropped as he either plays well or dreadfully and his previous run was not good. He can make a real difference though and doesn't seem to carry the baggage that some of the others have on their backs at the moment.

Looking forward to day 2.

 

[Tongo]

Good to see all the focus is on the positives of a very good first day with a great ton from Bell and support from Root and the returning Stokes

341-5 is a great start and hopefully they can put on another 150-200 and then skittles the Windies out

England should be winning this comfortably. The Windies were weak even before you take out the IPL players. England's performance on day one is nothing better than par.

Plus people are concerned with the out of touch top 3 who will be hugely exposed against the better attacks in the summer.

 

[Dan2501]

I don't understand this squad selection at all. I like Trott, but there's no way he should be in the side ahead of Lyth. Also, how on earth are Rashid and particularly Tredwell above Moeen on the spin front? Tredwell got dropped by Kent last season and hasn't averaged under 30 in a Championship Season since 2011. I don't understand what Moeen has done wrong. He had one average series with the bat against India, but his bowling was excellent all summer. Tredwell should have played in the World Cup, as he's our best OD spinner, but shouldn't be anywhere near the Test side.

If I was in charge, for this series I'd have picked:

Cook *
Lyth
Root
Bell
Pietersen
Moeen
Buttler +
Rashid
Broad
Anderson
Finn

2 frontline spinners for the WI conditions, Finn ahead of Jordan, Lyth ahead of Trott and Pietersen simply has to play. Harsh on Ballance to miss out, but he's the most expendable, and the one in the worst form. Tredwell wouldn't make the squad, I'd pick Kerrigan ahead of him, and I don't think Stokes has done anywhere near enough yet to justify batting 6 in Test cricket. I like his bowling, and rate his bowling higher than Jordan's, but Finn needs to be given a run, and given some confidence. He could be a top, top bowler.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

Ali is injured or has been injured and is coming back into fitness. I expect he will be brought back for the New Zealand series.

 

[Dan2501]

Ah yeah, just seen that. He's apparently being flown out the WI for either the 2nd or 3rd Test. Hopefully he'll get his spot back at 6!

 

[Deleted member 18588]

but Finn needs to be given a run, and given some confidence. He could be a top, top bowler.

Sorry but I don't believe Finn will ever be a top bowler at Test level. Maybe it is the coaches' fault but he is too much of a "one trick pony" relying upon his height and banging it in. I sometimes think that he would like to vary his game but does not seem strong enough to stand up to the hierarchy.

Also never been helped by the introduction of the "Steven Finn Rule" regarding bowlers disturbing the stumps at the non-striker's end.

Jordan, Woakes and Stokes appear to have more potential for variety and can also bat whilst being more athletic in the field.

 

[Dan2501]

Was wrong to not pick Jordan in my team. He now gets in on slip catching alone. Incredible catch off the bowling of Joe Root last night.

Can't believe Tredwell is picking up Test wickets. How can he be so pants in domestic cricket, and yet come in and pick up 4 wickets including Chanderpaul?

 

[Lord Tyrion]

Some people blossom more at higher levels. Trescothick was an average county player for his early years but became one of Englands finest opening batsmen, certainly one of the most destructive. Duncan Fletcher saw something in him and boy was he right. I used to love watching him stand tall and pummel the ball straight back past the bowler.

Today could be interesting. Wicket is getting flatter. We may need WI to self destruct a little.

 

[Dan2501]

That's all good with players like Tresco, but Tredwell is nothing like that. Tresco had an x-factor, what does Tredwell have? He's a traditional English off-spinner that relies on changes of pace to fool batsmen. He doesn't really turn it, has no mystery ball, isn't particularly accurate, he's certainly no Graeme Swann. He's an excellent One Day bowler, but he's been found out time and time again in red-ball cricket, and although he's started okay in this Test, I can't see it lasting. Would have been far more productive to give Rashid a go in this series to see what he's made of. Rashid also a much better all-round cricketer.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

Dan, I agree with you. Rashid should have been played. I was just making the point that some players are spurred on by playing at a higher level.