Cook and Trott Out

What a terrible innings that was. Moeen needs to go back to County Cricket. Time for Rashid to be given a go.

How can you possibly say that? It was a bad (disastrous) leave in a short innings! What else did he do wrong in the 14 balls he faced in the innings (again)?

Certainly a (nother) failure though!
 
Last edited:
Did you not see his massive swipe at a ball from Craig outside the off stump? Was like he was trying to get himself out. Not the sort of shot you should be playing when you're trying to save a Test match.
 
Did you not see his massive swipe at a ball from Craig outside the off stump? Was like he was trying to get himself out. Not the sort of shot you should be playing when you're trying to save a Test match.

That's the fine balance about Cricket, especially in this sort of situation!

It's up to the batsman to lift the pressure being put on him by bowlers/fielders rather than simply blocking it out!

With that sort of 'logic' there wasn't actually any point Cook playing strokes and making another 50 - and getting to the 9k runs milestone!
 
There's playing strokes to change the momentum, and playing wild swipes to wide balls. It was a no win shot, and incredibly risky. I have no issue with guys playing shots, but it's picking the right balls and the right shots, that was never the right option, and it was executed terribly.
 
There's playing strokes to change the momentum, and playing wild swipes to wide balls. It was a no win shot, and incredibly risky. I have no issue with guys playing shots, but it's picking the right balls and the right shots, that was never the right option, and it was executed terribly.

So a bad leave to be out and 1 somewhat rash stroke - making a 'terrible innings'! And from a #8! Harsh criticism imo. Though pretty typical of what happens with English Cricket! It's not #8s that are the cause of this almost certain loss! Though a natural stone-waller (which Mooen is not) might be able to engineer something!

Though almost certain some County performances would help his confidence!
 
So a bad leave to be out and 1 somewhat rash stroke - making a 'terrible innings'! And from a #8! Harsh criticism imo. Though pretty typical of what happens with English Cricket! It's not #8s that are the cause of this almost certain loss! Though a natural stone-waller (which Mooen is not) might be able to engineer something!

Though almost certain some County performances would help his confidence!

he may be batting at 8 but hes been picked, at least originally as a front line batter. to pigeon hole him as a number 8 is very misleading imo

as for Wood, looks way better than a number 10
 
Moeen Ali is not a number 8, he's opened in 20 ODi's for England, and bats 3 for Worcestershire. He's definitely not a stone-waller, but he's capable of playing sensible cricket shots and playing to the situation. Jos Buttler isn't a stone waller, but he's played to the situation excellently so far, and isn't flashing at the ball outside the off stump like Ali was. It was mindless batting, and considering the situation, a bad innings from a player who is in a rotten run of form. He desperately needs to find some form, otherwise he could see himself dumped before the first Ashes test, and on the evidence from this series, rightly so. I don't see what he's currently bringing to this side. Terrible form with the bat and not bowling anything like he was last summer.
 
fair play to NZ, theyve been excellent for most of this series and batted at such a rate in this game they could afford to lose 2 sessions to the weather and still win with time to spare. Such a shame this series is over, beautifully poised if it had been a 5 match series
 
All over. Nicely bowled over from Craig, set Jos up nicely. Shame there's no decider, really enjoyed this series! Shocking collapse from England though, no backbone at all.
 
he may be batting at 8 but hes been picked, at least originally as a front line batter. to pigeon hole him as a number 8 is very misleading imo

as for Wood, looks way better than a number 10

Where did I say he was 'a' #8? Just that he was at #8!!

Shunting him around in the lineup certainly wouldn't help either! Though that could simply be as a prelude to ditching him - which would be justified if they can find a replacement!
 
So a bad leave to be out and 1 somewhat rash stroke - making a 'terrible innings'! And from a #8! Harsh criticism imo. Though pretty typical of what happens with English Cricket! It's not #8s that are the cause of this almost certain loss! Though a natural stone-waller (which Mooen is not) might be able to engineer something!

Though almost certain some County performances would help his confidence!

where do you not say hes a #8?????
 
Ballance, Bell and Moeen better not be in the ODi or T20 squads. They desperately need County Championship games.

Torn series from an England perspective, there were some very promising performances, and some very worrying ones. Cook has regained some form, Lyth came in and looked good, Stokes was a revelation, Root continued to do well, Buttler impressive with bat and gloves, and Anderson, Wood and Broad look a decent front-line seam attack. The issues come in the top-order with Ballance and Bell looking dreadfully out of knick, and with Moeen who's out of form with the bat, and with the ball. If The Ashes started tomorrow, you'd be brave to pick Ballance, Bell and Moeen.
 
Ballance, Bell and Moeen better not be in the ODi or T20 squads. They desperately need County Championship games.

Torn series from an England perspective, there were some very promising performances, and some very worrying ones. Cook has regained some form, Lyth came in and looked good, Stokes was a revelation, Root continued to do well, Buttler impressive with bat and gloves, and Anderson, Wood and Broad look a decent front-line seam attack. The issues come in the top-order with Ballance and Bell looking dreadfully out of knick, and with Moeen who's out of form with the bat, and with the ball. If The Ashes started tomorrow, you'd be brave to pick Ballance, Bell and Moeen.


Of the test squad the only players Id have in the ODI squad would be Buttler, Root and Stokes personally. Broad and Andersen would be in cotton wool, Wood not a limited overs bowler and should be kept fresh for the longer ball format imo. All the other batters either arent ODI players or need red ball time at the wicket ahead of the Aussies
 
Ballance, Bell and Moeen better not be in the ODi or T20 squads. They desperately need County Championship games.

Torn series from an England perspective, there were some very promising performances, and some very worrying ones. Cook has regained some form, Lyth came in and looked good, Stokes was a revelation, Root continued to do well, Buttler impressive with bat and gloves, and Anderson, Wood and Broad look a decent front-line seam attack. The issues come in the top-order with Ballance and Bell looking dreadfully out of knick, and with Moeen who's out of form with the bat, and with the ball. If The Ashes started tomorrow, you'd be brave to pick Ballance, Bell and Moeen.

Agree about Ballance, Bell & Mo. Also I think our two main line bowlers are now looking ordinary, just look at the runs they have conceded.

Lyth deserves a go, Stokes is worth persisting with but he is still hit and miss. Good job we have not got a top-line spinner as Buttler still cannot keep, standing up.
 
Selectors not done the worst job with the ODI squad for me just disappointing the auto select Wood because hes done well in the tests, we just dont learn our lesson sometimes especially with quicks!, Vince probably the one most unlucky to miss out on recent form.

Finn and Plunkett I guess to keep in the fold as likely to be the back up options in the Ashes

Morgan (capt), Billings, Buttler, Finn, Hales, Jordan, Plunkett, Rashid, Root, Roy, Stokes, Taylor, Wood, Willey
 
All over. Nicely bowled over from Craig, set Jos up nicely. Shame there's no decider, really enjoyed this series! Shocking collapse from England though, no backbone at all.

Yes, totally agree. We've been short changed as the ECB decided to shoe horn the Kiwis in the same summer as the Ashes.
 
I don't know who fills Bell's shoes but I think the Aussies have him worked out. Seems I'm not alone in my thinking http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/cr...-Root-to-stake-his-claim-for-Ashes-place.html

Look at his recent form
12, 1 England v New Zealand
1, 29 England v New Zealand
0, 0 England v West Indies
1 England v West Indies
143, 11 England v West Indies

His form in the last Ashes tour wasn't much better and he looks a man badly out of form. I have no idea who could replace him but other nations including Australia have never been scared to chuck players into a side. Maybe England need to take a risk
 
I don't know who fills Bell's shoes but I think the Aussies have him worked out. Seems I'm not alone in my thinking http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/cr...-Root-to-stake-his-claim-for-Ashes-place.html

Look at his recent form
12, 1 England v New Zealand
1, 29 England v New Zealand
0, 0 England v West Indies
1 England v West Indies
143, 11 England v West Indies

His form in the last Ashes tour wasn't much better and he looks a man badly out of form. I have no idea who could replace him but other nations including Australia have never been scared to chuck players into a side. Maybe England need to take a risk

Great post with a link to an article dated 2013 calling for Bell's head. Bell was the highest run scorer in that series, and was named player of the series. Good article though.:whistle:
 
Top