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The Ashes 2017/18

Another factor is that it used to be that if a CC pitch spins massively on day one then the County are fined and deducted points. Thankfully this has changed now. For me, there should be a few pitches up and down the country that turn, and thus encourage the development of spin bowlers. After all, day 1 pitches in India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh all spin from the get go, and the role of the CC should be to produce a competitive England team.

Harmer will I’ll be the next cab off the rank when he qualifies to play for England. Just a personal opinion , but I never got the love for Rashid in test cricket. Keep an eye on Parknson at Lancs too.
 
Another dead wicket kills a test match. Happens too often over here for us to get self righteous but still disappointing. The good news is that at least it is no longer going to be a whitewash 😁
 
So James Vince doing James Vince things again. Death, taxes, and Vince wafting outside off.

Considering he was a horses for courses selection, the manner of his dismissals for a no. 3 is consistently shocking. Managing to nick off time and again after getting somewhat set without any sideways movement out there is a real worry. Its not a wonder he was found out in England and I'd be amazed if he held his place for the English summer.
 
TheDiablo said:
So James Vince doing James Vince things again. Death, taxes, and Vince wafting outside off.

Considering he was a horses for courses selection, the manner of his dismissals for a no. 3 is consistently shocking. Managing to nick off time and again after getting somewhat set without any sideways movement out there is a real worry. Its not a wonder he was found out in England and I'd be amazed if he held his place for the English summer.
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Yep. I agree. I can't moan as I preach about giving players a chance and consistency of selection. I would have liked to have seen Foakes given a go though.
 
Junior said:
Yep. I agree. I can't moan as I preach about giving players a chance and consistency of selection. I would have liked to have seen Foakes given a go though.
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I fully agree with giving players consistency and a proper chance, but I think he's had that now. It would be different if he was getting out in different ways, but the same weakness over and over which is one very easily exploited by test match bowlers means he'll never score until it's sorted. Sure, if he goes away and scores buckets of runs and demonstrates he has made strides in correcting the shot and there's a spot in the team then give him another go - I'm definitely not one to shut the door on anyone fully but for now I think the famous definition of insanity applies to the selectors re Vince.

Agree with giving Foakes a chance too. I would personally have dropped Alli for this test. YJB could do with feeling some pressure on his place IMO, I think he is very comfortable in the role theyve given him and hasnt kicked on like I thought he would. Pretty sure he is averaging 30 in the last year (20 innings) which isnt good enough to be a specialist batsmen which he may need to become. His best performances came when he needed to make sure the selectors couldnt ignore him anymore so he could do with that mentality again.
 
TheDiablo said:
I fully agree with giving players consistency and a proper chance, but I think he's had that now. It would be different if he was getting out in different ways, but the same weakness over and over which is one very easily exploited by test match bowlers means he'll never score until it's sorted. Sure, if he goes away and scores buckets of runs and demonstrates he has made strides in correcting the shot and there's a spot in the team then give him another go - I'm definitely not one to shut the door on anyone fully but for now I think the famous definition of insanity applies to the selectors re Vince.

Agree with giving Foakes a chance too. I would personally have dropped Alli for this test. YJB could do with feeling some pressure on his place IMO, I think he is very comfortable in the role theyve given him and hasnt kicked on like I thought he would. Pretty sure he is averaging 30 in the last year (20 innings) which isnt good enough to be a specialist batsmen which he may need to become. His best performances came when he needed to make sure the selectors couldnt ignore him anymore so he could do with that mentality again.
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Can't disagree with any of that. Would you have moved Malan to 3 and brought Foakes in at 5 ?

I think that the fact Stokes is missing has resulted in them having to play Moeen despite him not appearing to be match fit. The bowling looks light in this test. I'm not sold on Curran but I hope Crane can perform and not be another Kerrigan.
 
TheDiablo said:
I fully agree with giving players consistency and a proper chance, but I think he's had that now. It would be different if he was getting out in different ways, but the same weakness over and over which is one very easily exploited by test match bowlers means he'll never score until it's sorted. Sure, if he goes away and scores buckets of runs and demonstrates he has made strides in correcting the shot and there's a spot in the team then give him another go - I'm definitely not one to shut the door on anyone fully but for now I think the famous definition of insanity applies to the selectors re Vince.

Agree with giving Foakes a chance too. I would personally have dropped Alli for this test. YJB could do with feeling some pressure on his place IMO, I think he is very comfortable in the role theyve given him and hasnt kicked on like I thought he would. Pretty sure he is averaging 30 in the last year (20 innings) which isnt good enough to be a specialist batsmen which he may need to become. His best performances came when he needed to make sure the selectors couldnt ignore him anymore so he could do with that mentality again.
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Junior said:
Can't disagree with any of that. Would you have moved Malan to 3 and brought Foakes in at 5 ?

I think that the fact Stokes is missing has resulted in them having to play Moeen despite him not appearing to be match fit. The bowling looks light in this test. I'm not sold on Curran but I hope Crane can perform and not be another Kerrigan.
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Vince's cause has not been helped by Root refusing to take some responsibility and bat at 3. Perhaps Root wants his mate Ballance to get the 400th chance to show that he's not up to test match cricket.

Ali being picked was brainless. Awful with bat and ball and not fully fit. But the selectors are running scared of a long tail. Which is ironic was Ali looks like a walking wicket. Foakes should have received a chance.

As for the two late wickets, such poor shots from two of England's more experienced players shows a lack of simple test match nous. England just dont do the simple things and they have been punished. But England have looked naive and lacking nous the whole tour, on and off the field.

The whole nightwatchman thing is irrelevant for me and a smokescreen for such poor play from Root and Bairstow.
 
Going to watch the highlights in a minute, but it looks like another case of batsmen getting starts but failing to get a big score.
All out for 350 with the Aussies racking up 550 ??? Cynical I know....
I just don’t think there are many other options out there other than Foakes. Malan is not a number 3 and Skipper prefers 4...

On another note.... get Archer in the team..... Ripping up the Big Bash.. chucking them down at 90mph. Deffo get him in for the one dayers!!!
 
Karl102 said:
Going to watch the highlights in a minute, but it looks like another case of batsmen getting starts but failing to get a big score.
All out for 350 with the Aussies racking up 550 ??? Cynical I know....
I just don’t think there are many other options out there other than Foakes. Malan is not a number 3 and Skipper prefers 4...

On another note.... get Archer in the team..... Ripping up the Big Bash.. chucking them down at 90mph. Deffo get him in for the one dayers!!!
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archer a few years from qualifying to play for england, would be in the squad otherwise (and will make a fortune in t20 before he qualifies he may not bother with tests)

flat enough deck for sure, 400 looked a bare minimum and that looks a long way away. our attack looks threadbare at best, could be hard work in the field for sure
 
fundy said:
archer a few years from qualifying to play for england, would be in the squad otherwise (and will make a fortune in t20 before he qualifies he may not bother with tests)

flat enough deck for sure, 400 looked a bare minimum and that looks a long way away. our attack looks threadbare at best, could be hard work in the field for sure
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The actual quality of the cricket in the Big Bash is also fairly low. Archer looks a very good cricketer but the BBL isnt the best comp to judge him on.
 
Tongo said:
The actual quality of the cricket in the Big Bash is also fairly low. Archer looks a very good cricketer but the BBL isnt the best comp to judge him on.
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its very variable for sure the big bash (especially archers own catching!!!)

archer has the one quality that is worth gold and thats genuine pace, caused plenty of problems wherever hes played
 
Karl102 said:
Going to watch the highlights in a minute, but it looks like another case of batsmen getting starts but failing to get a big score.
All out for 350 with the Aussies racking up 550 ???
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I was nearly right! They racked up 650! I think we could be in for a difficult Summer. Any retirements looming?!? Anderson/Broad/Cook?!!?
 
Karl102 said:
I was nearly right! They racked up 650! I think we could be in for a difficult Summer. Any retirements looming?!? Anderson/Broad/Cook?!!?
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when you backed 650 and over sigh lol

Dont see them going anywhere, Broad an outside chance, think the other two definitely carry on. Will be far more comfortable in home conditions against asian touring teams
 
Don’t expect any of them to retire but I do hope there are some changes

Need to find number 3 - give Malan a go there - Trego has posted a great tweet - James Hildreth has had 41 tons and 15,000 first class runs - if he was playing for Surrey he would have been given a go - at 33 is it worth him coming in for 3/4 years ( even though he shoold have been given a chance a decade ago )

And give Leach a go - I don’t think there is another spinner who had taken more wickets over the last two seasons

Two players who if they were with a more fashionable County would be down under right now
 
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