The Cricket Thread

[sunshine]

I admire your optimism but what do you base that statement on? Unless Malan and Root keep being allowed to bat instead of others, they could take places 1-6 , and our bowlers find a way to stop the Aussies I'm seeing nothing in those first two games that suggest anything other than 5-0.

Throw me a crumb of comfort.

I'm optimistic for lots of reasons:
1. Cummins was missing for this match. All we need is for someone to start coughing near Smith and he'll have to sit out the next match. Maybe also try this with Warner, Labuchagne, Starc etc.
2. There must be some rain forecast at some point. It does rain in Australia sometimes.
3. We took this test match all the way to the final session. There must be hope we can last one session longer in the next 3 matches to scrape a backs to the wall draw.
4. Half of this team will be playing to save their necks in the next match. I bet we will see the batters put a higher price on their wicket. Cynical I know.

The only problem is that if England do secure a battling draw in the next match, the Aussies will come back and crush all that optimism in the 4th match

 

[Billysboots]

I'm optimistic for lots of reasons:
1. Cummins was missing for this match. All we need is for someone to start coughing near Smith and he'll have to sit out the next match. Maybe also try this with Warner, Labuchagne, Starc etc.
2. There must be some rain forecast at some point. It does rain in Australia sometimes.
3. We took this test match all the way to the final session. There must be hope we can last one session longer in the next 3 matches to scrape a backs to the wall draw.
4. Half of this team will be playing to save their necks in the next match. I bet we will see the batters put a higher price on their wicket. Cynical I know.

The only problem is that if England do secure a battling draw in the next match, the Aussies will come back and crush all that optimism in the 4th match

All very valid points upon which to rest your hopes. Alas, this is England. And even the patriot in me cannot share your enthusiasm and optimism.

We have been comprehensively outplayed in every facet of the game. And that’s by an Australian side which is good, but by no means great.

 

[Billysboots]

New coach required. If he can’t accept, even after the event, that he may have got his selections wrong, then Silverwood should go after this series.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/59739472

 

[Deleted member 15344]

Is it any surprise that another English coach fails

The last three times with have been successful and won the ashes etc

Fletcher
Flower
Baylis

Foreign coaches who have been around the world gaining experience

You would have expected them to learn tbe lesson from Moores

 

[Billysboots]

I’m surprised Jason Gillespie has never had the job. Don’t know if he’s ever been approached.

 

[sunshine]

All very valid points upon which to rest your hopes. Alas, this is England. And even the patriot in me cannot share your enthusiasm and optimism.

We have been comprehensively outplayed in every facet of the game. And that’s by an Australian side which is good, but by no means great.

Sadly you may be right. Your last point is key - this isn't even a great Aussie side.

 

[sunshine]

Just read this on BBC:
Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting said he "nearly fell off my seat" when he heard Root's comments.
Speaking to Cricket Australia's news site, he said: "Why are you captain then?
"If you can't influence your bowlers on what length to bowl, what are you doing on the field?"

 

[Imurg]

Bumble retiring from the commentary box.......

 

[Billysboots]

Just read this on BBC:
Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting said he "nearly fell off my seat" when he heard Root's comments.
Speaking to Cricket Australia's news site, he said: "Why are you captain then?
"If you can't influence your bowlers on what length to bowl, what are you doing on the field?"

And he’s absolutely spot on.

 

[Billysboots]

Bumble retiring from the commentary box.......

Real shame. Some don’t like him, but he’s solid entertainment for me.

His book, Last In The Tin Bath, is laugh out loud funny.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

Bumble retiring from the commentary box.......

Great character but I get his point. His mates have retired, or been moved on, and he is a lot of years from the next generation in the box. He certainly made me, and a lot of others smile over the years.

 

[fundy]

Real shame. Some don’t like him, but he’s solid entertainment for me.

His book, Last In The Tin Bath, is laugh out loud funny.

5 years too late for me, used to be great......

 

[Deleted member 15344]

I’m surprised Jason Gillespie has never had the job. Don’t know if he’s ever been approached.

Would be a good choice ?

Bumble retiring from the commentary box.......

That’s a big shame - have always enjoyed his commentary and also interactions on Twitter

 

[Captainron]

Just read this on BBC:
Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting said he "nearly fell off my seat" when he heard Root's comments.
Speaking to Cricket Australia's news site, he said: "Why are you captain then?
"If you can't influence your bowlers on what length to bowl, what are you doing on the field?"

Ponting was a great skipper. It did help that he had a superb team around him but he was so attacking. He lost games because of it sometimes but it won him loads more than he lost and those wins usually demoralised the opposition.

Root is not the right skipper for the team. He isn’t mongrel enough.

 

[fundy]

Ponting was a great skipper. It did help that he had a superb team around him but he was so attacking. He lost games because of it sometimes but it won him loads more than he lost and those wins usually demoralised the opposition.

Root is not the right skipper for the team. He isn’t mongrel enough.

Pretty sure if you gave Root peak Hayden, Langer, Ponting, Gilchrist, McGrath and Warne he'd do just fine Lot easier to be "mongrel" when you have a side full of world beaters

 

[Captainron]

Pretty sure if you gave Root peak Hayden, Langer, Ponting, Gilchrist, McGrath and Warne he'd do just fine Lot easier to be "mongrel" when you have a side full of world beaters

I did say that in my post.

He’s not a skipper for me. Great batsman though.

 

[Billysboots]

This is one confused Aussie. As an England cricket fan it’s easy to see why.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/59741381

 

[fundy]

England dressing room as harmonious as this forum it seems

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/cricket...hobox&utm_source=Twitter#Echobox=1640296067-1

 

[Billysboots]

England dressing room as harmonious as this forum it seems

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/cricket...hobox&utm_source=Twitter#Echobox=1640296067-1

I hope they stuck to discussing cricket and will leave the management of the pandemic to the GM forum experts.

 

[Piece]

Bairstow is back! But won’t take the gloves though.

Crawley back too. Averages 11 in 2021.

Need something special from England in this test.