The Cricket Thread

[Billysboots]

I’d prefer a specialist keeper all day long in the 5-day format. Dropped catches generally cost runs, and you have to take the chances which come your way in Test matches, especially when you’re up against better opposition.

No point playing a wicketkeeper/batsman if they spill chances unless they can be relied upon to contribute regular big scores themselves.

 

[Piece]

It should always be a specialist wicket keeper, no debate in this household. You can hide a part time keeper in a decent side, which isn't England at all.

When you are an average side, all the little bits matter. You can't afford to fritter away chances. You also can't have a half-cocked plan or selection policy. Finally, you can't have a captain who falls short tactically.

I'm hoping we can turn it around but it's the hope that kills you not the reality ?

 

[Billysboots]

I’m really missing the Sky coverage of The Ashes. Matt Smith as a presenter is pretty cringeworthy, having little knowledge of his subject matter, and I’m also not a fan at all of the wall to wall Australian commentary.

Still, at least I’ve got England making 600+ and then rolling the Aussies over for 150 to look forward to.

 

[Billysboots]

Great start. Not.

 

[Beezerk]

I think “Burns out cheaply” is a phrase we’ll be hearing a lot over Xmas ?

 

[Foxholer]

...
Still, at least I’ve got England making 600+ and then rolling the Aussies over for 150 to look forward to.

In the spirit (sic) of the season....
I'll have whatever you are on thanks!

I wonder what the odds are for 5-0!

 

[fundy]

I’m really missing the Sky coverage of The Ashes. Matt Smith as a presenter is pretty cringeworthy, having little knowledge of his subject matter, and I’m also not a fan at all of the wall to wall Australian commentary.

Still, at least I’ve got England making 600+ and then rolling the Aussies over for 150 to look forward to.

damn i had 20/3 in the sweepstake, done by the weather lol

 

[Billysboots]

That was sadly predictable. Both English openers have techniques which will never come close to allowing them to perform consistently well at this level. Just awful to watch, especially if you bat at three or four!

 

[sunshine]

The weather comes to the rescue! England could have been 3 or 4 down at close otherwise.

At no point have I ever looked at Burns and thought "test class batsman". Has anyone else?
Hameed I think could do a job. Just needs a breakthrough score to boost his confidence, but he's probably better suited to batting on the sub-continent rather than bouncy Australian wickets.

Fortunately for Buttler, his calamitous drop on day one wasn't too expensive. I'm going to go against the majority on this forum here: I understand the logic for having Buttler behind the stumps. His keeping is 7/10 (compared to Foakes 9/10), which is good enough, and coming in late middle order he can be explosive and have a massive impact. Generally his keeping hasn't featured too many errors, it's a lot better than Bairstow's for example. The problem is when he doesn't keep well and doesn't score enough runs... he seems to have a mental block at the moment. It's not all his fault, the England top order is so weak he is always coming in to try and rescue the innings instead of building on a solid platform.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

Jos Buttler test batting average 33.3
Ben Foakes test batting average 31.5

Is less than 2 runs per innings worth the dropped catches? Not in my view.

 

[sunshine]

Jos Buttler test batting average 33.3
Ben Foakes test batting average 31.5

Is less than 2 runs per innings worth the dropped catches? Not in my view.

Totally agree with you. The rationale for Buttler makes sense, but in practice it hasn't worked out.

The worry for me is that if Foakes came in to this side in its current state we would see his test average tumble.

 

[fundy]

Totally agree with you. The rationale for Buttler makes sense, but in practice it hasn't worked out.

The worry for me is that if Foakes came in to this side in its current state we would see his test average tumble.

I think they want him coming in at 200/5 or better against tired attacks, instead of 80/5 against a bowling attack with the tail up! There are clearly situations as a batting side having Buttler come in at 7 should be a massive positive, sadly the England top order arent able to produce these opportunities often enough for picking him to make any sense, especially when he is shelling routine chances against the best batters in the world.

For those wanting Foakes, no doubt theyll give Bairstow another go first!

 

[Deleted member 3432]

An Adam Gilchrist in is prime wouldn't make any difference to this England team.

You can't win Ashes test matches with a non existent top three. Waste of time discussing who takes the gloves when the big problem is at the top of the order.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

Totally agree with you. The rationale for Buttler makes sense, but in practice it hasn't worked out.

The worry for me is that if Foakes came in to this side in its current state we would see his test average tumble.

I think Fundy has it dead right, Buttler against a tiring attack with full freedom would be wonderful. The number of times that happens, particularly away from home, is increasingly rare and so we get indecisive Jos plus dropped catches.

In terms of Foakes, there is only one way to find out..........

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I think Fundy has it dead right, Buttler against a tiring attack with full freedom would be wonderful. The number of times that happens, particularly away from home, is increasingly rare and so we get indecisive Jos plus dropped catches.

In terms of Foakes, there is only one way to find out..........

Only one way to tell and given the marginal test average difference why not. Buttler's average will inevitably go down during this season so why not then put Foakes in and see if he can claim a place

 

[3offTheTee]

Only one way to tell and given the marginal test average difference why not. Buttler's average will inevitably go down during this season so why not then put Foakes in and see if he can claim a place

Not sure whether JB’s average will necessary go down but you are probably correct. He was top scorer in the first innings in Brisbane, little to beat, and averaged 31. His average in 24 innings during 2020/21 is 34 which is acceptable. One of the catches in the first test my 11 year old grandson could have caught but it is being assumed that Foakes would have taken it. 9 out of 10 times so would Buttler. The problem is not Buttler but higher up the order.

 

[Bunkermagnet]

A new captain and change of wickey would do for starters.

 

[Blue in Munich]

It’s all very depressing to watch.

Poor selection, poor tactics, poor captaincy, and for the most part poor application, certainly by our batters.

Glenn McGrath gets some stick for trotting out his 5-0 prediction whenever England head to Australia for an Ashes series, but he’s bang on the money this time.

In fact, this England side is so bad I’m not ruling out the possibility that they could lose a five match series 6-0 ?

Even a busted clock is right twice a day...

 

[3offTheTee]

11/4 for Aussies to win 5-0. Mot giving much away at that price.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Think Roots captaincy is now an untenable position.