Cricket

[Chris O'Connor]

Sorry no i'm not offended at all, I just thought i'd point it now because you seemed to think that I didn't understand the point you were making. I do understand it - both in the sense that I know what you're saying and that I can see the merits of it - I just don't agree. I'm not saying you're wrong or it's a ridiculous notion, I just disagree with it. I think if Burns is still averaging low 30s by the end of the Pakistan series then he will be very lucky to keep his place in the side.

So would I, he too will be anxiius to rediscover his form in South Africa, I remember him making an impression in last year's ashes too averaging 39 so he recent upeard trajectory seems to have suffered a hiccup, perhaps due to the long break and finding it more difficult, like Pope, to recapture his recent form.

That's four more tests and possibly eight more innings practically a third of his career to date. His recent form prior to the series and before the break had been good, he was improving his average but he's made a poor start in these two 'special,' tests, if it continued he would be worried, if he did very well he may think it's just taken him a little time to carry on where he left off.

 

[Chris O'Connor]

Burns recent averages

Australia last summer 39

New Zealand two tests 61.34

South Africa 46

To me that represents a batsman who is now coming good, and an opener too. It would take more than three poor innings to convince me of the case for dropping him tbh

 

[Chris O'Connor]

I reckon Burns, Sibley, Crawley, Root, Stokes, Pope, Buttler, Woakes, Archer, Broad, Leach

Some suggestion the only seam bowling changes will be Anderson and Archer for Broad and Woakes as the rotation continues, Leach may also play.

Although it would be different from my prediction it's still on the basis of.....

TOP SIX, Buttler, Woakes/Curran, Archer,/Wood, Anderson/Broad, Bess/Leach

....with this time Curran Archer and Anderson selected, the second test varied from the pattern due to the late change. Obviously the bottom four batting order would be rejigged dependant on those selected.

 

[ToffeeTim]

Some suggestion the only seam bowling changes will be Anderson and Archer for Broad and Woakes as the rotation continues, Leach may also play.

Although it would be different from my prediction it's still on the basis of.....

TOP SIX, Buttler, Woakes/Curran, Archer,/Wood, Anderson/Broad, Bess/Leach

....with this time Curran Archer and Anderson selected, the second test varied from the pattern due to the late change. Obviously the bottom four batting order would be rejigged dependant on those selected.

Broad has to play. He's ahead of Jimmy in the pecking order for me.

 

[Chris O'Connor]

Broad has to play. He's ahead of Jimmy in the pecking order for me.

Same here, sometimes these journos are just giving a best guess and can be wide off the mark when it becomes clearer.

Although the team won't be announced until the toss, Ed Smith with tell the players today and the eagle eyed journos watching practice will almost certainly report the likely side this evening. Always find Nick Hoult, who seems to have good connections with Smith and co, spot on with these, and his early thoughts indicated my predicted side with Broad and Archer playing and probably Leach, with Woakes retained. He'll almost certainly give the correct side by tonight though.

It just seems their two stalwarts are going to be rotated so only one of them play alongside one pace man in Jofra or Mark Wood, one bowling all-rounder in Curran or Woakes and a spinner in Bess or Leach.

The first or second tests didn't exactly follow this template with the two pace men paired together at Southampton and the late withdrawal of Jofra meaning both bowling rounders at rain city in the second. They think it's likely to be the template for the rest of the summer though.

 

[Minimeister]

Same here, sometimes these journos are just giving a best guess and can be wide off the mark when it becomes clearer.

Although the team won't be announced until the toss, Ed Smith with tell the players today and the eagle eyed journos watching practice will almost certainly report the likely side this evening. Always find Nick Hoult, who seems to have good connections with Smith and co, spot on with these, and his early thoughts indicated my predicted side with Broad and Archer playing and probably Leach, with Woakes retained. He'll almost certainly give the correct side by tonight though.

It just seems their two stalwarts are going to be rotated so only one of them play alongside one pace man in Jofra or Mark Wood, one bowling all-rounder in Curran or Woakes and a spinner in Bess or Leach.

The first or second tests didn't exactly follow this template with the two pace men paired together at Southampton and the late withdrawal of Jofra meaning both bowling rounders at rain city in the second. They think it's likely to be the template for the rest of the summer though.

Probably left it too late, the draw was 7-4 last night, now it's already gone in to 5/4. Shall I put my mortgage on it Chris?

 

[Chris O'Connor]

They've picked all six seamers in the 14 man squad. They're waiting to see how Ben Stokes pulls up tomorrow, whether he's fit enough to bowl all match, just the second innings or not at all. They'll then pick the side accordingly. He's felt his quads tighten up a little and so may not be right for bowling first up. He's probably England's best batsman anyway so will play whatever. Dom Bess retains the spinners spot ahead of Jack Leach and as he can bat at eight does open up the possibility of both Broad and Anderson playing as well as Archer.

With Saturday likely to be rained off and other days seeing plenty of rain and bad light, it looks bat first if Joe wins the toss and maybe give Ben two days further rest from bowling (and possibly a lot more, weather dependant). Looks odds on a draw anyway, even if they all play like supermen.

My prediction - Manchester rain all day long the winner

 

[LEONARD]

And it rains, and rains, and rains.

 

[StreetEndBlue]

It's rained all over the place this 'summer', nowhere's escaped. Not sure why dull cliches about the Manchester weather are being trotted out in this particular summer.

I doubt much cricket would've been played anywhere anyway given the abysmal few months we've just had in the UK.

 

[Chris O'Connor]

It looks as though with it being so damp and wet, England will be going with an all seam attack to try and win it in the time available.

So Bess out and Woakes or Curran playing in addition to Archer, Anderson and Broad. Today's forecast is possibly as good as it gets with cloud forecast and the possibility of sunny spells.

 

[Chris O'Connor]

It's rained all over the place this 'summer', nowhere's escaped. Not sure why dull cliches about the Manchester weather are being trotted out in this particular summer.

I doubt much cricket would've been played anywhere anyway given the abysmal few months we've just had in the UK.

Most of the country was bathed in sunshine during the last test, Manchester does have a reputation as Lancs know to their cost.

The North West generally has more rain than other parts of England, even the North East so it isn't exactly a new phenomenon. Manchester does have more than most English cities.

 

[Chris O'Connor]

I'm never a fan of an all seam attack and it turned in the second test. Moeen has enjoyed success at Old Trafford in the past and it's a big gamble on a heavily curtailed game with seam to the fore. It did work for them in Johannesburg though so it has it's place.

(Perhaps the best example of a no spin lineup being the great West Indies side, a long time ago now admittedly - around 40 years ago, so late 1970's and most of the 80's, had a battery of top class seamers and no need for a spinner)

Bess will play if their forecast isn't so bad and they think there's a possibility they may get four days in. They've backtracked on their original intention to split Broad and Anderson and are set to play Jimmy in back to back tests, with the first against Pakistan following here in Manchester after a short break.

It seems the only doubt is the number eight position with Ben Stokes unlikely to bowl, at least not without discomfort, but you wouldn't be surprised if he did in the second innings if desperately needed. So at eight it's Bess if they play a spinner, or probably Woakes if all seam with Root's part time spin an option.

 

[Chris O'Connor]

How fitting for the one-off first class county red ball cricket tournament has been named after the late former England test fast bowler Bob Willis.

The trophy will feature a design of Willis' iconic bowling position, which was painted by his wife, Lauren Clark, following his death last year.

Lauren said: "Anything that keeps Bob's memory alive is as beautiful as the man I married. This would mean so much to him.

"Shortly after his death we were all cast into lockdown due to this pandemic and during that time I have turned to art as a means of expression.

"I am truly humbled and honoured that one of my paintings of Bob, in that wonderful bowling action of his and which so many cricket fans immediately recognise, will be featured on the trophy when it is presented to the winning county at the end of the summer."

 

[ToffeeTim]

England dropped a batsman and Sam Curran.

Curran would have played instead of Anderson for me for the balance of the side. He plays, England win, then he gets dropped. Lack of coherence to the selection policy for me.

May as well have left out Bess if they wanted the extra quick. Root hardly bowls him anyway.

 

[toffeejack]

Really unsure about that team, if we're going to be sticking an extra bowler in, you've got to keep curran in for his batting too imo. Offers that different option too.

Just reading you guys say about the weather and i hope the decision to drop crawley is purely down to that (as well as stokes not bowling obviously)