Cricket

[BigMick]

The guys in the TV studio, Nasser saying what was missing and they perhaps needed was some real pace, perhaps Mark Wood might play the next one. They have Ollie Stone too in reserve (not this series) so they do have competition if they want one real pace man in each test.

Sadly, Stone injured again - side strain.

 

[BigMick]

I think a lot of hatchets got buried after the tragic passing of Strauss's wife, perhaps gave a lot of players who knew her a bit of perspective.

Good point and I'd like to think you're correct.

 

[ToffeeTim]

I said fairly early on I'd have gone without the spinner. 1 for 74, bowling at the tale and not at their best player, is a really poor return from 20 overs.

As for the batsman, maybe, Burns didn't get out to anything special though. I think they both have big technical issues, certainly in this country. Sibley is just much too square on. You'll get away with it in county cricket, and there's no doubt he has great concentration, but at the very top level its a very open technique for me. He will also not hit a bowler off the line/length. Youd love to bowl to him. Batsman have to find a way to survive as Pakistan did.

From the bits I've seen Bess bowled pretty poorly. But equally he had 2 routine catches dropped and a missed stumping off his bowling. Could easily have been 3-60 odd.

I'd have no issues bringing in Curran for Bess but ideally a good spinner would always be in your team. Pick your best 4 bowlers, your best 6 batters and your best keeper. If you have an all rounder then great, but don't drop a batter to compensate for Stokes being unavailable to bowl.

 

[summerisle]

Playing away again, I wonder what the preparation of the wicket will be ?

 

[catcherintherye]

From the bits I've seen Bess bowled pretty poorly. But equally he had 2 routine catches dropped and a missed stumping off his bowling. Could easily have been 3-60 odd.

I'd have no issues bringing in Curran for Bess but ideally a good spinner would always be in your team. Pick your best 4 bowlers, your best 6 batters and your best keeper. If you have an all rounder then great, but don't drop a batter to compensate for Stokes being unavailable to bowl.

Yes I think they have really over complicated things. This was meant to be a spinning pitch too, for me the figures aren't too clever and he leaked runs.

He needs to make runs really. If they feel he's a competent allrounder I suppose you can see some sense in it. I'd have gone Crawley, but if not Crawley then yes, Curran for me.

 

[ToffeeTim]

Yes I think they have really over complicated things. This was meant to be a spinning pitch too, for me the figures aren't too clever and he leaked runs.

He needs to make runs really. If they feel he's a competent allrounder I suppose you can see some sense in it. I'd have gone Crawley, but if not Crawley then yes, Curran for me.

They don't know their best team and it shows

 

[Chris O'Connor]

Of course there's no guarantees whatsoever another batsman would have made the slightest difference, of course not, but you don't half guarantee a massively brittle looking batting line up when you start talking about being one wicket away from all out at only four down.

I said after losing the toss and seeing the selection I heavily fancied Pakistan. The selection was a self imposed handicap, six batsman and a keeper has to be a minimum, even if it means only four bowlers. If they wanted a quick bowler then Woakes or Anderson had to go, Anderson in my view. In the event Jofra didn't bowl at all quickly anyway and was often even slower than Broad.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

50 and out, England to get to 200 all out with some runs for woakes and buttler and everyone will forget he's still minus 100.

Ah.

 

[Chris O'Connor]

Yes I think they have really over complicated things. This was meant to be a spinning pitch too, for me the figures aren't too clever and he leaked runs.

He needs to make runs really. If they feel he's a competent allrounder I suppose you can see some sense in it. I'd have gone Crawley, but if not Crawley then yes, Curran for me.

Tbf to Bess, Buttler badly let him down missing at least three chances including the stumping. Bess' figures have to be looked at in that light as wickets make a difference.

He did get plenty of turn and bounce but was badly let down.

 

[Chris O'Connor]

Pakistan are much better than the West Indies in batting and bowling and with their spinners far better equipped to win and stay ahead.

 

[Chris O'Connor]

From the bits I've seen Bess bowled pretty poorly. But equally he had 2 routine catches dropped and a missed stumping off his bowling. Could easily have been 3-60 odd.

I'd have no issues bringing in Curran for Bess but ideally a good spinner would always be in your team. Pick your best 4 bowlers, your best 6 batters and your best keeper. If you have an all rounder then great, but don't drop a batter to compensate for Stokes being unavailable to bowl.

No must say I disagree I think that's very harsh. We just had to play Bess on here, he didn't bowl that badly. He's still learning but had no luck and it was his most encouraging performance.

 

[ToffeeTim]

No must say I disagree I think that's very harsh. We just had to play Bess on here, he didn't bowl that badly. He's still learning but had no luck and it was his most encouraging performance.

I was trying to defend him a little lol

He could easily have had 2 more wickets but for Buttler errors.

But I dont think hes a great spin bowler. Moeen was criticised for far better performances.

 

[Chris O'Connor]

I was trying to defend him a little lol

He could easily have had 2 more wickets but for Buttler errors.

But I dont think hes a great spin bowler. Moeen was criticised for far better performances.

No he's not, has a lot still to learn but must admit he didn't bowl too badly at all in my view and wickets do make such a difference. Badly let down as you said.

What I meant was they just couldn't not have a spinner on here in these conditions, so in my view just couldn't leave him out - that would have been shooting yourself in the foot imo. Tbh Tim agreed with the six batters and keeper - the selection was like a suicide note for me.

 

[catcherintherye]

Tbf to Bess, Buttler badly let him down missing at least three chances including the stumping. Bess' figures have to be looked at in that light as wickets make a difference.

He did get plenty of turn and bounce but was badly let down.

To a point yes but the quicks have had dropped chances too. He went for just under 4 an over. It's not giving England the control they need. 1-80 on a spinning track at near 4 an over wont work.

 

[Chris O'Connor]

To a point yes but the quicks have had dropped chances too. He went for just under 4 an over. It's not giving England the control they need. 1-80 on a spinning track at near 4 an over wont work.

Tbh it has to be a balance, you can't underestimate what having three chances missed of you does to your bowling. Instead of the confidence and spring in your step, you try for the magic ball too often and it gets punished. I can't be at all harsh on him tbh - on this wicket he just had to play and bowled wicket taking balls.

Yasir a case in point for Pakistan, he's gone for a few but has the wicket of Root - priceless considering our mega tail, admittedly they have runs on the board.