Cricket
- Thread starter summerisle
- Start date
Take 260-3 all day long.
Need to try and bat until after tea tomorrow. In fact, there's no rush at all. If they can bat all day that's fine.
Need to try and bat until after tea tomorrow. In fact, there's no rush at all. If they can bat all day that's fine.
It'll be interesting to see how Pope and Stokes go having not played for so long.
Chris O'Connor
Player Valuation: £35m
Tbf Ben Stokes is freakishly good and keeps reminding us virtually every time he plays. We really have to climb Everest in this innings because unless we reach those really high peaks we'll struggle. The fifth test in 2016 tells you what can happen with anything under 500.
Although Rory Burns threw it away, at least we had a start of 63 on the board, it was that second wicket that was the real killer blow, Dan Lawrence getting out without troubling the scorers for 0 put all the pressure on. We desperately needed someone more dependable there, the greater experience of Bairstow in Indian conditions would have been my choice but we didn't have that option, and Crawley's absence meant someone else batting out if position at 3. Dan hasn't moved on since his one decent score in Sri Lanka was followed with a couple of failures, I think he has potential but this is a steep learning curve.
Ben Stokes has proven himself as a quality batsman and getting better all the time, it's Ollie Pope's form after just arriving that's of far more concern, before his injury he was struggling and it looked as though a few had started to work him out at this level, he has the talent but needs a score.
Would have taken that day before a ball was bowled but losing a wicket in the final over of the day doesn't half take the gloss off it.
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I think it's harsh on Lawrence that mate. If you get a good ball early doors, it's hard. Giving it away in your 30's is always much worse.
I like Lawrence, but you'd think Crawley comes back in, and probably Bairstow too, and he/Burns are the obvious drops when everyone is fit.
A fantastic day for England and a brilliant knock again from Root who looks in the form of his life and really cashing in. I'd fancy him to go big tomorrow.
Sibley played as well as I've seen him. An 80 odd against India is orth more than his hundred against the West Indies- and yes I appreciate it was day 1 and quite a docile pitch.
My concerns are still that his scoring rate is very poor, and never moves anywhere. He's basically played the innings of his life there, batted all day and come off with 80 odd. The concern will be, how often, fitness wise, is he going to be able to bat 300 balls (all day) before getting fatigued. These scores should be 150+ as he gets set and had he done that, he removes any debate over his position.
He's probably inked himself in though, rightly or wrong moving forward until at least the Ashes. I did think he started sweeping the ball better as well.
England's tail is now longer, and the balance looks much better. They need to go big tomorrow.
Sibley played as well as I've seen him. An 80 odd against India is orth more than his hundred against the West Indies- and yes I appreciate it was day 1 and quite a docile pitch.
My concerns are still that his scoring rate is very poor, and never moves anywhere. He's basically played the innings of his life there, batted all day and come off with 80 odd. The concern will be, how often, fitness wise, is he going to be able to bat 300 balls (all day) before getting fatigued. These scores should be 150+ as he gets set and had he done that, he removes any debate over his position.
He's probably inked himself in though, rightly or wrong moving forward until at least the Ashes. I did think he started sweeping the ball better as well.
England's tail is now longer, and the balance looks much better. They need to go big tomorrow.
Chris O'Connor
Player Valuation: £35m
I think he has the talent and potential but batting three in India against Bumrah on his first tour is a massive ask. I've little doubt he will come good and be a real asset in time but we could have done with the greater experience in Indian conditions. Playing off the backfoot right back on his stumps with it reversing was risky, hit it or you're pinned.
summerisle
The rain, it raineth every day
Lancashire's one day fixtures announced today, one match at an out ground, Blackpool.
....terrific watching history, Root emulating a few greats getting 100 in his 100th Test. Great start to the series.
Oh I agree with that. I'm surprised Pope didn't go to 3. I thought he was trying to get forward, but really did neither, but it's a good ball in that perfect length for a batsman.
It will be hard, and he should certainly not be judged by his exploits here in only his 3rd game.
I think there's talent there, but as you say, he'd be better batting lower.
Sibley has no need to up his speed if he's playing like that. He can plod along, eeking out runs and putting miles in the bowlers/fielders.
We have plenty of players behind who can play big shots and dominate - Root, Stokes, Buttler, and I'd even say Pope.
He's inconsistent, yes, but he has a role and when he plays to it, he usually plays it well. Will this tune change in the future if he's plodding along at 23 while we collapse to 90/4? Maybe. But no need to change yet. And certainly no need for Bairstow.
We have plenty of players behind who can play big shots and dominate - Root, Stokes, Buttler, and I'd even say Pope.
He's inconsistent, yes, but he has a role and when he plays to it, he usually plays it well. Will this tune change in the future if he's plodding along at 23 while we collapse to 90/4? Maybe. But no need to change yet. And certainly no need for Bairstow.
I think 20/20 and one dayers have put more pressure on test batsmen to score faster and play big shots. Openers are their to take the shine off the ball and knacker the bowlers. We’ve needed a player who can just stick around for ages.
I blame the Aussies for making us test Jason Roy as an opener
Yeah think the selectors saw Warner scoring that double hundred in one day in 2015 and wanted to replicate it. I really wanted Roy to come good. Would have been something to have a destructive batsmen opening but it just doesn’t work that way.
Chris O'Connor
Player Valuation: £35m
Not for Sibley or opening the innings, not even remotely suggested - number three is the problem spot not opening.