Cricket

[big nev lookalike]

Ted Dexter died age 86. One of England's all time greats he captained England in the late 50's and early 60's. A forcing batsman whose forte was always to dominate the bowling by attacking with lots of shots, one of the last amateur captains and a great innovator.

He was one of the great and last polymaths of English cricket, a true all round sportsman and athlete. He played golf as an amateur off scratch and had the chance to take it up seriously following a round with Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player, but instead opting to remain as an amateur and concentrate on cricket.

He led Sussex to the first of two one day titles in the early 1960's, just at the advent of one day cricket itself (60 overs a side in those early days). He went onto be a chairman of the selectors and commentated on BBC TV in the bad old days when the Beeb covered cricket in a half arsed second or third class fashion.

Saw him loads of times as a young lad with my Dad. A great captain and a joy to watch as a batsman. He also played for the Rothmans Cavaliers who used to play Sunday exhibition matches at Eastbourne,there was no Sunday play then in the championship so these matches featured all rhe stars of the day,including the touring test sides. An autograph collectors dream!

 

[Cool_Blue]

A very good day for England. Some take outs.
1) The bowling depth in English conditions is very strong. We picked 4 today. We are missing, Wood, Archer, Woakes, Stone & Broad. Lots of depth and in honesty will be interesting who goes to Australia. Thought Overton bowled very nicely today, and good to see Curran start paying a bit of Englands faith back in him.

2) Losing Sibley a big plus. Not just has he been batting badly for a long time, his lack of tempo, and chewing up balls has clearly been effecting those around him. Burns looked a lot better today. I think question his and Hameebs technique but they played nicely today.

Stokes left off that list of ‘missing’, always the next name on the team sheet after Root.

Anyway, I think Overton could be a big weapon in Oz, given his height. He’s pretty accurate as well, always a plus. He and Wood are also decent tail end batters, definitely a lot better than Broad & Archer. Given their ages and the potential for injuries, I can’t see both Anderson & Broad going, only one of them probably.

 

[Chris O'Connor]

Saw him loads of times as a young lad with my Dad. A great captain and a joy to watch as a batsman. He also played for the Rothmans Cavaliers who used to play Sunday exhibition matches at Eastbourne,there was no Sunday play then in the championship so these matches featured all rhe stars of the day,including the touring test sides. An autograph collectors dream!

Just saw a tribute on sky and his life off the field as 'Lord Ted' was about as colourful as it gets.

Married a top high society model the couple were really the 'Posh and Becks' of his day. Fast cars and motor bikes - the media following him everywhere - very wealthy in his own right - a true amateur who could afford to be.

He wrote for the Observer and Mirror and stood for parliament as a Conservative candidate in 1964 too.

 

[Tubey]

Half an hour to get 10 runs then.

 

[catcherintherye]

Stokes left off that list of ‘missing’, always the next name on the team sheet after Root.

Anyway, I think Overton could be a big weapon in Oz, given his height. He’s pretty accurate as well, always a plus. He and Wood are also decent tail end batters, definitely a lot better than Broad & Archer. Given their ages and the potential for injuries, I can’t see both Anderson & Broad going, only one of them probably.

Yes to all of that.

Stokes is an enormous miss for England, as a 5th bowler and probably the 2nd best batsman now. The comment was more about the bowling resources missing and I wouldn't really include Stokes in out top bowlers list but he's certainly a good option.

As for Overton yes I would tend to agree. I think the bouncier tracks in Australia could really suit him, and as you say his lower order batting helps. For me, given Broads poor record in Australia it will have to be Anderson over Broad. I think they may take both though and alternate them.

 

[davids]

Half an hour to get 10 runs then.

Better that than throwing away wickets on dodgy shots.

 

[Tubey]

Better that than throwing away wickets on dodgy shots.

For me, far too defensive and negative, notably Hameed, and that wicket is the net result.

 

[arminisgod]

time for the collapse

 

[ToffeeTim]

Still in a very strong position, 8 in hand and over a hundred ahead. Another 150 would be excellent.

 

[Chris O'Connor]

Time for 'Lord Ted' Dexter

 

[catcherintherye]

This is the key for me, Openers need to get their eye in and if they can rotate well early on they have fought half the battle. Sibley does not allow the guy at the other end to do this, just stands there, as you said, chewing up balls.

I though Hameed played with good intent to rotate the strike and Burns followed suit, with the added bonus of having a left/right partnership, which can obviously disrupt the bowling rhythm. After that initial period it was as if they were taking turns to up the run rate, one would sit for a while and the other would hit a few blows and vice versa.

Absolutely this. Sibley was actually a very selfish batsman, and made it hard for the lads around him to get any rhythm at all. He would dominate the strike and not do anything with it. It's not necessarily about run rate, but it just allowed opponents to pin England down.

Hameed is a defensive batsman, but he can rotate the strike and not inhibit those around him.

 

[summerisle]

A great Roses win, for the life of me I don't remember Nick Speak.

 

[Tubey]

Root really is a fabulous cricketer.

 

[catcherintherye]

Malan has played very well today. Looks a natural fit and plays well in Australia too.

 

[summerisle]

No Mahmood tonight for Lancashire, apparently he's a 'concussion substitute' for England.