Cricket

mawders said:
He's the last true test batsman
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Joe Root might take exception to that. Root's a top quality batsman who's found it more difficult recently and fallen off his previous highs, nevertheless he's a class performer who will shine again.

Reminds me very much of that tired old cliché, form is temporary but class is permanent. Joe Root hasn't suddenly lost all his talent, he will show it again imo.
 
Chris O'Connor said:
I meant award the trophy after the winning test, not the individual awards.

How many times have England won a really great series and got the trophy against a backdrop of disappointment and defeat?

Think Australia, quite a few times or our recent first series win in South Africa since 2005, great series wins ruined by a stupid procedural rule which meant the trophy presentation being awarded after the last meaningless test.

Teams who have already won the big one, won the big series can lose a little of that mental edge and come off the boil a little, the will to win isn't quite as strong when it means nothing, they're only human and it happens to other teams too.

They should give it to the victorious team when they're victorious not risking giving it to them when they're down and defeated

Its senseless to do so
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I would prefer that England developed the Aussie mentality of stamping on the opposition when they’re down.
Let’s win it 4-1 like the Aussies would. They (Australia) have stuffed us 5-0 on many occasions. I believe that our biggest win against them is 3-0.
 
PITA said:
I would prefer that England developed the Aussie mentality of stamping on the opposition when they’re down.
Let’s win it 4-1 like the Aussies would. They (Australia) have stuffed us 5-0 on many occasions. I believe that our biggest win against them is 3-0.
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I remember a few times in the 90s or early century before we had really decent players and started our move to the very top under Vaughan and Strauss, Australia would just blow us away but then suddenly lost the last of the series with it already won decisively, as England gained a consolation when it didnt matter a jot.

It's only human to have that slight dip when there's far less at stake, the last test is academic, at least Alaistair Cook's swansong and retirement has given it some meaning.

The result won't.
 
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PITA said:
I would prefer that England developed the Aussie mentality of stamping on the opposition when they’re down.
Let’s win it 4-1 like the Aussies would. They (Australia) have stuffed us 5-0 on many occasions. I believe that our biggest win against them is 3-0.
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(Continuing the answer to the post)....



Cook's runs may have slowed and his average dropped in more recent times, but this has been a serial record breaker with a sheer volume of records and mountain of runs that is only bettered by five others in the history of the game.

England should have already been presented with the Ranji trophy, it's a procedural nonsense that they haven't been, the final test is all about Alistair Cook, little else, and quite rightly so.
 
summerisle said:
Could never warm to Cook as a captain, too negative.

Liam Livingstone in Lancashire's squad for tomorrow's match. Hameed dropped again.

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For me he'll go down as a captain who had notable successes rather than a great leader, but he'll also go down as one of the all time truly standout players of English cricket and a player of real renown and standing worldwide.

As one Indian great posted

I am an unabashed fan.

Savour him this last time, English cricket fans. You, and us cricket tragics in general, will not see the likes of him often.

He's one that won't be forgotten
 
Telegraph journo Nick Hoult reports he has information on the likely team for the Oval

Major points,

Bairstow a specialist batsman for the foreseeable

Moeen to be number three for this and Sri Lanka

So as largely expected on here...

"England will announce the squad for the final Specsavers Test against India on Tuesday with Moeen Ali keeping his place at No 3 in the batting order after agreeing to step up in Southampton when Root used the captain’s prerogative to bat in his favourite position.

Moeen averages more than 50 at No 3 for Worcestershire, but when he was made an opener in Test cricket in the UAE he managed a top score of 35 before the experiment was dropped after three Tests. However England believe he could make a go of batting in the top three this winter in Sri Lanka where the new ball will not pose the same threat it does in England and his ability to play spin will be more relevant."


https://www.telegraph.co.uk/cricket/201 ... per-jonny/
 
Its a shame his test career coincided with the loss of free to air cricket. I'm a cricket fan but I'll never subscribe to sky so I've barely seen him play.
 
the right decision from cook but what a massive miss he will be. I will never forget the endless hours of joy he brought me watching him bat from midnight to 6am when i was supposed to be studying in uni.

He's sadly a bit of a dying breed in test cricket, pujara being the exception, there's not many batsmen out there now who just treasure their wicket. I think he could have gone on to break even more records if we didn't persist with him for so long at ODI's. It made him a bit more attacking for the second part of his career which has been a bit of a catalyst for him being caught behind so often in his later career.
From his first moment though he looked like he belonged in test cricket, now there needs to be a replacement. Hope he can get a hundred to finish, he deserves it.
 
sbbefc said:
Its a shame his test career coincided with the loss of free to air cricket. I'm a cricket fan but I'll never subscribe to sky so I've barely seen him play.
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That's a real pity as you've missed out on watching one of England's outstanding players even if tbf his form has been on the decline in the last year or two.

Former skipper Nasser Hussein rates him..

'as England mentally toughest cricketer and greatest ever batsman"

Obviously any statement of that nature has to be highly subjective but he's certainly up there.
 
Chris O'Connor said:
That's a real pity as you've missed out on watching one of England's outstanding players even if tbf his form has been on the decline in the last year or two.

Former skipper Nasser Hussein rates him..

'as England mentally toughest cricketer and greatest ever batsman"

Obviously any statement of that nature has to be highly subjective but he's certainly up there.
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I think having to open the batting for a decade in test cricket takes some serious mental toughness... Especially for a player not naturally gifted as a stroke player.

Cook has been a terrific player and will ruffly be remembered as a great, aside from his recent slump in form.
 
toffeejack said:
the right decision from cook but what a massive miss he will be. I will never forget the endless hours of joy he brought me watching him bat from midnight to 6am when i was supposed to be studying in uni.

He's sadly a bit of a dying breed in test cricket, pujara being the exception, there's not many batsmen out there now who just treasure their wicket. I think he could have gone on to break even more records if we didn't persist with him for so long at ODI's. It made him a bit more attacking for the second part of his career which has been a bit of a catalyst for him being caught behind so often in his later career.
From his first moment though he looked like he belonged in test cricket, now there needs to be a replacement. Hope he can get a hundred to finish, he deserves it.
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This is a major failure in my eyes. Cook came in as England have traditionally had a senior opener to guide the new man in to the top of the order. For whatever reason, England are going to have to find two capable of it now. Tough ask
 

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