The cricket thread

Gassage

Don't worry about Burns. Anyone can get a first baller - it just looks worse because he moves around a lot. And actually, don't worry too much about getting rolled for 147- that was a seamer's paradise.

What is far more concerning is the absolute lack of tactical clarity leading up to the game- you turn up in thick humidity, with a wicket as green as a dutch weed shop, you leave out a man with 500 test wickets and bat first.

That is utterly unforgivable as those tactics are controllable and if executed properly, would not have led to the first innings failure.

guitars4you

Gassage said:

Don't worry about Burns. Anyone can get a first baller - it just looks worse because he moves around a lot. And actually, don't worry too much about getting rolled for 147- that was a seamer's paradise.

What is far more concerning is the absolute lack of tactical clarity leading up to the game- you turn up in thick humidity, with a wicket as green as a dutch weed shop, you leave out a man with 500 test wickets and bat first.

That is utterly unforgivable as those tactics are controllable and if executed properly, would not have led to the first innings failure.

If you could bowl a better 1st ball of a series I'd like to see it - We have a bad record in recent years with the first ball in Oz

FastEddie

Gassage said:

Don't worry about Burns. Anyone can get a first baller - it just looks worse because he moves around a lot. And actually, don't worry too much about getting rolled for 147- that was a seamer's paradise.

What is far more concerning is the absolute lack of tactical clarity leading up to the game- you turn up in thick humidity, with a wicket as green as a dutch weed shop, you leave out a man with 500 test wickets and bat first.

That is utterly unforgivable as those tactics are controllable and if executed properly, would not have led to the first innings failure.

It smacks of 'paralysis though analysis'.
The algorithm said 'bat'. 
If Root was really strong and confident he would have picked Anderson and Broad and bowled. 
Broad has the Aussie top 2 on toast!

Anderson needs to be bowled. At his age he needs to be kept moving. But that also forgets the skills he has when the ball is old and he can throttle back a few yards. 

crunchman

chris78 said:

I've only seen the highlights, but they looked undercooked to me (hardly surprising).
Burns's dismissal was a shocker, Malan shouldn't be playing at that and when the 2 best players get 0 & 5, you're in the brown stuff. Very odd not playing Broad on a green pitch, even if it's just to get in Warner's head

On recent evidence Woakes and Robinson are better than Broad is these days.  Wood gives the pace option which would come in handy on day 3 or 4 when the pitch has flattened out.  That's important because the Kookaburra ball goes soft so quickly, and stops swinging.  With Stokes in the team it's definitely better to play a spinner than a 5th right arm seam bowler.

Broad also moves like a slug in the field.  Given the weather, you could make an argument for Broad over Wood but, as far as I'm concerned, it was the right decision to leave Broad out.

JerkMoans

chris78

crunchman said:

On recent evidence Woakes and Robinson are better than Broad is these days.  Wood gives the pace option which would come in handy on day 3 or 4 when the pitch has flattened out.  That's important because the Kookaburra ball goes soft so quickly, and stops swinging.  With Stokes in the team it's definitely better to play a spinner than a 5th right arm seam bowler.

Broad also moves like a slug in the field.  Given the weather, you could make an argument for Broad over Wood but, as far as I'm concerned, it was the right decision to leave Broad out.

At home, I’d agree. Woakes in oz though? He’s only effective when the ball swings. I think he’s one of the nicest guys in cricket, but if he averages under 40 in oz, I’ll be stunned

crunchman

Woakes has improved as a bowler.  He's averaging around 20 in his last 11 tests.  Most of those were at home, but he's a much better bowler now than he was 5 years ago.  Broad, on the other hand, is on the decline.  He often struggles to get much above 80mph, which will make him pretty innocuous on typical Australian pitches.  The weather conditions in this match so far aren't typical for Australia, and would suit Broad, but they suit Woakes as well. 

When you add in batting and fielding, picking Woakes over Broad is a no-brainer.  Given the weather, you can argue a case for playing Broad over Wood for this match, but with Woakes, Robinson, and Stokes in the team already, the extra variety that Wood brings is probably the right call.

Rich210

FastEddie said:

Gassage said:

Don't worry about Burns. Anyone can get a first baller - it just looks worse because he moves around a lot. And actually, don't worry too much about getting rolled for 147- that was a seamer's paradise.

What is far more concerning is the absolute lack of tactical clarity leading up to the game- you turn up in thick humidity, with a wicket as green as a dutch weed shop, you leave out a man with 500 test wickets and bat first.

That is utterly unforgivable as those tactics are controllable and if executed properly, would not have led to the first innings failure.

It smacks of 'paralysis though analysis'.
The algorithm said 'bat'. 
If Root was really strong and confident he would have picked Anderson and Broad and bowled. 
Broad has the Aussie top 2 on toast!

Anderson needs to be bowled. At his age he needs to be kept moving. But that also forgets the skills he has when the ball is old and he can throttle back a few yards. 

Green top and muggy as F^*K and go to bat first?! Madness, pure Nasser Hussain captaincy there. These wickets always improve for day 2 and  early 3 as the moisture comes out the green top and they loose a bit of zip and pop after a days play but they keep the integrity. I can see that wicket dying out a bit as the grass dies off. It was really strange they didn't put our seamers on even without Broad and Anderson. No aussie likes to walk out to a green top, it's like a phobia. 

All of our bowlers are perfectly capable of doing the business - that of bowling a teasing length, working the angles and getting a smidge out of the ball. 

UnclePsychosis

(Genuine) question for the Englishmen among us, was that World Cup win worth the fifteen (ish?) years of test cricket competence that was sacrificed for it?

As someone who likes cricket but isn't from a test nation, I get really frustrated around Ashes time. Yes, it's exciting and all that but it's England v Australia, *again*---I'm getting fed up of the closed shop that is international cricket. Sadly whilst Cricket is run both for and by the big test nations its never going to change, and that's a shame. 

crunchman

UnclePsychosis said:

(Genuine) question for the Englishmen among us, was that World Cup win worth the fifteen (ish?) years of test cricket competence that was sacrificed for it?

I'd far rather win the Ashes than a pyjama cricket hackabout.

Gassage

crunchman said:

Woakes has improved as a bowler.  He's averaging around 20 in his last 11 tests.  Most of those were at home, but he's a much better bowler now than he was 5 years ago.  Broad, on the other hand, is on the decline.  He often struggles to get much above 80mph, which will make him pretty innocuous on typical Australian pitches.  The weather conditions in this match so far aren't typical for Australia, and would suit Broad, but they suit Woakes as well. 

When you add in batting and fielding, picking Woakes over Broad is a no-brainer.  Given the weather, you can argue a case for playing Broad over Wood for this match, but with Woakes, Robinson, and Stokes in the team already, the extra variety that Wood brings is probably the right call.

There's a reason why some are champions and why some are still able to rise to the big occasion. I don't care what stats or recent performances say, I'd rather have Broad's knowledge and experience, big game feel and also ability to bolw to lefties than I would others- I'd keep Woakes but Broad over Leach in those conditions? All day long. (cue leach taking 5 fer nothing tonight!)

guitars4you

Well a credible fight back by our bowlers, but the damage has already been done - Head frustrating with his counter attack, but had nothing to loose - Sure it will be close to a 200 1st innings run lead by the end of the innings

Mellish

The Aussies plan was to go after Leach, skip down the wicket, stop him finding a length and force seamer rotation on a very hot day. Travis Head's third fastest Ashes century of all time just rubbed salt in the wound. But, when you have a dreadful first innings, you sort of make your own rod. 

Gassage

@crunchman I rest my case re Leach!

Gassage

Mellish said:

The Aussies plan was to go after Leach, skip down the wicket, stop him finding a length and force seamer rotation on a very hot day. Travis Head's third fastest Ashes century of all time just rubbed salt in the wound. But, when you have a dreadful first innings, you sort of make your own rod. 

Possibly due to the fact Leach is utter shite.

guitars4you

Gassage said:

Mellish said:

The Aussies plan was to go after Leach, skip down the wicket, stop him finding a length and force seamer rotation on a very hot day. Travis Head's third fastest Ashes century of all time just rubbed salt in the wound. But, when you have a dreadful first innings, you sort of make your own rod. 

Possibly due to the fact Leach is utter shite.

Woakes/Robinson/Woods stats were not that bad today - Leach/Stokes both poor - You feel in part that Leach is playing as they are not sure if Stokes can bowl 15/20 overs a day - Yes Bess would probably be a more preferential option if going down the spinner route - But no Broad is baffling

Mellish

@guitars4you ; it's bad team selection mate. Despite having had four years to get it right, they've messed it up. To be fair, beating the Aussies on *their* turf would be a tough ask but surely you'd think they wouldn't want to make it any tougher  

Gassage

Well, Silverwood’s post match was so defiant of reality and the truth that it was like the drowning man not only trying to clamber back on board his ship, but also to remain in full control of his fragile vessel despite the water already tickling his ankles.

 The fact that his team currently resemble the closing hours of the Titanic’s maiden voyage has largely appeared to have escaped his attention.

Rich210

On a wicket like that I couldn't see anything to offer a spinner. A good surface covered by rolled dead grass is like ice. The only kinds of spinners that could even be remotely effective are those like Kumble that get the ball to dip in the air and essential don't aim to get much turn if any. Rashid would have been  my pick. Alternatively someone  that's more of an arm ball specialist, but even then it would probably fodder. They lost it with the toss as its a better wicket to bat on now and the aussies have the obvious advantage with a weakened bowling attack 

scrumhalf

I think the spinner will as there because of the risk of Stokes and Wood breaking down and Woakes and Robinson being left to carry the attack. By targeting Leach they put more pressure on the other bowlers. Clever and tactical batting. 

Regardless of what Australia do and how their domestic season is structured, this is what happens when you fling resources at the one-day game and relegate the red-ball game to second best. The Ashes are too important.