The cricket thread

guitars4you

sixstringsupplies said:

Anderson is injured, but 4 weeks to recover. Should be fine.

my ashes lineup is: (for the first test, cos let’s be honest, the selectors won’t look past broad and Anderson, with good reason) 

1) Roy
2) to be decided
3) to be deicded
4) Root
5) stokes
6) buttler
7) bairstow
8) woakes
9) what was that off spinner who debuted last summer? Him. Forgot his name sorry...(if no spinner, then Curran) 
10) broad
11) Anderson 

If the gloves go to Butler then Bairstow to open - Partly based on no other good obvious option to open - Whilst it might have its issues as an opening partnership, it can also be 100 for 0 at lunch - That would then allow you to bring in Curran at 7 - Good bat and more than useful as a swing bowling option that the others don't provide

The issue for me is who plays at 3 

Do you play Woakes or Archer at 8 - I'd go with Archer

Who plays at 9 as your spinner ?

Maybe Broad is 'lucky' to keep his place but will keep it on past glory - If not Broad then Wood

I think Curran and a spinner are essential to us - If we have a long day or so in the field, Anderson + Broad both less youthful, Archer needs to be bowled in 4/5 over stints to maintain 'aggression' and let him build into the roll, with a view to a good long career 

sixstringsupplies

guitars4you said:

sixstringsupplies said:

Anderson is injured, but 4 weeks to recover. Should be fine.

my ashes lineup is: (for the first test, cos let’s be honest, the selectors won’t look past broad and Anderson, with good reason) 

1) Roy
2) to be decided
3) to be deicded
4) Root
5) stokes
6) buttler
7) bairstow
8) woakes
9) what was that off spinner who debuted last summer? Him. Forgot his name sorry...(if no spinner, then Curran) 
10) broad
11) Anderson 

If the gloves go to Butler then Bairstow to open - Partly based on no other good obvious option to open - Whilst it might have its issues as an opening partnership, it can also be 100 for 0 at lunch - That would then allow you to bring in Curran at 7 - Good bat and more than useful as a swing bowling option that the others don't provide

The issue for me is who plays at 3 

Do you play Woakes or Archer at 8 - I'd go with Archer

Who plays at 9 as your spinner ?

Maybe Broad is 'lucky' to keep his place but will keep it on past glory - If not Broad then Wood

I think Curran and a spinner are essential to us - If we have a long day or so in the field, Anderson + Broad both less youthful, Archer needs to be bowled in 4/5 over stints to maintain 'aggression' and let him build into the roll, with a view to a good long career 

^i forgot the offspinners name who made his debut against PAK at the start of last summer, he got a 50, battted well....anyway he’s a better bowler than Moeen. He played two tests then got dropped which was a bit harsh. 

Personally i think we are out of the realms of test and one day players. It’s more down to international class players. The gap between county and international is too large. Hence, Roy should be in the ashes team. He has destroyed international bowling attacks. Even Hales. Who would you rather face Starc on 1st August? Alex Hales or Rory Burns? (not suggesting Hales plays, more the point that Hales, or Roy, doesn’t matter, are international class Batsman. 

Gassage

@guitars4you

Spinner is easy- Moeen. He's got c. 40 wickets in his last 10 tests!

Gassage

Dom Bess was the offie last year, by the way.

Jack Leach is a much better bowler.

SouthpawMark

I’d pick Hales. Burns would be a disaster against the criminals. 

SouthpawMark

Actually no. I’d beg Cook to come out of international retirement for a few months. 

scrumhalf

Broad plays if the follows instructions when bowling and he gets fined 150% of his match fee if he appeals for a DRS review without clearing it with the captain. On his day he can run through a team, it's just that his days are getting fewer and further between.

All of the bowlers are in contention. It's a ridiculously packed Ashes schedule and at any one time one of them will be crocked. Unless the pitch and conditions warrant it I'm note sure Anderson and Woakes should play together.

And if they bring Ballance back, why not go the whole way and give Bill Athey a call?

sixstringsupplies

Few and far between indeed. But he can win you a test match in a session when it comes off and he’s got plenty of credit in the bank. Can’t see him playing all series though. 

crunchman

Gassage said:

@guitars4you

Spinner is easy- Moeen. He's got c. 40 wickets in his last 10 tests!

I'd go for Leach.  He's a better bowler than Moeen.

On the evidence of Moeen's batting in the world cup, Leach may be a better bat as well.

RandallFlagg

sixstringsupplies said:

Gassage said:

RandallFlagg said:

Adil Rashid not singing the national anthem. Appalling. Are you not proud to be in that English shirt boy?

How wittering on about saving an irrelevant but admittedly nice old woman from a fate as yet undetermined, thus ensuring her happiness, but who appears to in no danger whatsoever, is relevant to a team sport is beyond my comprehension.

They should replace it with Jerusalem. 

Well at least it's not “Ode to Joy”

Stuckfast

I wonder if Zak Crawley is worth a punt for the Ashes? And I'd like to see Roy in the Test side.

No way should they drop Moeen for the Test series. But it'd be nice if he found some form with the bat.

crunchman

Stuckfast said:

I wonder if Zak Crawley is worth a punt for the Ashes? And I'd like to see Roy in the Test side.

No way should they drop Moeen for the Test series. But it'd be nice if he found some form with the bat.

You have to pick the best spin bowler.  Leach is better than Moeen.

With the likely balance of the England attack - with Archer and/or Wood, and aging bowlers like Anderson that you don't want to overbowl, England will need a spinner capable of bowling 25 or 30 overs in the first innings and keep it tight.  If you want someone who can tie up an end and keep it tight to keep the fast bowlers fresh, then Moeen isn't your man.  He is an attacking bowler.

If you see the fast bowlers doing 90% of the bowling, and the spinner as a partnership breaker and fifth day pitch specialist, then Moeen is ok.  That's going to mean Archer, Anderson and Wood bowling too many overs and doing too much donkey work though.  Moeen would be ok as the second spinner (when required), but he isn't as good a bowler as Leach.  If Leach hadn't got injured at the start of last season, we wouldn't even be having this conversation, as he would have established himself in the team.

I don't think you can consider Moeen's batting as an advantage either.  Teams have worked out that he doesn't like the short ball.  Against Starc and Cummins, he will be a walking wicket.

earwighoney

Anyone else really impressed with Mustafizur's death bowling?  

His death bowling against India & Pakistan has been truly exceptional. 

Stuckfast

I don't agree that Leach is a better spinner than Moeen, but a lot of that debate will hinge on how many left-handers there are in the Aussie top order. I wonder if Carey will play in the Test matches? He looks handy but isn't Paine the man in possession?

There might be a case for playing both of them and not playing Rashid?

SouthpawMark

England vs The Criminals it is then. Let’s hope Khawaja is passed fit to play. 

guitars4you

SouthpawMark said:

England vs The Criminals it is then. Let’s hope Khawaja is passed fit to play. 

Bring it on - Looking forward to this - Looks like Thursday is now booked out as far as I'm concerned

I know anything can happen but you can't help feeling India are a step or two already on the way to the final - But I hope NZ surprise them

RandallFlagg

Tried watching the Women England v Aus. It's OK but not brilliant. Apart from pervy thoughts of "nice arse" it's all a bit tame and lacking the aggression and power of the men's game.

SouthpawMark

RandallFlagg said:

Tried watching the Women England v Aus. It's OK but not brilliant. Apart from pervy thoughts of "nice arse" it's all a bit tame and lacking the aggression and power of the men's game.

I reckon cricket is the sport with the biggest gap in quality between the men and women. It’s borderline unwatchable. 

RandallFlagg

SouthpawMark said:

RandallFlagg said:

Tried watching the Women England v Aus. It's OK but not brilliant. Apart from pervy thoughts of "nice arse" it's all a bit tame and lacking the aggression and power of the men's game.

I reckon cricket is the sport with the biggest gap in quality between the men and women. It’s borderline unwatchable. 

Agreed. Looks like England women got smashed, all out for 75. 

Watch the vid (in the link below) of Amy Jones, England opening batswoman. Out for a duck, shocker. It's like watching junior school kids cricket. I'm out.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/48902284

SouthpawMark

RandallFlagg said:

SouthpawMark said:

RandallFlagg said:

Tried watching the Women England v Aus. It's OK but not brilliant. Apart from pervy thoughts of "nice arse" it's all a bit tame and lacking the aggression and power of the men's game.

I reckon cricket is the sport with the biggest gap in quality between the men and women. It’s borderline unwatchable. 

Agreed. Looks like England women got smashed, all out for 75. 

Watch the vid (in the link below) of Amy Jones, England opening batswoman. Out for a duck, shocker. It's like watching junior school kids cricket. I'm out.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/48902284

At first I thought that must have been a leading edge, but no, straight off the face. Honestly, I’ve seen better batsmen in Sunday village league, but these are actually PAID to play cricket.

I’m all for equality, but when there’s such a gaping chasm in ability, it’s not warranted.