Exactly. If I remember rightly the last 2 rounds of CC matches you did well to score 200 due to the damp pitches, if you got any play at all. I understand that T20 income is what keeps some counties afloat, but teams generally have specialists anyway. Why not have a couple of 4 day games mon- thurs and T20 fri- sun, somthing has to change as it happens when we go to the sub continent and play against spin as well. Strauss out.
Prior to this series, Roots only negative on his cv was also in Australia. Not sure we can conclude it's because of the captaincy.
Could n't disagree more. His omission affects the whole balance of the batting line up. Just have to look at how our tail had folded. Not sure why they continued to bat Bairstow at 7 til this test. He was out at least twice batting with No.11, which is a total waste. He has been our second best bat for a few years now. Fed up of commentators saying 'he's in the form of his life'. No he's not, he's actually a class batsman. Problem is his keeping is pretty good now and doesn't deserve to be dropped from. Personally I'd get him to focus on his batting so move Malan to 3 and then put Bairstow at 5. If we want a batsman/keeper at 7, use Buttler. Re Stokes, in each test there have been periods where we have matched them. His fighting qualities (not literally) are exactly what we have missed.
Couldn't agree more. His approach to batting is disgusting. It's an insult to English cricket, and you do then question does he care enough. Yes, he was cracked in the face but with access to psychologists etc, he should have got over that. I've always questioned the validity of his century. In the same game The Pakistanis were 'done' for spot fixing and were actually jailed (remember the noballs), he doubles his next best score. I don't think we can play Anderson and Broad any longer. I'd drop him and get someone with a bit of pace in.
Yeah, not sure what the answer is. Fast bowlers generally couldn't cope with the demands of our season, Just have to look at Wood. Also the small number of test caps Cummins and Hazelwood (I think both had single figure before the start of thus series and yet have been around a long time) have played demonstrates that everything has fallen into place for them in this series.
All comes from the ECB, not so much the counties, and with Strauss and Bayliss REALLY prioritising 1 day and T20 stuff it will not change, especially with the ****ing ludicrous city T20 plans afoot too. Bayliss has admitted to having never seen a county match.....its not just Strauss who should be jettisoned
Agree on the Bairstow point, been saying since the first test he should be at 6 in Stokes' absence, but I still believe wholeheartedly that Stokes wouldn't have made that much difference to the results - obv we'd have been better without him, but we've been spanked by 10 wickets 150+ runs and facing an innings defeat here, as close as it has been in parts, thats like losing 4-0, 3-0 and being 3-0 down with 10 mins left. Other than the 2nd innings at Adelaide the bowling attack has been impotent, especially the openers 1 of whom's time as a guaranteed place must be up. You could argue that our best bowler in the past 2 tests has been COverton who he would have been playing instead of, and like I'd said, I don't think he is that good a test bowler that he'd have made a difference on these pitches, he's not express pace like Starc, Cummins or Hazlewood and is typically a lot more expensive than Broaderson
I guess we'll never know. Agree he wouldn't necessarily have strengthened the bowling. Look at what our tail has contributed though. His unavailability will have been a massive psychological blow before a ball had even started.
That rather ignores the fact that Pattinson (70 wickets at 26, plus a helpful batting average of 28) was ruled out before the series. They have four excellent pace bowlers, so three being fit isn't that lucky.
A batsman of his quality should be getting a lot more runs on this WACA pitch than he did. Smith/March plus Bairstow and Malan got runs, maybe just the pressure of an Ashes series, but if he can't handle that then there has to be question marks. It's happen with Botham and Flintoff. I guess TWT as FT used to say.
Possible life line at the Ashes, water has got onto the pitch over night and it is very soft in places. They are trying to dry it out with blowers, but with showers keep coming looks as if this might take time. Certainly already a delayed start.
Even with a 3 hour delay we look cooked, one more wicket and we are proper ****ed as broad and Anderson have nothing in the locker
Broad hasn't even got a locker. What a ****ing shambles. Cook, Root, Ali & Broad should hang their heads in shame. Feeble and gutless tours from 4 senior players
