If there has to be a scapegoat for losing this test it surely has to be whoever decided Bethell was a good pick for a series-deciding test match and then putting him in before Smith in the second innings. I'm not slagging Bethell off, if the call comes you don't say no, but he never should have been there.
Good point, but Bethell could have done himself a favour if he’d decided not to bat like a total c**t
Can someone explain something to me about Woakes? The commentators kept saying that he'd practiced batting left-handed in the nets and was expected to do it today if he'd found himself on strike. I understand that the point of that would've been to keep his injured left shoulder away from the ball, but how could he possibly have batted left-handed whilst his left arm was in a sling? Or did he actually mean bat one-handed but from a left-handed stance sort of like a backhand in racquet sports?
your top hand, right hand if you’re batting left handed, generally provides control of the bat so you would defend using just that arm. Like a normal batting position just without the bottom hand on the bat.
Put yourself in his shoes, he was likely surprised to be called up, he only got 2 overs in the first innings, then lbw to Siraj (no shame in that!), just 4 overs in the second innings, then following Brook in and probably desperate to contribute after playing hardly any red ball cricket this year. I'm not surprised he never settled!
I'm mostly right handed but bat left handed with my right hand at the top, controlling the bat. The left hand is used to steady the bat and provide power when required.
And the same goes for Smith. Great game, great series and so on but how I hate losing to them. Almost as bad as losing to the Aussies. I thought we threw the series away with some horrendous batting after Brooks threw his bat in the air.
For me, there's still an arrogance about some of the Bazball selections which is its weakness. Shoab Bashir looks nowhere near ready to me yet and would benefit from learning his trade in 4 day cricket but they chose to make him part of the squad on 'potential' and as if they think they can train him on the job, and he'll learn more from McCullum and Stokes then from playing county cricket. Ditto Bethell whose dismissal yesterday was shocking. Am I right in thinking he hasn't a first class hundred, and of course he hasn't played first class cricket in weeks because he's just been netting with England.
If I were in his shoes, I’d have thought f@@k me I’ve got a day & a half to get 50ish runs, these bowlers are knackered, I’ll play myself in, take a few singles then show my quality once I have my eye in. Unfortunately he showed his impatience and immaturity, batted for four overs and contributed five runs. Giving his wicket away so foolishly and cheaply gave the Indians heart and determination to go on and finish the tail off. I’m sure in the future he’ll come good for England. That’s my thoughts on it, you keep making excuses.
Indian bowlers had their tails up, they'd just got Brook out. We're all entitled to our thoughts, no?
Most games he's missed have been at home where they wallop everyone anyway is the simple explanation for that one
