The only option, which is a sad state of affairs. Was it Brearley that became captain despite not being a good enough batsman, but because of his captaincy qualities?
Shouldn't be too tricky! ================= McCullum said he is aiming to "move the team forward into a more successful era" alongside new captain Ben Stokes. England are winless in nine Tests and have only won one of their past 17 matches.
Joffra Archer (remember him?) has been ruled out for the entire season. That means he joins Mahmood and Fisher out with back issues. They are so protected now that they do not bowl enough to build up body strength. Trueman bowled more than double the amount of overs every season with no problems what so ever. What's the saying...use it or lose it.
I think it's a one size fits all approach. Yeah some bowlers need protecting as they are more injury prone, but others need overs in their legs. Another one that was like that was Andrew Caddick, he needed to get into a rhythm to bowl well and when he was on song he was unplayable. He is one of only a few bowlers who actually got faster as they went into a spell.
England Test squad vs New Zealand For first two Tests: Ben Stokes (Durham) C James Anderson (Lancashire) Jonny Bairstow (Yorkshire) WK Stuart Broad (Nottinghamshire) Harry Brook (Yorkshire) Zak Crawley (Kent) Ben Foakes (Surrey) WK Jack Leach (Somerset) Alex Lees (Durham) Craig Overton (Somerset) Matty Potts (Durham) Ollie Pope (Surrey) Joe Root (Yorkshire)
You mention all those openers, a breed we without at this time. Is it the county system which frame red hall cricket into the early and late seasons when weather affects the pitches in order to maximise white hall cricket in the summer in order to get the crowds (and the income from them).
White ball cricket has indeed a lot to answer for in the development of Test quality openers. The job of seeing off the opening bowlers and knocking the shine of the ball has long gone. Test cricket has taken a backseat to limited over cricket in the quest for instant entertainment. I still prefer a day at a Test match, irrespective of the pace of the game.
Yay, test match cricket returns tomorrow, even if the crowd will be of Portmanesque proportions. please log in to view this image
I think we need an enquiry about the pitch because all those wickets falling on one day unlike the quality first day square turners you get in India. All seriousness though, gosh we need some batting practice!
I was quite calm knowing our middle order was solid and experienced. Root, Bairstow and Stokes. Bosh, eleven, one and one. A lead of 30 or 40 would be priceless on this pitch ---- fingers crossed.