Yep, I did know that! Lol. Got the Bs confused.
But is this all down to England having focused on short-form cricket? Clearly tossed it in as soon as it looked tough?
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Cricket
- Thread starter mb64
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But is this all down to England having focused on short-form cricket? Clearly tossed it in as soon as it looked tough?
The ECB have even moved the Country Cricket season so that the 100 gets the best wickets, which just shows where their focus has been which is on white ball cricket. Doesn't help when we try and get our players playing overseas, for example, here in Australia but they don't allow many if any to come over with only 6 Shield teams to play in.
There has to be a similar focus like there was in the late 90's to change direction and have a massive focus on red ball cricket which culminated in the 2005 Ashes win. We have gone backwards not forwards from there due to the ECB's decisions and I think a lot there needs to change (but not he captain).
If it was a 6 test series and Hazelwood is fit for the last test, who misses out Cummins, Starc, Hazelwood or Boland?
For mine it has to be Starc, Boland has established himself in the side as far as I'm concerned.
Its probably a good thing that no-one needs to make that decision, I wouldn't want to make that call, but you'd potentially be right with Starc.
I think Starc the only quick from both countries to play all 5 tests so would give him a spell if there was a 6th test
Root is overrated IMO. A poor front foot player, bowlers for some reason bowl short of a length to him. Bowl full and straight and he really struggles. Great back foot player though.
He isn’t helped by his teammates.
He scored so many more runs because he played so many more tests than anyone else in 2021.
Good player, not a great player.
An average of 50 and he's not a great player. OK if you say so.
BTW the comment on 500 more runs, was 500 more runs than any other ENGLISH player. Nowhere in that post did I compare him to others outside of the England team.
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Root's a very good, not quite great player for me.
Averages 49 in Test cricket, but 38 against Australia, and 35 in Australia, with zero hundreds in 14 Tests here. But his record against India is magnificent. You could argue he's great, but just short of it for mine.
Shithouse captain, though.
Averages 49 in Test cricket, but 38 against Australia, and 35 in Australia, with zero hundreds in 14 Tests here. But his record against India is magnificent. You could argue he's great, but just short of it for mine.
Shithouse captain, though.
All-time great this lad Cummins. Thank you Tim Paine's d1ck (ffs, we can't say d1ck?) for forcing the right choice on the selectors.
What about Green. Woah.
Pitches with something for the bowlers. Even in a one-sided series, it makes for better watching than roads with hundreds galore. Earn your runs. An important correction.
What about Green. Woah.
Pitches with something for the bowlers. Even in a one-sided series, it makes for better watching than roads with hundreds galore. Earn your runs. An important correction.
Looked like the white flag went up once Pope and Billings went quickly. Or bowlers tired of being expected to make the runs as well as do the hard work of taking wickets.
Or everyone just wants to go home!
Robinson’s dismissal was painful. Don’t like the cut of that guy’s jib.
Pommies were *smile*, but this Aussie team is building to something. Good leadership, great camaraderie, lethal bowling, new steel to the batting.
England in England, India in India, South Africa in South Africa. The trifecta awaits.
Pommies were *smile*, but this Aussie team is building to something. Good leadership, great camaraderie, lethal bowling, new steel to the batting.
England in England, India in India, South Africa in South Africa. The trifecta awaits.
Theres something not quite right about Robinson right? Thats why I think he needs to be sat down and asked if he wants to pull the hard yards for England. If he doesn't then release him back to County cricket and move on with someone else. He has all the skills to lead our bowling after Anderson / Broad but he needs to get super fit and increase his speeds. I'm not sure how much he really wants to be playing for England though, he just doesn't seem that committed to me.
Green is going to be something really special. His bowling is outstanding. His batting is a bit robotic at the moment, moreso when he's starting out but once he gets passed around 25 or so, he seems to relax and looks so much better. He just needs to trust in himself and gee he could be anything. I'm seeing someone as important as Kallis was to South Africa (probably a bit more weighted to bowling though). Kallis was 55 with the bat and 33 with the ball. I can see a similar gap between them, something like 25 with the ball and maybe low 40's with the bat. Would go down as 1 of the greatest all rounders with that (plus will pick up a heap of catches as he's excellent in the field)), again comparing to Kallis who took 200 catches (about 1.3 / game), Green already has 9 in 9 tests.
Reckon thats what the aspiration would be, a more bowling focused Kallis type.
The wickets were good, as you say much better than those runfests.
I really like the way they have stopped the sledging and actually smile while they are playing. I reckon getting enjoyment out of the game is good for their form, worked for Richmond.
DS
England not helped by being England. Pressure, build up, 2 years planning and a fanfare that this year is the year.
And then the implosion.
Not helped by pandemic and excessive touring and constant restrictions, but who is surprised that England just collapse into a heap. Every single time, every series.
At least they turned up To play away, which we haven't done yet.
There is a malaise that settled into England like pneumonia. Joe Rot.
Not from playing county cricket in the spring and short form in the peak summer.
But from letting 39yo Anderson bowl spells that decrease in intensity if its not his conditions.
Letting sessions drift until the new ball by bowling Root and Malan in tandem.
Australia might bowl Smith or Marnus, but only for 2-3 overs looking to get an ugly wicket. But England will let the game ebb and not look to dictate.
Throwing wickets away. It's not a white flag Mr P, it's worse. Woakes, Robinson, Wood, all the tail enders. This wasn't going to be a Sydney draw, but its an opportunity to practice scratching and clawing and surviving. So that when a Sydney comes then they have the experience to fight.
what they did wasn't taking the attack to the Aussies, or give up. They showed that they don't value their wicket. It's worse than giving up.
Fortitude isn't built in good times. Effort isn't something you turn on or off to conserve for a better day.
England lacked energy and heart, because as a team and a cricket association they allow it
And then the implosion.
Not helped by pandemic and excessive touring and constant restrictions, but who is surprised that England just collapse into a heap. Every single time, every series.
At least they turned up To play away, which we haven't done yet.
There is a malaise that settled into England like pneumonia. Joe Rot.
Not from playing county cricket in the spring and short form in the peak summer.
But from letting 39yo Anderson bowl spells that decrease in intensity if its not his conditions.
Letting sessions drift until the new ball by bowling Root and Malan in tandem.
Australia might bowl Smith or Marnus, but only for 2-3 overs looking to get an ugly wicket. But England will let the game ebb and not look to dictate.
Throwing wickets away. It's not a white flag Mr P, it's worse. Woakes, Robinson, Wood, all the tail enders. This wasn't going to be a Sydney draw, but its an opportunity to practice scratching and clawing and surviving. So that when a Sydney comes then they have the experience to fight.
what they did wasn't taking the attack to the Aussies, or give up. They showed that they don't value their wicket. It's worse than giving up.
Fortitude isn't built in good times. Effort isn't something you turn on or off to conserve for a better day.
England lacked energy and heart, because as a team and a cricket association they allow it
It's no secret England's administration were desperate for a World Cup and have seriously prioritized white-ball cricket for the last five years.
It worked. They got their World Cup.
But they also have to put up with performances like today as a consequence.
It worked. They got their World Cup.
But they also have to put up with performances like today as a consequence.
Yes I have noticed this as well. Despite the result one thing that has characterised this series is the lack of nastiness. It is like the two teams actually get on…..
I think the two captains have had a lot to do with that. Not sure whether Root is a good captain but I thi k he has carried himself incredibly well during the series.
