England Cricket 2015

[littlebabyjesus]

Just for the hell of it and because it won't happen how about

Cook, Hales, Bell, Root, Taylor, Stokes, Bairstow, Ali, Rashid, Wood, Anderson?

Drop Buttler and Broad (2 wickets at nearer 70 apiece). And bring back Compton for SA?

Broad's been quite unlucky with the dropped catches and no-balls. And he can bat. And he's streaky - always has been. He could have a 5-fer around the corner.

But does Bell have a century around the corner? Maybe. I may be wrong, and hope I am, but I don't see the evidence for it.

 

[redsquirrel]

Did anyone listen to the TMS media panel on the lunchtime slot of the last day? Mike Selvey made a suggestion that England could play five pacemen, the basis being that actually when you look at the stats the visiting bowlers that do best here are nearly all pacemen. And for the most part our seamers have been very economical even if they haven't been taking wickets, Broad may be averaging 70 but he's going for less than 2 and half an over, whereas Ali and Rashid are going at over 4.5 an over and have averages over 50.

It's somewhat counterintuitive but there's some logic behind it. Won't happen though.

 

[littlebabyjesus]

I think there's a case for playing your best bowlers, regardless of style. Last time out Swann and Panesar both did really well. But I don't think either Ali or Rashid is a patch on those two. 'Ordinary' spinners like Ali, Rashid and Babar seem to do very badly in UAE. Seems to me that it's only really good spinners that prosper.

ETA: People who didn't know what they were talking about used to criticise Panesar for bowling the same stock ball over and over again. Oh for a spinner who can do that now.

 

[DrRingDing]

Woods being rested (dodgy ankle).

Plunkett or Patel?

 

[paulhackett]

Woods being rested (dodgy ankle).

Plunkett or Patel?

Plunkett. Apparently.

 

[Santino]

Broad's conceded 1 run so far today. Off 9 overs. 46 consecutive dot balls.

 

[SpookyFrank]

Stokes done himself a right mischief here by the looks of things

Leaves us with only two fast bowlers if he's out. And two inexperienced spinners.

Finally Alex Hales gets on the pitch though, if only as a sub fielder.

 

[Lo Siento.]

Brilliant innings from Taylor that.

 

[Zapp Brannigan]

222-4, 12 runs behind at close. James Taylor on 74 and playing brilliantly, looks a natural against spin - can't believe the commentators aren't rinsing the "James Taylor Quartet" gag every time he hits a 4 though.

 

[Idaho]

Can we avoid our usual following morning collapse?

 

[Zapp Brannigan]

Still some good batting to come. Go through the morning session sensibly for a lead of 60 or so, then the likes of Rashid and Broad can cut loose a bit. 100+ lead is definitely possible and should set us up nicely, although only having 2 seamers is a worry.

 

[Idaho]

3 quick wickets tomorrow morning and we get a 30 run lead...

 

[SpookyFrank]

Stuart Broad now has a tram named after him in Nottingham

 

[Zapp Brannigan]

Not a great start to the day, Taylor and Bairstow both gone without scoring much more.

Lead's up to 41 though, handy enough. Patel looks good so far.

 

[redsquirrel]

You'd think a lead of 50+ on this wicket would be very handy indeed.

EDIT: Bugger, Rashid just gone.

 

[Cerberus]

Groan...just as I was reading Zapp's post Rashid falls - commentators curse?

What do we all think is a handy lead? What do we think we'll get?

Anything over a 100 I'd bite yer hand off for. Reckon we'll add another 10/15...

 

[Idaho]

We need a 100 lead.

 

[kabbes]

It's hard to predict, really. Even if we scored no more from now, I could see Pakistan being 3 down before drawing level. Or maybe none down. The "need" now depends on how we begin that next innings

 

[SpookyFrank]

Pakistan close to cancelling out our lead without losing a wicket

 

[kabbes]

It's hard to predict, really. Even if we scored no more from now, I could see Pakistan being 3 down before drawing level. Or maybe none down. The "need" now depends on how we begin that next innings

Like I was saying...

 

[Idaho]

Like I was saying...

Your prediction that a range of different things could happen has miraculously come true.

 

[kabbes]

Your prediction that a range of different things could happen has miraculously come true.

Droll. But what I was saying is that talking about whether England "need" a lead of 50 or 100 is pretty meaningless, because the biggest uncertainties in the game were yet to come

 

[Santino]

Your prediction that a range of different things could happen has miraculously come true.

He gets paid to do that too.

 

[kabbes]

He gets paid to do that too.

The more things and the more uncertainty, the more people like it

 

[DrRingDing]

Plunkett. Apparently.

Bet they wished they did.

 

[Idaho]

Ughh. Unwatchable. Watch this flat lifeless pitch become a minefield as we get skittled for 150.

 

[DrRingDing]

Boycott reckons we should have stuck with Carberry too.

Racist old boy selectors.

 

[DrRingDing]

Boycott reckons we should have stuck with Carberry too.

Racist old boy selectors.

A person of colour may get to bowl but do not get ideas above your station and expect a fair go batting.

 

[DrRingDing]

Bell out for a duck. Will that be the end of Bell? I get the impression he may jump before being pushed.

 

[DrRingDing]

Is Ballance playing cricket this winter?