England Cricket 2021

[Monkeygrinder's Organ]

So with the series in SA off the theoretical next games are in 2021. Squad for the tour of Sri Lanka announced: Moeen, Bairstow, Lawrence In Revamped England Test Squad.

Moeen Ali is in - I can see why they're so keen to have him but it's a big risk given his form for quite a while now. Good to see Foakes back in. Burns is out due to the upcoming birth of his child so back to messing with the openers, sounds like moving Crawley up is the chosen option.

 

[littlebabyjesus]

No leg spin option, which is a shame. I'm not sure there's much point in playing Bess and Moeen Ali in the same team. Agree about Moeen's form - he's looked a spent force in recent times. Squad has a bit of an Adil Rashid-shaped hole in it.

Have they learned from last time? That just doesn't look like a squad chosen for SL to me. Anderson and Broad and Curran and Woakes. Are any of them likely to make any kind of impact? Anderson, Broad and Curran played a total of five matches between them on the last tour of SL, taking two wickets. Stokes was more successful. Wood would be a good option for his pace, and Stone perhaps. But I wouldn't fancy having any of those four ABCW in the team.

 

[Monkeygrinder's Organ]

No leg spin option, which is a shame. I'm not sure there's much point in playing Bess and Moeen Ali in the same team. Agree about Moeen's form - he's looked a spent force in recent times. Squad has a bit of an Adil Rashid-shaped hole in it.

Have they learned from last time? That just doesn't look like a squad chosen for SL to me. Anderson and Broad and Curran and Woakes. Are any of them likely to make any kind of impact? Anderson, Broad and Curran played a total of five matches between them on the last tour of SL, taking two wickets. Stokes was more successful. Wood would be a good option for his pace, and Stone perhaps. But I wouldn't fancy having any of those four ABCW in the team.

Yes I'm sure they would have liked Rashid but I don't think his shoulder is up to it. I'd like to have seen them chance another younger spinner - Amar Virdi is in the reserve squad and seems promising (although I'm no expert), it could have been a good chance for him to be in and around the squad. Maybe a risk but then so is Moeen, and they do need options that aren't more medium Pacers.

 

[planetgeli]

Both tests are at Galle. I've been to Galle (in fact I've been shown round the ground by the security who were desperate to earn a tip - they explained how poorly paid they were) it's a fantastic ground with the fort and all. It was December and when it rained it absolutely hammered it down. Heaviest rain I've ever seen I think. So there's that to add to the equation for January games.

Moeen, who we all love let's face it, is a very lucky boy. I'm not sure he's done anything lately to merit a place. Tend to agree with LBJ, perhaps minus a tiny bit of the love he holds for Wood, about the pace attack. Probably another 2 or 3 wickets to top up the 600 for Jim-eh. Glad they aren't flogging Archer.

Just hoping for any play really though. Proper cricket being in short supply.

 

[littlebabyjesus]

Watched some of NZ v WI last night. It feels weird that there is a country where everything is completely normal. Was exceedingly envious.

 

[littlebabyjesus]

Just noticed that Stokes isn't going to SL. That's a bit concerning to me. He was England's most successful seamer last time, and with Stokes in the side, they would only need to play one specialist seamer. I fear Curran will get the nod as Stokes' replacement then they'll play two more seamers on top of that. This squad is oddly imbalanced. Six seamers and three spinners, no wrist spinner.

Possible team?

Crawley
Sibley
Bairstow?
Root
Buttler
Pope/ AN Other
Foakes (wk)
Woakes
Bess
Wood
Leach

I wouldn't play Anderson or Broad. Conditions don't suit their bowling and they offer next to no batting. With this squad, it seems a bit of a case of picking your test specialists because they're contracted so you have to pay them anyway.

As ever, I'll be delighted to be proved wrong when Anderson takes a five-fer on the first day.

 

[SpookyFrank]

Just noticed that Stokes isn't going to SL. That's a bit concerning to me. He was England's most successful seamer last time, and with Stokes in the side, they would only need to play one specialist seamer. I fear Curran will get the nod as Stokes' replacement then they'll play two more seamers on top of that. This squad is oddly imbalanced. Six seamers and three spinners, no wrist spinner.

Stokes has family stuff going on, could be a factor.

 

[planetgeli]

I wouldn't play Anderson or Broad. Conditions don't suit their bowling and they offer next to no batting.

Bit harsh on the man who averaged a fraction just under 30 this summer. With the bat.

 

[littlebabyjesus]

Bit harsh on the man who averaged a fraction just under 30 this summer. With the bat.

Yeah, but in Sri Lanka against a turning ball? Stuart is glorious to watch in full flow, but I'm not backing him to reach double figures in SL. Leg break, leg break, wrongun, gone. Or in a left hander's case, perhaps wrongun, wrongun, legbreak gone.

 

[planetgeli]

Jacques Kallis to work with England's batsmen during Sri Lanka Test series

Former South Africa all-rounder Jacques Kallis will work with England’s batsmen in Sri Lanka in the new year, the ECB has confirmed

www.theguardian.com

He annoyed me greatly as a cricketer but you can't knock his greatness. Don't know what he's like as a coach but I suspect it's a good throw of the dice.

 

[littlebabyjesus]

He valued his wicket very highly, so yes, could well be a good move. Kallis had a very tight technique. Maybe he'll be able to stop Jonny Bairstow getting bowled quite so much.

 

[planetgeli]

Moeen Ali tests positive for Covid-19 as England arrive in Sri Lanka

Ali enters 10-day self-isolation period and appears certain to miss first Test

www.espncricinfo.com

Sigh.

 

[butchersapron]

Shambles, They announced all passed on way out and way in. All official. Then 30 mins later...so that's 30 mins into the short tour.

 

[littlebabyjesus]

Sat next to Chris Woakes on the plane, it seems. Week isolation for Woakes, too.

Only taking three spinners when you're likely to want to play three spinners always seemed a wrong selection even without this. With this, it seems very foolish.

 

[planetgeli]

Don't FUCK IT up Jos. Gonna need to be good with the gloves.

 

[littlebabyjesus]

Moeen's isolation extended to the weekend. Still recovering as well, so probably no chance at all of him playing in SL. What a miserable experience for him.

England set to play three seamers. Maybe that will work, I dunno. Starc's had success in SL recently, so it's not like seamers can't take wickets there, but there's a reason SL often only play one specialist seamer at home, and it's not because they don't have other seamers.

 

[cybershot]

Well, that, was, erm, a little too easy.

 

[MrSki]

England have got to bat yet.

 

[planetgeli]

Reverse sweeps, long hops getting wickets...thank God that was Sri Lanka.

Village test cricket indeed.

 

[QueenOfGoths]

Come on Johnny, don't fuck this up!

 

[littlebabyjesus]

Oh dear. Sri Lanka appear to be at a very low ebb, test cricket-wise.

I see England have picked Sam Curran as team mascot again. Didn't see any of it. How was Buttler's keeping?

 

[littlebabyjesus]

Reading Dobell, he is glowing about Broad's bowling, mixing things up cleverly on a dead wicket. So well done him. Very pleased to be proved wrong about his selection.

 

[planetgeli]

How was Buttler's keeping?

He had absolutely nothing difficult to do. Probably the easiest day of spin he'll ever keep to.

Broad was good, uses his head these days, changed tactic early on and got his reward.

Wrong spinner got 5, Leach bowled miles better than Bess. Really was a comical 5-for on the whole. SL were just absolutely shite. This could be over in 3 days. I thought Sibley and Crawley were both unlucky in different ways. Sibley got a tickle, a real small one, and Crawley looked good for the few minutes he was there. Should have gone full IPL (sorry) with his shot that got him out. He looked like he fancied it, which was kind of why he got out. Touch more conviction and he'd have been there 70-odd not out at close.

 

[a_chap]

One of my tweets liked by Sir Geoffrey himself

 

[redsquirrel]

Well good batting practice for Root and Lawrence.

 

[SpookyFrank]

How many teams have a test match centurion batting at number 11?

 

[planetgeli]

Both tests are at Galle. I've been to Galle (in fact I've been shown round the ground by the security who were desperate to earn a tip - they explained how poorly paid they were) it's a fantastic ground with the fort and all. It was December and when it rained it absolutely hammered it down. Heaviest rain I've ever seen I think. So there's that to add to the equation for January games.

Hmm. I did warn you. (I read a report somewhere yesterday that mentioned the 'unseasonable' rain - nah mate). Apparently there's more around over the weekend, hopefully not enough to save SL.

Bit of a toss-up which is worse - their batting or their bowling. Truth is they are both poor but you can only beat what is put in front of you etc. Lawrence looked good, really good. I'm going to be annoyed in the future if he's left out but Burns and Bairstow get in before him. He looks like he belongs straightaway. I've never thought that in 21 matches of Burns despite the two hundreds.

Root - about bloody time.

It's England v the weather now. That pitch is spitting and jumping already and we've only had a day and a half.

 

[littlebabyjesus]

They do have amazing ground staff, though. Best in the world, because they need to be.

 

[Monkeygrinder's Organ]

Burns was what the team needed at the time wasn't he - an opener who'll put a high price on his wicket and stick around so the middle order isn't exposed within a few overs. He might be what it needs for a while still but if Crawley does well as an opener you could see him being the one to be squeezed out. I think he'll always be one of those players whose place is under threat tbh.

 

[Teaboy]

Not sure much will be learned from this series.