England Cricket 2023

[littlebabyjesus]

I like Chris Woakes, and his record in England is superb (plus he'd be an excellent no.8 in the batting), but I don't think he gets near my best 11 right now. I'd go for Wood ahead of Archer at the moment but otherwise, that team doesn't look far off.

The situation has changed in that bowler rotation is inevitable. I think it's probable no single seamer will play all five games. Robinson might. I give everyone else a zero chance of it. So my seam bowling primary squad (assuming Stokes is fit enough to at least bowl a bit) would be: Anderson, Robinson, Wood, Archer, Broad. I expect all of them to play at some point, if fit. Possibles to come in outside of that are numerous. There are lots of players who've done well enough when they've played in the last couple of years: Potts, Mahmood, Fisher, Stone, J Overton. Plus Woakes is still a decent option. I think a lot will depend on how they go in the next couple of months in the CC.

 

[littlebabyjesus]

Archer sparks Ashes fears as England star misses two IPL games with injury scare

England have suffered an injury scare ahead of the Ashes, with fast bowler Jofra Archer experiencing discomfort in his right elbow during the IPL having twice had surgery on it in recent years

www.mirror.co.uk

Archer still out injured.

Yeah, it's still way too early to say anything too definite about Jofra tbh. Certainly in terms of test matches.

 

[WhyLikeThis]

I got my visa and jabs and ventured into deepest darkest Essex to watch Anderson open the bowling and Alastair Cook open the batting.

Cook didn’t last long, out for a duck. I was hoping for a bit of a scrap.

Anyhoo, next best is Anderson vs Dan Lawrence

 

[WhyLikeThis]

Keaton Jennings shunned bazball and played for a draw, piling on unecessary runs, disappointing both sets of fans.

 

[Petcha]

Ben Stokes is apparently the best player in the world. For the third time. I don't agree with this.

Totally the best captain in the world, but best player?

Jonny Bairstow is inaugural winner of new Wisden Trophy Test award

Jonny Bairstow has been named the inaugural winner of the Wisden Trophy, a new award for the outstanding individual performance in a Test match

www.theguardian.com

 

[WhyLikeThis]

Ben Stokes is apparently the best player in the world. For the third time. I don't agree with this.

Totally the best captain in the world, but best player?

Jonny Bairstow is inaugural winner of new Wisden Trophy Test award

Jonny Bairstow has been named the inaugural winner of the Wisden Trophy, a new award for the outstanding individual performance in a Test match

www.theguardian.com

“England’s Test cricket had grown joyless, producing one win out of 17 and the resignation of Joe Root, an exemplary team man but with too much on his plate and not enough acumen. Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum are cut from a more vibrant cloth, and have a clarity of vision. They even picked their best team.”

What a bitch (although totally correct).

 

[Monkeygrinder's Organ]

David Warner wins place in Australia’s Ashes squad along with Harris and Renshaw

David Warner has been given a lifeline after the opener was included in Australia’s 17-man squad for the World Test Championship final and the first two Ashes Tests

www.theguardian.com

Australia squad is announced. Looks like a strong first team (possibly excepting Warner who's never been great in England and is looking past his best) but not a huge amount behind that. Only one fast bowling reserve which could be a weak spot.

 

[littlebabyjesus]

They've got fast bowling back-up playing in the County Championship.

Labuschagne came in from the County Championship last time. Shouldn't be allowed.

 

[littlebabyjesus]

Warner appears to be in a weird place right now. He's the current top-scorer in the IPL, and he's probably lost his team at least two matches by not scoring quickly enough. How that will translate into test form, I don't know, but yeah, he looks over the hill. I'm quite happy for Aus to pick him tbh.

 

[Monkeygrinder's Organ]

TBF it's very sporting of them to balance out England's continuing selection of a liability as opener.

 

[WhyLikeThis]

If Scotty Boland makes the first XI, it’ll be interesting to see what he does with the Dukes ball.

 

[WhyLikeThis]

Not sure I’d want a partner fighting my battles on telly. Australia is an odd place.

’Who do they bring in that’s better?’: Candice challenges Ashes theory in David Warner debate

’Who do they bring in that’s better?’: Candice challenges Ashes theory in tense Warner debate

www.foxsports.com.au

 

[Petcha]

Warner appears to be in a weird place right now. He's the current top-scorer in the IPL, and he's probably lost his team at least two matches by not scoring quickly enough. How that will translate into test form, I don't know, but yeah, he looks over the hill. I'm quite happy for Aus to pick him tbh.

Warner in England as the pantomime villain is always a good laugh. I hope he's selected. Never seen a player get so much stick from the crowd, not even mitchell johnson (who is actually a nice guy apparently - Warner's an utter cock from what I can tell)

 

[Petcha]

Punching the sweetest man in England, Joe Root, in a bar probably didn't help

Anyone got tickets?

 

[WhyLikeThis]

Stokes collects another injury.

Injury 'setback' for England's Stokes in IPL

England Test captain Ben Stokes faces up to a week on the sidelines after an injury "setback", says IPL coach Stephen Fleming.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[WhyLikeThis]

Crawley and Duckett both in the runs, 170 & 177 respectively.

 

[Idaho]

I'll say it again. Foakes at 7 is the perfect insurance policy for bazball. Kind of a reverse Gilchrist. It would be a big mistake to drop him this summer.

I'm a foakes fanboy too.

Surely Crawley isn't in? Surely!? That would be surreal.

 

[souljacker]

Punching the sweetest man in England, Joe Root, in a bar probably didn't help

I've always thought that if I'd ever met a young Joe Root, I may have given him a slap as well. Just saying.

 

[Monkeygrinder's Organ]

Another 90 for Rehan Ahmed today. I think if you look at the list of bowlers England might pick Woakes looks the only solid number 8 and he's some way down the list. If he keeps scoring runs it will be hard for them to leave him out.

 

[Petcha]

I dont think they'll be changing the team too much, if at all. Only Bairstow for Crawley, surely. There's nice breaks between the matches so I don't know why Stokes wants 8 fast bowlers or whatever he asked for.

 

[WhyLikeThis]

The mind games are gathering pace.

60 metre boundaries? England’s plot staggering move in Bazball bid to thwart Aussies

60 metre boundaries? England’s plot staggering move in Bazball bid to thwart Aussies

www.foxsports.com.au

 

[WhyLikeThis]

The Aussies have taken the bait.

England slammed over sly Ashes plan to outfox Australia - "what a load of junk"

England are hoping to win the Ashes for the first time since 2015 this summer, having enjoyed great success playing 'Bazball' under Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes

www.mirror.co.uk

 

[WhyLikeThis]

Cool story Steve

Sussex spell has nothing to do with preparing for Ashes, claims Steve Smith

The Australian is set for a stint in the County Championship, saying: ‘It’s something I’ve never done and always wanted to do’

www.theguardian.com

 

[WhyLikeThis]

Bazball psyops have got the Aussies whining.

England’s short boundaries ploy and India’s pitch doctoring blur the line between home-ground advantage and gamesmanship

Short boundaries, must have a short boundary.

www.theroar.com.au

 

[SpookyFrank]

Cool story Steve

Sussex spell has nothing to do with preparing for Ashes, claims Steve Smith

The Australian is set for a stint in the County Championship, saying: ‘It’s something I’ve never done and always wanted to do’

www.theguardian.com

Another Guardian typo, they left out the Cheating Sack of Shit from the name Cheating Sack of Shit Steve Smith.

 

[Petcha]

Another Guardian typo, they left out the Cheating Sack of Shit from the name Cheating Sack of Shit Steve Smith.

Well Sky doesn't subtitle Michael Atherton's name when he's commentating with that either tbf

 

[WhyLikeThis]

Ollie Robinson snaffles 14 wickets in a match?!

Worcestershire v Sussex - Cricket - BBC Sport

Find out the in depth batting and bowling figures for Worcestershire v Sussex in the LV= County Championship - Division Two on BBC Sport.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[WhyLikeThis]

Oh dear, poor old Olly Stone

England are anxiously waiting for Olly Stone’s scan results after the Ashes hopeful hobbled off the field, part way through an over, with a hamstring injury during Nottinghamshire’s championship fixture against Lancashire at Trent Bridge on Saturday. Notts will not know the full extent of the injury until Stone has a scan at the conclusion of the match, but he was said to be hobbling around the dressing room on crutches.

England handed Ashes concern after Olly Stone suffers hamstring injury

England are anxiously waiting for Olly Stone’s scan results after the Ashes hopeful hobbled off the field during Nottinghamshire’s game against Lancashire

www.theguardian.com

 

[WhyLikeThis]

If you haven’t see Archer is still broke and heading back to Sussex.

Hazlewood is looking dodge too.

 

[Petcha]

If you haven’t see Archer is still broke and heading back to Sussex.

Hazlewood is looking dodge too.

How the fuck is Archer still on a central contract at probably £600k a year or something. I mean. I barely remember what he looks like. Just put him out to pasture.