England Cricket 2024
- Thread starter littlebabyjesus
- Start date
littlebabyjesus
one of Maxwell's demons
So how many runs would you pay to win the toss this week? I reckon it's got to be worth 100 runs.
Zapp Brannigan
Built like a steakhouse, handles like a bistro
England's batting unit is pretty settled, and loyalty is a big deal to the current selectors - the player in possession of the shirt is given plenty of protection and opportunities to play back into form. But...
We need to talk about Ollie Pope.
We need to talk about Ollie Pope.
Ok. On Pope then, it seems clear from his body language that he is mentally scrambled. A run of low scores will do that, anywhere in the world.
Is his technique in question too? - there’ll be others on here with better knowledge that me to judge. Did seem a poor choice of shot though.
Though as you say England will be outwardly loyal, they will have in mind a couple of replacements should Pope continue to fail in the NZ series.
Always a problem position #3 - esp for England.
Stokes gone now
Zapp Brannigan
Built like a steakhouse, handles like a bistro
In the context of an innings where all the wickets are tumbling, Pope can get a bit of leeway. But it's not just this innings; he's not contributing anything for a while now and it doesn't look like changing.
I think he'll get the New Zealand tour (more seam than spin, much closer to English style conditions) but that really is just 4 innings to get his head right; especially if the last match is dead either way in series terms, the reserve batter might well find himself playing.
Who are the likely candidates? Would likely have been Lawrence not so long ago but I'm a bit out of the loop and he's dropped off my radar.
I think he'll get the New Zealand tour (more seam than spin, much closer to English style conditions) but that really is just 4 innings to get his head right; especially if the last match is dead either way in series terms, the reserve batter might well find himself playing.
Who are the likely candidates? Would likely have been Lawrence not so long ago but I'm a bit out of the loop and he's dropped off my radar.
Monkeygrinder's Organ
Dodgy geezer swilling vapid lager
This is the tricky bit isn't it - it's really hard to think of anyone credible as a replacement as a number 3. There's plenty of options if you want an attacking 5/6 (including Lawrence) but for a 3 it's a lot harder to think of anyone. You could play Crawley there and pick a proper opener but England really don't seem to want to do that, and it's not like opener hasn't been a problematic position for years as well.
FWIW Pope averages 41 at 3 which is not bad. I'd agree he doesn't inspire confidence but equally there's not exactly a new Ricky Ponting being kept out.
planetgeli
There's no future in England's dreaming
Pope was picked on his 'near perfect' technique and as a good player of spin. There are now several stats and many comments from ex-players which say the opposite.
The problem is his head (easily scrambled) and his decision making. Unless you read the Daily Mail which thinks "a sweep is as good as a forward defence for Pope". Lol.
He averages 24 against India, 15 against Australia, and 28 against Pakistan.
He does however average 205 against Ireland.
Flat track Oval bully.
Anyway 150 up, time to declare.
The problem is his head (easily scrambled) and his decision making. Unless you read the Daily Mail which thinks "a sweep is as good as a forward defence for Pope". Lol.
He averages 24 against India, 15 against Australia, and 28 against Pakistan.
He does however average 205 against Ireland.
Flat track Oval bully.
Anyway 150 up, time to declare.
planetgeli
There's no future in England's dreaming
Well this is getting weird. Huge recovery plus an over rate unseen since the 1960s.
They've scored 70+ runs in the last 45 minutes.
They've scored 70+ runs in the last 45 minutes.
Monkeygrinder's Organ
Dodgy geezer swilling vapid lager
That's a great innings from Jamie Smith in the circumstances isn't it. Pity he couldn't quite get his century. Well played Gus Atkinson as well - looks like a solid option at 8/9.
littlebabyjesus
one of Maxwell's demons
250 might just be a fighting total.
Smith is pretty special. You don't have England on the ropes until you've got Smith out!
Smith is pretty special. You don't have England on the ropes until you've got Smith out!
littlebabyjesus
one of Maxwell's demons
Re no.3 being a problem, it only really seems to be a problem for England. Loads of the all-time greats batted there. Williamson bats there, as did Lara, Ponting, Richards, Sangakkara, Bradman!
England have it in their heads that No.3 is a hard place to bat. Others seem to disagree.
England have it in their heads that No.3 is a hard place to bat. Others seem to disagree.
Monkeygrinder's Organ
Dodgy geezer swilling vapid lager
Yeah one option would be to tell Joe Root he has to do it wouldn't it. To me that would seem a good option but he's pretty clear he doesn't want to I think, and I guess if you're Joe Root you probably do get to decide.
littlebabyjesus
one of Maxwell's demons
A couple of hours ago, it did not look like England were going to outscore NZ today! Good recovery.
This is a shocking pitch. Sorry, grubbers on day 1. Not good enough.
This is a shocking pitch. Sorry, grubbers on day 1. Not good enough.
QueenOfGoths
Fuck you Dave!
Well 267 is a lot better than I was expecting at 9.00 this morning.
Now down to the England bowlers. Oh and catchers. Catches win matches, as my Dad likes to say repeatedly to anyone in earshot
Now down to the England bowlers. Oh and catchers. Catches win matches, as my Dad likes to say repeatedly to anyone in earshot
Monkeygrinder's Organ
Dodgy geezer swilling vapid lager
Thing is it's a deliberately shocking pitch isn't it. I mean it's one thing if the cause is the weather conditions or whatever but if it's because you've spent all week trying to make it like that?
littlebabyjesus
one of Maxwell's demons
It makes it a lottery, which is clearly what Pakistan wanted. No point propping around as sooner or later, the ball with your name on it comes around and it doesn't matter how good you are, you're not keeping it out.
littlebabyjesus
one of Maxwell's demons
Anyhow, need a couple of wickets tonight or it will probably still be Pakistan's day.
littlebabyjesus
one of Maxwell's demons
I was saying that a lot during the Women's WC.
Zapp Brannigan
Built like a steakhouse, handles like a bistro
1 down. Pakistan had looked more comfy, but so did our opening pair for a bit. 1 more wicket and the day will be 50/50
Puddy_Tat
naturally fluffy
Zapp Brannigan
Built like a steakhouse, handles like a bistro
Small handful of not just low bounce but pea-rollers. Overall it felt like England made it look worse / Pakistan made it look better than it actually is, but for those occasional deliveries there's absolutely nothing a batter can do.
About what you might expect a late day 3 / day 4 pitch to be.
littlebabyjesus
one of Maxwell's demons
Reduces the skill levels. Pakistan should be in trouble for that, imo. They're basically admitting that they're not as good as England so they need to introduce randomness to give themselves a better chance.
Even with this pitch, though, England's bowlers need to be on the money. Consistency is key, so Ahmed might not be the best option. You have to pitch the ball in the same place again and again, keep things tight, and when they miss, which they will, you hit.
Leach is the best-equipped to do that.
That said, Atkinson got a wicket with one that stayed low. The harder you bang it into the pitch, the bigger the variation in bounce is likely to be. I think any bowler should want to bowl on this.
planetgeli
There's no future in England's dreaming
Having seen the highlights, I think Duckett should have reviewed on the grounds that the ball may well have bounced twice before it hit the stumps.
But there were also some crap shots in that top order.
But there were also some crap shots in that top order.
I think Root's bowling will be the most dangerous on his wicket. He pushes it through deceptively quickly. He could skim a few down at ankle level.
Smith continues to be pretty much their best player at the moment. Keeping on this wicket though... hell....
planetgeli
There's no future in England's dreaming
Apparently so.
When the groundstaff carried off the cover and wheeled away their patio heaters and industrial fans what was revealed was a mosaic of cracks marked here and there with areas of superficial scratches, evidence of the raking several England players spoke about in the build up.
littlebabyjesus
one of Maxwell's demons
I've watched the highlights and I'm a bit more forgiving. The wicket is turning square and sometimes just not bouncing at all, but it's all happening really slowly. So either you prop around for a bit then get one like Root did (or Duckett) or you have to take a chance, go hard and go aerially. Smith was nearly out caught on the boundary a few times and played some other shots straight out of t20, flaying balls aerially that were hitting middle stump half way up. Everyone was chancing his arm. It looks like that was the only way to score anything. Pakistan batters were doing similar things.
If England had scored 350, there would have been no way back for Pakistan, I don't think. This score keeps things interesting, but I'm not sure they did badly at all to get to 267. We'll see.
