The Ashes 2015

[littlebabyjesus]

Face not fitting - yes
Racism - No

?

Compton's face clearly didn't fit. Given he's white that's not likely to be racism. I don't see evidence that it was racism with Carberry, tbh.

I'd have given Carberry a go against Sri Lanka last year, but he was struggling along with the others. A normally fine fielder, he dropped a couple of easy catches. That's one of my worries with Bell at the moment. Three slip catches he's dropped this summer. Subtract that from his runs, and he's almost in negative territory.

 

[littlebabyjesus]

Just to expand on the above, in this case, identifying a pattern across various players and their treatment, I don't think racism plays an important part. I do think something else is going on that has to do with a certain favouritism and the identification of core players who will be given loyalty beyond reasonable limits. Hence Trott was recalled for the Caribbean. Hence Broad has survived some very iffy spells in his career. And hence Bell will probably not be dropped for the next test. I know that Bell is hugely liked by everyone, and being hugely liked seems to be an important factor in this England set-up.

 

[littlebabyjesus]

And I note that Carberry is opening again today. Is that a coincidence? 50-odd not out overnight. A double hundred on a Southampton belter might be quite timely.

 

[paulhackett]

Just spent the past week at Lord's. Most amusing. Apart from the cricket. One team seemed more focused than the other. That team won. Difference between the teams is Mitchell Johnson. Put him in an England shirt and they would win. Seems like a good lad too - well he would do as they were winning.. pfft.

 

[Idaho]

Just to expand on the above, in this case, identifying a pattern across various players and their treatment, I don't think racism plays an important part. I do think something else is going on that has to do with a certain favouritism and the identification of core players who will be given loyalty beyond reasonable limits. Hence Trott was recalled for the Caribbean. Hence Broad has survived some very iffy spells in his career. And hence Bell will probably not be dropped for the next test. I know that Bell is hugely liked by everyone, and being hugely liked seems to be an important factor in this England set-up.

The team will spend a lot of time together. If someone is hard to get on with, it won't help.

In that regard I wonder if Anderson is a double edged sword. I get the impression he dominates the dressing room a bit.

 

[SpookyFrank]

You mean the James Taylor who's currently not even averaging 30 in the CC this season? If he's supposed to be England's saviour then they are fucked.

291 against Surrey yesterday...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cricket/33596010

 

[SpookyFrank]

In that regard I wonder if Anderson is a double edged sword. I get the impression he dominates the dressing room a bit.

He's probably one of the people who you have to get on with or you're fucked.

 

[Lo Siento.]

It's a right old mess IMO.

Ballance is the obvious person to be dropped...and the batsmen demanding to be in the team are Bairstow & Taylor - neither of which are test No. 3s.

This means we're going to have to fuck with the order of batting, moving Groot up to 3, keeping Bell at 4 and lobbing in the replacement at 5.

Still doesn't seem satisfactory.

You can't drop Bell as we all know how good he is and playing on his home ground is likely to give him some confidence. A Bell finding form would be very valuable.

Carberry was cruelly dropped by no doubt racist selectors. He didn't do amazingly in Aus but he kept his nerve and played appropriately for an opener. He would do better in home conditions......although his form isnt great.....maybe give Lyth one more chance.

My 11 for Edgbaston......

1.Cook (not baldy bollocks to face the first ball)
2.Lyth
3.Groot
4.Bell
5.Taylor
6.Stokes
7.Bairstow
8.Moeen
9.Broad
10.Wood
11.Anderson

Might seem counter intuitive but I might be tempted to move Bell to 3. Firstly, because Root is making runs where he is and I'm reluctant to mess with that. Secondly, because Bell has the technique to play at 3 and even if he fails what difference does it make anyway?

 

[redsquirrel]

Balance replaced by Bairstow in England squad, no other changes so looks like it will be the same team as at Lords but with Bairstow playing and some fiddling with the order.

Excellent and deserved for Bairstow but from a Yorkshire perspective swapping an in form Bairstow for and out of form Ballance is a bit of a bugger, especially as it will coincide with the Durham game.

 

[littlebabyjesus]

No surprise, that. I think Ian Bell must be back at his stool in the last chance saloon, though. Perhaps Adam Lyth will buy him a drink.

They simply had to pick Bairstow.

 

[littlebabyjesus]

Excellent and deserved for Bairstow but from a Yorkshire perspective swapping an in form Bairstow for and out of form Ballance is a bit of a bugger, especially as it will coincide with the Durham game.

An out of form but hungry Ballance with something to prove. Who'll be facing the medium pace of Onions/Rushworth rather than the twin Mitches.

 

[redsquirrel]

An out of form but hungry Ballance with something to prove. Who'll be facing the medium pace of Onions/Rushworth rather than the twin Mitches.

Yeah but he's so out of form he's struggling at county level, I saw him against bat Middlesex earlier in the season and he looked well out. Hopefully I'm wrong but I think it will take some time for him to get any form back.

 

[DrRingDing]

Balance replaced by Bairstow in England squad, no other changes so looks like it will be the same team as at Lords but with Bairstow playing and some fiddling with the order.

That sends the right message. No panic, just add someone very likely to get runs.

 

[littlebabyjesus]

Good article on cricinfo about England's recent opener woes.

Makes a very pertinent point, I think, about Michael Carberry and his last six innings in tests.

A No. 5 with, for example, Carberry's run of scores - 43, 31, 38, 12, 0, 43 - would be "due". No one would be chucking them out of the team.

Reflects a bit what I thought at the time. Carberry lost his place because of the failures of others.

 

[DrRingDing]

I've never seen Alex Hales bat but........ http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cricket/33624292

56 balls for 103. Does he get himself in before going mental?

 

[DrRingDing]

Cook
Hales
Bell
Groot
Bairstow
Stokes
Buttler
Moeen
Broad
Mills
Anderson

That could be an explosive and devastating line up.

 

[littlebabyjesus]

Tymal Mills can't play long form cricket any more.

I'm not sure an explosive line up is the primary consideration here. Was Glenn McGrath explosive? No, he was relentless.

Also not quite sure what Mark Wood's done wrong to be dropped.

 

[Mr Retro]

Following the men's and women's ashes. Men's on TMS and the women's on Sky where the commentators don't annoy me so much.

I like the way the woman's ashes are decided among the 3 forms of the game but I'd like to see 1 more test in there.

Thumbs for Sky by the way, they give lots of quality coverage to the women. It allows you to become invested in it with their consistency of coverage.

 

[Argonia]

Tymal Mills can't play long form cricket any more.

I'm not sure an explosive line up is the primary consideration here. Was Glenn McGrath explosive? No, he was relentless.

Also not quite sure what Mark Wood's done wrong to be dropped.

Mark Wood is injured.

 

[Cerberus]

Is he?

I knew he was a doubt but is that confirmed?

If so, step up Mr Finn...

Middlesex watchers - has he sorted himself out now? Back to where he was 3 or 4 years ago?

Hope so....

 

[liquidlunch]

here we are at one all,looks like Haddin has made way for Pete Nevill,good thing for Hadds,his form was slipping in the past 12 months and Nevill played very well at Lords.Hopefully we will make heaps and your lot will make fuck all,Cab Sav poured and ready to enjoy another test,I love test cricket
nearly out,fuck this,bye till lunch

 

[Spymaster]

Warner lbw for 2.

Great start.

 

[redsquirrel]

Ha Ha dick gone early.

 

[liquidlunch]

Smith in early can only be good

 

[redsquirrel]

Finn wicket in his first over back.

Really pleased for the lad, he's had a horrible couple of years. Hopefully this early wicket will set him up

 

[Lord Camomile]

Warner lbw for 2.

Great start.

And he reviewed it, didn't he?

He's becoming a parody of himself!

 

[Monkeygrinder's Organ]

And he reviewed it, didn't he?

He's becoming a parody of himself!

Think you're thinking of Watson.

Warner becoming a parody of himself would be charging down the wicket and smashing the ball 200 feet directly up in the air.

 

[SpookyFrank]

Smith in early can only be good

Smith gone early even better

 

[Lord Camomile]

Think you're thinking of Watson.

Oh yeah, I am

 

[redsquirrel]

3 down! Finn two in his first spell, excellent stuff.