The Ashes 2019
- Thread starter Monkeygrinder's Organ
- Start date
Pink Panther
Well-Known Member
Roy shouldn't really be batting higher than 5 in first class cricket. It was a massive gamble to pick him to open. Expecting him to adapt his whole game for the role and make a decent fist of it when he's only played two first class matches in the past two years isn't very realistic either.
Every so often some special player will redefine a role in spectacular fashion and our selectors become obsessed with unearthing someone who can emulate it. Anyone else remember when Derek Pringle was hailed as "the next Botham" and fast-tracked into the Test side after half a season of eyecatching all-round performances for Cambridge University against various counties? More recently we've had Shane Warne prompting the selection of any 20 year old who bowls leg spin, from Ian Salisbury to Chris Schofield to Mason Crane. We've had wicketkeepers who are expected to bat like Adam Gilchrist. Now we're picking destructive white ball openers on the basis of their ODI/T20I performances because David Warner made a success of it.
I know there aren't too many outstanding candidates in county cricket other than those who've already been tried and dropped, but we should just be doing what the likes of New Zealand have to do when they don't have obvious Test class batsmen queuing up to be picked: identity those who are best suited and persevere with them, which is what we actually seem to be doing with Burns who has delivered a 100 and a 50 in his last two matches.
Every so often some special player will redefine a role in spectacular fashion and our selectors become obsessed with unearthing someone who can emulate it. Anyone else remember when Derek Pringle was hailed as "the next Botham" and fast-tracked into the Test side after half a season of eyecatching all-round performances for Cambridge University against various counties? More recently we've had Shane Warne prompting the selection of any 20 year old who bowls leg spin, from Ian Salisbury to Chris Schofield to Mason Crane. We've had wicketkeepers who are expected to bat like Adam Gilchrist. Now we're picking destructive white ball openers on the basis of their ODI/T20I performances because David Warner made a success of it.
I know there aren't too many outstanding candidates in county cricket other than those who've already been tried and dropped, but we should just be doing what the likes of New Zealand have to do when they don't have obvious Test class batsmen queuing up to be picked: identity those who are best suited and persevere with them, which is what we actually seem to be doing with Burns who has delivered a 100 and a 50 in his last two matches.
littlebabyjesus
one of Maxwell's demons
Oh to have a batting line-up like New Zealand's. Quick glance at the line-up for the latest test shows a top seven each with at least one hundred to his name, with a lowest average of 36 - higher than all but one of England's top seven - one over 50 and three more over 40. Proper batting.
Casual Observer
enough
Calm down. We're about to go past Kent's second dig score against Essex. With 6 wickets still in the tank.
littlebabyjesus
one of Maxwell's demons
Yeah but Kent lost.
Casual Observer
enough
littlebabyjesus
one of Maxwell's demons
(((day 4 ticket holders)))
The Octagon
Stop...Hammertime
Ugh
planetgeli
There's no future in England's dreaming
((((Jofra))))
littlebabyjesus
one of Maxwell's demons
Terrible over-rate, so they will survive the session.
planetgeli
There's no future in England's dreaming
So who would you defend? Root and Bairstow at most, and that’s being charitable. Stokes and Burns were on the “jesusfuckingchrist” edge of madness/incompetence, Denly and Roy just so fucking predictable.
Stokes was trying to reach a ball that may well have gone to the left of first slip if he’d left it alone.
Buttler and Woakes to the rescue!
Stokes was trying to reach a ball that may well have gone to the left of first slip if he’d left it alone.
Buttler and Woakes to the rescue!
Zapp Brannigan
Built like a steakhouse, handles like a bistro
Good morning folks!
How are all you English cricket fans doing on this fine day?
Looks like David Warner is determined to make me eat my words. He put together a good first-innings knock, and now he has four catches in one session of play.
He's still a cunt though
planetgeli
There's no future in England's dreaming
Meanwhile poor old (young) Haseeb Hameed is now deemed no longer good enough for Lancashire (they’ve terminated his contract) let alone England.
littlebabyjesus
one of Maxwell's demons
Wondering why I bother tbh, after watching the wickets. Australia at least had to be got out yesterday. England just donated their wickets willingly. Brainless doesn't even start to describe it. All started by Roy, who was at least trying to score this time off the ball he should have been leaving alone. But he should have been leaving it alone, and he clearly does not understand that. Not a test batsman.Good morning folks!
How are all you English cricket fans doing on this fine day?
Collectively gutless and witless from the top 6. Again. That's the third time in four tests this summer that this has happened.
Ted Striker
Foot's on the other hand
littlebabyjesus
one of Maxwell's demons
Not a surprise and perhaps not a bad thing. It's all gone horribly wrong for him at Lancs for whatever reason. Maybe a fresh start somewhere else is what he needs, if he gets picked up by someone else that is.
mhendo
Aussie in San Francisco
It's a lonely life being a cricket fan in the United States, especially when you're married to an American.
I got up early to watch the first session (play starts at 6 a.m. here), and my wife didn't get up until two hours later. I told her that the Aussies had a really good morning, and England were 54 for 6.
She said, "I don't know what that means, but I'm glad you're happy."
I got up early to watch the first session (play starts at 6 a.m. here), and my wife didn't get up until two hours later. I told her that the Aussies had a really good morning, and England were 54 for 6.
She said, "I don't know what that means, but I'm glad you're happy."
marty21
One on one? You're crazy.
we will be fine - Woakes currently has a batting average of over 50 in this series , Buttler has an average of about 12
butchersapron
Bring back hanging
All that's behind the line is in the air - that's a No Ball.
butchersapron
Bring back hanging
Hameed just been let go by Lancs.
littlebabyjesus
one of Maxwell's demons
Ok, this is gone. Expect Aus to be 200-2 at the close. Out of sight.
planetgeli
There's no future in England's dreaming
It really doesn’t matter if you’re going to continue with catching practice. May as well concede.
butchersapron
Bring back hanging
Remember 81!
butchersapron
Bring back hanging
Or not.
Casual Observer
enough
If the odds reach 500/1, I'm nipping to the bookies.
