To be fair an in form Roy is a monster. If he hits form for even one or two games he can win those games on his own
English cricket thread
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As can Hales. People forget how absolutely brilliant Alex Hales is.
I’m legitimately amazed they’ve gone with him after the drugs tests and his involvement in the Rafiq affair. Someone like Jacks or Smeed made way more sense.
Yeah, that really surprised me too.
I wonder how much input the rest of the squad had. Cricinfo reported last week that " there is little appetite for Hales to be recalled among senior players in the group " and in Stokes' recent documentary when talking about the Bristol incident he described him as his "friend at the time". Obviously you can't just pick a side on who likes each other but at the same time you don't necessarily want a guy coming in who people don't get on with because of past incidents.
It’s particularly baffling as he’s going to be a backup, seems totally unnecessary to upset the Apple cart like that, as good a player as he is.
i think he’ll pakistan his way into contention. if you bring him back in, you play him.
Why is he a backup? Come in as the Bairstow replacement, who Key had said would open.
Going to be opening with Buttler no?
Why would he have usurped Phil Salt? Salt who’s playing allows Buttler to not keep, out scored Hales in the Blast and just generally has been part of this side for the last year and primarily opens?
Agreed, but seems the management don't - going off the moving Bairstow up comments.
I think Salt will still play (and keep) but come in at no.4, where Bairstow was and Hales in for Roy...
Hales
Buttler
Malan
Salt
Stokes
Livingstone
Ali
4 bowlers
He was out of the squad for non-sporting reasons, if those have been overcome and he's in the squad he should play as he's in the top 6-7 T20 English T20 batsmen.
Bairstow moving up to open over Salt is one thing, Hales is another. Bairstow prefers opening and has a fair shout at being England’s best white ball batter, so while it’s not what I’d do I do see the sense.
The four right handers at the top is a worry there too, Stokes will almost certainly be moved into the top 4 (or Mo depending on match condition, but England need to get better at mixing up the order based on the match). I reckon Salt will open, everyone will move up and Sam Curran is in.
Having a Livingstone or a Mo come in too late is just pointless for everyone.
I think it's clear they've gone for Hales due to his experience with no Bairstow and Roy. Salt and Brook haven't played in a world cup and have played a little franchise cricket, but Hales has played a ton in various franchises and has scored the most runs of any non Australian in the Big Bash.
Sun shining at the Oval and we've delayed the start.
Cricket
Cricket
The forecast is not great for today and tomorrow.
All those weeks of sunny weather and they decide to play a test match in September
All those weeks of sunny weather and they decide to play a test match in September
It would help if they played when the sun was out. Like now.
England won toss and bowl first
No play tomorrow
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one of the benefits of bazball is that 3 days is enough.
Bazball meets Cronje ball would be a hell of a spectacle. Agree to one innings/day a side and let’s rock and roll
I'm there tomorrow. If we somehow get 98 overs in per day there can quite easily be a result.
But it's reliant on getting SA out for 200ish first up.
But it's reliant on getting SA out for 200ish first up.
Superb bowling. SA 5 down.
Robinson seems to have really stepped up a level this summer. He was good last year, but now he looks like one of the first names on the team sheet. Reward for Stokes and McCullum choosing him to open over Broad.
118 all out, let’s see what the England batting can do
40-3 incoming
only if we can rebuild from 12-3.
Crawley and Lees have completely switched their game around trying to find form, Lees trying to blast himself into form and Crawley being more watchful.
What is the reason Crawley hasn’t been dropped yet?
not nicked one to slip yet. give him time.
He was on the verge and played very well against India.
Also his dad plays golf with Rob Key.
Same with Lees, bring in Ben Compton and maybe give Keaton Jennings one last chance.
I did see Key defend the openers pretty strongly a couple of weeks ago so maybe no changes soon.
One thing England are missing is a left arm seamer, shame Luke Wood's FC average isn't better, as he's quite tall and bowls at a good pace.
Embarrassing from England, let the initiative slip. No need to go gung ho as they have.
England still can't really bat.
Lees and Crawley both have to be dropped surely.
Lees and Crawley both have to be dropped surely.
South Africa playing for a draw with a lead of 50 and 4 wickets down on day four with no sign of rain is… well it’s a choice.
They aren't playing for a draw though are they.
The rate these two are moving at they certainly aren’t trying to get any kind of lead
They're just struggling to score - nothing to do with playing for a draw.