Boycott
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Seems Ballance's test obituary has been written which to me is unfair.The cupboard is bare in terms of guys that bat in the top 3.
Seems Ballance's test obituary has been written which to me is unfair.The cupboard is bare in terms of guys that bat in the top 3.
I do agree with it. I think a lot of coaches are just glorified cheer leaders. Look at Ravi Shastri for India, I seriously doubt if he has capabilities to improve any young player and neither does he come across as someone who has good tactical knowledge of the game. Mike Hesson seems to be very good at that and that is why I was a bit disappointed Indian board did not get him.Is it just me who believes that the England (and Wales) cricket team needs a proper team manager similar to football.
Players seem to be able to get away with appalling performances and then get picked again for the next match.
While it is a fully professional game, it seems to be managed by a completely out of date system amateurist system.
Cricket is a results based sport and needs to move with the times.
They’re not though. Both sides have plenty of talent to choose from. England don’t have options for the top order, but for the rest they’re brimming with talent.Both teams are pretty bad ... one of the worst england batting line ups in some years, though.
This is just crickets failure to properly define 'talent' though. Most of that middle order have played a large number of tests and average in the mid thirties with the bat, that's not a powerhouse middle order, it's just very average in a very shit team.They’re not though. Both sides have plenty of talent to choose from. England don’t have options for the top order, but for the rest they’re brimming with talent.
Hasn't won a test against them yet!Surely Root can't survive 2 Ashes losses as Captain?
Absolute legend already.Archer
He's already everyone's favourite playerArcher
Everyone has a go at the umpires nowadays but imagine if DRS was around when Bucknor was making it up as he went along.So many decisions nowadays are overturned on review.
There must have been so many false decisions before DRS, impacting results and careers.
I’m old enough to remember Shakoor RanaEveryone has a go at the umpires nowadays but imagine if DRS was around when Bucknor was making it up as he went along.
The problem is that most of the squad were playing white ball cricket this summer and didn’t get the chance to prepare themselves properly for red ball cricket, same applies to the aussies to some extent.This is just crickets failure to properly define 'talent' though. Most of that middle order have played a large number of tests and average in the mid thirties with the bat, that's not a powerhouse middle order, it's just very average in a very shit team.
England wouldn't be so average in test cricket if they were all world class cricketers.The problem is that most of the squad were playing white ball cricket this summer and didn’t get the chance to prepare themselves properly for red ball cricket, same applies to the aussies to some extent.
Root, Stokes, Bairstow, Buttler, Anderson, Broad, Wood and Archer are all World class cricketers And there are a whole bunch of talented young players coming through as well. But NO top order batsman!
So you are denying that a Stokes or a Anderson are World class? All of those players I mentioned would walk in most test teams.England wouldn't be so average in test cricket if they were all world class cricketers.
Stokes, Bairstow and Buttler are class in white ball cricket but not close to world class in test match cricket if they were they would be averaging over well over 40 not well under.The problem is that most of the squad were playing white ball cricket this summer and didn’t get the chance to prepare themselves properly for red ball cricket, same applies to the aussies to some extent.
Root, Stokes, Bairstow, Buttler, Anderson, Broad, Wood and Archer are all World class cricketers And there are a whole bunch of talented young players coming through as well. But NO top order batsman!
Buttler. Bairstow. Stokes. Wood. Archer. aren't world class test players by any stretch of imagination. Broad is past his prime and whilst Joe Root is world class but he's at his best at number four and there's Virat Kohli and Steve Smith for that so he wouldn't get into India and Australia batting lineup.So you are denying that a Stokes or a Anderson are World class? All of those players I mentioned would walk in most test teams.
Maybe in WI or SL's team but not in India or Australia's side.So you are denying that a Stokes or a Anderson are World class? All of those players I mentioned would walk in most test teams.
Stokes, Archer/Wood, Anderson would surely for India and possibly Root lower down the order. For Australia Stokes, Root, Bairstow/Buttler, Anderson, Archer/Wood.Buttler. Bairstow. Stokes. Wood. Archer. aren't world class test players by any stretch of imagination. Broad is past his prime and whilst Joe Root is world class but he's at his best at number and there's four there's Virat Kohli and Steve Smith for that so he wouldn't get into India and Australia batting lineup.
Archer has played two test matches and both of them in England which always has been a test bowlers dream. Hold your horses about him being world class.
Still bitter about the world cup are we?Buttler. Bairstow. Stokes. Wood. Archer. aren't world class test players by any stretch of imagination. Broad is past his prime and whilst Joe Root is world class but he's at his best at number four and there's Virat Kohli and Steve Smith for that so he wouldn't get into India and Australia batting lineup.
Archer has played two test matches and both of them in England which always has been a test bowlers dream. Hold your horses about him being world class.
Stokes is the Word’s no 1 all rounder, Bairstow & Buttler up there as wicket keeper batsman. Wood is a brilliant fast bowler who’s hardly played test cricket due to injuries.Stokes, Bairstow and Buttler are class in white ball cricket but not close to world class in test match cricket if they were they would be averaging over well over 40 not well under.
Wood averages over 37 with the ball that’s not world class that’s shit
Still bitter about the world cup are we?
It depends on the pitch. In the subcontinent pitch I would not have Anderson. Wood won't even make our 15 man squad let alone the starting line up. India's pace attack is pretty lethal which comprises of Bumrah, Shami and Ishant. Too difficult to drop anyone. Having said that I would definitely have Archer. He is damn good.Stokes, Archer/Wood, Anderson would surely for India and possibly Root lower down the order. For Australia Stokes, Root, Bairstow/Buttler, Anderson, Archer/Wood.
You've been hammering England since the start of the series, even defending David Warner.
Only English fans are deluded enough to say that the majority of their test team is world class whilst they're getting walloped at home by a Smith less Aussie team. Christ.
Disagree on Stokes. He's probably the best all-rounder in Test cricket. Would walk into every side in the world.Buttler. Bairstow. Stokes. Wood. Archer. aren't world class test players by any stretch of imagination. Broad is past his prime and whilst Joe Root is world class but he's at his best at number four and there's Virat Kohli and Steve Smith for that so he wouldn't get into India and Australia batting lineup.
Archer has played two test matches and both of them in England which always has been a test bowlers dream. Hold your horses about him being world class.
Agreed on Anderson, but surely Stokes would walk in any team on any surface. All rounders are like gold dust and you could pick Stokes on his batting or bowling alone. And he’s an outstanding athlete and fielder.It depends on the pitch. In the subcontinent pitch I would not have Anderson. Wood won't even make our 15 man squad let alone the starting line up. India's pace attack is pretty lethal which comprises of Bumrah, Shami and Ishant. Too difficult to drop anyone. Having said that I would definitely have Archer. He is damn good.
This would be my combined line up in subcontinent tracks
Rahul Aggarwal(opening is pretty debatable) Pujara Kohli Root Rahane Pant Ashwin Jadeja Bumrah Ishant
In Eng or Aus
Rahul Aggarwal Pujara Kohli Rahane/Root Stokes Pant Jadeja Ishant Archer Bumrah