Spoony
The People's President
He looks so innocuous. I think it's not long before test cricket fizzles out, though. T20 seems to be the choice.
Down to Leach and Mahmood to salvage something, again. Can't see it happening twice in the same match.
I've thought about this. I think it has to be someone who at least would be in or around the team regardless of captaincy. Burns would be one option (he's done just as well or better than the other openers we've tried, and has captained Surrey). I'm not sure if Foakes has ever captained Surrey. I'd be against Woakes, he shouldn't really play away from home, wrong side of 30 and like Root seems "too nice". Bairstow would be a wildcard, if we stop dicking around with his position and just have him lower in the order.The other option is to call up a specialist captain like Abell or Rhodes, someone who on paper isn’t really England quality at either batting or bowling but can lead the team. It’s not like any of the batters at the moment are playing England quality either.
I used to watch him a lot when he was at Yorkshire and he had a limited shot repertoire then and could get bogged down. Any decent test attack will just starve him.When Lees decides to put his shots away, which has happened a lot this series (somewhat understandably) he is one of the most miserably slow scoring batsmen I've seen.
Strike rate currently a touch over 17.
19% of people scare me.Who should captain England in first New Zealand Test?
Joe Root 20%
Ben Stokes 25%
Stuart Broad 19%
Jonny Bairstow 10%
Sam Billings 8%
Zak Crawley 2%
Other 16%
I think it will be Broad.There's a poll on the beeb.
19% of people scare me.
I'm open to quite a few different options but Vince would be one I would be completely against. He's 31, tried and tested. Sure he can probably feel he was thrown in too early or maybe should have got a chance again in the last few years, but its gone now. He's best as a white ball player, his best county performances are at 5 or 4 at a push where we aren't short of options. He's basically from the same generation and mould as Bairstow, Buttler, Root, Hales, Malan but not as good as them. Time to move on with a younger team, and only keep the old heads who are proven, reliable performers at test level. Give chances to players with the technique and temperament suited to test cricket. Less flash, more grit.I think it will be Broad.
James Vince in as vice to drip feed him into the role when Broad is rested.
Not saying I agree, just my prediction
He’s been tried and he has had many chances to cement that number 3 position, he can’t play spin and hasn’t improved in that aspect at all.I still think Malan should be given a go myself, even if only for a year or two.
Many chances is a bit of an exaggeration. And the coaching and captaincy need to change before I decide these players aren't up to it, the atmosphere around the camp could not have been described as conducive to good performances in the Ashes series. Regardless, he's proved a hell of a lot more than bloody Vince.He’s been tried and he has had many chances to cement that number 3 position, he can’t play spin and hasn’t improved in that aspect at all.
I have watched a lot of Malan and I’m telling you he isn’t the way forward. He is a decent player on hard bouncy pitches but the simple fact of the matter isMany chances is a bit of an exaggeration. And the coaching and captaincy need to change before I decide these players aren't up to it, the atmosphere around the camp could not have been described as conducive to good performances in the Ashes series. Regardless, he's proved a hell of a lot more than bloody Vince.
I'm really not familiar with Bracey and trying to remember if he was brought in as batting cover and then unexpectedly got thrown in as keeper or brought in as back up keeper and then suddenly got thrown in to the top order. I think it was the former.I have watched a lot of Malan and I’m telling you he isn’t the way forward. He is a decent player on hard bouncy pitches but the simple fact of the matter is
He is not adaptable
He is still averaging under 30
A couple of decent scores in Australia to start off which then faltered at the end.
I ain’t championing for Vince because he is just as bad but the cupboard is bare.
Bohannon of Lancs is next in line for an opportunity.
Still not sure about Bracey whether he deserves another chance as well.
You have to pick a captain and it's not fair to make it Stokes. I'd even be happy to open with Malan if that were what was needed. Bracey is shite, with both bat and gloves. I agree with you that Bohannon deserves a chance but unless he can captain I'm sorry I'm choosing Malan. This is all based on the fact I think Broad would be a bit rubbish but if Broad is the pick fair enough, go with Bohannon.I have watched a lot of Malan and I’m telling you he isn’t the way forward. He is a decent player on hard bouncy pitches but the simple fact of the matter is
He is not adaptable
He is still averaging under 30
A couple of decent scores in Australia to start off which then faltered at the end.
I ain’t championing for Vince because he is just as bad but the cupboard is bare.
Bohannon of Lancs is next in line for an opportunity.
Still not sure about Bracey whether he deserves another chance as well.
The women are doing great. I've been up all night watching this. Just need to keep up the pressure and then it's on to Sunday.Hell of a performance by England in this World Cup semi final, Australia in the final on Saturday/Sunday seems inevitable now. Would be very tough with how good Australia are but in a one off game, who knows.
Bit of everything. He plays on the A team at school (and for his club) but I don’t think he’ll ever go on to do great things in cricket tbh. There are much more talented kids than him on his team.How old is he? Is he any good? Is he a batsman or a bit of everything (often the case pre 17).
Any half decent local sports shop should be able to size him up easy enough. If he's a teenager you want to lean on going one size to big just as you would a new school jumper...Bit of everything. He plays on the A team at school (and for his club) but I don’t think he’ll ever go on to do great things in cricket tbh. There are much more talented kids than him on his team.
Ok, cool. Thanks a mill.Any half decent local sports shop should be able to size him up easy enough. If he's a teenager you want to lean on going one size to big just as you would a new school jumper...
Brands to look out for: Gray Nicholls, Kookaburra, Gunn and Moore, New Balance. Can't go wrong with any of those. If he's a casual player there's no need to break the bank, but they're never 'cheap'.
Oh absolutely massive underdogs, everyone is against Australia, but India did beat them last year for instance (the fact we have to pick out them not winning one game from the last however many years is ludicrous) but England possibly are the best placed. Especially with Ecclestone on a roll, Wyatt looking good at the top of the innings, Cross being in the form of her life at first change. As you mention reaching the final with little/no contribution from Knight runs wise shows how well they’ve played all round after that disastrous start.That was some performance and just a remarkable turnaround from the start of the tournament. They have made the final with no contribution from the best batter so hopefully Heather knight is saving up for the final . England are massive underdogs for the final which is kind of expected but you never know
She is. We've had great spinners for as long as I can remember. Sarah Glenn's quality and she can't even get in this side.Ecclestone is ludicrously good. Wild it took five years for her first international fifer
SS is also good brand.Ok, cool. Thanks a mill.
Thanks!SS is also good brand.
I would actually take England's bowling attack over the Aussies. Where we may struggle is keeping their total down. The top of Australia's batting line up is fearsome and if Alyssa Healey gets in "beast mode" like she did in the semi, it's probably all over. However, I believe England are in the final on merit and are definitely the 2nd best team in the tournament. We gave the Aussies a good run in the round robin and have improved tremendously since that point. Australia, no doubt, are huge favorites but it is a one off game and we have a punchers chance.She is. We've had great spinners for as long as I can remember. Sarah Glenn's quality and she can't even get in this side.
Agree with all that.I would actually take England's bowling attack over the Aussies. Where we may struggle is keeping their total down. The top of Australia's batting line up is fearsome and if Alyssa Healey gets in "beast mode" like she did in the semi, it's probably all over. However, I believe England are in the final on merit and are definitely the 2nd best team in the tournament. We gave the Aussies a good run in the round robin and have improved tremendously since that point. Australia, no doubt, are huge favorites but it is a one off game and we have a punchers chance.
Roll on Sunday!
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Hey, the 1987 World Cup Final was close - but it would have been nice for this final to go down to the wire.Aus national team specialises in ruining cricket finals.