Cricket thread

[swee'pea99]

It's not his strongest suit, agreed, but the batters really haven't helped, and that's their bag, and theirs alone.

One fact from last night's 'highlights' coverage: 37% of Sibley and Burns's opening partnerships for England haven't survived two overs.

And another: Sam Curran's king pair was the first ever at Lords since it was opened in 1814.

And (again courtesy of the BBC) the pic that tells it all...

 

[Grant Fondo]

Those openers stats make for tough reading
Still, three tests to go. Robinson looks good, and glad to see Moeen back.
Less than three months after final test until Ashes, hope we can take some positives with us down under.

 

[jowwy]

Those openers stats make for tough reading
Still, three tests to go. Robinson looks good, and glad to see Moeen back.
Less than three months after final test until Ashes, hope we can take some positives with us down under.

will the ashes be played this year?? i know there is questions being asked of it, especially with australia and new zealand pulling out of the rugby league world cup

 

[Pale Rider]

It would be handy if Root could add world beating captaincy to his world beating batting, but our biggest problem is the upper order.

Any team which is routinely 25 for 3 is not going to prosper.

I think we could do reasonably well if we had a pair of consistent openers.

Wholesale changes mid series are unlikely to work, but I think Sibley will be dropped, maybe keep Burns, and try to find someone to bat at three.

Incidentally, the usual number three would be the team's best batsman - Root - but apparently he doesn't like batting there.

 

[Chromatic]

I reckon it is about time they tried someone new opening, they couldn't be worse than what we've had over the last couple of years, there must be others out there and we might accidentally stumble on someone with test match temperament.

 

[matticus]

I reckon it is about time they tried someone new opening, they couldn't be worse than what we've had over the last couple of years, there must be others out there and we might accidentally stumble on someone with test match temperament.

Hameed is the obvious answer. His career has been as an opener. (And I agree with many pundits that sitting waiting while the openers di*k about was no help to his nerves coming in for his first Test innings in 2 years.)
He also has strong public sentiment behind him, which should make the selector's decision easier :P

 

[Grant Fondo]

will the ashes be played this year?? i know there is questions being asked of it, especially with australia and new zealand pulling out of the rugby league world cup

Looks like its still on, rumours of delayed start appear to have gone for now.

 

[Chromatic]

Hameed is the obvious answer. His career has been as an opener. (And I agree with many pundits that sitting waiting while the openers di*k about was no help to his nerves coming in for his first Test innings in 2 years.)
He also has strong public sentiment behind him, which should make the selector's decision easier :P

If his career so far has been as an opener then give him and someone else new a try, what have we to lose? As I said, they could hardly do worse than what we've had from those selected so far.

 

[Pale Rider]

Sibley has been dropped from the squad for the next test, as has Crawley.

Dawid Malan makes a return, presumably with the intention of starting because there's not much point in calling up an experienced 33-year-old for 'squad experience'.

Looks like they will give Hameed a go as opener with Burns, and Malan at number three.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/58259484

 

[The Central Scrutinizer]

What a shame that the Royal London one day cup final has been dumbed down by the ECB.
I remember when the 50 over competitions used to be one of the highlights of the cricket season and played on a Saturday at lords now instead it's on a thursday at Trent Bridge.
Just another example of the ECB trying to push away county cricket for the razzmatazz of the Hundred.

 

[Grant Fondo]

Sibley has been dropped from the squad for the next test, as has Crawley.

Dawid Malan makes a return, presumably with the intention of starting because there's not much point in calling up an experienced 33-year-old for 'squad experience'.

Looks like they will give Hameed a go as opener with Burns, and Malan at number three.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/58259484

Smacks of desperation mid-series, but fingers crossed!

 

[Pale Rider]

What a shame that the Royal London one day cup final has been dumbed down by the ECB.
I remember when the 50 over competitions used to be one of the highlights of the cricket season and played on a Saturday at lords now instead it's on a thursday at Trent Bridge.
Just another example of the ECB trying to push away county cricket for the razzmatazz of the Hundred.

I'm afraid that may be true.

Michael Atherton did a decent interview on Sky with the chief executive of the ECB which addressed this point.

Athers spoke of the 'non Hundred aligned' counties which have been pushed aside.

As an example, Worcestershire, which is my county from childhood, has only three days of first class cricket in August, which is bound to make the average Worcester member rather grumpy.

The ECB bloke resorted to management speak by saying 'the rising tide will float all boats', suggesting the success of the Hundred will rub off on counties which are not directly involved in it.

He did concede the overall schedule was not ideal for Test player preparation after Athers pointed out several of the current squad have played barely any first class cricket this season.

https://wisden.com/series-stories/england-v-india/tom-harrison-admits-2021-schedule-is-not-ideal

 

[The Central Scrutinizer]

We didn't need need another format when we have four and five day,50 and twenty over cricket.
I have no interest in the hundreds which the ECB only brought in because they thought it would involve more younger people to the game.
What with the stupid rules and dj's playing between overs it's just dumbed down cricket...IMO.
The ECB are just like the FA in football in which they haven't got a clue.

 

[jowwy]

We didn't need need another format when we have four and five day,50 and twenty over cricket.
I have no interest in the hundreds which the ECB only brought in because they thought it would involve more younger people to the game.
What with the stupid rules and dj's playing between overs it's just dumbed down cricket...IMO.
The ECB are just like the FA in football in which they haven't got a clue.

when 20/20 first started it was to bring younger people to the game, with a party like atmosphere of hot tubs, music and beer........also subbing players off for not getting into the spirit and also music to accompany players to the crease

 

[cisamcgu]

I've been to a "Hundred" game, went last week.

The atmosphere was fine (not to my taste though, I prefer it much more sedate), and the crowd was loud and raucous by the end, but the cricket was very so-so. Yes, lots of big hitting and a couple of stunning catches. However I found it very difficult to actually care what happened. The womens match was definitly better than the men's game, less 90 mph bowling and 6 smashing, more considered and nuanced.

The scoreboard had been dumbed down to such an extent they didn't even bother saying who was in and who was bowling, just how many runs needed and how many balls left. To be perfectly honest, it is MUCH better to watch the "Hundred" on TV rather than going to the live match.

I was left with the feeling that it might be exciting and fun, but it wasn't cricket, not by a "hundred" miles