The CRICKET Thread, Finally!

[Iceman]

Yes it should be close. Very surprised to see Ballance in there too!

 

[regwec]

Chris Woakes, eh? 11 wickets in the game so far, and you would bet on him making it a round dozen or more. And he was the third highest scoring batsman in England's first innings, with a very handy 35 n/o on a difficult surface. If England drop him to make way for Stokes, they are beyond redemption. If you find two serious all-rounders, play them both; Stokes as a bit more of a batsman, Woakes as a bit more of a bowler.

So then, let's review our current 11 of choice:

Cook*
Hales
Borthwick
Root
Bairstow
Stokes
Buttler+
Woakes
Rashid
Broad
Anderson

For me, the leg-spin pairing of Borthwick and Rashid seems more promising than the sedate off-spin of Moeen Ali, and they provide as much batting. Borthwick's inclusion at 3 also affords Root a bit more protection. Buttler needs to be in the test team, in my opinion: he is one of England's most naturally talented batsman and a star in limited overs formats, and his wicket keeping is more reliable than Bairstow's.

This line up, at its best, has 9.5 recognized batsmen, a 6.5 man bowling attack (Root's offbreaks are serviceable enough), and a reserve wicket keeper.

 

[Iceman]

I love all rounders.

 

[regwec]

And England, currently, is blessed with them. The problem we have is in finding true specialists: there is no opening bat with the patience and precision of a ninja to join Alastair Cook at the top; our captain is an emotionally strong boy scout who inspires rather than a tactician who really leads; our spinners are part timers who would rather ascend the batting order than develop a Swann/Warne level of skill; our wicket keepers tend to be picked because they are explosive middle order batsman rather than because they can catch. Chris Woakes was tremendous in the last test, but it is notable that he was our best bowler and our best batsman (in terms of time at the crease and balls faced- crucial when trying to survive a fourth innings). That shouldn't really happen.

 

[Iceman]

Looks like England are going wrap this one up comfortably. Was a massive target they set for Pakistan's 2nd innings.

 

[regwec]

Interesting match, not least for reminding us what a phenomenal batsman Alasdair Cook is- as an opener, we rarely see him going through the gears, but he sure can when he needs to.

Let me say it again: lose Vince and Ballance for Rashid and Buttler. I guess Hales gets a bit more rope because the county circuit offers few replacements, but there is always the chance that Root, finding number three suits him well, will move up again. We have no lack of good middle order batsmen, however: there is no cause to suffer mediocrity.

 

[Iceman]

It is good to see Cook like this.

 

[Iceman]

Great start to England's 2nd innings against Pakistan. 118 for 0 (1st innings 297 vs Pakistan's 400). Could be a real turnaround here.

 

[regwec]

Very interesting test match. You can never be sure where Pakistan are going to prove strong, while England appear to be increasingly dependent on a handful of players: Cook, Root, Woakes, Anderson (when he has swallowed enough painkillers), and Stokes (when he hasn't torn anything).

 

[Iceman]

I was thinking the same thing about England actually.

These matches are hard to predict as either side seem capable of going on a run when the right partnership get the ball or bat, while the teams are also both equally capable of imploding.

 

[Iceman]

Pakistan all at sea. Almost definitely going to lose. Lost 4 wickets for 1 run. 139-7 with 204 more runs need.

 

[regwec]

Well done England; quite something to win so substantially from such a heavy first innings deficit.

 

[Iceman]

Yes didn't see it coming, even though Pakistan are a team that can lose from any situation.

In the 4th Test England got 328 in the first innings and Pakistan are 200 for 3.

 

[aNarcHy2day]

WI-India could turn out to be a classic. A great spell from Bhuvaneshwar engineered a WI collapse and the match may well have a result.

 

[regwec]

England finds itself in the odd position of having specialist batsmen in weaker form than all rounders who might potentially be added to the side. I think places should or could be found for Borthwick (top order batsman, leg-spin bowler), Rashid (middle order batsman, leg-spin bowler), and Stokes when he returns from injury. I don't see much point in persevering with Ballance and Vince should return to the county game for a while to develop his mental game.

I'm not sure if Borthwick would be a decent bet as an opener in Asian conditions, or if Moeen might be given another chance. But if England picked a team such as this-

Cook*
Borthwick (lb)
Root (part time ob)
Moeen (ob)
Stokes (rfm)
Rashid (lb)
Bairstow+
Woakes (rfm)
Broad (rmf)
Finn (rfm)
Anderson (rmf)

- they would bat down to 9 and have an 8 1/2 man bowling attack. If Plunkett was swapped in for Finn then they would bat down to 10. That must be worthy of consideration.

 

[Iceman]

Haha, I'd love that. You know me, I'd be up for an 11 man bowling attack with all all rounders lol.

 

[regwec]

England will need some kind of Alistair Cook/Joe Root-shaped miracle to get out of this fix.

 

[regwec]

I went along to Old Trafford to watch the second day of Lancashire v Yorkshire. It is interesting that some influential figures are identifying Lancashire's 19 year old opener Haseeb Hameed (who scored a century in each innings) as a future test batsmen, and have suggested that he join the squad for India. Yorkshire's Alex Lees was also very impressive, and in the best tradition of gritty openers: he just refused to play at anything that wasn't hitting the stumps, and was completely unfazed by anything short. I guess most top order batsmen in the county circuit have a sense that, with Alex Hales continued struggles, each innings is a job interview.

 

[Iceman]

They should be treating as such!

 

[Iceman]

Alex Hales just set a record 171 from 122 balls in the one dayer against Pakistan. England are over 400 with a few more overs left to play and 7 wickets in hand!

 

[Iceman]

Final score 444! Root also contributed with 85 off 86 balls, Butler with 90 off 51 balls and Morgan with 57 off 27 balls! Noone hanging about.

 

[Iceman]

Is 444 an ODI record?

Pakistan chasing now at 121-5 at about 20 overs gone needing 324 more runs from 30 overs lol.

 

[regwec]

Yes, 444 is the record for any ODI ever played. England have so much firepower, when it fires at all.

Pakistan initially responded well but predictably Chris Woakes got a grip on it.

 

[Iceman]

Do you know what the old record was? That's a great one to get. Didn't see England ever getting it but, as you say, it looks like we really do have some crazy firepower now.

 

[Iceman]

4th ODI underway. Pakistan 150-4 off 32 overs.