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Post by weststigersbob on Dec 30, 2019 0:45:16 GMT
Lost it at the toss and Root's excuse for bowling first just doesn't add up. His tactics were abysmal during the match, and it's not like we can put it down to flu bug, his tactics are always abysmal. But in his defence he being badly let down by some of these selections who just consistently fail. Not just that I no longer trust Butler in the original format, I have never understood why he is played so much down the order. In short England's management and decision making will never let England reach its full potential. But happy for the saffers. Let's hope this series goes right down to the wire. This much is obvious - England have no clue what their best batting lineup is, nor do they know how to select a side that isn’t based on ODI / T20 form. The reason why Buttler bats so far down the order is because it’s where his Test average warrants him batting. It’s genuinely #7 figures. Without keeping, there is no way he should be in the team. This pas de deux England insists on with Bairstow and Buttler, keeping and batting 6 and 7 isn’t helping anyone. Once Again, and I’ll keep banging on about it, the solution is simple. Pick your best six batsmen, your best keeper, and your best 4 bowlers. Ben Stokes is clearly in your best 6 batsmen, so are Root and Denly, so the need for an all rounder is gone. Burns has done enough, Sibley too. Then Denly, Root, Stokes, Pope, Foakes, Curran, Broad, Anderson with Woakes / Leach. Archer is far too erratic and inconsistent for Test bowling. Good teams simply wait on him to bowl the inevitable 4 ball.
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Post by weststigersbob on Dec 30, 2019 0:53:35 GMT
As for New Zealand - they have simply been Outbowled by Australia, Neil Wagner aside. Boult, Southee, De Grandhomme and Santner can’t hold a candle to Cummins, Starc, Hazlewood, Pattinson and Lyon. Given how well Pattinson bowled in Melbourne, it’s little wonder Siddle retired. He wasn’t getting another game with guys like Michael Neser, Jhye Richardson, Riley Meredith and Jackson Bird in line too.
Similarly to England, New Zealand’s batting hasn’t stood up - but they haven’t been allowed to after fielding so long. But Latham, Williamson, Taylor and Nicholls - 3 of which are in the Top 10 in th rankings, haven’t fired a shot in anger this series.
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Post by hitchcockthelegend on Jan 2, 2020 20:04:48 GMT
England in South Africa: Rory Burns out of tour with football injury - www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/50973920You would think that the history of injuries caused by cricketers arsing about playing football would have been outlawed by now... England might as well put The Marx Brothers in charge of the national team!
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Post by hitchcockthelegend on Jan 2, 2020 20:08:20 GMT
2 Jan 2020 International Test Match Series - Day 1 of 5
Australia V New Zealand
23:30 GMT
Venue: Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney
3 Jan 2020 International Test Match Series - Day 1 of 5
South Africa V England
08:30 GMT
Venue: Newlands, Cape Town
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Post by hoskotafe3 on Jan 3, 2020 0:13:55 GMT
5 changes for NZ, most due to virus. No Kane, Boult or Southee. Latham the captain. Australia's recently confirmed for another 12-18 month captain Tim Paine won the toss and chose to bat. Shane Warne, well known for selflessly stepping down from dead rubbers to give the next man in line a go, thought it would be a good idea for Nathan Lyon to do the same. (Geez you could have some fun doing a video for that) It didn't happen. No changes for Australia.
Big game for Burns. No one else with much on the line really. Hazelwood will take his place back regardless of what Pattinson does here. I guess a big fame may put pressure on Starc.
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Post by hoskotafe3 on Jan 3, 2020 0:45:18 GMT
Burns goes 18. Openers carousel looks like it's going to keep turning. Don't cry for Joe: it will come around to him within a few months.
Goid spell from de Grandhome. Full and getting it to move.
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Post by hoskotafe3 on Jan 3, 2020 1:02:38 GMT
Warner dropped at short leg. Another long day coming up for NZ, if it wasn't obvious already.
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Post by weststigersbob on Jan 3, 2020 2:28:00 GMT
Warner gone 3rd ball after tea for 45
Wagner v Smith again. 2-99
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Post by hoskotafe3 on Jan 3, 2020 6:14:21 GMT
This has gone the predictable direction. Very mediocre bowling performances from the visiting teams this summer. To be accurate, Pakistan were worse than mediocre, as have NZ so far here. NZ's batting has also been very poor this summer, Taylor and Blundell aside. In that area, Pakistan at least scrapped together respectable totals.
As I type, Smith goes to de Grandhome. Out for 65. Mediocre summer by SS's ridiculously high standards.
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Post by weststigersbob on Jan 3, 2020 6:23:01 GMT
It’s remarkable how a bloke so far out form like Smith is, still scratches out 63.
Astle and Somerville would go alright in Asia judged on this innings.
Wagner has, again, been fantastic - as has Labuschagne.
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Post by Aj_June on Jan 3, 2020 21:33:41 GMT
Did anyone see England - SA game? Don't know if that's average score or below average.
Thankfully, I will get to see some cricket action tomorrow and on Sunday.
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Post by hoskotafe3 on Jan 4, 2020 7:03:03 GMT
Well, Australia's game on the scoreboard, but that was unquestionably NZ's day. Stopped Australia from running away from them in the opening session and then clearly won the next two, taking Australia's last 5 wickets for 42 and then batting out 28 overs without losing a wicket.
Australia should still win this by plenty, but real quality cricket from them today. Labuschagne's day as well, his first FC double century. Astle made history too bowling more maidenless overs in an innings than any other NZ,bowler: 32.
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Post by hitchcockthelegend on Jan 4, 2020 9:46:09 GMT
England have to keep Saffers to at least parity - Broad bowling beautiful and doing his hardest.
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Post by hitchcockthelegend on Jan 5, 2020 18:58:44 GMT
Please Cricketing Gods - Let The Warwickshire Wall get his 100 tomorrow  |
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Post by hoskotafe3 on Jan 5, 2020 19:02:51 GMT
England well in command now. Good series so far with runs not easy.
In Oz, NZ thudded back to earth, humbled by Cummins and Lyon while Hazlewood bowled for the Sydney 6ers in Coffs Harbour.
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Post by weststigersbob on Jan 6, 2020 4:08:38 GMT
England standing up nicely in RSA - don’t know if Dom Bess is going to spin them to victory, but they will give themselves every chance of winning.
Australia is mauling NZ as expected.
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Post by Aj_June on Jan 6, 2020 4:17:42 GMT
England standing up nicely in RSA - don’t know if Dom Bess is going to spin them to victory, but they will give themselves every chance of winning. Australia is mauling NZ as expected. I was expecting a strong Australia. But this seems to be stronger than I expected. It would be tough for any team to visit Australia. At this point of time it can be said that it would be tough to compete against even a visiting Australia. The dude whose name is difficult to pronounce seems to be in a form you usually see in a batsman who has played quite a few years.
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Post by hitchcockthelegend on Jan 6, 2020 12:34:23 GMT
Please Cricketing Gods - Let The Warwickshire Wall get his 100 tomorrow 
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Post by hitchcockthelegend on Jan 6, 2020 18:42:07 GMT
England standing up nicely in RSA - don’t know if Dom Bess is going to spin them to victory, but they will give themselves every chance of winning. Australia is mauling NZ as expected. I was expecting a strong Australia. But this seems to be stronger than I expected. It would be tough for any team to visit Australia. At this point of time it can be said that it would be tough to compete against even a visiting Australia. The dude whose name is difficult to pronounce seems to be in a form you usually see in a batsman who has played quite a few years. Yes, Oz a strong side, the bowling unit is superb and once Smith was allowed back into the fold their batting, with Labuchagne in a right purple period, is strong enough to give India a good game at this moment in time.
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Post by hitchcockthelegend on Jan 6, 2020 18:48:49 GMT
Really looking forward to the last day of the Saffers/England Test. It's a strange pitch that's for sure, but it does seem like once you get in and have the mental strength for crease occupation it's a flat one, only there is one big crack and footmarks if the bowlers can hit the spot. It may well be that Root and Denly have a part to play with the ball tomorrow. Saffers should go for it, promote de Kock and tell him to do a Nathan Astle and break the record  |
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