*Official* England in West Indies

[Richard]

Perhaps, but even he has precious rarely done that. What he specialises in is batting for ages without being dismissed in multiple innings' rather than the same one. His fellow batsmen aren't really good enough to test his ability to do the latter.

 

[tooextracool]

That's fine on slow tracks in India where you can score a decent amount of runs with cross-batted shots square of the wicket, but when the ball is bouncing there's no way he'll score fast enough for this series situation unless he plays the odd drive. Those are the danger balls, but i think he's content to ride his luck if it means being 80/0 after 20 overs. Even if that had been taken, 80/1 would be a more than satisfactory score at this stage.

Your statement is contradictory. If a wicket is slower and lower, its more reason why you need to drive. Whereas in places like Australia and SA, you can trust the bounce and play cross batted strokes. This is why Strauss' record in SA is excellent and why people like me tipped him to have a good series down under last time around. It is also why, before his recent tour of India, he was struggling to cope with subcontinental style pitches.

Im inclined to agree with you on the fact that cutting out the drive from his game is rather pointless, few players have the mental ability to score big runs while eliminating something as bread and butter as the drive from their game. Strauss tried it, and its only ever resulted in him scoring runs against very poor bowling that ended up bowling to his strengths. With regards to today, I am glad that he has opted for an aggressive approach, England need to win this game and on a pitch as flat as this, the only way to do that is to get runs on the board as quick as possible to give themselves as much time to bowl the opposition out as possible.

 

[Woodster]

Very impressive first session, enjoying the positive approach from these two. Yes Strauss should certainly have been caught by Gayle (that's 2 simple first slip catches gone down in Test cricket today by two normally very safe slippers in Graeme Smith and Chris Gayle), and had Devon Smith been positioned a little closer to Ramdin, he may have snaffled him, but Strauss has looked in decent nick. His driving is hit and miss, the one from Edwards he showed the full face of the bat but the line of the ball was just outside off and typical of a Strauss-style dismissal.

Nevertheless, like to focus on the good things England have done in that session, and their positive play against the spin of Benn is one of them. Even involving an Ali Cook six!!!! Which was a sweet slog sweep.

Daren Powell, sadly for WI, looks totally out of sorts. He's struggled for form recently, and he was poor in his only spell so far. Again Taylor probably looks the pick with decent support from the ever-trying Edwards.

 

[Uppercut]

Your statement is contradictory. If a wicket is slower and lower, its more reason why you need to drive. Whereas in places like Australia and SA, you can trust the bounce and play cross batted strokes. This is why Strauss' record in SA is excellent and why people like me tipped him to have a good series down under last time around. It is also why, before his recent tour of India, he was struggling to cope with subcontinental style pitches.

It's more to do with the fact that a lot more overs are bowled by spinners. Most of his problems with the drive, IIRC, are against fast bowlers. Besides, it doesn't always work out as you say. When the wicket is slow straight drives rarely beat mid-on or mid-off, playing cross-batted means he can put pace into the ball. It could be one reason why so many wristy players come from there.

[/quote]
Im inclined to agree with you on the fact that cutting out the drive from his game is rather pointless, few players have the mental ability to score big runs while eliminating something as bread and butter as the drive from their game. Strauss tried it, and its only ever resulted in him scoring runs against very poor bowling that ended up bowling to his strengths. With regards to today, I am glad that he has opted for an aggressive approach, England need to win this game and on a pitch as flat as this, the only way to do that is to get runs on the board as quick as possible to give themselves as much time to bowl the opposition out as possible.[/QUOTE]

Indeed, but they haven't actually scored as quickly as it seemed. Maybe it's because the Windies somehow got through the entire session without conceding an extra.

 

[Uppercut]

Very impressive first session, enjoying the positive approach from these two. Yes Strauss should certainly have been caught by Gayle (that's 2 simple first slip catches gone down in Test cricket today by two normally very safe slippers in Graeme Smith and Chris Gayle)

Captains dropping captains.

 

[tooextracool]

I am of the belief that 2 defensive openers are rarely going to succeed in test match cricket in this day and age. At least one needs to be aggressive to take the pressure off the other and not allow bowlers to settle into a rhythm. At the end of the day, an openers job is as much to unsettle a bowler rhythm early on in a test match as it is to see out the new ball.

 

[Woodster]

Captains dropping captains.

Absolutely, good observation!

 

[Richard]

Sir Everton Weekes in good voice on his 84th birthday.

 

[tooextracool]

It's more to do with the fact that a lot more overs are bowled by spinners. Most of his problems with the drive, IIRC, are against fast bowlers. Besides, it doesn't always work out as you say. When the wicket is slow straight drives rarely beat mid-on or mid-off, playing cross-batted means he can put pace into the ball. It could be one reason why so many wristy players come from there..

My theory off what is required to be a a good subcontinental player, particularly when it comes to playing spin, involves using your wrists and/or playing the sweep well. Strauss on his first 2 subcontinental tours got out far more often to the pace bowlers than the spinners. However, playing on the front foot to pace bowlers is vital in the subcontinent, not just to counter pitches that offer low and often uneven bounce, but also because there is little pace in the wickets, which is why a lot of subcontinental players tend to be better on the front foot. Any bowler who bowls short enough to allow a batsman to pull or cut in the subcontinent is almost always doing a poor job.

Indeed, but they haven't actually scored as quickly as it seemed. Maybe it's because the Windies somehow got through the entire session without conceding an extra.

that is moreso because cook is at the other end who on one of his aggressive days is striking at around 45 per 100.

 

[Uppercut]

that is moreso because cook is at the other end who on one of his aggressive days is striking at around 45 per 100.

Ahaha, his career S/R is in fact 46. Maybe it's because he plays the same shots over and over again to score runs that he seems a more defensive opener than he is.

 

[ozone]

50 for Cook. Odds on him getting out in next 5 overs?

 

[four_or_six]

I am of the belief that 2 defensive openers are rarely going to succeed in test match cricket in this day and age. At least one needs to be aggressive to take the pressure off the other and not allow bowlers to settle into a rhythm. At the end of the day, an openers job is as much to unsettle a bowler rhythm early on in a test match as it is to see out the new ball.

Agree with this, I'm glad to see Strauss being a bit more attacking recently. I hate it when we get bogged down. I'm really liking our top 5 atm.

 

[ozone]

Not been able to watch much of this so far, is the referal system back? I'm guessing if it is, its not been used?

 

[BOUER]

Can everyone help with this sport? Plz send me a PM with MSN mail. It is very important

 

[superkingdave]

Hmm, first time i've seen the redeveloped ground, doesn't that stand look a lot like the lords media centre?

Good start by England, probably make it all the more dissapointing when we inevitably mess up

 

[BOUER]

Plz say me, who is the favorite to win this game? England or a draw?

 

[superkingdave]

Plz say me, who is the favorite to win this game? England or a draw?

Pitch is pretty flat, draw favourite imo

 

[BoyBrumby]

Strauss riding his luck here ..

CMJ on TMS is such as arse sometimes. We all know that Strauss fits his idea of an England captain, but his comment that Strauss "unquestionably" bats better when captain simply because he's made runs in a couple of innings against WI is as daft as they come.

I imagine Strauss is the England captain of CMJ's wet dreams: Radley College, Oxbridge (nearly, anyway) and captain of Middlesex. What used to be called "officer class".

Good positive intent from the captain all the same, making the most of his life. Gayle's shell was a shocker.

 

[wpdavid]

I imagine Strauss is the England captain of CMJ's wet dreams: Radley College, Oxbridge (nearly, anyway) and captain of Middlesex. What used to be called "officer class".

Good positive intent from the captain all the same, making the most of his life. Gayle's shell was a shocker.

Not sure what's worse - Strauss being the subject of anyone's wet dreams or CMJ having them at all.

btw what's with the Kenny Rogers avatar?

EDIT
At exactly the same time as I typed that, I received a spam email titled "orgasms". I kid you not.

 

[BoyBrumby]

Not sure what's worse - Strauss being the subject of anyone's wet dreams or CMJ having them at all.

btw what's with the Kenny Rogers avatar?

EDIT
At exactly the same time as I typed that, I received a spam email titled "orgasms". I kid you not.

Ha, wonderful. Offering viagra and/or enlargement of the old chap, no doubt.

&, ashamed as I am, I actually quite like a bit of Kenny now and again. I blame a C&W loving father.