*Official* T20 and ODI matches

[BoyBrumby]

By the by, why was Stokes preferred to Buttler for this?

I can see how they might've preferred Stokes's package (fnarr, fnarr. Oooer, missus, etc) had he been able to bowl but, given he's unable to, Buttler has the better case as a pure batsman.

&, his credentials questioned, hopefully cue a match winning knock from the Kiwi/Geordie ranga.

 

[MW1304]

Once Bell's got his pretty 30, he ought to pretend he's starting his innings again so he can put another pretty 30 together, and so on. It's the only way.

 

[Prince EWS]

By the by, why was Stokes preferred to Buttler for this?

I can see how they might've preferred Stokes's package (fnarr, fnarr. Oooer, missus, etc) had he been able to bowl but, given he's unable to, Buttler has the better case as a pure batsman.

&, his credentials questioned, hopefully cue a match winning knock from the Kiwi/Geordie ranga.

I don't think it's entirely a here-and-now merit pick at all. They've picked him here to give him some experience because they rate him as a potential England player in all formats in the immediate future I reckon; not because they actually think he's the absolute best option for the ODI side right now as a specialist batsman.

 

[Howe_zat]

I don't think it's entirely a here-and-now merit pick at all. They've picked him here to give him some experience because they rate him as a potential England player in all formats in the immediate future I reckon; not because they actually think he's the absolute best option for the ODI side right now as a specialist batsman.

Which in itself is disappointing, given that our ODI batting lineup is the shakiest part of any of our international sides, features a relatively new opening pair & captain, has its best player & most experienced player out injured. I agree that early international experience can be invaluable, but there's a time and a place.

 

[Cevno]

Bopara playing well.

 

[Howe_zat]

To give him his dues, he's played some nice shots. Thus far it's still only 27, and he's in a position where if he gets out it's basically the end of the game. Maybe if these two put on another 50 in 10 overs we're still in it.

 

[MW1304]

Oof just about made the most of that free hit. Should have layed into that ball but I guess it is Bell.

 

[Prince EWS]

It wasn't that long ago I was defending Bopara's place in the ODI squad and actually calling for him to be included in the eleven. To be fair that's when England somehow had a surplus position at 8 they were utilising Luke Wright in to slog and barely ever bowl, and Bopara was scoring T20 hundreds for Essex and improving his bowling at a rate of knots, but it seems like a world ago when it was only really a year or so.

I still think he could have some utility (in theory) as a batting allrounder who batted seven, hit out at the death and bowled a handful of overs each game, but his confidence at this level is so shot that he'll probably never bat with the freedom to be able to do that again in reality. I definitely think he's a spot or two too high at five here whether one rates him or not.

 

[MW1304]

Was a game against Bangladesh last year where he came in at about 7 towards the end and smashed them for about 45 off 18 or something. Obviously that's only Bangladesh but it suggested he was confident and striking it well, whereas atm that doesn't seem like a possibility against any attack.

 

[Cevno]

India made taking a single too easy after the powerplay. Don't know why captains think they have to push the field back and the men in the circle on the edges after it gets over.

Atleast make the batsman make you do so.

 

[Prince EWS]

Was a game against Bangladesh last year where he came in at about 7 towards the end and smashed them for about 45 off 18 or something. Obviously that's only Bangladesh but it suggested he was confident and striking it well, whereas atm that doesn't seem like a possibility against any attack.

Yeah, indeed. I was quite chuffed at that match because I'd been calling for him to replace Wright for a little while before that, and I thought the work he'd quite obviously done on his power hitting and the increased pace he was bowling at could finally find him a role in international cricket (but still probably never Tests). Then he just lost the plot again - even when he stays in he just scraps around.

 

[grecian]

Hey, Bopara is actually doing okay here, for once, seems odd to be writing his obit when he's being competant, still shouldn't have bowled though.

 

[Contra]

A little too easy atm, gotta do something different.

 

[Prince EWS]

Hey, Bopara is actually doing okay here, for once, seems odd to be writing his obit when he's being competant, still shouldn't have bowled though.

Haha, it's just that watching him play a vaguely decent innings here reminded me of how I used to feel about how he should be used.

 

[ankitj]

Get a wicket ****s

 

[Contra]

Ruined an otherwise good over.. <_<

 

[MW1304]

Bell is a completely different player against spin in ODIs.

 

[Contra]

Need to stop that little paddle shot Bopara plays, it's an easy single.

 

[Cevno]

Waiting for someone to throw it away atm.

Need to bring another man into the ring.

 

[Contra]

Last 2 overs have been okay, you can see the pressure building slightly on bopara now.