17th Match - England v Sri Lanka (26th March)

[91Jmay]

Rashid botched the catch but him getting a hand on it was vital. Saved 2.

 

[Goughy]

Separate to the result, it is games like this (and plenty of others in this tournament) that help our sport. I struggle to get my boys interested in cricket but they were both screaming at the TV and chanting during the last 5 overs.

 

[Stace]

Interviewer to Ben Stokes:

'What were you feeling going into that last over? How were the nerves?'

'It was one of those situations where you'd rather be doing it than watching it.'

Ben Stokes and I are very different people.

Haha yeh I would be a nervous wreck in that situation as well as that high catch he took.

Buttler isn't bad for a backup IPL batsman.

 

[Groundking]

Haha yeh I would be a nervous wreck in that situation as well as that high catch he took.

Buttler isn't bad for a backup IPL batsman.

They're ****ing up if he stays backup throughout the tournament.

 

[Johann]

Great game!

Superb from the pace attack and it's about time they started to perform when it matters tbh. Still some major concerns over Mo and Rash though - they were dispatched far too easily for my liking

 

[smash84]

Great game!

Superb from the pace attack and it's about time they started to perform when it matters tbh. Still some major concerns over Mo and Rash though - they were dispatched far too easily for my liking

i wouldn't be too considered about Ali and Rashid just yet. I mean they are generally average spinners for SC teams but against non SC teams they have done reasonably well so far and I wouldn't dish it out to them just yet. They've done well before this game.

I didn't rate Rashid much at all (was comparing him to ian salisbury a few months ago ) in test matches but watching him in the big bash in LO cricket has me thinking that the guy does have potential for LO cricket.

 

[GIMH]

Absolute thriller. Only managed to watch the last ten overs and was on the brink.

 

[Burgey]

Arjuna would have had a runner.

Just saying

 

[Burgey]

He's certainly no T20 fielder. There's no excuse these days with all the fitness and agility drills they do.

The times of fat boys watching as the ball rolls past them 10cm away are long gone.

Did you miss Pakistan v Australia?

 

[Scaly piscine]

Morgan really put Rashid and Moeen in a no-win situation. They were bound to get targeted against one of the best sub-continent batsmen, who was set.

It was almost a death over situation for those two. And most spinners have no effective way of bowling in that scenario. Moeen isn't one to spear it in at the toes. Rashid certainly isn't.

 

[Goughy]

Morgan really put Rashid and Moeen in a no-win situation. They were bound to get targeted against one of the best sub-continent batsmen, who was set.

It was almost a death over situation for those two. And most spinners have no effective way of bowling in that scenario. Moeen isn't one to spear it in at the toes. Rashid certainly isn't.

Bullshit. They bowled 4 overs between themselves. Of course they were targeted, they were the weak link. They had to bowl at some point otherwise they should not have been on the field. If they couldn't bowl in awkward situations then they shouldn't have been in the XI or should be back in the UK bitching to the wife about the weather and the gas bill.

I am not big on making excuses for people, especially if the excuse is that you would rather someone else bowl in a tough situation instead of you.

 

[grecian]

That is a friggin fantastic over from Jordan. I expect no one to remember it next time he goes for a few.

I've already forgotten and I am already stating he's worse than Saj and Jade

Bullshit. They bowled 4 overs between themselves. Of course they were targeted, they were the weak link. They had to bowl at some point otherwise they should not have been on the field. If they couldn't bowl in awkward situations then they shouldn't have been in the XI or should be back in the UK bitching to the wife about the weather and the gas bill.

I am not big on making excuses for people, especially if the excuse is that you would rather someone else bowl in a tough situation instead of you.

Yep they had a terrible match collectively, but in the end they've both done pretty well in the previous matches, Moeem MOTM last game.

Rashid's fielding as much of a worry, and with someone like Plunkers, who can hit a long ball down the order, not sure his batting is needed. Dawson would improve the fielding, but not sure much else, so not sure who we put in.

 

[Scaly piscine]

Bullshit. They bowled 4 overs between themselves. Of course they were targeted, they were the weak link. They had to bowl at some point otherwise they should not have been on the field. If they couldn't bowl in awkward situations then they shouldn't have been in the XI or should be back in the UK bitching to the wife about the weather and the gas bill.

I am not big on making excuses for people, especially if the excuse is that you would rather someone else bowl in a tough situation instead of you.

They should have bowled earlier. Morgan already knew there wasn't much in the pitch for spinners, so when you have a team 30odd for 4 knowing they're basically one/two wickets from defeat why would you leave your spinners kicking up their heels until the later overs. You smuggle some cheap overs out then so you don't have to bowl them later. You don't let them consolidate against bowlers who will be difficult to put away anyway. Then telegraph to the opposition you've got 4 overs to spin you *have* to bowl, so smash as many from as you can.

Morgan piled all the pressure onto the spinners. You can't go to a wrist spinner and say... right don't concede a big over ... against one of the best sub-continent batsman in the world. What's he supposed to bowl? Same with Moeen? What's he supposed to bowl?

They're being put into a role they're not used to. If they come on at overs 7/8 then they can just bowl.

It's like if you put the two spinners on to bowl overs 19 and 20, they likely won't be very effective.

 

[grecian]

They should have bowled earlier. Morgan already knew there wasn't much in the pitch for spinners, so when you have a team 30odd for 4 knowing they're basically one/two wickets from defeat why would you leave your spinners kicking up their heels until the later overs. You smuggle some cheap overs out then so you don't have to bowl them later. You don't let them consolidate against bowlers who will be difficult to put away anyway. Then telegraph to the opposition you've got 4 overs to spin you *have* to bowl, so smash as many from as you can.

Morgan piled all the pressure onto the spinners. You can't go to a wrist spinner and say... right don't concede a big over ... against one of the best sub-continent batsman in the world. What's he supposed to bowl? Same with Moeen? What's he supposed to bowl?

They're being put into a role they're not used to. If they come on at overs 7/8 then they can just bowl.

It's like if you put the two spinners on to bowl overs 19 and 20, they likely won't be very effective.

I agree with a lot you say, but to be fair to Morgan I think he just wanted to close out the match quickly, which could easily have happened if we'd got Matthews early-ish.

Hey we won, and we're through, it all worked out in the end.

 

[91Jmay]

Yeah, the match situation was that Rash came on with the RR over 11.50. Sorry but a good spinner (which he is) should have been able to draw at least one mishit in that situation. Think Rash's natural aggressiveness hurts in that situation though, throws the ball up and goes for wickets. Would maybe want to see Moeen earlier, see if he can sneak through a couple. Then bring Rash on when RR is well and truly out of hand.

 

[LightningStrike]

England have had a problem with spin ever since Swanny retired.

To be honest Ali has always been more of a batsman that can bowl a bit - though of course England have been trying to desperately get him to the level of front line spinner. Rashid probably better known as a bowler that can bat a bit.

From the neutral's point of view the fact that all England's bowlers can potentially be great or terrible at any time has the makings of some really unpredictable and exciting cricket. From England's point of view (taking the positive angle) this means that potentially any of them can be match winners at any time - and if they all brought their A-game at the same time. They could be unbeatable!!!