Confirmation just out that Denly dropped for Root with Crawley moving to 3 https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/53419675You can just tell that Denly doesn't have it though
Holder seems to me to be the type that only wants to include a non-bajan spinner if it is a raging turner like it was in Lucknow. I think Rakheem would cause England lots of problems on a pitch that bounces, but I agree the most likely decision is an unchanged side. Personally, I'm dropping Shai Hope or Brooks to include Rakheem, so..We might go in with the same team if conditions are the same. Chase bowling more might continue to keep Rakheem at bay.
I for one will miss him. I always thought we were in with a chance whilst he was at the crease.....I expect that's the end of a very curious 18 months where Joe Denly was a test cricketer. A thought provoking career at least, even if it was an experiment in how far 'not entirely ineffective' can take you.
Hmm we might have to wait a little longer for Rakheem the Dream .The average first-innings score in the last five Tests at Old Trafford is 425, while the average second-innings score is 292. The venue is favourable for pace bowling, with the fast men averaging 28.44 and striking at 53.1. The spinners have struggled here, averaging 43.44 and striking once every 77 balls.
He has potential to average 40 if he can convert starts into bigger scores. He seems to have a habit of getting out softly too. I still think he is a good player with good potential.For all his ugliness, I don't think I've seen Burns discomfited even once. He somehow manages to stick around and put bowlers off. If he can push that average towards 40, England will be very happy.
I expect that's the end of a very curious 18 months where Joe Denly was a test cricketer. A thought provoking career at least, even if it was an experiment in how far 'not entirely ineffective' can take you.
The decision to keep Crawley instead of him is probably the right one, but you're both right. Denly is a relatively ordinary cricketer, but he did a better job for the side than his stats will indicate.England fans seem to have forgotten the days of 10/3 pretty quickly.
I just look at Shai batting in tests now and success just doesn;t seem likely anymore. Previously he was looking good and then finding ways to get out. Now it appears that he will get out at any moment. I think it is nearing the time where we need to send him back to FC cricket and remember how to score long format runs.I'd be surprised if WI play Rakheem in the next game. If Brooks or Hope fail again, he may be brought in in the third test.
Hope is a pickle, because he's been so awesome in ODIs, and seems to be trying hard to become a serious test player.
This makes sense. He's still only 26. A couple of years honing his long-form skills won't hurt him much.I just look at Shai batting in tests now and success just doesn;t seem likely anymore. Previously he was looking good and then finding ways to get out. Now it appears that he will get out at any moment. I think it is nearing the time where we need to send him back to FC cricket and remember how to score long format runs.
I hadn't, right decision to drop Denly though, you have to go on at least about 20% of the time.England fans seem to have forgotten the days of 10/3 pretty quickly.
Yeah absolutely. Just making a general point that he seems to be under appreciated.I hadn't, right decision to drop Denly though, you have to go on at least about 20% of the time.