*Official* Second Test at Lord's - Aug 12-16 2021

[wpdavid]

12

That's not very brave.

 

[grecian]

Curran will get a 50 and preserve his place in the team, even though everyone who watches cricket knows he isn’t test class ?

As always depends on the result, if we win and that 50 is pivotal, then yeah why not? if we don't and he's toothless in the second innings then I think they will look at it, Overton or Mahmood really should play. I'd go for Overton as it won't hurt our batting that much, as well as being the best like-for-like replacement bowling-wise for broad.

 

[BoyBrumby]

So keen for Moeen to do well here

Yeah, he's patently a good egg, is very easy on the eye and has been royally dicked about by the selectors, so he's due a break.

 

[wpdavid]

As always depends on the result, if we win and that 50 is pivotal, then yeah why not? if we don't and he's toothless in the second innings then I think they will look at it, Overton or Mahmood really should play. I'd go for Overton as it won't hurt our batting that much, as well as being the best like-for-like replacement bowling-wise for broad.

The other issue is whether Woakes is fit for the next test. If not, then yeah I agree about Overton.

 

[grecian]

Yeah, he's patently a good egg, is very easy on the eye and has been royally dicked about by the selectors, so he's due a break.

Grr, no he bloody hasn't compared to practically every other player, but hey I hope he does well too.

 

[hendrix]

This is such a great test

 

[OverratedSanity]

Pretty bad few overs here. Have released a ton of pressure.

 

[CarlsbergXpress]

The other issue is whether Woakes is fit for the next test. If not, then yeah I agree about Overton.

I like the left arm swing option, but needs to threaten a wicket. Sorry Sam, I like your attitude and endeavour, but potential as a batsman is not enough. Mind you England’s batting other than Root is pants.

 

[BoyBrumby]

Grr, no he bloody hasn't compared to practically every other player, but hey I hope he does well too.

You don't think?

He's been asked to bat at literally every spot from opener to 9 at one point or other. Doesn't scream of a coaching set up who know what a player's strengths are.

 

[mr_mister]

despite his career averages having a no-rounder vibe, if he manages to get 9 more test wickets and hit 200 he'l be in a pretty exclusive club of players who have hit 5 tons and 200 wickets. fingers crossed

 

[harsh.ag]

 

[grecian]

You don't think?

He's been asked to bat at literally every spot from opener to 9 at one point or other. Doesn't scream of a coaching set up who know what a player's strengths are.

As has Stokes, actually batted more positions, it's a thing of an all-rounder really.

Look I started his appreciation page, I like him loads, but I started that page because many didn't even think he should play for England at all, and on his first-class stats they had a point. He's now played over 200 times for England, he will soon be coming up to be the 2nd most capped spinner for England in Tests ever.

Yes they mess with him in the batting order, but they still keep on picking him. Whilst Jack Leach a spinner that has proven himself demonstrably better has been overlooked, including in this match where Moeen wasn't even in the bloody squad.

 

[Starfighter]

You don't think?

He's been asked to bat at literally every spot from opener to 9 at one point or other. Doesn't scream of a coaching set up who know what a player's strengths are.

It's the opposite. They bat him every which where to jam him into the team when he's not good enough in either suit.

 

[cnerd123]

View attachment 28860

Yea I think we absolutely need Ashwin in for the last 3 Tests.

This game is threatening to slip away

 

[Arachnodouche]

Yea I think we absolutely need Ashwin in for the last 3 Tests.

This game is threatening to slip away

Who do you drop? I don't think we can afford Shami's profligacy anymore. Two games running he's gone at 4 an over. Inexcusable for an experienced bowler.

 

[silentstriker]

Man this guy is so so good.

 

[grecian]

It's the opposite. They bat him every which where to jam him into the team when he's not good enough in either suit.

See, I don't go as far as that, I think at times he's been our best option considering we had no good bats, and not really good spinners since Swann, but do feel now Leach deserves his chance, and him and Cove being thrown into bubbles for much of the Summer without getting a game is enraging in my Somerset tainted heart.

Honestly, I've been so incensed I haven't played much part in thse threads this Summer which is no doubt a blessing for some. So yeah getting an "poor Ali is so mistreated" post is enough to trigger me, even if it is from my fave poster.

 

[mr_mister]

As has Stokes, actually batted more positions, it's a thing of an all-rounder really.

Look I started his appreciation page, I like him loads, but I started that page because many didn't even think he should play for England at all, and on his first-class stats they had a point. He's now played over 200 times for England, he will soon be coming up to be the 2nd most capped spinner for England in Tests ever.

Yes they mess with him in the batting order, but they still keep on picking him. Whilst Jack Leach a spinner that has proven himself demonstrably better has been overlooked, including in this match where Moeen wasn't even in the bloody squad.

it feels a bit different for Moeen. He's batted at least 5 innings in all those positions from opener to 9. With Stokes he's only had 5+ innings in positions 4,5,6 and 7

Stokes has been mainly played as a batting-all rounder with varying degrees of batting responsibility

Moeen's role for mine has been really hard to define... he has sometimes felt in the team mainly for his batting and sometimes mainly for his bowling

 

[grecian]

it feels a bit different for Moeen. He's batted at least 5 innings in all those positions from opener to 9. With Stokes he's only had 5+ innings in positions 4,5,6 and 7

Stokes has been mainly played as a batting-all rounder with varying degrees of batting responsibility

Moeen's role for mine has been really hard to define... he has sometimes felt in the team mainly for his batting and sometimes mainly for his bowling

Indeed, but the point is he has never averaged much over 30, so hard to give him faith in any position. Stokes is averaging considerably higher, it is of course chicken or egg, but again he keeps getting picked, and through that International recognition has been in multiple franchises, probably a very rich man, which he probably couldn't envision as a Worcestershire Journeyman seven years back at 27, I doubt he's cursing the selectors too much. He has obviously performed to do that, but never consistently that incredibly.

 

[mr_mister]

it's also interesting that a few years ago I couldn't decide who was a better batsman out of Stokes, Moeen, and Bairstow. They all seemed to bring a lot to the table. Now there's a clear pecking order of Stokes > Bairstow > Moeen