mustardcharlie
School Boy/Girl Captain
Seconded
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*Official* Fourth Test (Old Trafford, Manchester) 19-23 July
- Thread starter GIMH
- Start date
mustardcharlie
School Boy/Girl Captain
It's pick 7-11 that is the main problem (for both sides). 5 from Anderson, Broad, Wood, Woakes, Robinson, Foakes, Bairstow, Tongue and Potts.
Foakes and Potts not in the squad and Bairstow a lock so you can lose 3 names
mackembhoy
International Regular
Mo has probably played more FC games than anyone else in the squad in the top 3.
I know it's not the same as test match and a long time since he's done it regularly. But you weaken a better player in Root,Brook or Stokes by batting them 3.
Only option they have. Fair play to Mo if he does a job there for the rest of the series.
ashley bach
Cricketer Of The Year
Bloody good player that Crawley.
Adders
Cricketer Of The Year
Yeah well......lets not get too carried away here!! I do think he's doing enough now for the calls for his head to ease up a little.......and I say that as one that was baying as loud as anyone.
GIMH
Norwood's on Fire
The thing is…I’m not sure his average is moving much.
Question is who’s more valuable - someone like Crawley who averages around 30 by hitting fairly consistent scores that are starts and nothing more. Or someone like Burns who averages not much more but does so with much more inconsistent scores eg more likely to get a ton but also more likely to get out for single figures?
Haven’t done the stats work to see if the above is a fair summary but it’s my perception. If said perception is correct I think Crawley is the better option, given the way we play.
Question is who’s more valuable - someone like Crawley who averages around 30 by hitting fairly consistent scores that are starts and nothing more. Or someone like Burns who averages not much more but does so with much more inconsistent scores eg more likely to get a ton but also more likely to get out for single figures?
Haven’t done the stats work to see if the above is a fair summary but it’s my perception. If said perception is correct I think Crawley is the better option, given the way we play.
honestbharani
Whatever it takes!!!
Didn't the English selectors famously use a metric of who is likely to get to 30 when selecting their side?
Either way, I have always said Crawley has more upside than any other young English batsman I have seen in the last 8 years or so, probably with the exception of Brook. His problem is when he either tries to bat like a Sehwag or when he tries to play too many drives without waiting for the ball to come to him and for him to get his eye in. If he can work on both, and basically only play his shots and not try to play too many, he can be a very good batsman for England.
There is also the caveat of adding 5 to the openers' averages given the tough job they have to do compared to MO batters.
Aidan11
International Vice-Captain
That's because Crawley doesn't have to face Stuart Broad.Well this is depressing, just saw that Crawley has more runs as opener than Warner does over last 3 years
Or more likely because Warner's been absolute shite everywhere last 3 years
wpdavid
Hall of Fame Member
I agree. Whilst it would be helpful if he kicked on from time to time, I prefer the current situation where Root is rarely coming in at 10 for 2. I read somewhere that Crawley averages 70 against Cummins, which, as I said before, is something of a plus when you're opening the batting against Australia. And who are the alternatives anyway? One other thing is that Crawley's catching in the slips seems to have become more reliable this summer.
mustardcharlie
School Boy/Girl Captain
Agreed, With so many people calling for Bairstow's head though, thought I'd put them in. Potts has, I think, been on the field as sub, so must be around. If eg Robinson is out of the series then he would be a natural replacement. If Broad and Wood are fit they are surely "locks" Woakes did enough to justify selection. So who do you pick?
slowfinger
International Debutant
I don't get why Potts has been given the cold shoulder, whenever he's played for England he's looked more than capable to me
Aidan11
International Vice-Captain
Agreed. He takes wickets regularly in the county Championship and does it at test level.
GIMH
Norwood's on Fire
I don’t think he’s been given the cold shoulder, they just prefer the others.
wpdavid
Hall of Fame Member
I think so. iirc Robinson replaced Potts in the 2nd tests against SA last summer. Was Woakes even fit then? And obviously Wood brings some much needed pace to the attack. I suppose that Tongue is the one who's leap-frogged Potts this summer.
With England playing the way they do, Crawley is your guy every time. He's frustrating, but gee the guy can play cricket shots. He has a pretty solid technique, just hasn't shown he knows how to score Test runs. I could always see why they continued to back him in, especially with no bonafide challengers. I bet he absolutely smashes it in the nets (yes, I know, nets). England will and should keep backing him in as their 'Bazball' guy, although after a while if he's shown no willingness to convert starts, you'd have to rethink it.