CricAddict
Cricketer Of The Year
They've clearly said that he is rested and not dropped.Very harsh to drop Carse in my view. He has bowled very well thus far.
They've clearly said that he is rested and not dropped.Very harsh to drop Carse in my view. He has bowled very well thus far.
I'm guessing that quicks bowling two tests in a row there is seriously hard stuff in those conditions especially given what Pakistan have done.They've clearly said that he is rested and not dropped.
But they do know Chris , your team announced the XI two days prior to the Test match starting.3 Spinners. Pakistan will not know what has hit them
Probably thinking that it’s a ‘win the toss win the match’ kind of game, in which case the plan is to bat and bat and bat and then when the bowlers finally come on, it’ll spin. Might struggle early on if it’s not spinning, but they might struggle anyway to chase anything in the latter part of the gameWe've gone with 3 spinners and hopefully 2 seamers.
Seems a bit of a gamble when they don't expect it to turn till day 3!
Last week's game was a bit of a case in point. Not much happened until the 2nd evening and then the pitch really started taking lots of spin. That said, I am still furious about Pope's shot in the first innings. It was rancid.Probably thinking that it’s a ‘win the toss win the match’ kind of game, in which case the plan is to bat and bat and bat and then when the bowlers finally come on, it’ll spin. Might struggle early on if it’s not spinning, but they might struggle anyway to chase anything in the latter part of the game
Much like Pakistan would've been in the last Test and I bet they go with a similar line up again (maybe they switch the leggy for someone else). Surely England can't lose 7 on the trot (as I think it would be).....if england dont win the toss, theyr screwed. hope atkinson doesnt have to bowl 30+ overs an innings cos hes the only seamer.
Stokes didnt look upto it in the last match.
Harry Brook to turn his arm to take the shine off the new ball for the spinners.if england dont win the toss, theyr screwed. hope atkinson doesnt have to bowl 30+ overs an innings cos hes the only seamer.
Stokes didnt look upto it in the last match.
Not sure if fully serious or not, but he’s the only other ‘seam bowling’ option in the team lolHarry Brook to turn his arm to take the shine off the new ball for the spinners.
Can’t wait for the glorious return of Naseem and Afridi lolWill pindi really turn or pcb playing mind games
Crawley was our best batsman in both The Ashes and India away.Pope doesn't seem to reaaaally fire for England does he ? I mean, he has those big score sometimes, but he average 34.5 after 51 matches.
I also don't really know what to think of Crawley who is going to play his 50th match and averages 32.3 with 4 centuries.
At least Pope's FC average is around 47, so one could think his Test average might tend towards that, but it seems it's rather the opposite : his FC average has kept going since he plays for England :/
I guess all of this is highlighted by the fact Duckett, Root, Brook & Smith are doing really well!
Is it worth considering Cox & Bethell for example ? To replace Crawley & Pope ?
The difference between Crawley and Pope is that Crawley at least has offered some level of consistency, he often at least gets starts and gives England something of a platform, whereas IIRC Pope is statistically one of the most likely top order players in the world to get out in his first 20 balls (Crawley is also very different from Duckett in that he’s a beanpole righty, whereas Duckett is a titchy lefty, which I think is a useful contrast for any team to have). Can’t say I’m convinced by Pope, ideally you’d want some consistency from your #3, but playing at the top of the order, in particular in England, is one of the toughest gigs in cricket, short of Root moving back up (which brings with it its own problems!), there are no realistic alternatives. Better the devil you know for now, I guess!Pope doesn't seem to reaaaally fire for England does he ? I mean, he has those big score sometimes, but he average 34.5 after 51 matches.
I also don't really know what to think of Crawley who is going to play his 50th match and averages 32.3 with 4 centuries.
At least Pope's FC average is around 47, so one could think his Test average might tend towards that, but it seems it's rather the opposite : his FC average has kept going since he plays for England :/
I guess all of this is highlighted by the fact Duckett, Root, Brook & Smith are doing really well!
Is it worth considering Cox & Bethell for example ? To replace Crawley & Pope ?
Bazball logic is not your standard logic. Pope is there for the vibez maaaaannnnnn.... and his golf skills.The difference between Crawley and Pope is that Crawley at least has offered some level of consistency, he often at least gets starts and gives England something of a platform, whereas IIRC Pope is statistically one of the most likely top order players in the world to get out in his first 20 balls (Crawley is also very different from Duckett in that he’s a beanpole righty, whereas Duckett is a titchy lefty, which I think is a useful contrast for any team to have). Can’t say I’m convinced by Pope, ideally you’d want some consistency from your #3, but playing at the top of the order, in particular in England, is one of the toughest gigs in cricket, short of Root moving back up (which brings with it its own problems!), there are no realistic alternatives. Better the devil you know for now, I guess!