Yeah the first 5 matches of the tour it was pretty much win the toss and you win the match.in these series so far, whoever bats first loses, although those dropped chances prob cost windies the match.
Yep, felt like the advantage was less for this one and hopefully means that the final two matches can be close ones too. It was maybe because they started later and it had already become tough for the spinners in the first innings. But really you can't lose your top 5 so cheaply and hope to win a game of cricket. If they'd batted a bit more sensibly up top then a winning total was definitely achievable. I'd like to see England bat first if they win the toss again, get some practice. But I'm guessing there's win bonuses on the line so they probably wouldn't.Yeah the first 5 matches of the tour it was pretty much win the toss and you win the match.
Here, batting second was a definite advantage, but it felt like we would probably have won if we had been slightly less brain dead in the power play and then held our catches.
So well played England, you won fair and square.
Yeah possibly gotta say I don't think he's bowled as well as Archer, but the stats suggest otherwise, so we'll see. Topley is probably gone though, shame for him.Think Mahmood has made the opening bowling position his own while Topley has gone home.
Cricinfo
In three outings against the West Indies, Saqib Mahmood alone has taken eight. It is the most by an England bowler in any series in T20I history.
Mahmood 9 at 7.88
Overton 4 at 11.75
Archer 2 at 28.00
Curran 0
Whenever the ball has gone in the air off Mahmood it has seemingly always gone to hand, whereas Archer seems to keep finding edges that somehow find their way to the boundaries. But given how Topley seemed unable to take wickets at the top, it's nice to see Mahmood doing so.Yeah possibly gotta say I don't think he's bowled as well as Archer, but the stats suggest otherwise, so we'll see. Topley is probably gone though, shame for him.
Yeah read a piece on cricinfo this morning suggesting he’s reinventing himself as a batting all-rounderWithout checking the figures at all, Curran's batting seems to have stepped up to the plate in this tour. Or at least, there seems to have been a number of handy contributions when the situation demanded.
This strikes me as a very good thing. And possibly a couple of years overdue.Yeah read a piece on cricinfo this morning suggesting he’s reinventing himself as a batting all-rounder
Yes good idea. At T20 level his bowling is good enough in a 6-7 man attack but he's unlikely to play in other formats unless his batting develops to top seven levelsThis strikes me as a very good thing. And possibly a couple of years overdue.
I hope Curran aspires to higher than top 7 levels with his batting. I read a piece a few weeks ago where he described himself as 'a bit gutted' that he wasn't considered to replace Stokes in the SL tests. I suppose some would see that as presumptious, but I was happy to read that he was thinking along those lines, and that he hadn't given up on the idea of playing red-ball cricket for England.Yes good idea. At T20 level his bowling is good enough in a 6-7 man attack but he's unlikely to play in other formats unless his batting develops to top seven levels
Forde is injured now, so Obed comes in. We need that left arm option, so hopefully he gets his form back.So, with the series already lost, we'll try out some of the reserves (well, to be honest there is only one guy: Springer).
Terrence Hinds should make way for Springer. Sherfane comes in for Hetmyer and maybe persist with Forde as he can hit the ball well enough.
Also, hope they bring in the most important player for the remaining matches: Common sense.
I am particularly disappointed with Pooran and Hety. If you are going to pick and choose when you represent the West Indies, they could at least look committed when they do bother. The shots they both played in the power play were awful and those two are supposed to be leading our white ball batting by now.Yep, felt like the advantage was less for this one and hopefully means that the final two matches can be close ones too. It was maybe because they started later and it had already become tough for the spinners in the first innings. But really you can't lose your top 5 so cheaply and hope to win a game of cricket. If they'd batted a bit more sensibly up top then a winning total was definitely achievable. I'd like to see England bat first if they win the toss again, get some practice. But I'm guessing there's win bonuses on the line so they probably wouldn't.