2nd Test at Adelaide - 16 to 20 Dec

[Uppercut]

Did he miss a lot of chances? Did they even have a decent spinner when he played?

Oh yeah his keeping to spin is absolutely brutal.

 

[Bijed]

I think it's getting to the time that Foakes is given a decent run in the side (and tbf probably would have been if not for his random injury?). He may or may not be test standard on the whole but it's time to find out and at least deserves some home tests. Buttler and (let's be honest) Bairstow are still going to be in the frame if he turns out to be woefully inadequate. Equally, if his keeping is good and his batting a little lacking, I don't want us to fall into the trap of wanting a keeper "who can bat" and going back to one of two players who aren't world beaters with the bat anyway

I know I've posted against Buttler before and I don't want to be unfair. It's just that the existence of Foakes means that the wicketkeeper is the one top-7 position where we might have a superior alternative to the incumbents, whereas with the other batting I'm reisgned to accepting mediocrity and unfulfilled promise

 

[flibbertyjibber]

2-0 soon then. Series done day 3 Melbourne.

 

[flibbertyjibber]

Just can't for the life of me understand why we persevere with Buttler/Bairstow as keeper when Foakes would take the chances they drop and would average only a couple of runs lower. Not like they are Matt Prior averaging 40+ is it? As Bijed says would improve us in the top 7.

 

[mr_mister]

It had shades of Healy’s off Lara in the WI in 99 which signalled he’d lost it. Similar sort of late lunge at the ball.

And Gilly knew it was time to retire after dropping a sitter in that India series

Time to go Jos

 

[GIMH]

I think he means that Prior could score at a decent rate without going out of his way to play big shots. He was much better outside off than Buttler is, which made him more suited to the typical test bowling lines.

But yeah the era thing is big. Prior had better batsmen above him too.

Prior a harsh comparison though as he’s in a very, very high tier of keeper bats. I still feel people are reluctant round here to talk about just how good he was because of a certain former poster.

 

[Gob]

He was no rad Haddin

 

[SteveNZ]

Seems to me from the outside that Jos keeps his place in the side partly because he's an 'alpha', who plays golf with Broad, Anderson and co, and would probably spill over his dissatisfaction into the limited overs' squads if he were to be dropped. Is that off the mark?

 

[Blenkinsop]

Buttler keeps his place because he's "experienced" and the other top order batters mostly aren't. Meaning, he's the only one who can remember what it's like to win a series.

 

[flibbertyjibber]

Even Banglades has an attacking wicketkeeper these days and posters here want England to go with Foakes

I'd rather we had a keeper who can catch a basic chance than some Teflon tit from Old Trafford.

 

[Burgey]

The amount of cricketing pain england will experience if Labushagne and Smith bat through the first 10 overs today will be of a level not seen for quite some time. 37 degrees forecast today and starting off in the middle of it. What they’d give for two quick wickets first up

 

[Fuller Pilch]

Just wondering. Apart from Tymal Mills (only T20s) and Sam Curran (too slow and floaty for Australia) are there any decent left arm seamers pushing for spots in the England team?

 

[SteveNZ]

Yeah, the pain of being out in the 37deg heat chasing leather at 0-1 down, coupled with having to watch the nails down chalkboard x1000 dickshow that is Marnus Labuschagne batting....I mean that makes Chinese water torture look like a loving pat on the head. Throw in the Steve Smith idiosyncrasies and the inevitable redemption tales that will abound, and no one would blame an Englishman for seeking out every venue in Adelaide where they too might become a close contact

 

[Tom Flint]

Seems to me from the outside that Jos keeps his place in the side partly because he's an 'alpha', who plays golf with Broad, Anderson and co, and would probably spill over his dissatisfaction into the limited overs' squads if he were to be dropped. Is that off the mark?

Imo butter would prefer it if he was dropped and give him a good reason just to play white ball and Ipl
He never looks as happy playing tests

 

[GIMH]

Seems to me from the outside that Jos keeps his place in the side partly because he's an 'alpha', who plays golf with Broad, Anderson and co, and would probably spill over his dissatisfaction into the limited overs' squads if he were to be dropped. Is that off the mark?

I don’t think it’s quite as you put it…but they definitely like having the person Jos Buttler around

 

[mr_mister]

Guys at some point we might have to acknowledge that Labuschagne is actually really good.

Not yet, we can still call him jammy, but if he's averaging 50+ after 30 tests or something... Oh wait that's a mathematical certainty.... Hmm

 

[Fuller Pilch]

Labuschagne - slightly more ability than Tom Latham, plus slightly more luck than Henry Nicholls makes a potential test great.

 

[mr_mister]

17 fifty+ scores in 20 tests now

An 85% chance every test of making a solid contribution with the bat

It's insanely consistent

 

[morgieb]

Not yet, we can still call him jammy, but if he's averaging 50+ after 30 tests or something... Oh wait that's a mathematical certainty.... Hmm

Yes, but what’s his first chance average?

 

[SteveNZ]

Guys at some point we might have to acknowledge that Labuschagne is actually really good.

Not yet, we can still call him jammy, but if he's averaging 50+ after 30 tests or something... Oh wait that's a mathematical certainty.... Hmm

Maybe, but he was shaky as **** yesterday. How many of his tons have been against world class opposition?

Genuine question, I can't watch the guy bat for more than 5 minutes. It gives me PTSD.