Johan
International Debutant
don't think 300+ would be registered, can see a 250-300 chase thoWe couldn't chase down 250 odd in the 4th innings last year. Anything over 300 would be game over.
don't think 300+ would be registered, can see a 250-300 chase thoWe couldn't chase down 250 odd in the 4th innings last year. Anything over 300 would be game over.
yeah reckon 100 or so should be the target with a couple early wickets.3rd innings is the most batsman friendly. England need a proper lead. They have a good chance. Be ruthless.
Aus chased down 280-7 earlier this year, but it took Carey's best ever knock to do it having been 80-5!don't think 300+ would be registered, can see a 250-300 chase tho
Nah, there might be a smidgen of uneven bounce, but batting conditions will be excellent overall, and the forecast is great for days 4 and 5 so there won't be much as much swing on offer as there was this morning. Think NZ will need at least 300 to have a sniff of bowling England out unless they completely fall apart v the new ball.Yeah, I think it's very 50/50. England will need over 400 at least to be ahead as batting last will surely be tougher.
And if the catches had been taken we'd be having very different discussions about that day. The Bethell selection still looks ridiculous.
3 is the only place he gets in unless him and Smith swap roles.Is Pope’s future at #6? Wouldn’t solve the issue at #3, but by all accounts he looked more assured down the order where I think he’s much more suited to
If Stokes and Smith are in the side, then the 3-7 positions are locked down (Root, Brook). Therefore, the only space in the side is at three (well, and the second opener position really). If Pope isn't good enough to bat there, find someone else. He only bats at six if Stokes isn't there.Is Pope’s future at #6? Wouldn’t solve the issue at #3, but by all accounts he looked more assured down the order where I think he’s much more suited to
Stokes should consider going to #3 imo, has a good technique against pace, would be able to shield himself from spinners when he isn't set.Is Pope’s future at #6? Wouldn’t solve the issue at #3, but by all accounts he looked more assured down the order where I think he’s much more suited to
Cloudy with maybe a little drizzle in the morning, clearing in the afternoon. Meant to be a scorcher on Sunday.Clouds expected in the first session again or is it going to be brighter?
Thank god I get a day to recover. I'm crispy lolCloudy with maybe a little drizzle in the morning, clearing in the afternoon. Meant to be a scorcher on Sunday.
Long thought that, Stokes has done well on the few occasions he’s gone up the order, but I don’t think that’s going to happen as he’s never spent an entire Test in the top 3. Pope has been fine with the gloves (The Cricketer said that someone from Surrey rated Pope’s keeping better than Smith’s), I wonder if they’ll even use Robinson even if he does arrive on timeStokes should consider going to #3 imo, has a good technique against pace, would be able to shield himself from spinners when he isn't set.
Robinson is a better FC bat than Bethell anyway, he should absolutely go into the team.Long thought that, Stokes has done well on the few occasions he’s gone up the order, but I don’t think that’s going to happen as he’s never spent an entire Test in the top 3. Pope has been fine with the gloves (The Cricketer said that someone from Surrey rated Pope’s keeping better than Smith’s), I wonder if they’ll even use Robinson even if he does arrive on time
Surely he needs to go and actually play a bit of first class cricket and be successful before getting picked again. He might be very talented but this was a hugely optimistic selection.Robinson is a better FC bat than Bethell anyway, he should absolutely go into the team.
In fact, would it be ridiculous to predict that Bethell never plays another Test for England?
Having said that, the bloke he replaced had a very successful FC season and then looked utterly clueless against the short ball in the Windies.Surely he needs to go and actually play a bit of first class cricket and be successful before getting picked again. He might be very talented but this was a hugely optimistic selection.
There goes the reason why current England management don't always go with first class stats. It was always nigh on meaningless with seamers. because filling your boots on greenish surfaces with loads of wickets in April/May/September is completely at odds with what you are going to be up against when you get on a pitch that the chief exec is going to want 4 days receipts from in a test match at home, let alone a straw coloured pitch overseas with not a cloud in the sky.Having said that, the bloke he replaced had a very successful FC season and then looked utterly clueless against the short ball in the Windies.
Understatement, at best. There was never anything that suggested he'd offer anything at Test level, even if he got drawn to play golf with Stokes on Monday.Surely he needs to go and actually play a bit of first class cricket and be successful before getting picked again. He might be very talented but this was a hugely optimistic selection.
Problem is that all of the batting candidates would prefer to bat at 4-6 given a free choice. We haven’t really had a top level no3 since Trott. Duckett was perhaps the best option in the county circuit a few years ago however we played him as opener instead.If Stokes and Smith are in the side, then the 3-7 positions are locked down (Root, Brook). Therefore, the only space in the side is at three (well, and the second opener position really). If Pope isn't good enough to bat there, find someone else. He only bats at six if Stokes isn't there.
He shouldn't have had to come out before lunch mind.Gee Joe Root has reverted to mean after that recent run of decent form, hasn't he?