*Official* England in West Indies 2022

[Spark]

Anyway, Collingwood is continuing to make some... interesting... public statements in defence of the English players

“Absolutely not,” replied Collingwood when asked if he was disappointed with England’s bowlers. “I thought today was probably one of the best efforts I’ve seen in an England shirt and in Test cricket.

I'm all for protecting your players in public as a coach. But between this and his comments after the Ashes, there is a risk that it starts to go beyond "protecting your players" and more towards "disrespecting your fans".

 

[Starfighter]

It's like he's relying on no-one having actually watched the test. Which being England, is probably true.

 

[tony p]

Still an outside chance that England could lose by an innings yet.

 

[ImpatientLime]

Anyway, Collingwood is continuing to make some... interesting... public statements in defence of the English players



I'm all for protecting your players in public as a coach. But between this and his comments after the Ashes, there is a risk that it starts to go beyond "protecting your players" and more towards "disrespecting your fans".

i mean collingwood comes across as the absolute epitome of 'he's a top lad, he's hitting them well in the nets, the batting/bowling unit had an honest chat about what went wrong'.

essentially bland platitudes over decisive action.

 

[Woodster]

On the Mark Wood debate, since the start of 2019 he’s taken 52 wickets at 26.25, strike rate of 47.08 and economy of 3.35. Now just for comparison during that same time period Jofra Archer has taken 42 poles at 31.05.

Strike rate is never something I particularly refer to as being an integral pointer, but I think what he offers this side is obvious (even with Broad and Anderson in) and has become very apparent in this latest innings on this pitch due to his injury absence and our flat looking attack.

If he goes a few more runs than the others but picks up crucial wickets then I’m sure everyone would be happy with that contribution from their x-factor quick that is a real point of difference in this attack.

 

[honestbharani]

The discussion of any of the bowling stats without context of what role said bowler is playing in his side is almost always silly.

 

[Fuller Pilch]

I think Mark Wood offers a real point of difference. Obviously England would love to have Jofra and Stone as well and rotate the raw pace, but they don't so need to manage him well.

 

[Beamer]

i mean collingwood comes across as the absolute epitome of 'he's a top lad, he's hitting them well in the nets, the batting/bowling unit had an honest chat about what went wrong'.

essentially bland platitudes over decisive action.

I'm amazed he got this temporary role tbh. How is it a reset if someone who was involved in day-to-day decision in the previous set up is in charge? It was a horrifically slow pitch yes and I thought England stuck at it, but it was also horrifically hard to score as you can't time the ball or hit on the up. So he's definitely engaging in hyperbole there, it's just not credible when a coach says that, even the players will think 'that's a bit much.'

 

[Gremlin]

Aggers commented that it was hard to see how Broad and Anderson could have made a difference on this pitch (or words along those lines)

Not excusing the random selection policy however.

Woakes has lost his pace hasn't he? I seem to remember he was pushing 85mph frequently and had a bit of zip

 

[Beamer]

Aggers commented that it was hard to see how Broad and Anderson could have made a difference on this pitch (or words along those lines)

Not excusing the random selection policy however.

Woakes has lost his pace hasn't he? I seem to remember he was pushing 85mph frequently and had a bit of zip

The only thing that can make a difference on this pitch is the ability to swing the new ball and extreme pace. Mark Wood is the only quick bowler in the match and he's now injured. Jayden Seales swung the ball twice as much as any England bowler, which tbf is his skill. Roach also swung the ball. Noone from England has.

I think that woeful new ball spell from Woakes and Overton screwed England over tbh. It was hard to see a comeback from that, even though we tried to let you back into the game with awful batting from Campbell, Brooks and Blackwood.

 

[grecian]

On the Mark Wood debate, since the start of 2019 he’s taken 52 wickets at 26.25, strike rate of 47.08 and economy of 3.35. Now just for comparison during that same time period Jofra Archer has taken 42 poles at 31.05.

Strike rate is never something I particularly refer to as being an integral pointer, but I think what he offers this side is obvious (even with Broad and Anderson in) and has become very apparent in this latest innings on this pitch due to his injury absence and our flat looking attack.

If he goes a few more runs than the others but picks up crucial wickets then I’m sure everyone would be happy with that contribution from their x-factor quick that is a real point of difference in this attack.

Look I don't doubt he's worth a place, but the fact is his lack of fitness means he can't be relied on, how many Tests has he missed. Anyway again he's obviously worth his place, but he can be hideously over-rated, as he has been by some in this match.

Oh and Aggers is talking nonsense, they utterly wasted the new ball, hard to believe Branderson would have done that, Holder did alright in the first innings by bowling a great line length and with accuracy, pretty much Branderson's forte.

Oh and I do kinda get what Colly said we bowled hugely better then the day before, and as I feared the pitch deadened, but yeah it's effort over talent really.

Could Bonner actually be good, seems so long since the windies created a half-decent bat, at least England have Root.

 

[Beamer]

Could Bonner actually be good, seems so long since the windies created a half-decent bat, at least England have Root.

He is definitely not the most talented batsman in the region, in fact I'd say he is pretty limited in his strokeplay. The big difference is over the last 3 or 4 years he has developed an understanding of his limitations and always plays within them. That is something most of our players don't have. Hopefully they can learn from him.

 

[honestbharani]

Hoping to see a moving day today and a lot of fun cricket.

 

[Xix2565]

Look I don't doubt he's worth a place, but the fact is his lack of fitness means he can't be relied on, how many Tests has he missed. Anyway again he's obviously worth his place, but he can be hideously over-rated, as he has been by some in this match.

Oh and Aggers is talking nonsense, they utterly wasted the new ball, hard to believe Branderson would have done that, Holder did alright in the first innings by bowling a great line length and with accuracy, pretty much Branderson's forte.

England don't really have anyone who can fill in Wood's role apart from a recovering Archer, unfit Robinson and perhaps an untested Mahmood away from home though. Broad and Anderson can't do that role consistently either, so this leaves England in trouble when it comes to taking wickets. Also doesn't help that English spin isn't able to pick up some of the slack whether in keeeping it tight or taking wickets.

 

[ashley bach]

Watching day 3 highlights, it was hard not to notice how well Stokes bowled.
2 lbw's just went begging after the batsman got a wee edge, both were given out but no cigar.
also going for just 42 runs off 28 overs is very impressive.

 

[grecian]

Leach deserved that, he's kept a measure of control on a pitch that's offered nothing.

 

[ashley bach]

scraps quickly cleaned up by a Leach.

 

[trundler]

As much as I'd love England getting pantsed, I hope Root gets some runs here

 

[Gremlin]

I'd like an opening partnership too....

 

[OverratedSanity]

Oh and Aggers is talking nonsense, they utterly wasted the new ball, hard to believe Branderson would have done that

Quite. Didn't WI start off scoring 5 RPO or something ? Even when Anderson isn't picking up wickets, there's no way he's allowing that many runs to be scored off the new ball.