• Welcome to the Cricket Web forums, one of the biggest forums in the world dedicated to cricket.

    You are currently viewing our boards as a guest which gives you limited access to view most discussions and access our other features. By joining our free community you will have access to post topics, respond to polls, upload content and access many other special features. Registration is fast, simple and absolutely free so please, join the Cricket Web community today!

    If you have any problems with the registration process or your account login, please contact us.

*Official* Third Test at the WACA

Spark

Spark

Global Moderator
irritation with him aside, there really are few sights funnier in cricket than watson going beserk. it's just... incredibly amusing for some reason.
 
9

91Jmay

International Coach
Why is Swann bowling. I would rather Root at least he can bowl ODI darts. Pre-lunch declaration? Or will he just give the bowlers another sessions rest.
 
Shri

Shri

Mr. Glass
If Cosgrove and Rogers were in similar form, who would have Lehmann selected when it came down to it? Others before him didn't give Cosgrove a chance because of his weight issues and I think Boof wouldn't have given a crap as long as he performed.
 
Last edited:
Jarquis

Jarquis

Cricket Web: All-Time Legend
theegyptian said:
Flower has got himself in a situation because he said he'd drop big players if they didn't perform. Well he can't drop any of Cook, KP or Bell, Anderson, Swann or Broad imo so if that's the case Prior will have to be the guy he does drop.

I can certainly get behind that even if Bairstow isn't going to do a better job long term than Prior.

What's riled me the most about Prior and to a lesser extent Broad and Swann's batting wasn't so much there performance in this series because this performance was the product of the last couple of years. They'd go back to county cricket and bat with an arrogance and disregard to the situation. Prior went back to sussex this past year as a batsman and batted at 5 and played like a complete ****** trying to hit everything. He just didn't respect the situation or the game. I can see that mentally it's tough going from playing test cricket regularly to the county cricket but he just didn't approach the situation in the correct way. Broad and Swann were both similar in their approach in county cricket although they didn't play much this year. They just try and smack every ball. Broad would get caught on the boundary trying to hit sixes; Prior would get caught pulling at mid wicket. Familiar? They were just casual in their approach to the game and in the end that catches up with you.

The australian bowlers have just been too good for the top 5 batsmen so in that regard whilst they ain't blameless I have more sympathy with them. At least I feel their approach to the game is consistently good- they're execution has been poor but that's simply the pressure of the bowling and the situation.
Click to expand...
I think everybody (bar one person perhaps) recognises that in the 4 years leading up to the recent home Ashes series, Matt Prior was far and away the world's best wicket keeper batsman and it wasn't really a close thing in any way.

His batting, while increasingly worrying, isn't the major concern IMO. He's still has quality/ability he's just in a horrendous rut. You don't become a bad player overnight and all that. It's got to be in his head or something though. His two dismissals in the first Test were just pretty terrible - he's not playing good shots badly, if you get what I mean, he's just making poor decisions and it's highlighted most by his keeping. There's no way you can say he's where he should be after watching yesterday's play, he's just miles from being 'on point' atm.

Basically - everybody has been blown away by Australia's bowling attack this series so the batting issues can be tolerated somewhat, they're becoming increasingly frustrating but (normally) I'd back him to sort it out and get through the other side. The issue though, is that if he keeps keeping like he did yesterday then he's actually having a pretty substantial negative net effect in terms of his contribution. I don't rate Bairstow, at all, but it's hard to deny that even he would've been 'less bad' than Prior yesterday. Obviously yesterday was one day and it was exceptionally bad but he needs to turn it around quick sharp.

Anyway, Swann's spell is 4 overs for 41 with a maiden
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Top