Road to the Ashes 2021/22

[Starfighter]

Not sure how playing a genuine no-rounder like Moeen in Aus would have helped balance

We know that he has no place in the team, but it's the way that the English selectors have thought about him. They want five bowlers with four fast bowlers, and in the absence Stokes four specialist fast bowlers and Moeen is the 'obvious' solution because they never seemed to realise that Moeen was a bit crap.

Alex Bowden put it best, Stokes doesn't give England a fourth fast bowler, he gives them a (specialist) spinner, because currently they're trying to shove in four fast bowlers regardless.

 

[TheJediBrah]

We know that he has no place in the team, but it's the way that the English selectors have thought about him. They want five bowlers with four fast bowlers, and in the absence Stokes four specialist fast bowlers and Moeen is the 'obvious' solution because they never seemed to realise that Moeen was a bit crap.

Alex Bowden put it best, Stokes doesn't give England a fourth fast bowler, he gives them a (specialist) spinner, because currently they're trying to shove in four fast bowlers regardless.

Definitely true

 

[Starfighter]

Definitely true

It's such a classic English selection thing, picking someone because they fit a role without considering if they're any good at it.

 

[Flem274*]

Moeen was a very valuable cricketer at his peak, but he hit terminal decline early. Overall England got a lot from him.

 

[TheJediBrah]

He was never valuable in important cricket (the Ashes).

 

[Prince EWS]

England’s Moeen Ali to retire from Test cricket and focus on white-ball format

Moeen Ali has been questioning his ability to focus in the five-day game but leaves Test cricket with 2,916 runs and 195 wickets

www.theguardian.com

Okay, maybe not. It really does leave England's team balance up in the air though. Neither Curran nor Woakes are good enough to bat 6 or 7.

(The obvious answer is Darren Stevens obviously)

I reckon Woakes is good enough for 7 in a general sense, but probably not in Australia.

If they want to play five bowlers I reckon he's their best bet, but I can definitely see an attack of four specialist quicks and Joe Root instead.

 

[Shady Slim]

He was never valuable in important cricket (the Ashes).

iirc he did fairly well against warner in the english 2015 ashes where it seemed warner was somewhat able to get past the new ball in english conditions

 

[TheJediBrah]

I'm actually surprised by how good his Ashes stats are, especially batting. 25 with the bat and 65 with the ball. Thought it would be worse.

 

[morgieb]

I'm actually surprised by how good his Ashes stats are, especially batting. 25 with the bat and 65 with the ball. Thought it would be worse.

His 2015 Ashes was actually not too bad. Had some important knocks and wasn't completely awful with the ball.

Bizarre career. With better confidence he would've been a genuinely gun Test player. As it was, too often he felt useless.

 

[TheJediBrah]

I must have been thinking just about his games in Australia. Batting average 19 and bowling average 115.

 

[sunilz]

And Moeen has announced his retirement from Test Cricket

 

[TheJediBrah]

And Moeen has announced his retirement from Test Cricket

That's why we're talking about it

 

[Burgey]

As it was, too often he felt useless.

it behooved him, tbf.

 

[theegyptian]

Just move it to UAE and get on with it, or cancel it for a year. Doesn't seem viable right now in Australia.

 

[Pup Clarke]

Yeah can't see this going ahead personally.

 

[Burgey]

Well, if it doesn't it's a forfeit. Simple as that.

 

[TheJediBrah]

Well, if it doesn't it's a forfeit. Simple as that.

Forfeit what? they already don't have the Ashes

 

[Burgey]

They forfeit the series. It's pretty obvious why they won't tour. It's fear of having their heads handed to them, nothing more. If they had the equivalent of their 2010/11 side, they'd be queuing up at Heathrow now to get out here.

 

[Nintendo]

https://www.reddit.com/r/Cricket/comments/py4l5p Swear langer is just testing how much horseshit he can pull off before they fire him at this point.

 

[Burgey]

Well, in this instance he's absolutely right re jewelry tbh, though I think bitching over a digital watch is dodgy. If it was a bracelet or necklace i would absolutely agree with him.