England Winter Test cricket thread

[RichC]

Brilliant effort from Monty

[Alex]

kiss of death

Wasn't far off was I

[RichC]

fair play

[Chazza]

Piece of piss

[Alex]

Piss of piece

We look a totally different side with Monty bowling. But I am concerned about the lack of runs from anyone other than KP and Cook. Trott is having a mare.

[captainfog]

If it's another spinning wicket then I'd drop Broad and pick Joe Root. Play Patel at 8 and Root at 6. And use him and Patel's spin to make up up the bowling numbers. Crazy I know, but Broad only bowled 10 overs of muck in this entire match and contributed nothing with the bat. Bringing root in would strengthen the batting on not effect the bowling.

[Alex]

I thought Root was an opener? Also, Bell is due back for the next test. So that will change something.

[captainfog]

I thought Root was an opener? Also, Bell is due back for the next test. So that will change something.

Bell won't be picked and Root could easily bat at 6. The selectors won't go down that rout though because they are devoid of imagination.

[Alex]

You hate the ECB dont you. You really do.

I dont know about Root. I think it might be too much to throw him in there. First test for England is batting at 6 in India? Thats a lot of pressure to score runs.

Mind you, Compton has done alright.

[dww]

You hate the ECB dont you. You really do.

I dont know about Root. I think it might be too much to throw him in there. First test for England is batting at 6 in India? Thats a lot of pressure to score runs.

Mind you, Compton has done alright.

I think opening is the place to bat in India really. You get the ball when it's shiny and less grippy for the spinners and get onto the wicket before it deteriorates.

It looks like the Boycott/TMS evaluation of these wickets has been proved correct - once you get in all is good but getting there can be difficult. Consequently I'd be willing to go with their better informed opinion that Trott hasn't been doing many things wrong and has just been unlucky.

Not sure about Broad. I agree he hasn't been bringing much to the game but he has potential and he'll be part of the team long term so it is probably best to challenge him to improve.

[captainfog]

I think opening is the place to bat in India really. You get the ball when it's shiny and less grippy for the spinners and get onto the wicket before it deteriorates.

It looks like the Boycott/TMS evaluation of these wickets has been proved correct - once you get in all is good but getting there can be difficult. Consequently I'd be willing to go with their better informed opinion that Trott hasn't been doing many things wrong and has just been unlucky.

Not sure about Broad. I agree he hasn't been bringing much to the game but he has potential and he'll be part of the team long term so it is probably best to challenge him to improve.

The problem with Broad is he's gone from a 90mph bowler (or at least high 80's) to a low 80's bowler. He completely lost the zip that made him so good. If he was bowling quickly but not getting wickets then I'd be inclined to stick with him because at that pace he can be an extremely fine bowler. But he's not going to get anyone out bowling 80mph dibbly dobblers.

I agree about Trott. He's a very fine cricketer who is in a bit of rough patch. He'll come good.

[captainfog]

You hate the ECB dont you. You really do.

I dont know about Root. I think it might be too much to throw him in there. First test for England is batting at 6 in India? Thats a lot of pressure to score runs.

Mind you, Compton has done alright.

They are clowns

I agree it will be tough to debut at 6, but it's not as if we are risking losing a load of runs doing it, so I see it as kind of a low risk option. What I expect the ECB to do though is if they drop Broad (unlikely seeing as they've just made him vice captain) then they'll bring in the equally ineffectual Bresnan.

[captainfog]

There are some absolute hotties in the crowd at indian cricket matches.

[Neil Young]

They are clowns

I agree it will be tough to debut at 6, but it's not as if we are risking losing a load of runs doing it, so I see it as kind of a low risk option. What I expect the ECB to do though is if they drop Broad (unlikely seeing as they've just made him vice captain) then they'll bring in the equally ineffectual Bresnan.

I'd be less critical if they hadn't changed the team after it did so well in the Ahmedabad only for their tinkering to rebound so badly on them in Mumbai. Bunch of w*nkers, obviously.

[captainfog]

I'd be less critical if they hadn't changed the team after it did so well in the Ahmedabad only for their tinkering to rebound so badly on them in Mumbai. Bunch of w*nkers, obviously.

I'd be less critical if they had picked the obviously right lineup in the first test. I'd also be less critical if they had handled the KP saga better and less like a bunch of Victorian headmasters. I'd be less critical of them if they embraced the IPL and tried to work with it to find a solution rather than fighting a losing battle against it.