Cricket

[PTP]

I have defended him against naysayers throughout his entire career but now if I were in charge he'd be one of those dropped, albeit for him temporarily. Just to see how he reacts. He doesn't give a **** about anyone but himself. It's incredibly annoying to watch him indulging himself time and time again.

i've been a naysayer against him - think he's an incredibly talented cricketer. but he's an arse. And i'm sure my memory is short, but it feels like every time i've ever watched KP in a test, and we've needed him to dig in, he's just done a big lazy throw of his hands at the ball, like he's dmitir berbatov taking a penalty, only to just chip it up and get caught.

it's been a shambles, fair play to the aussies, they've ****ted us....but i can't help feeling that this Ashes came far to quickly after the summer and our boys just didn't have the motivation to pick themselves up and go again.

[G]

Normally every two years, alternating home and away, but they've had to bring forward the Australian series as they are hosting the World Cup next year.

Home advantage is huge in cricket. Over here we prepare pitches to suit our bowlers. Australian pitches really don't suit us, and suit them. Also the England team peaked about 12 months ago, and it's now in quite a violent downward spiral. Many of them are in their early-mid 30s.

It all basically centres around the toss of the coin. Whoever wins that wins the test match. Ashley Cook really needs to up his tossing game.

That as well. Win the toss and bat first, you win. It's a bit **** really. Australia have won all three tosses, won all three games. When you field first, and you stand around in the field for two full days in 40 degree heat, by the time we have to bat we are ****ed.

Cheers chaps

[Alex]

Stokes is making a fist of it. Looks like he could be the one bright spot from this tour. Hope Prior keeps going too and finds a bit of from.

[Shaggy]

Yeah Stokes looks a player.

[Shaggy]

Top England averages this series:

Stokes: 39.66
Bell: 38.00
Carberry: 31.33

[EwarWoo]

but I did notice in the summer that England won the ashes(whatever that is) fairly comprehensively.

That's not quite the case. On paper maybe, but in reality we were saved a couple of times by rain, and a couple of other times by piss poor batting by the Aussies.

We weren't a heck of a lot better than we are now, but they were a heck of a lot poorer, they've had a massive jump in form.

As well as all the other stuff said by the others.

[captainfog]

hahaha at Shaggy dropping the entire team.

Look, this time last year we were beating India in India, lets not got bananas because of one terrible series.

Anderson is good for another couple of years, so is KP. I think Swann is done though, I suspect his elbow has started to severely hamper his performance and I reckon he'll retire at the end of this tour.

I'd be looking to replace Bresnan and possibly Prior for the trip to the Windies. It might be a bit soon for Butler but if he comes in now it would stagger the replacement of our older players.

The problem we have is that there is nobody knocking on the door to replace our bowlers. It's all very well saying drop this player and that player but who are you supposed to bring in? Anderson has had a poor tour, but he's still our best bowler. You might say Onions, but he's done in International cricket. Lost his nip and would just be another steady eddy trunder to add to the list.

[Alex]

Prior I have just found out is Vice Captain, so I guess its harder to drop him. Especially given his Keeping is top draw still.

[Shaggy]

Anderson has had more than a poor tour. A poor year since the first Ashes Test at Trent Bridge.

It's not one terrible series. NZ away was terrible. This has been quite a while coming.

How long do we give Prior? There are a good few alternatives to him. Even his glove work is starting to deteriorate.

Onions is the best bowler in County cricket and deserves to play. He's never been express quick but his relentless line and length draws many an edge and would've been a great option in Oz, especially as our best bowlers have bowled consistently too short. He'd be in my squad from now on.

I'm not arsed - I'd drop Swann for good, Prior until he finds some form, Anderson likewise, Tremlett and Bresnan should be discarded for good. Carberry has done pretty well but I'm not sure there's any value in persisting with him at age 33. Bell needs to go up to 3 unless we can get Trott back, in which case he should bat 4 with Pietersen RELEGATED to 5. Stokes at 6.

[Harv]

That's not quite the case. On paper maybe, but in reality we were saved a couple of times by rain, and a couple of other times by piss poor umpiring.

We weren't a heck of a lot better than we are now, but they were a heck of a lot poorer, they've had a massive jump in form.

As well as all the other stuff said by the others.

fixed

[captainfog]

Australia are a very ordinary side. We are playing exceptionally poorly.

[captainfog]

Anderson has had more than a poor tour. A poor year since the first Ashes Test at Trent Bridge.

It's not one terrible series. NZ away was terrible. This has been quite a while coming.

How long do we give Prior? There are a good few alternatives to him. Even his glove work is starting to deteriorate.

Onions is the best bowler in County cricket and deserves to play. He's never been express quick but his relentless line and length draws many an edge and would've been a great option in Oz, especially as our best bowlers have bowled consistently too short. He'd be in my squad from now on.

I'm not arsed - I'd drop Swann for good, Prior until he finds some form, Anderson likewise, Tremlett and Bresnan should be discarded for good. Carberry has done pretty well but I'm not sure there's any value in persisting with him at age 33. Bell needs to go up to 3 unless we can get Trott back, in which case he should bat 4 with Pietersen RELEGATED to 5. Stokes at 6.

Cook
?
Root
KP
Bell
Stokes

On paper that's a bloody good batting line up and it's also a good mix of ages. I'd be amazed if we don't start clicking soon and start scoring some decent totals. Probably not on this tour because we're shot - our brains are discombobulated. But I'm anticipating some serious runs against the Windies.

It's the bowling that is a concern

Anderson
Broad

and that's it, who are the other 2? It's going to have to be Monty, there isn't another spinner that's good enough. He's such a liability though, he simply can't field. And the seamer? I think it might be time to stick our faith in Finn and just keep bowling him and try and give the lad some confidence especially considering having Stokes in the sides gives the captain some relief/protection if Finn has one of his off days.

Dropping Anderson is madness and would be a complete brain fart by the selectors. I don't really see any evidence to say Onions would be doing better than him. Similar age, similar pace, similar style and if anything Anderson's skill levels are slightly higher - I'm sure he'd have a bucket load of wickets too if he had played any Championship cricket, especially at Durham. Jimmy has been pretty accurate and economical this series too (apart this last innings!) and so I'm not convinced Onions would have done better on that score either.


So bowlers:

Jimmy
Broady
Finny
Monty

Again, decent mix of ages and on paper lots of ability too.


This England side are far from finished and I reckon we'll bounce back. Sooner rather than later.

[Chazza]

Wonder if Flower might be thinking of jacking it in?

[captainfog]

Wonder if Flower might be thinking of jacking it in?

Definitely. It's been rumoured that this will be his last tour for a long time.

[G]

That's not quite the case. On paper maybe, but in reality we were saved a couple of times by rain, and a couple of other times by piss poor batting by the Aussies.

We weren't a heck of a lot better than we are now, but they were a heck of a lot poorer, they've had a massive jump in form.

As well as all the other stuff said by the others.