Cricket

[Shaggy]

Australia have improved but it is remarkable how good we've made them look. They will get ****ing dicked by South Africa, 2-0 or 3-0, and that will put this shambles into sharp perspective.

[RichC]

Yup, I fully expect the South Africans to run riot over the Aussies. We've been dreadful but fair play to Australia for taking advantage and making sure they punished us.

[captainfog]

As perverse as this may sound once we'd lost the Ashes losing 5-0 and deservedly is perhaps not a bad thing, there is no way the selectors can ignore just how poor we've been and it should enforce much needed changes being made in coaching, captaincy (perhaps) and certainly the playing personnel we've been picking.

Australia have thoroughly deserved to thrash us this tour which is galling as they themselves are not a "great" side we have slipped so far so quickly it's unreal.

Got to be question marks over Flower, Gooch and Saker as the side has been piss poor all round, batsman have failed miserably and I don't think the bowlers have been much better tbh.

Cook, whilst I like him I think most are probably right on here and he's not the right man for the job as captain

A whole host of players might be on the way out but who have we got to come in, I'm not sure if we're prepared enough to ship out some of the players that need to go, might be a lean few years for us

The selectors and management need to go.

[RichC]

Yup, you're probably right including the selectors as well.

Wholesale changes are needed.

[Shaggy]

My next team would look something like this:

Cook
Root
Bell
Pietersen
Ballance
Stokes
WICKETKEEPER
SPINNER
Broad
Finn
Anderson or new bowler

[Chazza]

How badly must Finn have been bowling in the nets to get overlooked for the full 5 tests?

Tremlett I can sort of understand as when he was on it he looked good with pace and bounce but he is shot.

As for him not getting in ahead of Rankin

[RichC]

Cook has the ability to get back to being our bests batsman but he is probably not a captain, not dynamic enough or willing to take risks.

The wickey and spinner spots are tough ones as I think Prior is done and I'm not convinced by Bairstow at all, how has Kieswetter been getting on>? I know he's usually a One dayer but running out of ideas!

[Chazza]

Cook has the ability to get back to being our bests batsman but he is probably not a captain, not dynamic enough or willing to take risks.

The wickey and spinner spots are tough ones as I think Prior is done and I'm not convinced by Bairstow at all, how has Kieswetter been getting on>? I know he's usually a One dayer but running out of ideas!

Joss Buttler is the one they want to take over but his first class batting average is way down on Bairstow's.

[captainfog]

Tremletty is a great example of the selectors and coach's muddle thinking. Every journalist, commentator and pundit was saying he wasn't the same bowler post injury, but England didn't believe them. Fair enough, If England thought differently then try him out at the oval when we are 3 nil up. Have a look and decide whether to take him on tour. But don't ignore all advice and blindly take him to Australia. Stupid.

[captainfog]

Joss Buttler is the one they want to take over but his first class batting average is way down on Bairstow's.

Butler is made of the right stuff. Get him in the side.

[captainfog]

Cooky
Leasy
Belly
KP
Rooty
Stokesy
Jossy (butler)
Broady
Jimmy
Finny
Monty

[Shaggy]

Cooky
Leasy
Belly
KP
Rooty
Stokesy
Jossy (butler)
Broady
Jimmy
Finny
Monty

Problem with that line up is we're 7 down and all out. Three absolute rabbits propping it up, although Finn improved a little bit with the bat.

I know Ballance has only had one knock and made 17, but I think he'll be a fixture.

PS the commentators last night were saying Ballance is insisting his name is pronounced 'Buh-lonce-ay'

[captainfog]

Problem with that line up is we're 7 down and all out. Three absolute rabbits propping it up, although Finn improved a little bit with the bat.

I know Ballance has only had one knock and made 17, but I think he'll be a fixture.

PS the commentators last night were saying Ballance is insisting his name is pronounced 'Buh-lonce-ay'

Yeah it's a long tail, but at the end of the day its the batsman job to score the runs.

Baloncy scored his 17 off nearly 100 balls hahaha

[Shaggy]

Yeah it's a long tail, but at the end of the day its the batsman job to score the runs.

Baloncy scored his 17 off nearly 100 balls hahaha

For the avoidance of any doubt, it rhymes with Beyoncé

I think Ballance is a bit of a dig in merchant, early on in his innings at least, but surely you can forgive his knock yesterday. He came in to make his debut at 23-5 .....he may have only made 17 but he was very impressive. Great temperament and looked very comfortable.

[captainfog]

For the avoidance of any doubt, it rhymes with Beyoncé

I think Ballance is a bit of a dig in merchant, early on in his innings at least, but surely you can forgive his knock yesterday. He came in to make his debut at 23-5 .....he may have only made 17 but he was very impressive. Great temperament and looked very comfortable.

Yeah I didn't see his innings, his domestic stats certainly demand he is given a chance. I think we need an opener more than a middle order batsman though.