England v South Africa 2017

England were never going to save the test with the top four they had, Jennings and Ballance meant they had one weak link following another and when that happens the middle order is exposed and the game is as good as lost. Cook and Root are the only top order batsmen capable of playing a long innings, Bairstow is not quite there yet, while Stokes and Ali cannot stop themselves playing risky shots. I hate to say this but they really need someone like Trott coming in at number three but there are no real candidates at he moment.

(17-07-2017 17:16 )lancealot790 Wrote:  England were never going to save the test with the top four they had, Jennings and Ballance meant they had one weak link following another and when that happens the middle order is exposed and the game is as good as lost. Cook and Root are the only top order batsmen capable of playing a long innings, Bairstow is not quite there yet, while Stokes and Ali cannot stop themselves playing risky shots. I hate to say this but they really need someone like Trott coming in at number three but there are no real candidates at he moment.

Bring back adam lyth....

There is a part of me that actually thinks that for the most part I do think we are not out thinking teams as I think cricket is sport where it is just as important to out think as well outscore your opponents and I do think we have truly left both parts of our game at Lord's and not taken it to Trent Bridge with us

Boycott
Cook
Trott
Root
Pietersen
Botham
Russell
Swann
Broad
Trueman
Anderson

.
In a silly mood tonight

Who would people pick for the next test.... snookered might be a bit out with his choices

my choice, if woakes was fit he would be in but i take it he won't be fit.

Cook, Stoneman, Root, Bairstow, Foakes wk, Stokes, Mooen, Rashid, Overton, Broad, Anderson ... gone a bit left field... Bairstow is in top 4 as batter only.

Why is there a need to pick 6 bowlers + Root who's not a bad part time spinner.

The good teams of old used just 4 main bowlers. Remember the Austalia team of the 90's, and the West Indian team of the 70's.

(17-07-2017 22:47 )Charlemagne Wrote:  Why is there a need to pick 6 bowlers + Root who's not a bad part time spinner.

The good teams of old used just 4 main bowlers. Remember the Austalia team of the 90's, and the West Indian team of the 70's.

Because we don't have a Warne and McGrath. What 4 england bowlers are going to take 20 wickets consistently these days? I think Stoke, Broad, Woakes, Moeen and Rashid are bowlers who have great days and indifferent days, hence playing more bowlers/allrounders. Also which 6 batsman in england are good enough to score 400+ consistenly?

Woakes, Broad and Anderson are good bowlers and more than capable of taking 20 wickets between them, its the change bowlers England have problems with. Stokes is far too inconsistent with both bat and ball, Rashid and Dawson are not test class spinners and despite taking a bag full of wickets in the last match, Ali cannot be relied upon to be the sole spinner.

(17-07-2017 23:38 )lancealot790 Wrote:  Woakes, Broad and Anderson are good bowlers and more than capable of taking 20 wickets between them, its the change bowlers England have problems with. Stokes is far too inconsistent with both bat and ball, Rashid and Dawson are not test class spinners and despite taking a bag full of wickets in the last match, Ali is cannot be relied upon to be the sole spinner.

Maybe Broad was once, but since his foot problem his speed is down and his wickets come in clusters on good days and none on bad days.... the good days are not so frequent. Woakes and Anderson are good but similar, variety is needed too.

Rashid 38 wickets in 10 matches all against India/Pakistan and Bangladesh great players of spin. I think he deserves a chance.

Rashid far too many bad balls and not enough wicket taking balls, i have watched all the series he's played and most of his wickets came from batsman playing aggressive shots as opposed to genuinely beating them. Its unfortunate but there are no stand out english spinners.