It depends who they replace Gower and Botham with. Gower is one of a dying breed, calm, understated, knowledgeable and literate. I'm not so keen on Botham but one only has to listen 5Live lately to fear that noise, hyperbole, barking ignorance and worst of all, banter are on the agenda. Let's hope TMS continues to resist such claptrap.
Quote from: Nev on September 15, 2019, 06:31:22 PMIt depends who they replace Gower and Botham with. Gower is one of a dying breed, calm, understated, knowledgeable and literate. I'm not so keen on Botham but one only has to listen 5Live lately to fear that noise, hyperbole, barking ignorance and worst of all, banter are on the agenda. Let's hope TMS continues to resist such claptrap. Atherton and Hussain offer much more insight than Gower or Botham. Have you noticed that neither Botham or Gower never did the third man/analyst role in the commentary box? That suggests that they weren’t prepared to move with the times.I like Ian Ward and think that he’s a natural replacement for Gower. I think Holding is leaving too which will leave a huge hole. However they have some great “pundits”, Warne and Ponting have been brilliant.
Lots of deficiencies in the Test set up that need addressing, but a drawn Ashes series to put alongside the World Cup is a pretty decent international summer when you consider some of the dross served up in the late 1980s, 1990s and early 2000s. 2-2 is probably about right - after all if Lord's hadn't been so weather affected we'd probably have won there. Stokes' brilliant rescue act at Headingley notwithstanding, Smith was the difference between the two sides and his absence in that Test probably is the reason they haven't won the urn outright.
I agree on Ward, gutted that Holding is leaving, his lagubriuos, laid back style perfectly compliments the more enthusiastic contributions from the Australians. I don't mind Ponting but Warne annoys me a bit for no obvious reason.I hope it doesn't end up like the 20/20 coverage, particularly finals day which is not my sort of thing at all.
BurnsSibley CrawleyRootPopeStokesMoeenCurranArcherBroadAndersonThat would be my team for the first test of the New Zealand series. There are no test championship points at play, so an opportunity to give the likes of Sibley, Crawley and Pope a real chance. Obviously the Moeen selection depends a lot on his latter season form and state of mind. Edit. Just realised there is no keeper in this team! Maybe Buttler for Curran and move Moeen down to 8
Quote from: taylorsworkrate on September 15, 2019, 07:08:35 PMBurnsSibley CrawleyRootPopeStokesMoeenCurranArcherBroadAndersonThat would be my team for the first test of the New Zealand series. There are no test championship points at play, so an opportunity to give the likes of Sibley, Crawley and Pope a real chance. Obviously the Moeen selection depends a lot on his latter season form and state of mind. Edit. Just realised there is no keeper in this team! Maybe Buttler for Curran and move Moeen down to 8Pope has played keeper a fair bit.
Pleasing not to have lost the series but this Aussie side, Smith apart, has been rescued by their bowling and England's frailty with the bat. A really enjoyable series to watch, although neither side reaches the heights of sides gone by. Burns and Denly seem to be settling and should keep their places squadwise. I hope that someone gets hold of Archer and makes him a more ruthless and hungry bowler. Hopefully, Wood and Stone are fit to select for the NZ tour.