England Cricket Thread 2011

[Villan For Life]

I think that it's too soon for Woakes, he needs time to develop in county cricket before being exposed at test level. Ease him into the international set up in the same way that Broad was introduced: T20 and ODI's first and then back to his county to develop his game and mature as a player.

He's unlikley to be fit for the first test anyway as he's out for 3 weeks with shin splints.

aah, didn't realise he was out for that long.

I think he is a decent way along in his development already though.  He's played a few over 50 first class games, has already toured with England and looked impressive in Australia.

I think he's ahead of where Broad was at a similar stage.  His batting is better and he has a better temperament than Broad did.  Woakes also seems to relish the big match stage.  His coolness under pressure in the 1st 20/20 in Aus belied his tender years.

I suppose it all comes down to what balance Strauss and Flower want in the team.  4 bowlers or 5.  4 worked pretty damn well in Australia so I think Morgan will come in at No 6 for the 1st test.

The balance is key and at times we will struggle without a 5th bowler, particularly if one of the "unit of 4" gets injured during the game.

Morgan has to come in but we do need to find a few overs from one of the batsmen to fill the void left by Colly's retirement. He was generally good for 10 overs.

[spangley1812]

I think that it's too soon for Woakes, he needs time to develop in county cricket before being exposed at test level. Ease him into the international set up in the same way that Broad was introduced: T20 and ODI's first and then back to his county to develop his game and mature as a player.

He's unlikley to be fit for the first test anyway as he's out for 3 weeks with shin splints.

aah, didn't realise he was out for that long.

I think he is a decent way along in his development already though.  He's played a few over 50 first class games, has already toured with England and looked impressive in Australia.

I think he's ahead of where Broad was at a similar stage.  His batting is better and he has a better temperament than Broad did.  Woakes also seems to relish the big match stage.  His coolness under pressure in the 1st 20/20 in Aus belied his tender years.

I suppose it all comes down to what balance Strauss and Flower want in the team.  4 bowlers or 5.  4 worked pretty damn well in Australia so I think Morgan will come in at No 6 for the 1st test.

The balance is key and at times we will struggle without a 5th bowler, particularly if one of the "unit of 4" gets injured during the game.

Morgan has to come in but we do need to find a few overs from one of the batsmen to fill the void left by Colly's retirement. He was generally good for 10 overs.

We could get 10 or so overs out of Trotty and Bell used to bowl and if it was turning KP

[Villan For Life]

First day of the English International summer and it's cold!

Looking forward to getting my TMS fix during the rain.

[PaulWinch again]

Well you can tell the International Summer has arrived.

[PaulWinch again]

No disrespect to Cardiff, but we shouldn't be playing Test matches there, simply because the pitch does not suit us at all.

[TheTimVilla]

Sangakkara wasn't out then. There was a noise, but hotspot showed nothing and it looked as though he didn't touch it. But the review said yes. Very odd. 114 for 2.

[PaulWinch again]

I think it did show something, just very faintly.

[VillaZogmariner]

I know it's a Thursday and it's been wet - but that is a fucking shocking turn out from the crowd.

[taylorsworkrate]

Right, Firstly the cricket itself:  Sri Lanka possibly just edged it, although the loss of Sangakarra a big blow.  I thought England bowled decently in spells, but not with the relentless consistency shown in Australia. 

Secondly, a couple of things that are grating at me:

1:  Why do we produce a slow, low pitch when that is exactly what the Sri Lankan Batsmen put on their christmas lists?
2:  Why on earth do we play at Cardiff?  Its statistically one of the wettest parts of Britain.  The ground is small by test standards and still only half full.

[PaulWinch again]

The sidescreen was also embarrassing, a big white sheet across a load of seats.

[taylorsworkrate]

The sidescreen was also embarrassing, a big white sheet across a load of seats.

Yeah that was pretty pathetic.

Another gripe i have is why does there have to be 30 minutes between toss and start of play?  Surely 10 minutes is ample time for the opening batsmen to put their pads on.

[Villan For Life]

We're experiencing one of the disadvantages of central contracts. The bowling attack looks woefully undercooked. Jimmy is a rhythm player and his radar was askew. Broad is feeling his way back from injury and even Swanny looked out of sorts. Tremlett bowled well and beat the bat a few times but his height advantage is negated by a slow, low pitch.

None of this is a huge surprise and I hope that the attack clicks into place tomorrow.

[Villan For Life]

The sidescreen was also embarrassing, a big white sheet across a load of seats.

Yeah that was pretty pathetic.

Another gripe i have is why does there have to be 30 minutes between toss and start of play?  Surely 10 minutes is ample time for the opening batsmen to put their pads on.

I think that they were still drying the outfield hence the delay and it pissed down immediately after the toss anyway.

[PaulWinch again]

I don't think Cardiff is a Test ground at all, it doesn't suit us and the crowd was terrible.

[Villan For Life]

I don't think Cardiff is a Test ground at all, it doesn't suit us and the crowd was terrible.

The weather played a part; 9,000 tickets sold and only 6,000 turned up.