England Cricket Thread 2011

[Dave Cooper please]

Right, Trott unlikely to bat again is a loss, might be crucial, but even more crucial despite whatever the result is, who do we replace him with if he's out of the series?
Another batsman? Bopara? Not many batsmen making a claim at the moment.

I say bring a bowler in, we already bat to number 9. 10 and even Anderson can hold his own, so why not Woakes? Knows Edgbaston, gets his share of runs, move everyone up one and stick him in at eight.

[taylorsworkrate]

In fairness Trescothick is in great form.  Such a shame about his personal problems as hes still more than good enough to get plenty of runs at test level.

I'd stick with the 4 bowlers and bring Bopara in and bat Bell at 3.  Bopara's got runs this year and has by all accounts matured a bit.

[spangley1812]

I would pick James Taylor he looks a great prospect.........much will depend on what happens in this test if we go to the
home of cricket 2 - 0 up then I cant see up picking another bowler 

[Villan For Life]

I would pick James Taylor he looks a great prospect.........much will depend on what happens in this test if we go to the
home of cricket 2 - 0 up then I cant see up picking another bowler 

I'd go with Taylor. We're pretty well covered in the bowling department but we do seem to be light on the next generation of batsmen.

I'm not a Bopara fan, his technique is suspect at the highest level. A poor Aussie attack found him out in 2009 and I don't think that he's the answer. I'm also concerned about Morgan. He looks to be a good batsman who plays some unorthodox shots but he needs a score to cement his place in the side. He got his highest test score at Trent Bridge against Pakistan last year so let's hope history repeats itself.

Cricinfo are reporting that Trotty may bat if needed. Let's hope we don't need him!

http://www.espncricinfo.com/england-v-india-2011/content/current/story/525383.html

[spangley1812]

I agree fully about Bopara, the thing that may go in his favour is his bowling but that I think is suspect @ test level
I would even consider Samit Patel ahead of Bopara
 
Morgan needs a score in this innings

Alex Hales and Ben Stokes look very promising

[PaulWinch again]

I think Morgan is fine, and they should persevere with him. Bell is playing a belter of an innings here.

[PaulWinch again]

Bell has played a blinder, we need these two to get big runs.

[taylorsworkrate]

I don't think Bopara's technique is in question, more that his temperament has been.

Judging from a far he seems far more focused this year.  His decision not to go to the IPL, but to play for Essex to push his claims showed maturity.  (If little financial sense)

[taylorsworkrate]

Still more than enough in this pitch.

[Villan For Life]

Hot spot is bollocks, I'm certain Laxman edged that.

Has he put Vaseline on his bat............

When I was at the Brisbane Test I was sat near the hotspot camera and I got chatting to the bloke who was looking after it. He was telling me that in temperatures over about 32 degrees it doesn't pick up slight edges where the ball brushes the bat.

The Umpire John Holder was on TMS at lunchtime. He was saying that there is nothing in the laws to prevent the batsman applying vaseline to his bat. They cannot make a batsman change his bat. One for the lawmakers then.

[taylorsworkrate]

Is there not a way to apply snicko faster?

That seems much more reliable that Hotspot.

[Villan For Life]

Is there not a way to apply snicko faster?

That seems much more reliable that Hotspot.

You would have thought so. It seems to take them about 5 minutes to obtain the sound file from snicko which is far too long. I still think you need a mix of hotspot and snicko though.

[Lsvilla]

Michael Holding was reviewing Tendulkars dismissal yesterday and trying to make a point about how high up on the bat he had nicked off to Strauss at slip and Hotspot didn't even show that edge - Mikey let it go with a throwaway comment about it but more should have been made of it imo - if Hotspot is not up to the task or can be defeated by vaseline or whatever then snicko does need to be speeded up somehow.

[taylorsworkrate]

Plumb batting conditions Athers?  Really?

Still swing there with the odd bit of uneven bounce.  Its certainly better for batting than the first day, but similar conditions to when India batted.

Englands score looks good as Bell and Pietersen have played magnificently and India haven't bowled that well.

[Villan For Life]

Sublime ton by ian Bell, Villa Fan