England 2012 Cricket Thread

[UK Redsox]

England haven't taken a wicket for five sessions

[UK Redsox]

And with that..................... down goes Smithy

[Meanwood Villa]

I was just about to say how embarrassing this is getting. Still a bit but not quite as bad as 5 mins ago

[PaulWinch again]

I don't believe that it's their better, I think it's an attitude issue. Ever since we reached the No.1 spot our level in Test cricket has dropped off. The bowlers haven't been particularly great all summer as a unit. There have been some good individual performances within innings, but we haven't worked as a bowling team. This has culminated now, with us not looking threatening at all. We've also dropped Swann when it should have been Bresnan. After this series we need a real look at our plans and performance.

[UK Redsox]

Our catching has dropped off so badly in the last few months.

Smith's wicket was England's first catch in 272.4 overs

[PaulWinch again]

Exactly as an entire team our batting, bowling and fielding has badly dropped this year. It all needs addressing and a few good individual perfomances in that period do not mask that. The fact we've gone through 4 different number 6's shows all is not rosy.

[UK Redsox]

"Are you England in disguise"

[UK Redsox]

Where else can you hear stories of Alf Ramsey, George Cohen and Henry Blofeld on a train back from Hull

[PaulWinch again]

Amla run out, that's a bonus. But I think Prior dropped Kallis and that could be a killer.

[PaulWinch again]

Actually he wasn't dropped. We need to capitalise on this tiny opening and the bowlers actually need to turn up.

[paul_e]

I think englands biggest issue has been a shift in focus.  We seem to determined to hit no1 in all 3 formats and, in my opinion, have focused on the 50 over format since we hit the top of the test format.  This lack of focus means we look under prepared to stay in the middle and bat out 4-5 sessions.  We also seem a bit impatient with the ball, bowling to plans and sticking to them got us to the top but we don't seem to have done that anything like as well since last summer.

[PaulWinch again]

I think trying to be top is all 3 formats is admirable, but I think it takes time. We needed to consolidate our Test position first, but I think we've become a bit complacent.

[taylorsworkrate]

Body language and genral attitude really needs to improve. We should be bouncing around, letting SA know they are in a match, not meandering to fielding positions, or casually walking back to the start of the run up.

That's been a big issue in the series so far for me.

[Villan For Life]

To catch by Cook to get rid of Kallis. Come on England build on this momentum!

[PaulWinch again]

That's a big wicket, we need the sort of turnaround they had in the first Test. Rain delay and come out firing after tea.