England 2012 Cricket Thread

[PaulWinch again]

Well the batsman struggled other than Cook, hopefully it's just a bit of rustiness.

[TheTimVilla]

Luke Wright just got 100 off 44 balls in the Big Bash, ultimately out for 117.

[PaulWinch again]

Bres is out of the tour, England won.

[cdbearsfan]

Test cricket is NOT dying, it could be on the cusp of a golden era.

It shouldn't be, buut the crowds for the Christmas Tests were very poor. Even before Christmas, SA vs Oz wasn't exactly packed, which was very sad.

Swings & roundabouts. I was watching a repeat of a 1984 test v the WI yesterday, and the ground (think it was Old Trafford) was virtually deserted. This was to watch one of the greatest teams of all time.

That's probably why it was deserted, people couldn't be arsed to turn up to see England get stuffed.

Test cricket is as popular as it has been in England for decades, partly because it has successfully re-invented itself as a game where lads can turn up and get pissed (like darts) and cos England are doing so well. Test crowds in the sub-continent, the Windies and elsewhere are pretty poor though. I wouldn't be amazed if in twenty years time the Ashes is the only Test cricket competition that remains while everybody else just plays Twenty Over Slogball.

[hipkiss92]

Bres is out of the tour, England won.

He's only out of the Tests, can still make ODI's and T20

[TheTimVilla]

Onions is a more than adequate replacement! If he can get past Finn or Tremlett (admittedly he's not 100%).

I'd like to see a bit more rotation amongst the quicks, to avoid burnout issues. Perm any 3 from Bresnan, Broad, Anderson, Tremlett, Onions, Woakes, Finn.

[bertlambshank]

Just an heads up to anyone with a PaddyPower account they are showing the ODI's between South Africa and Sri Lanka.

[olaftab]

Cheers bighead!

[bertlambshank]

Cheers bighead!

My head is of Stewie Griffin size I have to say.

[olaftab]

Onions is a more than adequate replacement!

he will struggle with the Teesra from Ajmal!

[Dave Cooper please]

Monty Panear bowling better than Swanny this morning.

[PaulWinch again]

Panesar has bowled a great spell apparently, which is interesting. It seems that this pitch is very receptive to spin and this is where the first Test is being played. I think they should consider playing two spinners in the first Test.

[Dave Cooper please]

Panesar has bowled a great spell apparently, which is interesting. It seems that this pitch is very receptive to spin and this is where the first Test is being played. I think they should consider playing two spinners in the first Test.

Yep, and it solves the problem of who to replace Bresnan at a stroke.

[PaulWinch again]

I agree I think it's brilliant that we're worried who to play, Tremlett, Finn or Panesar. That's not even mentioned Onions, it shows what depth we have.

[paul_e]

On this pitch Panesar has to take the last spot, there's loads of turn there but there's nothing in it for the quicks.

Spin has dominated both days so far as on most pitch conditions just get better and better for the spinners as it goes on.  I'd keep Panesar around as well because you need the extra spinner on the sub-continent as well.

It's just a shame he's so unreliable in the field, can't bat either but I'm willing to let the batting go as we have decent options down to 9 anyway so we shouldn't be relying on anything for him or Jimmy.