England 2012 Cricket Thread

[PaulWinch again]

Well that was a disgrace however this thread like all of our Cricket establishment is absolutley  obsessed with Australia. We will never become truley best in the world unless we think futher than end of our nose. Cricket is played on the sub-continent  and we need to go and win there not start worrying about *uckin Australia.

I don't think anyone is ignoring the fact that it's the sub-continent that's the issue.

[olaftab]

Pietersen is going to be one of those players who just won't get scores in the subcontinent - he doesn't like spin, likes to take the ball on the up and the ball coming on to the bat in front of big crowds - none of which you'll find much of over there.  Get him playing infront of a packed house against either Australia or South Africa and he'll be fine.

and that means he will not be  ranked with the finest batsmen in the world.

[olaftab]

England's capitulation was something I did not envisaged. I thought it was going to be tough but  this was  dreadful.
I guess there is some point in laying the blame on batters but once Monty, a barely adequate spinner at test level, got 5  wickets  Pakistan's 3 world class twirlers were going to wreak untold damage and tha's what happenend.

[PaulWinch again]

I think calling Monty a barely adequate spinner at Test level is extremely harsh. He lost his way a couple of years back, but look at his record it's perfectly good.

[Villan For Life]

What a gutless batting display. The bowlers did their job but the batsmen were clueless. Why didn't we attack and play positively? Instead all of the batsmen were caught like rabbits in car headlights.

I don't see too many changes being made. KP averaged over 70 in 2011 so he'll stay in. Morgan hasn't proved himself at test level but would Bopara be any better?

I'm concerned about the lack of decent batsmen who could be brought in. Time for some tough choices Strauss and Flower.

[PaulWinch again]

What a gutless batting display. The bowlers did their job but the batsmen were clueless. Why didn't we attack and play positively? Instead all of the batsmen were caught like rabbits in car headlights.

I don't see too many changes being made. KP averaged over 70 in 2011 so he'll stay in. Morgan hasn't proved himself at test level but would Bopara be any better?

I'm concerned about the lack of decent batsmen who could be brought in. Time for some tough choices Strauss and Flower.

I repeat, could Bopara possibly do worse? no. Morgan needs to go back to the county game and work on his technique under pressure and he can come back. The likes of Taylor need to be given a go.

[Andy Poole]

The only positive from todays capitulation was Boycott on T.M.S. having to eat humble pie because yesterday he bet his house on England winning. When asked cheekily "which one?" He replied "All three"

Today he was brilliantly ribbed by all the T.M.S. team!

[olaftab]

I think calling Monty a barely adequate spinner at Test level is extremely harsh. He lost his way a couple of years back, but look at his record it's perfectly good.

Paul we will have to disagree on this.  Monty is Test standard nothing more. His talent is limited and he does well to make the team. Players of true international class stand apart from also ran intenationals. Swann is a good example of that as he can be ranked amongst the best. Ajmal and Hafeez are also in that bracket.

[PaulWinch again]

Fair enough. However I will also disagree on Hafeez, he's a part timer at best.

[Chris Smith]

I think calling Monty a barely adequate spinner at Test level is extremely harsh. He lost his way a couple of years back, but look at his record it's perfectly good.

Paul we will have to disagree on this.  Monty is Test standard nothing more. His talent is limited and he does well to make the team. Players of true international class stand apart from also ran intenationals. Swann is a good example of that as he can be ranked amongst the best. Ajmal and Hafeez are also in that bracket.

Think back where Swanny was 5 years ago. He wasn't ready when first picked for England so worked on his technique and temperament at county level and is now one of the best bowlers in World cricket. To just write Monty off as "barely adequate" is extremely short sighte, in my opinion. This was his first game back for a couple of years and he out bowled Swann.

[spangley1812]

I think calling Monty a barely adequate spinner at Test level is extremely harsh. He lost his way a couple of years back, but look at his record it's perfectly good.

Paul we will have to disagree on this.  Monty is Test standard nothing more. His talent is limited and he does well to make the team. Players of true international class stand apart from also ran intenationals. Swann is a good example of that as he can be ranked amongst the best. Ajmal and Hafeez are also in that bracket.

Sorry Aftab but your wrong Hafeez has played 25 tests and got 26 wickets so thats an ave of 1 per test and Monty has played 40 tests and got 133 wickets so thats 3.25(ish) per test match
 

[PaulWinch again]

I think calling Monty a barely adequate spinner at Test level is extremely harsh. He lost his way a couple of years back, but look at his record it's perfectly good.

Paul we will have to disagree on this.  Monty is Test standard nothing more. His talent is limited and he does well to make the team. Players of true international class stand apart from also ran intenationals. Swann is a good example of that as he can be ranked amongst the best. Ajmal and Hafeez are also in that bracket.

Think back where Swanny was 5 years ago. He wasn't ready when first picked for England so worked on his technique and temperament at county level and is now one of the best bowlers in World cricket. To just write Monty off as "barely adequate" is extremely short sighte, in my opinion. This was his first game back for a couple of years and he out bowled Swann.

Correct Monty is a very fine bowler and has a good Test record, and I speak has someone who has faced him, he's fucking tricky to bat against!

[olaftab]

Correct Monty is a very fine bowler and has a good Test record, and I speak has someone who has faced him, he's fucking tricky to bat against!

That is a trump card so I will stop arguing at this point.

[PaulWinch again]

Ha ha, I think my batting might be a slightly below Test level though.

[hawkeye]

Can any one explain why it went so bad, they were spinning it but it wasnt moving all over the place, there was some variation but so called world class batsmen should be able to cope a lot better, was it because they were under prepared? Or is it a real technique problem? Surely they know that you have to ply to the pitch of the ball.