England 2012 Cricket Thread

[Rip Van We Go Again]

Yeah other than Finn's bowling our bowlers have been poor overall and I maintain Swann has been poor for a year now.

Swann's standards have dropped, Broad isn't right too and the hope that his batting would improve has evaporated.

[taylorsworkrate]

Good leave that Strauss.

This is incredibly poor. I think the time has come for him to hang up his International boots.

He may be a good captain, but he isn't up to test standard as a batsmen any more.

[PaulWinch again]

Swann and Broad have been desperately poor. Strauss gone, good effort Andrew. With the exception of one century our opening pair have been awful this series.

[Rip Van We Go Again]

The only surprise is that Morkel didn't bag Strauss.

He's been his bitch for some time.

I agree that it's maybe time for Strauss to move on.

All down to Trott and Bell now, with Tom Thumb and Bairstow to follow.

[PaulWinch again]

Compare the South African batsmen who never look like getting out unless the bowling is top notch. Since we got to top of the rankings I'd be curious to know what are the averages of our top order, because they have consistently failed.

[taylorsworkrate]

Compare the South African batsmen who never look like getting out unless the bowling is top notch. Since we got to top of the rankings I'd be curious to know what are the averages of our top order, because they have consistently failed.

Thats just it though. Our batsmen up until the start of the series against Pakistan never looked like getting out, it took great bowling. They seem to have just abandoned the working philosophy of grinding attacks into the ground and then increasing the rate as the innings progressed.

You're right about the South African batsmen, you could comfortably count on one hand (without thumb or index finger) the amount of times they've got out to a bad shot in this series, whereas for our batsmen you'd need a calculator.

To be honest, as much good that Flower as done, and hes done a lot of good, he has to take a fair share of criticism for our shocking form over the last year. I never thought that he'd allow complacency to set it, but it clearly has. This will be our 6th loss in 10 matches, which for a side with as many good cricketers as it has is completely unacceptable. Hopefully Flower and co can sort it out.

[OzVilla]

Or perhaps we're just running into better attacks.  Pakistan's strength in their bowling with Ajmal whose a top class spin bowler who causes most players problems while this SA attack is the best they've put out post apartheid.  I think we just dined out on ordinary attacks for a while like Australia and india.

South Africa have been the better team in this series and fully deserve it but we are still a good team with a very good bowling attack - I honestly don't think there's much to choose between these two attacks, maybe we have the upper hand in the spin department and I think if it's swinging we have the edge but if it's flat Philander is their trump card as he's a terrific wicket to wicket bowler who gets good players out.  "

The difference with these two attacks to others in world Cricket is that these two come at you all the time.  England's only one real shocker for the last few years being that 1st Test at the Oval where SA batted superbly.

We've created opportunities to win this Test but needed to survive until stumps entact to give ourselves a chance.  Those last two wickets have done for us.  It would be an amazing win if we can chase these down now against an attack of this quality.

[OzVilla]

Good leave that Strauss.

This is incredibly poor. I think the time has come for him to hang up his International boots.

He may be a good captain, but he isn't up to test standard as a batsmen any more.

And replace him with who?

[Warren Aspinall]

Good leave that Strauss.

This is incredibly poor. I think the time has come for him to hang up his International boots.

He may be a good captain, but he isn't up to test standard as a batsmen any more.

And replace him with who?

I think Strauss will hang on for another year, then hopefully Taylor could replace him.

[OzVilla]

Yes, i'd be very surprised if Strauss moves on before the back to back Ashes Series next year.  In his mind, he'll want to sign off as Skipper and Test batsman after those two having won another two Ashes series.  There was an interview with Ponting this week and he said next years Ashes series are his single motivation to keep playing and training.

[UK Redsox]

So Vaughny has a mate who has come to Lords from "Chiren-chester" in the Cotswolds   

[UK Redsox]

Blowers was wondering earlier if Strauss might quit after today.

It wasn't clear if he has an inside scoop of just babbling

[PaulWinch again]

Trott truly is a nightmare when it comes to running.

[tomd2103]

Regarding Strauss, I don't want to overreact but I think there is a case for saying that he should relinquish the captaincy.  It seems that all is not well in the England camp and that it could be the right time for a change in leadership.  Cook would be the obvious replacement, as he has done a decent job with the ODI side. 

As for this series, I think the real turning point was our first innings at the Oval.  We went from being in a commanding position at 251-2 to 385 all out in a pretty short space of time and have been on the back foot since then. 

[Rip Van We Go Again]

At least Bairstow had a good match.