The Cricket Thread 2013

[PGW]

Did Simon Mann just say that Cook averages only 24 in home tests ?

At home vs Australia that is correct.

Looking on the BBC feed there are some people who don't let reality get in the way of a good rant.  One suggesting Broad should be dropped with:

"Should pick Onions for Broard, no runs, few wickets, blows far too hot & cold to be a fixture in the England team!"

Now the inconsistency I can agree with but complaining about the batting of a number 9 who's average 37 is just silly.

I also quite like:

"Finn was dropped from a winning side for match figures of 2-117, yet Broad and Bresnan keep their places for match figures of 2-138 and 3-139 respectively. Onions and Tremlett must be scratching their heads."

This is a more common one but it's fairly simple, he wasn't dropped because of his figures, he was dropped because he looked out of his depth.  He's had to do a lot of work on his action because of his knee clipping the wickets and overstepping the crease, this work isn't fully embedded yet so his pace was down, his length was poor and he was drifting onto the pads with an offside field.  All of those suggest he needed more time working on his action, which is best to give him away from an ashes series.

Whilst that's true, Bresnan's and Broad's figures are not good enough and unless they improve in this match someone else deserves an opportunity. Broad is average of 56 a wicket this series, and whether he's been unlucky or not that is poor. In a 3 man seam attack I still don't think Bresnan offers enough penetration.

Going back to Cook v Australia in England this his 9th test match and as was pointed out he only averages 24+. In 2009 5 tests 222 runs HS of 95 Ave 24.66 and this year he is in 4th test scoring 156 with a HS of 62 averaging 26.
I suppose as someone of such experience he should be doing better. Remember how the press slagged Ian Bell was criticised for his output against the Aussies and he has done alright lately ain't he!!!!

[PaulWinch again]

I don't mind the slow pace at the moment, it's really important we build a big first innings score.

[PaulWinch again]

Kiss of death, Root fails again. Opening partnership fails again.

[PaulWinch again]

With the exception of that 180, Root is really struggling as an opener. I think maybe he's been promoted too soon.

[Ads]

I've had it with Root opening. There is no way you can justify him still batting at the top of the order. He should be in at 6.

[paul_e]

The problem with moving Root out of the opening spots is who do you put there in his place?

Compton did ok but has just as many problems as Root and there's no one else with international experience at the top of the order.  It's a shame that this wasn't looked at more thoughtfully whilst Strauss was around.

[PaulWinch again]

I'd give Carberry a go, while Root is getting used to International cricket.

[Chris Smith]

With the exception of that 180, Root is really struggling as an opener. I think maybe he's been promoted too soon.

Perhaps, or maybe we just have to be patient with him. It's been a pretty quick rise for him and he's still learning the trade of test match opening bat. On the other hand, there's the worry of knocking his confidence if he keeps getting out cheaply.

That said, if we see it through to lunch losing just one wicket in the first session of a test has to be seen as a good start.

[PGW]

I'd give Carberry a go, while Root is getting used to International cricket.

Dont think they will drop Root - they will persevere with him and take him to Australia.
I do not believe that they will give another opportunity to Carberry being a left hander would go against him with the liking for a left and right handed opening partnership. Also he will be 33 in a few weeks bit late to resurrect a test career......just dont see it!!!! Bit of a difference in smashing balls to all parts in T20's than facing pressure of Ashes cricket!!!

[PaulWinch again]

I'm not suggesting dropping Root, I rate him very highly but I think he should be lower down the order at the moment.

[PaulWinch again]

Decent session, but we need to press on in the next one. We don't want to be in the position that if we lose a wicket we've gone nowhere in terms of runs.

[paul_e]

I'm not suggesting dropping Root, I rate him very highly but I think he should be lower down the order at the moment.

The counter to that is that he needs to learn to bat against the new ball in a test match environment, he opens fine at county level and looked good in the middle order so the talent is there, he's just needs to get used to a silly higher pressure environment.

to keep things tidy:

Decent session, but we need to press on in the next one. We don't want to be in the position that if we lose a wicket we've gone nowhere in terms of runs.

This is the biggest concern with Cook's form, when he's not scoring freely he turtles up and our run rate at the top becomes dire, he's currently sitting on a strike rate of just 25% which is far too low, personally I think any decent batsman in test cricket should be looking at 50% as a minimum, as the captain it's even more important that he sets the tempo a little higher.  I think this is another reason that he and Root are struggling to settle in as Root has the same problem and they build pressure on each other.  I also think this is leading on to the issues Trott is having as he is coming in and trying to accelerate the scoring which isn't really his game either.  A confident century from Cook will do wonders for our top 4 in my opinion.

[PaulWinch again]

We're picking the rate up well now, but Cook and Trott have starts and need to go on.

[paul_e]

shitty wicket to lose, Trott was looking really good as well.

[paul_e]

At least KP is facing a ball that's 40 overs old this time, that's not happened often enough in the series so far.