The Cricket Thread 2013

[DrGonzo]

ok I'm just about to watch the highlights.  I left the house at about 120-1 thinking we'd fucked it, was told in the pub.  Amazing. 

[andyaston]

That was Test Match cricket at it's fastest. That game twisted favour a few times today. What happened to 190 runs and about 6 wickets per day?

Getting spoilt these days, one day cricket has got into the nature of a lot of modern players.

[Dave Cooper please]

This was a wicket you had to score fast on, there was always a ball with the batsman's name on it coming up at some point, trying to hang around and eke out a total was never the way to go.

I was still reasonably confident at 120-1 or so because wickets were going to fall at some point and the Aussies are very brittle in their middle order, even worse than our top order! Once Broad found some reverse swing it was only going one way.

To the person who thinks Flower should go, come on, look at the results, and this is being achieved with four or five of the team in no real form at the moment, the likes of Trott, Cook, Prior and Anderson won't be this bad forever, they'll find form again.

[tomd2103]

I think we'll see 2 changes with a fresh batsman and a fresh bowler, Tremlett and Taylor being the obvious choices.  Not sure who of the bowlers will make way, but given it's a bit of a null match I'd give Jimmy a few extra days rest.  As for Taylor the smart money would be on Bairstow being rested but I wouldn't be massively surprised if Prior was given a match off.

Tremlett in for Bresnan and Compton for Bairstow (Compton opening with Root going to six) for me.  Harsh on Bresnan, but Tremlett needs to be given a go with one eye on the return series.  Can't see that happening though and some of the Sky pundits were also suggesting that Jimmy could do with a rest.   

[Dante Lavelli]

Rest Jimmy before what? There aren't any ODIs until September and he won't play the T20s. And I imagine they'll feel that Broad and Bresnan are required for continuity. It's a shame for Tremlett and Onions though.

I think the suggested move of "resting" Anderson for the last test is a good one.  Replacing any other bowlers would be seen as him being dropped whereas this way it will be like a play off between the remaining bowlers ensuring they don't get complacent in a dead rubber match.

Arguably Tremlet deserves a test match to pitch his case (and improve him as a player) whereas it'd be controversial to drop any of the current bowlers.

"win v win" as they say, and a chance for anderson to see his family (or whatever it is he does to relax).

[PeterWithesShin]

[KevinGage]

Well fuck my old boots.

Weird test match, in keeping with this odd series. If you picked a Best XI made up of the two sides, only Bell and Broad would be definites from England. KP would prob get in too, even if has been below par, and Swann offers more than their spin options.

After that, it's a tough call.

None of that matters, of course.

Had England just lost 3-0, such comparisons, or talking about an even split of sessions or days won would be very scant consolation.

There are obvious areas of concern, but today is not the day for that. Question marks might remain over some aspects of Cook's captaincy, but he's secured an Ashes victory in less time than it took Strauss, so he must be doing something right.

[DrGonzo]

 I was all up for Tremlett in the next match, but Bresnan knocking 45 and then removing Wagner...he might not be the most awe inspiring bowler but he is a team player, I think it would be harsh to drop him.  Game changing innings and wicket.
  Broad was excellent, if only he would remember that pitching it up pays dividends, too often too short, as with the new ball early on.  When he is on song he can produce real quality and pace, the ball to send Clarke home was a jaffa.
  I'm so happy, I've watched the highlights three times already. 

[DrGonzo]

Could we amend the title to include "Now with added Aussie tears..." or somesuch?

[PaulWinch again]

Well fair play, I eat my words from earlier in the day(well most of them!). That was a sensational spell from Broad, and when he gets going he's unstoppable. There are still some big issues with the team, predominantely with the batting. I'd consider a couple of changes for the Oval, maybe rest Anderson and Trott. However fantastic achievement to win the Ashes again, well done Flower, Cook and all.

[Nev]

Bastard Radio 4, getting in the car after work they inexplicably cut the cricket off on LW for The Archers! Now I know it was on digital but how many cars have that? aaaaand the fuckin Archers is on FM anyway.

Wankers.

[paul_e]

Rest Jimmy before what? There aren't any ODIs until September and he won't play the T20s. And I imagine they'll feel that Broad and Bresnan are required for continuity. It's a shame for Tremlett and Onions though.

I think the suggested move of "resting" Anderson for the last test is a good one.  Replacing any other bowlers would be seen as him being dropped whereas this way it will be like a play off between the remaining bowlers ensuring they don't get complacent in a dead rubber match.

Arguably Tremlet deserves a test match to pitch his case (and improve him as a player) whereas it'd be controversial to drop any of the current bowlers.

"win v win" as they say, and a chance for anderson to see his family (or whatever it is he does to relax).

That's exactly my reasoning.  You can't rest Broad after that performance, if you leave Bres out it looks to the entire world like he's been dropped so the only sensible change is to give Jimmy a match off, he looked like he could do with a rest anyway if I'm honest.  We need to think about the touring squad now and it would be best if most of the players we're looking to take have had some time in the middle in this series.  Onions will miss out because of injury you'd think but Tremlett deserves some time as he will be an important weapon on the aussie pitches.

I'd also rest Prior, again because it genuinely looks like he's being rested rather than being dropped so he's a 'safe' choice to leave out, and again he looks like he could do with it.

As for my point on Flower, I don't dispute his record, I just think that, to make a step forward and look at getting top ranking we need a change in the mindset of the squad.  Cook hasn't had a lot of time as captain and there is no real replacement ready to step up so that mindset change to better judge the tempo of the match has to come from the coach.  I don't think he'll go anywhere before we tour but a successful tour down under and a 4th consecutive ashes win would be a perfect time to bow out for him.

[fredm]

Cook needs to look at his tactics IMO.  To often he seems to be doing things "by numbers".  Ok he has been bailed out on numerous occasions, usually by Anderson or Broad, but really needs to start being more inventive.  He is too ready to shut up shop and hope than try and make something happen.

[PaulWinch again]

Cook needs to look at his tactics IMO.  To often he seems to be doing things "by numbers".  Ok he has been bailed out on numerous occasions, usually by Anderson or Broad, but really needs to start being more inventive.  He is too ready to shut up shop and hope than try and make something happen.

That's true an extent, but yesterday he changed his fields to being much straighter and that was the catalyst for the collapse, along with excellent bowling.

[paul_e]

Cook needs to look at his tactics IMO.  To often he seems to be doing things "by numbers".  Ok he has been bailed out on numerous occasions, usually by Anderson or Broad, but really needs to start being more inventive.  He is too ready to shut up shop and hope than try and make something happen.

Cook trusts his bowlers to make things happen rather than pressuring the batsmen with the field places to make things happen.  You can't fault him for it massively because between them Swann, Jimmy and Broad have each won us a game in this series with a couple of sublime bowling spells.  I generally don't have a massive issue with it but he does need to be more aggressive when the pitch isn't helping (like at Old Trafford).

It's the batting tempo I have issue with, England are too often sat around 2.5-3 an over regardless of the conditions, the first innings in the last test is a great example of it, 238 from 92 overs is not enough, in the 2nd innings the tempo was much better with 330 from 95.1 (so 92 more runs from and extra 19 balls).  As a pitch Durham gets you eventually so you have to score whilst you're there, when we did that we showed that we're a significantly better side than them.