The Cricket Thread 2014

[taylorsworkrate]

Yeah, very useful cricketer, particularly in slowish conditions is Ali.

[PaulWinch again]

One thing that is positive for Giles in this series is that we appear to have changed our stance and are trying to attack at the top of the order, and we're being a lot more innovative in the field. A lot of that may come down to Broad too, but we're approaching it in a more modern way.

[Villan For Life]

One thing that is positive for Giles in this series is that we appear to have changed our stance and are trying to attack at the top of the order, and we're being a lot more innovative in the field. A lot of that may come down to Broad too, but we're approaching it in a more modern way.

It's about time. We never innovate in the one day game, we always follow.

[tomd2103]

Why are they bothering to review these decisions without the technology being available?  It's absolutely farcical!

[taylorsworkrate]

Why are they bothering to review these decisions without the technology being available?  It's absolutely farcical!

I think its an absolute joke that the home broadcaster/home country is expected to pay for Hawkeye/Hotspot/Snicko.

If they are going to implement this technology, then the ICC should be paying for it in every test playing nation.

[Villan For Life]

Why are they bothering to review these decisions without the technology being available?  It's absolutely farcical!

I think its an absolute joke that the home broadcaster/home country is expected to pay for Hawkeye/Hotspot/Snicko.

If they are going to implement this technology, then the ICC should be paying for it in every test playing nation.

The changes to the ICC that have been introduced provide a significant increase in funds that the test playing nations other than Australia, India and England receive. Their income will double. This is designed to protect the future of test cricket. Surely as a result the home nations could fund Hawkeye and snicko?

[PaulWinch again]

It should do, but the ICC tend to make terrible decisions so I'm not holding my breath.

[Simon Ward]

England win a series!

[PaulWinch again]

Broad seems to offer a lot more that Cook when it comes to captaincy innovation and thinking on his feet. The batting was also more proactive.

[paul_e]

Buttler was excellent, the over where he went after Narine (44th I think) was superb, the flat 6 from the first delivery was hit so hard, one of the cleanest shots you'll ever see.  I'm gutted he fluffed his century, he really deserved it.  I hope he gets a chance in the test side soon, he's shown that he can pace an innings and get himself set now but he's always going to offer that extra bit of aggression which the test side has missed for a while.  If I'm honest I'd be looking for someone similar up the top as well, going at 5-6 an over for the first 10-15 overs of your innings completely changes the attitude of the fielding captain, look at how effective Warner has been doing that against us and SA.

[peter w]

Its been tried before though and ultimately changed. Looks like the Aussies are tryimg to get back to the 4 runs an over that their great team constantly produced. Warner has been excellent too which is a shame because he's a total gobshite. Hopefully that can be put down to a lack of maturity, let's see. But he's either going to be a batsman of Bradmanesque proportions or he's just having a brilliant run at the moment. When things get tougher can he respond?

As for Buttler, great innings but I'm not sure he's test quality. He does what he does for the one-day side well but it's in a different format where more hitting out is required, especially where he bats. I've not seen enough of his technique to say for sure but from what I have seen when he's not scoring he does seem to struggle and gets out to some ridiculously poor shots.A better technique would give him better options. Plus, I'm not sure his keeping is good enough. Its better than it was but only at an okay county standard level. Whether you think it was out or not that he nearly fluffed a very simple stumping would have had more trained eyes a little worried.

[paul_e]

The 3 in the frame are:

Prior - averaging 20 for the last 18months but a fairly solid keeper, 32 years old
Buttler - uncapped at test level but has saved our arses 3-4 times in the shorter form, fairly solid keeper with a decent reputation, 23 years old
Bairstow - 14 appearances with an average of 26 and a very ropey keeper, 24 years old

For me Prior looked fucked last summer and was even worse in Australia, a bit of a break might help him but we need to give some game time to a replacement.  On the evidence I see nothing to suggest Bairstow offers enough with the bat to make up for his keeping and make him the sensible choice.  I agree Buttler's technique at times looks a bit weak when he's not scoring but when you consider his role in the short format for us has been to accelerate the run rate that could be frustration at not scoring as much as anything but his form in the ODI and T20 means he deserves a chance.

Every good side in the last 30 years has had someone at the top putting the field under pressure and someone in the middle to turn a game around with quick runs when needed.  We've struggled recently because we haven't had either of those.

I see also that Root has come home with a broken thumb, I thought I saw them strapping his hand after he got out and it makes sense why he changed to playing flicks rather than driving straight.  I feel really sorry for him, to have something like that late on in his best innings for months is just a shitty bit of bad luck.

[Villan For Life]

I'm not sure that one day specialism counts for much in the test side. For Buttler read Morgan. A technique built around one day strengths will get found out at test level.

I really rate Buttler but I don't think that he's test class yet. He needs time in the middle for Lancashire and for the Lions. Rewind three years and we were talking about Kieswetter as a shoo-in for the test side Gilchrist clone and he doesn't get a look in any more.

I would start the summer tests with Prior. I question how much the Pietersen saga affected Prior and the break from the game may have done him good. If he fails then I'd try Stephen Davis from Surrey.

Your test keeper should first and foremost be selected on his keeping ability. Any runs that he scores with the lower middle order are a bonus. Missed stumpings and dropped catches will cost more in the test than a decent innings once every five or six visits to the crease.

[PaulWinch again]

Morgan's issue was not a lack of technique, it was more a loss of confidence/technique. When he lost his place in the Test side he was completely shot, he'd developed a crouch trigger movement and he was getting into completely the wrong position. He's sorted that now and it's why I think he's got an excellent chance of being in the Test side in the summer. I think Buttler's batting would be pretty much there for Test level, it's just his keeping that needs more work.

[peter w]

I'd like to see Morgan get another crack at it. If he has sorted that glitch where he was crouching at the point of delivery then he could come good. But, he does seem to have fallen down the pecking order so coaches must be seeing otherwise. If he has sorted it then he may get a final chance thuis summer as numbers 4-6 need sorting.

Cook
AN Other
AN Other
Bell
AN Other
AN Other
Prior

Thos 4 places will definitely see Root somewhere. I think he'd need to be in at 5 and maybe Morgan at 6. Trott should be back at 3. There are other possible varitaions of that but I do think we need to have a more dynamic top 3 and with Cook and Trott there maybe time to bin Carberry and look for someone to get after the bowling more and be more positive.