The Cricket Thread 2014

[PaulWinch again]

"This is not by any means a full house and, yes, there are other factors involved, but it wouldn't surprise me if some people thought they had their fingers burnt last year when England didn't play their first-choice side. If England fans are staying away because the team aren't playing well that's disappointing because you have to support your team through thick and thin."

I find the latter part this statement a bit unfair from Agnew, to even think England fans would stay away because we're not playing well is harsh. Throughout the 90s we were awful and we still got full houses all the time, so I doubt that's the reason.

[paul_e]

I'd take Morgan out, push everyone else down a place and add Hales at the top.  Give Hales the remit to go out and score big for 5-10 overs and if he's still there after that just try to keep the rate high and hang around.  Then you have Bell and Root coming in as stabilisers if we're looking in trouble and the rest to come in and pile a few runs on quickly.

I like Morgan but for me it's him or Bopara at 6 and Ravi is in far better form.

[Villan For Life]

"This is not by any means a full house and, yes, there are other factors involved, but it wouldn't surprise me if some people thought they had their fingers burnt last year when England didn't play their first-choice side. If England fans are staying away because the team aren't playing well that's disappointing because you have to support your team through thick and thin."

I find the latter part this statement a bit unfair from Agnew, to even think England fans would stay away because we're not playing well is harsh. Throughout the 90s we were awful and we still got full houses all the time, so I doubt that's the reason.

An ODI on a Thursday before a bank holiday weekend with a dodgy weather forecast has a lot to do with it. This along with cricket overkill in London. Of 47 days of international cricket this season, 15 of them are played in London.

[PaulWinch again]

I wouldn't drop Morgan, I'd be more inclined to drop Root. I was impressed when Root came into the side, but since last summer he has flattered to deceive most of the time.

[Villan For Life]

I wouldn't drop Morgan, I'd be more inclined to drop Root. I was impressed when Root came into the side, but since last summer he has flattered to deceive most of the time.

I'd rather see Root develop as a test player foremost, I think he has massive potential there.

I'd also consider dropping Cook or Bell from the 50 over side. There are both class acts but one of them should stand aside to make room for Hales.

Bears and Villa bias aside, I think Bell should go.

[paul_e]

Bell has an annoying habit of giving his wicket away for no good reason in the shorter forms, sounds like another of those today where he just chips the ball to the fielder for a bit of a dolly.

I say Morgan because he's not doing the job he's there for at the minute, he should be pushing the run rate up and scoring big and quick but even when he does score at the minute he's not really changing the game.  Root should be developing towards the Collingwood role of keeping the board ticking and rotating the strike and letting the other guy play with freedom.  He's not doing it perfectly but his record is decent enough and he has the talent to do that role well.

[Villan For Life]

Bell has an annoying habit of giving his wicket away for no good reason in the shorter forms, sounds like another of those today where he just chips the ball to the fielder for a bit of a dolly.

I say Morgan because he's not doing the job he's there for at the minute, he should be pushing the run rate up and scoring big and quick but even when he does score at the minute he's not really changing the game.  Root should be developing towards the Collingwood role of keeping the board ticking and rotating the strike and letting the other guy play with freedom.  He's not doing it perfectly but his record is decent enough and he has the talent to do that role well.

Morgan has been through a lean spell but has come through it. I wonder if he's playing the price of the repeated failures of the batsmen above him in the order. The others fail and it piles pressure on the middle order. It takes a particular temperament to thrive in such circumstances.

[PaulWinch again]

I'll clarify I do rate Root and I think he'll come good, but there doesn't seem to be much questioning his role currently.

[PaulWinch again]

For the Test side with no obvious spinner I think I'd start the summer with -

Robson
Cook
Bell
Root
Ballance
Ali
Stokes
Kieswetter
Jordan
Broad
Anderson

I think that side would give us enough options, and I think Kieswetter's glove work is better than Buttler's at the moment.

[paul_e]

Morgan has largely come through it but we ahven't seen any dominating performances from him yet, he really needs to pull a few of those off to secure his place in the side, that's what got him in the team afterall.

[Villan For Life]

Morgan has largely come through it but we ahven't seen any dominating performances from him yet, he really needs to pull a few of those off to secure his place in the side, that's what got him in the team afterall.

He failed today.

[paul_e]

Morgan has largely come through it but we ahven't seen any dominating performances from him yet, he really needs to pull a few of those off to secure his place in the side, that's what got him in the team afterall.

He failed today.

and Root played a very important innings from what I can tell, damn work making me miss it!

[paul_e]

did Jordan have something in his tea, 38 from 13 is spectacular, he really is a threat down the order.

[paul_e]

For the Test side with no obvious spinner I think I'd start the summer with -

Robson
Cook
Bell
Root
Ballance
Ali
Stokes
Kieswetter
Jordan
Broad
Anderson

I think that side would give us enough options, and I think Kieswetter's glove work is better than Buttler's at the moment.

I prefer Buttler, I just think he's got a bit more about him and I'd like to see us give Kerrigan (who did really well for the lions in the winter) another look at some point but that's pretty close otherwise.

[PaulWinch again]

What an effort from Buttler and Jordan, that's given us a competitive total and Ballance was very good as well. I really think Jordan is a massively talented player.