The Cricket Thread 2014

[PaulWinch again]

OK in the end England got what they deserved for 4 days of pathetic cricket but this should not detract from the great effort Ali put in. There  is something to build on for the future.

Yep agreed, I think it also showed how poor Cook has been. Ali was magnificent and I believe he's the most impressive of the new players for me, he has real class about his play and his bowling will develop.

[PaulWinch again]

As is typical of England I bet Ali is dropped for the India series.

[adrenachrome]

Cook isn't a good captain end of. England need a strong leader - Cook isn't. Losing Strauss, Swann & Pietersen recently has really knocked the team.

Good point, and you could add Trott to that list as well.

[PaulWinch again]

Well I think Cook will stay, so he needs to make runs asap and gain a tactical brain. He also needs to learn to trust the spinner, Ali wasn't bowled anywhere near enough. Jimmy and Broad's new ball bowling needs to be a lot better and Prior still has big question marks against him. Jordan will come good, his bowling in the first innings wasn't really rewarded. Ali is the most promising of the new players for me, he is a class batsman.

[OzVilla]

I'm happy to be patient with the team, we are in a massive re-building stage and there's plenty to take from the younger players in this series.

Cook has become a huge worry.  I was happy to cut him some slack in Australia where I felt he was badly let down by his senior players. Not so now, he needs runs desperately as he's currently neither good enough as batsman or captain to be in the side.  Has a skipper ever been dropped?

Incredible to think that all the concerns now surround Cook, Prior and Anderson.  Who would have thought that 12 months ago.

[PaulWinch again]

One thing from yesterday, Jimmy's reaction at the end showed finally that the arrogance that had been surrounding the team seems to have gone.

[PaulWinch again]

So the new head of the ICC is currently under investigation for being involved in match fixing, ridiculous.

[Simon Ward]

So the new head of the ICC is currently under investigation for being involved in match fixing, ridiculous.

On the plus side he'll fit right in!

[peter w]

Changes needed for India obviously. Robson has been okay but I don't think he's ready. Given the resolute nature of his batting I think Ali could be piushed up to open but I doubt that will happen. Stokes needs to come back and it's obvious that we need more experience in the middle order but we've made a rod for our own back by saying Pietersen will not play again.

I don't think Jordan is either good enough or ready for the test team at the moment, but the team is lacking in the bowling department at the moment. A specialist spinner is needed but there isn't one out there. Panesar really isn't it. He'll have one good test and then bowl the same ball in every single over and every single game thereafter.

Problem for the team is the lack of consistency right through. Ballance, Root, Ali all played one good innings but technique and experience let them down otherwise. I'd like to take Root out but that's not possible at the moment. A middle order of Trott, Pietersen, Bell would allow Root to return to county cricket for some time away from the pressure of test cricket, which he has been found wanting at more often than not. But, he is there because he is now one of the more expereinced players and dropping him would just expose us even more.

Cook
Robson - simply because I don't think they'll only give him two tests
Bell
Root
Ali
Ballance
Stokes
Prior
Broad
Anderson
Rankin if fit and taking wickets if not then who's that Hampshire spinner? May as well try and few out until we find a dependable one.

Despite Plunkett's good return in the last test he was part of the poor bowling on the 4th day that led to the defeat. I'd ditch and move forward.

[PaulWinch again]

I think Jordan's figures didn't reflect his performance. He was probably the best bowler in the first innings, he just didn't get any reward. I think he's an excellent prospect.

[Chris Jameson]

Boycott
Hutton
Vaughan
Close
Root
Balance
Binks
Verity
Old
Trueman
Gough

Fred will bowl 45 overs a day from one end if need be.

[PaulWinch again]

I see Warne has written another article saying Cook should quit. It'll be interesting to see how he reacts now.

[Simon Ward]

Boycott
Hutton
Vaughan
Close
Root
Balance
Binks
Verity
Old
Trueman
Gough

Fred will bowl 45 overs a day from one end if need be.

I see you spelt Ballance incorrectly Chris!

Oh and I don't believe a whole team from Yorkshire is entirely fair!

[taylorsworkrate]

Changes needed for India obviously. Robson has been okay but I don't think he's ready. Given the resolute nature of his batting I think Ali could be piushed up to open but I doubt that will happen. Stokes needs to come back and it's obvious that we need more experience in the middle order but we've made a rod for our own back by saying Pietersen will not play again.

I don't think Jordan is either good enough or ready for the test team at the moment, but the team is lacking in the bowling department at the moment. A specialist spinner is needed but there isn't one out there. Panesar really isn't it. He'll have one good test and then bowl the same ball in every single over and every single game thereafter.

Problem for the team is the lack of consistency right through. Ballance, Root, Ali all played one good innings but technique and experience let them down otherwise. I'd like to take Root out but that's not possible at the moment. A middle order of Trott, Pietersen, Bell would allow Root to return to county cricket for some time away from the pressure of test cricket, which he has been found wanting at more often than not. But, he is there because he is now one of the more expereinced players and dropping him would just expose us even more.

Cook
Robson - simply because I don't think they'll only give him two tests
Bell
Root
Ali
Ballance
Stokes
Prior
Broad
Anderson
Rankin if fit and taking wickets if not then who's that Hampshire spinner? May as well try and few out until we find a dependable one.

Despite Plunkett's good return in the last test he was part of the poor bowling on the 4th day that led to the defeat. I'd ditch and move forward.

I think you're being a bit harsh on the younger players. The're the ones who HAVE performed so far. It's the senior players who have let us down.

[Chris Jameson]

Boycott
Hutton
Vaughan
Close
Root
Ballance
Binks
Verity
Old
Trueman
Gough

Fred will bowl 45 overs a day from one end if need be.

I see you spelt Ballance incorrectly Chris!

Oh and I don't believe a whole team from Yorkshire is entirely fair!

No idea what you mean Simon! Yorkshire have got enough good youngsters to cover for those on Test duty, we'll be reet.