The Cricket Thread 2014

[paul_e]

I think KP was wrong to make it about height but I agree with him that, at the time, Taylor wasn't an international cricketer, I think he's pretty much there now and this is probably the right time for him to be coming in.

[PaulWinch again]

Excellent from Taylor and Root and a good win.

[Dave Cooper please]

Superb innings from Root, played the supporting role at the start and then took on the attacking role to finish it off.

[peter w]

Not sure about Ali opening. I think Root would be a decent opener with Ali at 4.

Hales
Root
Taylor
Ali
Morgan (for this series then have another look)
Buttler
Bopara

I think that's a good enough top 7 and is changeable. We'd have someone at the top of the order- Hales - to get after the bowling and Root is good enough to open and play the long innings as and when required. Taylor can do both jobs well also - accelerate and stabilise. then we've got the hitters to come in after the top 3. i see no reason to have Cook or Bell in the team. I also think inexperience will be our most potent weapon in the World Cup.

[paul_e]

Not sure about Ali opening. I think Root would be a decent opener with Ali at 4.

Hales
Root
Taylor
Ali
Morgan (for this series then have another look)
Buttler
Bopara

I think that's a good enough top 7 and is changeable. We'd have someone at the top of the order- Hales - to get after the bowling and Root is good enough to open and play the long innings as and when required. Taylor can do both jobs well also - accelerate and stabilise. then we've got the hitters to come in after the top 3. i see no reason to have Cook or Bell in the team. I also think inexperience will be our most potent weapon in the World Cup.

I think Ali has done a decent job at the top of the order in this series, yes there are 2 low scores and a start that went nowhere but the other 2 innings were superb, in the first game he deserved to win us the game and was let down by the rest of the side and then in the 3rd game his 58 at the top put us in the position to push for the win, I like the idea of an opener who's all or nothing like that, someone who can win games on his own with a 140% century.

[PaulWinch again]

Ali is exactly what we need at the top of the order. We need players who attack the bowler. It's not always going to come off, but when it does it gives us a great chance.

[Drummond]

Great to see Sean Abbott getting 6 for 17 in the second innings of his comeback match. God knows how he must be feeling when he gets the cherry in his hand.

[peter w]

But that's the problem with Ali. He's too hit and miss. We're getting more consistency now from Root and I'll put him at the top of the order to compliment the hitting style of Hales. We start well then you can choose who next from Taylor and Ali but I'd go with Taylor. Ali can come in and hopefully do some work from overs 30 onwards. i don't think we'll lose anything from him being there and given the amount of overs gone he'd be more encouraged to attack which is where his strangths lie.

That it doesn't always come off (Ali) is an England failing compared to most top teams. i think he's a 50/50 batsman at teh top of the order which is why I'd drop him down a place or two.

[PaulWinch again]

It would be no different if you put Hales at the top. If you want a chance of getting a big score you need aggression at the top. Personally I'd like Hales and Ali at the top.

[PaulWinch again]

Whatever happens one thing I'll say about the ODI side which I have said in years is that the batting actually excites me now.

[taylorsworkrate]

Whatever happens one thing I'll say about the ODI side which I have said in years is that the batting actually excites me now.

Yeah, I agree with that.

If only Cook was droppable, it would then be a very exciting looking line up.

[taylorsworkrate]

This is just getting silly now.

[Colhint]

bloody Cook again. Why cant Bell get a game.

[PaulWinch again]

It's ridiculous that Cook is still in the side. Drops Sanga on 42 and then fails with the bat again.

[PaulWinch again]

That'll be Taylor dropped now for one failure.