The Cricket Thread 2016

[tomd2103]

Finished on 309-6.  Decent total, but could have been more if we'd shown a bit more urgency earlier on.

[OzVilla]

Thought I'd forget about the dreadful goings on at B6 and watch a competitive game where my team stands a decent chance of recording a win.

Sri Lanka currently 273-1!!  Bowling shit, fielding shit and Captaincy shit.

I've had enough of sport.

[pooligan]

I don't know which is more soul destroying,watching Villa or England. Villa can not score and England can not take a wicket. With Small Heath and the Baggies both winning a truly shit weekend.

[OzVilla]

Well that was fun! Sri Lanka knock off over 300 easy as you like.

Bowled too short AGAIN and dropped catches.

Not quite sure who is worse right now, England or the Villa.

[OzVilla]

And followed by the most passionless Captains interview from Eoin Morgan you'll see, and after that performance. Atleast speak like it means something FFS!

Just looked and sounded like he didn't give a fuck and/or had no idea. Like listening to the Cricket version of Lambert.

We're in a terrible place at the moment.

[ashkar]

no point blaming morgan for this defeat. 310 was a good final score. yes they got stuck in the middle but SL leaked too many easy runs at the end and it evened out at 310. Half time it was 60 40 england.
The bowling was horrendous. Bowling short at sanga every time was just plain idiotic. anderson and broad should know better. Broad sledging dilshan and getting carted for sixes was embarrassing as well. Senior bowlers havnt stood up this world cup and there is no one in the bench to make a difference. Not even in county cricket.   

[Villan For Life]

How the hell are we still in with a chance of making the quarters after three embarrassing defeats? Send them home now and put an end to this shambles.

[OzVilla]

Finn is just bowling lollipops. One good performance in five.

Fast becoming the Cricketing version of Gabby.

[PaulWinch again]

Dismal. Time for Moores to go.

[Villan For Life]

If they keep their heads Zimbabwe should comfortably beat Pakistan.

[Villan For Life]

Dismal. Time for Moores to go.

Agreed. A poor choice last year and nothing I've seen since has convinced me otherwise.

[PaulWinch again]

Anderson and Broad should be dropped too.

[PaulWinch again]

You would think we might realise we need to get away from our stats based obsession. Also Hales absolutely must play now and I'd drop Broad or Anderson.

[paul_e]

Being obsessed with stats is fine and the people who slag off statistical approaches to sport generally piss me off, England's problem is that they aren't focused on the correct stats.  One from last night was that the 3 best sides in the world take the batting power play early nearly half the time, we take it early less than a quarter of the time.  That's an interesting stat because it highlights how our lack of killer instinct is a key part of our issue with the bat.  They'd also see that taking pace off the ball is proven to be effective and that death bowling that is full-er and slower is more effective than quick bouncers.

Behind everything Englands problem is that we're approaching the game in a manner that doesn't work post T20, the game has changed massively since the mid90s and English ODI tactics haven't changed with it, until someone realises that batsmen need to counter-attack and hit people out of the attack (we did it with Lakmal yesterday and then let Dilshan and Mathews throw pies with no response) then with the ball we need to start making plans that fit with the game now, generally that means bowling a few at the stumps, a tactic that we have underused for years.

On top of that English cricket needs to start encouraging players to join the IPL and Big Bash, lets start trying to get 15-10 English players involved in both of those competitions every year, get them used to other conditions and playing with players and coaches who have a different approach to the game.

[PaulWinch again]

I think it's clear Moores isn't up to it.