The Cricket Thread 2016

[tomd2103]

If Cook was a brilliant proactive captain then you just might be able to forgive his form, but he isn't.

And Trott needs to go back to number three where is is more comfortable.
We have four more Tests to find a new opening pair before The Ashes and we need to start that procedure straight away.

See I don't think Trott has done enough to oust Ballance as number 3. Ballance had an excellent summer and yesterday was showing signs of getting back to his best. Dropping him for Trott would be basing it on Trott's past form, which isn't the way to go.

I agree.  After last summer we should be looking at 'undroppables' (for various reasons) of Ballance, Bell, Root, Anderson and Moeen and then the progressing set of Buttler, Woakes, Jordan and hopefully Stokes if he can keep scoring runs and getting a few wickets.  That leaves you looking for an opener and then either another opener or a 2nd spinner.  For the rest of this series I'd stick with Cook (I don't agree with dropping the captain mid tour) and go with the following:

Cook
Lyth
Ballance
Bell
Root
Moeen
Buttler
Stokes
Jordan
Broad
Anderson

That looks a well balanced side and the encoraging thing is that the majority of them are younger players.  I still hold hope that Finn will recover his form at some point and give an extra dimension in the bowling department.   

[tomd2103]

Fine hundred from Ballance. Think that ends talk of Trott at 3.

Not if Ballance opens it doesn't.
Drop Cook, Ballance and Lyth opening, Trott at 3.

Woah! Had enough of England moving our players up and down the order! Ballance hasn't opened the batting for Yorkshire, leave him where he is and where he scores runs please!

Agree.  The 3,4 and 5 of Ballance, Bell and Root is settled and working well.  I wouldn't look to change it.

[paul_e]

Fine hundred from Ballance. Think that ends talk of Trott at 3.

Not if Ballance opens it doesn't.
Drop Cook, Ballance and Lyth opening, Trott at 3.

Woah! Had enough of England moving our players up and down the order! Ballance hasn't opened the batting for Yorkshire, leave him where he is and where he scores runs please!

Agree.  The 3,4 and 5 of Ballance, Bell and Root is settled and working well.  I wouldn't look to change it.

Agree completely, we should be building the team around those 3.  If Cook can't get his game sorted I'd make Root captain as well, I like middle order batsmen as captains, far enough down that they're not thinking about their own innings in the field, no other parts to his game to worry about, just do the business with the bat and then get the balance between aggressive and sensible right in the field.

[Chris Jameson]

Fine hundred from Ballance. Think that ends talk of Trott at 3.

Not if Ballance opens it doesn't.
Drop Cook, Ballance and Lyth opening, Trott at 3.

Woah! Had enough of England moving our players up and down the order! Ballance hasn't opened the batting for Yorkshire, leave him where he is and where he scores runs please!

Agree.  The 3,4 and 5 of Ballance, Bell and Root is settled and working well.  I wouldn't look to change it.

Absolutely and those clamouring for a Pietersen return seem to overlook that fact.

[tomd2103]

Fine hundred from Ballance. Think that ends talk of Trott at 3.

Not if Ballance opens it doesn't.
Drop Cook, Ballance and Lyth opening, Trott at 3.

Woah! Had enough of England moving our players up and down the order! Ballance hasn't opened the batting for Yorkshire, leave him where he is and where he scores runs please!

Agree.  The 3,4 and 5 of Ballance, Bell and Root is settled and working well.  I wouldn't look to change it.

Absolutely and those clamouring for a Pietersen return seem to overlook that fact.

I just wish someone in the England camp would be bold enough to come out and say that the door is closed on Pietersen and they are moving on.  The easy route would be to use his age and say that they are looking to build a young side. 

[Chris Jameson]

It would make sense but unfortunately his mates in the media aren't ever going to let it drop.

[paul_e]

I think that's purely over the way it happened though.  He was dropped and made the scapegoat for what was an appalling team performance despite him being on of the few batsmen who actually did stand up in that tournament.  If 1-2 of the other batsmen had put in a good tour and he'd been dropped on age at the end I don't think there'd have been anything like as many complaints.

Aside from that KP should still be in the ODI and T20 squads.

[PaulWinch again]

I don't think anyone should come out and rule KP out, because I don't think anyone who makes themselves available should be available. If that player goes on to make big runs and someone already in the team in struggling then they should be discussed when it comes to selection.

[PaulWinch again]

I like middle order batsmen as captains as well and would like to see Root in the role.

[Dr Butler]

Slow start....1 run in 4 overs....come on England !

[PaulWinch again]

Smith has a rush of blood and gets out. Very weird to do that after playing so well.

[PaulWinch again]

Jimmy level with Beefy.

[Dr Butler]

get that record Jimmy and then concentrate on the next 10/20/30 wickets

Windies going to implode now ?

[paul_e]

Chanderpaul is the key really, once he's gone it's a matter of time but whilst he's still there you've got a guy who has made a career of occupying the crease.

[UK Redsox]

Jimmy takes another wicket and breaks the record