The Cricket Thread 2016

[PaulWinch again]

He can really turn it and that's the most important thing, you can learn the control etc. Stokes is doing well.

[tomd2103]

Stokes is not yet a good enough bowler to be the 4th bowler. Especially considering Ali is still very much in the developing stage as a spinner.

There looks to be a great amount of pressure on Anderson and Broad to take the baulk of the wickets here

Disagree I don't think you can class Ali as developing when he's got 20 wickets at 28 and against India. He's much better than developing. Stokes is fine as 4th seamer, but the second and third sElmer need to do their job.

I know you rate him very highly, but that was done mostly in one series Paul.  Let's wait to see how his stats look after a number of series (similar figures in the Ashes would be nice) before making judgments. 

In his favour he had 1 series where he did ok but didn't have the threat so he went away and worked on it before coming back faster and far more dangerous.  That ability to learn and adapt is why I personally think he's a definite front line spinner, that intelligence is a key requirement.  Very unlucky not to get the wicket there, lovely delivery and well worth a review.

Obviously, I really hope he can become a top international all-rounder, especially as he is from Birmingham and it's always good to see local lads doing well.  His bowling against India was the highlight of the summer for me and hopefully he can produce that kind of form on a regular basis and in the different formats of the game.  Only time will tell if he can.

[PaulWinch again]

Jordan is bowling well and not being helped by the fielders.

[PaulWinch again]

I get the sense that Jordan is really close to being a very good bowler.

[Whiney MacWhineface]

Is Broad ill? Or deliberately bowling in the 70s.

[paul_e]

I get the sense that Jordan is really close to being a very good bowler.

I've said it a few times, there's a genuinely exciting and dangerous bowler in there, it just needs to come together, maybe needs a touch more pace to become genuinely world class though.

[PaulWinch again]

Moeen looks a bit rusty today.

[tomd2103]

I can't help but feel our players would be better off playing for their counties at this stage of the season than having to slog their guts out bowling on featherbeds in hot conditions.  I guess that's one of the problems when international cricket funds the game in this country though. 

[pooligan]

I feel sorry for Tredwell .No way did he deserve to be dropped after the first test. England always seem to have a fall guy and i think Tredwell is the current one.

[PaulWinch again]

We let a lot of chances go there and we'll need to be a lot more clinical on the second day.

[PaulWinch again]

Stokes was consistently up and above 90mph yesterday.

[paul_e]

I feel sorry for Tredwell .No way did he deserve to be dropped after the first test. England always seem to have a fall guy and i think Tredwell is the current one.

He wasn't dropped, he was replaced by the guy that he was injury cover for, which is only right, Moeen is the first choice spinner for the England test side, if he's fit he plays until that's no longer the case unless someone does something spectacular at county level and forces their way in.  Tredwell had a good first innings in the first test but was, in my opinion, very poor in the 2nd innings and played a big part in us becoming very flat in the middle of the 5th day, that's not the sort of performance that elevates you to first choice in my opinion.

[PaulWinch again]

Tredwell didn't do enough to justify his selection really. His second innings was really poor.

[PaulWinch again]

Bowled too wide again today.

[peter w]

I wouldn't go as far to say he's one of the best bowlers of all time. One of the best English bowlers yes, but not across the board.

14th most test wickets ever, I think it's justified, he'll probably end up 12th by the end of this season (5 behind ntini and 20 behind Ambrose, he's also 11 behind Steyn but I'd guess Steyn will get a few himself).

How many does he get in friendly Englush conditions compared to overseas? The best bowlers of all time do it anywhere on any surface. Being the 14th leading wicket taker is great as a stat but is he better than Trueman? Statham? Larwood? A truly great bowler would have seen yesterday's conditions and caused havoc. Anderson has the ability but not the consistency. Malcom Marshall, Waqar Younis, Imran Khan, Allan Donald, Brett Lee, Michael Holding, Abdul Qadir etc come on to bowl and you would genuinely fear a wicket falling and they all have less wickets than Anderson (and probably tests but I don't know). With Anderson you just hope.

No, he's not one of the best of all time.