The Cricket Thread 2016

[spangley1812]

Trott gone after just 2 balls fending off a fast rising ball

I love Trotty...please England leave him out v New Zealand

[Villan For Life]

That's the end of the experiment of Trott as an opener. Very poor dismissal. Again.

[Monty]

Unchanged. We must be the least imaginative team in the world, with the least imaginative selectors. Why not see what Hales and Rashid can do? We know what the others can do, for better or worse, why not give promising players a try? God following England can be frustrating.

Hales isn't even in the Windies anyway but Lyth, Rashid and Plunkett would have been worth giving a chance too

Oh agreed. Hales just sprung to mind as a player who deserves more of a go than Trott at opening - I mean, look at that again! Terrible dismissal.

[spangley1812]

Unchanged. We must be the least imaginative team in the world, with the least imaginative selectors. Why not see what Hales and Rashid can do? We know what the others can do, for better or worse, why not give promising players a try? God following England can be frustrating.

Hales isn't even in the Windies anyway but Lyth, Rashid and Plunkett would have been worth giving a chance too

Oh agreed. Hales just sprung to mind as a player who deserves more of a go than Trott at opening - I mean, look at that again! Terrible dismissal.

Agree totally about Trotty...........I would go with Lyth before Hales probably

[Monty]

To be honest why not go with Ballance at the top of the order? He's practically been opening the batting anyway this tour.

[Chris Jameson]

I bet Australia are hoping Trott stays in the team. Ballance doesn't open the innings for Yorkshire and is the perfect number 3 so there is no sense in moving him.

What was the point in taking Rashid and Lyth? They could have got several hours worth of cricket out in the middle back home rather than spending their days carrying drinks and gloves.

[spangley1812]

What was the point in taking Rashid and Lyth? They could have got several hours worth of cricket out in the middle back home rather than spending their days carrying drinks and gloves.
[/quote]

and Bairstow and Plunkett............

[Chris Jameson]

I get that they need a back up wicket keeper and quickie but I don't think they ever had any intention of playing Lyth and especially Rashid.

[PaulWinch again]

I agree Chris. It's madness having Lyth, Bairstow and Rashid there just wasting their time.

Also this talk of moving Ballance is nuts, he's performing at 3 so he stays at three. Trott is finished as an international cricketer I think, which is sad. But they've missed a great opportunity to give Lyth a chance and it's just idiotic stubborness.

[Villan For Life]

I agree Chris. It's madness having Lyth, Bairstow and Rashid there just wasting their time.

Also this talk of moving Ballance is nuts, he's performing at 3 so he stays at three. Trott is finished as an international cricketer I think, which is sad. But they've missed a great opportunity to give Lyth a chance and it's just idiotic stubborness.

Every tour has it's non-playing squad members. They are there for a reason and should not be sent back to their counties.

Openers should open and number threes should bat at three. Trott is not an opening bat, he's a number three. Ballance has played well and does not deserve to be dropped so Trott will need to wait for a opportunity that comes about either by injury or loss of form.

[PaulWinch again]

I agree Chris. It's madness having Lyth, Bairstow and Rashid there just wasting their time.

Also this talk of moving Ballance is nuts, he's performing at 3 so he stays at three. Trott is finished as an international cricketer I think, which is sad. But they've missed a great opportunity to give Lyth a chance and it's just idiotic stubborness.

Every tour has it's non-playing squad members. They are there for a reason and should not be sent back to their counties.

Openers should open and number threes should bat at three. Trott is not an opening bat, he's a number three. Ballance has played well and does not deserve to be dropped so Trott will need to wait for a opportunity that comes about either by injury or loss of form.

I don't mind so much if everyone is performing, but with Lyth what exactly would have resulted in him playing other than injury? Trott has done dreadfully and still Lyth hasn't been given a chance.

[paul_e]

To be honest why not go with Ballance at the top of the order? He's practically been opening the batting anyway this tour.

The guy has an average of 67 at 3, leave him exactly where he is.

Let's replace Trott with a genuine opener, I never liked the idea of him opening and the evidence is that he's never going to make it as one.  Keep him as an option at 3 where he has a good record but clearly isn't getting back in ahead of Ballance right now.  Lyth should have started all 3 tests to see if he can cut it.

For the rest of the side the only change I'd have made would've been Rashid or Plunkett in for Stokes who hasn't really delivered with the ball and is apparently carrying a a back injury which nearly kept him out.  The last thing we need is for him to be pulled out of the attack a few overs in leaving us a bowler light for the match, which wouldn't surprise me now.  On top of that I think he made a bit of a tit of himself with Samuels so being left out and told to learn to keep a lid on it might have done him some good.

[Villan For Life]

I agree Chris. It's madness having Lyth, Bairstow and Rashid there just wasting their time.

Also this talk of moving Ballance is nuts, he's performing at 3 so he stays at three. Trott is finished as an international cricketer I think, which is sad. But they've missed a great opportunity to give Lyth a chance and it's just idiotic stubborness.

Every tour has it's non-playing squad members. They are there for a reason and should not be sent back to their counties.

Openers should open and number threes should bat at three. Trott is not an opening bat, he's a number three. Ballance has played well and does not deserve to be dropped so Trott will need to wait for a opportunity that comes about either by injury or loss of form.

I don't mind so much if everyone is performing, but with Lyth what exactly would have resulted in him playing other than injury? Trott has done dreadfully and still Lyth hasn't been given a chance.

For far too long it has been harder to get out of the England side than get into it. Maybe it's the result of central contracts.

As an aside, I'm amazed that just over an hour into the first session of the first day they've got the spinner on. Messrs Holding, Roberts, Garner, Walsh, Ambrose & Marshall (RIP) must be choking on their rum punch.

[PaulWinch again]

Windies morning. We've been quite poor and flimsy.

[PaulWinch again]

Cook is very much looking like the old Cook. He's not there yet, but he's looking better than he has for 2 years.