The Cricket Thread 2016

[OzVilla]

Thats the type of defeat that, unless you are a very good side, it's very difficult to come back from.

It's a big decision to change wholesale the top order but I just cant see how Lyth or Ballance can survive at the moment, both look woefully out of nick and the Aussies are all over them.

[tomd2103]

England really need to get Bairstow in, why not replace Josh Buttler....he ain't exactly pulling any trees up is he.

Buttler isn't pulling up trees, but he's young and talented and has performed in recent times. I think if you were to drop one player it would be Bell.

Bell is the one experienced player among the batters, Cook aside, i know he is struggling currently but i can't see him being dropped before his 'home' test.
If Lyth is retained then leave out Ballance possibly bring Root up to 3 and bring in Bairstow at 5

Caught a bit of Warne and Botham discussing possible selections for the next test. 

Warne went with:  Cook, Lyth, Bell, Root, Stokes, Buttler, Ali, Rashid, Broad, Wood, Anderson

Botham went with: Cook, Lyth, Root, Bell, Stokes, Ali, Buttler, Rashid, Broad, Wood, Anderson

Both advocated keeping the same opening partnership, dropping Ballance and bringing Rashid in.  I would prefer Botham's line up out of the two, but would like to see a right hander come in to partner Cook at the top of the order. 

[spangley1812]

Wood needs to be rested

Who for, i don't disagree he hasn't had a long first class career 30+ matches so test after test will take its toll. So who do you replace him with
Plunkett/ Woakes, only CW's 2nd game back after injury, Footitt maybe after all they took him to Spain didn't they...took a fifer today i believe.

His pace was 10 mph down on Cardiff........I would bring in either Finn, Footitt or Plunkett

[PaulWinch again]

Wood needs to work on his stamina, because he can't be losing as much pace as he didid between the first and second innings. But hopefully a week's rest will help him on that front. Something does need to change though, because we can't keep going with 3 of the top 4 getting no runs.

[tomd2103]

Wood needs to work on his stamina, because he can't be losing as much pace as he didid between the first and second innings. But hopefully a week's rest will help him on that front. Something does need to change though, because we can't keep going with 3 of the top 4 getting no runs.

Depending on what the pitch at Edgbaston is like, I would pretty much go with the team Botham selected above with Hales possibly coming in for Lyth and Plunkett or Finn in for Wood. 

[PaulWinch again]

On reflection I'm going to go with Bairstow in for Ballance, moving Bell to 3 and Root to 4. If I were the selectors I'd make clear to Bell that this is his last chance and he needs to take responsibility. Ballance can come back in the future, but he needs to sort out his technique. I'd keep the bowling the same and hope the pitch is better, because on a seaming pitch I reckon we could do some damage.

[PaulWinch again]

Glad to see Taylor get a timely double hundred, who although he hasn't been in the best of form this year is criminally overlooked by England time and again.

[PGW]

It's the first Womens Ashes ODI this morning at Taunton where Aussies won the toss and batted and are currently 40-3 13 overs.

I do enjoy watching the womens games as generally the skills levels of the teams are roughly the same - no huge disparities which make for closer
games. Good start by England in this one.

Wrong thread - Bears 19-1

[PGW]

Hong Kong have just beaten Afghanistan in a thrilling game in ICC T20 qualifiers they required 16 off the last over and off first ball
lost their main man came down to 2 off last ball which they got....so HK have now qualified for T20 World Cup in India along with Scotland and Ireland.

In ODI Ashes womens game Aussies are 196-5 43.4 overs

[Chris Jameson]

Jonny Bairstow replaces Gary Ballance in the England squad.

[tomd2103]

Jonny Bairstow replaces Gary Ballance in the England squad.

BBC also saying that Bell is likely to bat at 3. 

[simon ward 50]

Won't that upset the balance of the side?




Sorry!

[PGW]

Jonny Bairstow replaces Gary Ballance in the England squad.

BBC also saying that Bell is likely to bat at 3. 

The last time Ian Bell batted at 3 he scored 235 against India at the Oval........too much to hope for a repeat!!

[PaulWinch again]

It's the right decision at this stage. Bell now knows he has to perform and we don't have 3 left handers in the top 3. Ballance needs to go away, get his form back and work on his technique a bit.

[taylorsworkrate]

On reflection I'm going to go with Bairstow in for Ballance, moving Bell to 3 and Root to 4. If I were the selectors I'd make clear to Bell that this is his last chance and he needs to take responsibility. Ballance can come back in the future, but he needs to sort out his technique. I'd keep the bowling the same and hope the pitch is better, because on a seaming pitch I reckon we could do some damage.

Blimey Paul, you friends with Bayliss on Facebook?!!