The Cricket Thread 2016

[PaulWinch again]

Unchanged 12 for the last test so it looks like Compton stays for now. Wonder if they give Ball a go for Finn? Doubt they'll drop Woakes after that first innings spell of 3-9.

I'd definitely keep Finn in. He's had two poor Test matches, but he's a quality bowler and he needs to be persevered with.

[DaveD]

Unchanged 12 for the last test so it looks like Compton stays for now. Wonder if they give Ball a go for Finn? Doubt they'll drop Woakes after that first innings spell of 3-9.

I'd definitely keep Finn in. He's had two poor Test matches, but he's a quality bowler and he needs to be persevered with.

That's true but it's a dead rubber at Lord's and it's a great time to blood a youngster.

Maybe rest Jimmy ?

[PaulWinch again]

Unchanged 12 for the last test so it looks like Compton stays for now. Wonder if they give Ball a go for Finn? Doubt they'll drop Woakes after that first innings spell of 3-9.

I'd definitely keep Finn in. He's had two poor Test matches, but he's a quality bowler and he needs to be persevered with.

That's true but it's a dead rubber at Lord's and it's a great time to blood a youngster.

Maybe rest Jimmy ?

I don't think you should blood players in Tests. My view is that Finn is quality and should play. Jimmy won't want to be rested, he doesn't play the other forms now. If Ball has it he'll get in sooner or later.

[peter w]

Finn is a rhythm bowler so what better than his home test to encourage him to hit his straps? I'd keep him. We've not dropped players during series recently so unlikely to drop Compton.

[Dave Cooper please]

I don't think you should blood players in Tests. My view is that Finn is quality and should play. Jimmy won't want to be rested, he doesn't play the other forms now. If Ball has it he'll get in sooner or later.

I think you have to, Test cricket is so much more difficult and pressurised than any other form of cricket, even ODIs don't come close, I think Ball should play, maybe for Finn but also a chance to give one of Broad or Anderson a break.

[tomd2103]

Unchanged 12 for the last test so it looks like Compton stays for now. Wonder if they give Ball a go for Finn? Doubt they'll drop Woakes after that first innings spell of 3-9.

I'd definitely keep Finn in. He's had two poor Test matches, but he's a quality bowler and he needs to be persevered with.

Agree.  Have you seen the 'England in the 90's' documentary on SKY?  Many of those interviewed said it was the constant chopping and changing that undermined the confidence of certain players.  Finn smacks me as the kind of player who could suffer a loss of confidence in those kind of circumstances.

[cdbearsfan]

Really enjoyed that England in the 90s doc I must say.

Although I'm still in the minority that would rather see my team win the Championship than see England do well!

[UK Redsox]

Really enjoyed that England in the 90s doc I must say.

Although I'm still in the minority that would rather see my team win the Championship than see England do well!

For me club/county always come before country in any sport.

[spangley1812]

What about Scott Borthwick @ Durham for the no5 position so drop Compton if he fails at Lords and move Vince up to no3 which was the original plan apparently before Taylor sadly had to retire, Borthwick is in fine form, is a brilliant fielder and a more than decent leg spinner and we will need another spinner for the winter when we tour Bangladesh/India

[Dave Cooper please]

Unchanged 12 for the last test so it looks like Compton stays for now. Wonder if they give Ball a go for Finn? Doubt they'll drop Woakes after that first innings spell of 3-9.

I'd definitely keep Finn in. He's had two poor Test matches, but he's a quality bowler and he needs to be persevered with.

Agree.  Have you seen the 'England in the 90's' documentary on SKY?  Many of those interviewed said it was the constant chopping and changing that undermined the confidence of certain players.  Finn smacks me as the kind of player who could suffer a loss of confidence in those kind of circumstances.

Finn, except for one short spell, bowled some awful stuff in the last test, and it's wouldn't be "chopping and changing" it would be giving a player a debut at Test level in a game where he's not under massive pressure. I like Finn, but he's currently the weakest of our pace attack given the way Woakes bowled, there's got to be a time when the weakest in any position is dropped to give others a chance or we are not going to be able to move forward.
 See also Compton, I'm a bit disappointed not to see him dropped for this Test, it's not like he's going to be the future of England cricket is it? Blood one of Lions.

[Chris Jameson]

Really enjoyed that England in the 90s doc I must say.

Although I'm still in the minority that would rather see my team win the Championship than see England do well!

For me club/county always come before country in any sport.

Every single time for me although love to see the Yorkshire players doing well for England.

[PaulWinch again]

Unchanged 12 for the last test so it looks like Compton stays for now. Wonder if they give Ball a go for Finn? Doubt they'll drop Woakes after that first innings spell of 3-9.

I'd definitely keep Finn in. He's had two poor Test matches, but he's a quality bowler and he needs to be persevered with.

Agree.  Have you seen the 'England in the 90's' documentary on SKY?  Many of those interviewed said it was the constant chopping and changing that undermined the confidence of certain players.  Finn smacks me as the kind of player who could suffer a loss of confidence in those kind of circumstances.

Finn, except for one short spell, bowled some awful stuff in the last test, and it's wouldn't be "chopping and changing" it would be giving a player a debut at Test level in a game where he's not under massive pressure. I like Finn, but he's currently the weakest of our pace attack given the way Woakes bowled, there's got to be a time when the weakest in any position is dropped to give others a chance or we are not going to be able to move forward.
 See also Compton, I'm a bit disappointed not to see him dropped for this Test, it's not like he's going to be the future of England cricket is it? Blood one of Lions.

Finn and Compton are completely different though. Finn is and has been a world class bowler, as recently as the tour of South Africa. Once he is in rhythm he is a devastating strike bowler, you don't discard that after two poor games. There have been points in their career where Anderson and Broad were diabolical, but perseverance got them through it. Compton has never proven he's anything more than a good county player.

[paul_e]

Unchanged 12 for the last test so it looks like Compton stays for now. Wonder if they give Ball a go for Finn? Doubt they'll drop Woakes after that first innings spell of 3-9.

I'd definitely keep Finn in. He's had two poor Test matches, but he's a quality bowler and he needs to be persevered with.

Agree.  Have you seen the 'England in the 90's' documentary on SKY?  Many of those interviewed said it was the constant chopping and changing that undermined the confidence of certain players.  Finn smacks me as the kind of player who could suffer a loss of confidence in those kind of circumstances.

Finn, except for one short spell, bowled some awful stuff in the last test, and it's wouldn't be "chopping and changing" it would be giving a player a debut at Test level in a game where he's not under massive pressure. I like Finn, but he's currently the weakest of our pace attack given the way Woakes bowled, there's got to be a time when the weakest in any position is dropped to give others a chance or we are not going to be able to move forward.
 See also Compton, I'm a bit disappointed not to see him dropped for this Test, it's not like he's going to be the future of England cricket is it? Blood one of Lions.

Finn and Compton are completely different though. Finn is and has been a world class bowler, as recently as the tour of South Africa. Once he is in rhythm he is a devastating strike bowler, you don't discard that after two poor games. There have been points in their career where Anderson and Broad were diabolical, but perseverance got them through it. Compton has never proven he's anything more than a good county player.

The only thing I'd say against that is that Finn is slow right now (he should have been easily the quickest of the 4) so it really depends on what is causing that, if it's just purely lack of rhythm then maybe an extra week with his county might have been a better idea but carrying drinks would do him no good.  Personally I would have gone with 'rested' and left him out of the 12 and called up borthwick as well.  that gives a seamer and a spinner  so we can suggest it's picking based on the track but it also gives us another middle order batsman so we can put some pressure on Compton as well.

[tomd2103]

Unchanged 12 for the last test so it looks like Compton stays for now. Wonder if they give Ball a go for Finn? Doubt they'll drop Woakes after that first innings spell of 3-9.

I'd definitely keep Finn in. He's had two poor Test matches, but he's a quality bowler and he needs to be persevered with.

Agree.  Have you seen the 'England in the 90's' documentary on SKY?  Many of those interviewed said it was the constant chopping and changing that undermined the confidence of certain players.  Finn smacks me as the kind of player who could suffer a loss of confidence in those kind of circumstances.

Finn, except for one short spell, bowled some awful stuff in the last test, and it's wouldn't be "chopping and changing" it would be giving a player a debut at Test level in a game where he's not under massive pressure. I like Finn, but he's currently the weakest of our pace attack given the way Woakes bowled, there's got to be a time when the weakest in any position is dropped to give others a chance or we are not going to be able to move forward.
 See also Compton, I'm a bit disappointed not to see him dropped for this Test, it's not like he's going to be the future of England cricket is it? Blood one of Lions.

Finn and Compton are completely different though. Finn is and has been a world class bowler, as recently as the tour of South Africa. Once he is in rhythm he is a devastating strike bowler, you don't discard that after two poor games. There have been points in their career where Anderson and Broad were diabolical, but perseverance got them through it. Compton has never proven he's anything more than a good county player.

I think Compton has been a stop gap kind of player who was never going to cement a permanent place on the side.  I would definitely like to see Vince move up to three for the Pakistan series and someone like Borthwick come in.  Ballance at five might be worth another go as well.

[PaulWinch again]

Unchanged 12 for the last test so it looks like Compton stays for now. Wonder if they give Ball a go for Finn? Doubt they'll drop Woakes after that first innings spell of 3-9.

I'd definitely keep Finn in. He's had two poor Test matches, but he's a quality bowler and he needs to be persevered with.

Agree.  Have you seen the 'England in the 90's' documentary on SKY?  Many of those interviewed said it was the constant chopping and changing that undermined the confidence of certain players.  Finn smacks me as the kind of player who could suffer a loss of confidence in those kind of circumstances.

Finn, except for one short spell, bowled some awful stuff in the last test, and it's wouldn't be "chopping and changing" it would be giving a player a debut at Test level in a game where he's not under massive pressure. I like Finn, but he's currently the weakest of our pace attack given the way Woakes bowled, there's got to be a time when the weakest in any position is dropped to give others a chance or we are not going to be able to move forward.
 See also Compton, I'm a bit disappointed not to see him dropped for this Test, it's not like he's going to be the future of England cricket is it? Blood one of Lions.

Finn and Compton are completely different though. Finn is and has been a world class bowler, as recently as the tour of South Africa. Once he is in rhythm he is a devastating strike bowler, you don't discard that after two poor games. There have been points in their career where Anderson and Broad were diabolical, but perseverance got them through it. Compton has never proven he's anything more than a good county player.

The only thing I'd say against that is that Finn is slow right now (he should have been easily the quickest of the 4) so it really depends on what is causing that, if it's just purely lack of rhythm then maybe an extra week with his county might have been a better idea but carrying drinks would do him no good.  Personally I would have gone with 'rested' and left him out of the 12 and called up borthwick as well.  that gives a seamer and a spinner  so we can suggest it's picking based on the track but it also gives us another middle order batsman so we can put some pressure on Compton as well.

I think it's definitely a rhythm thing with Finn, because his pace was fine in South Africa and last summer. Also given that the Test match is at Lords I'd imagine that'll give him a good opportunity to get his rhythm back.