The Cricket Thread 2016

[peter w]

I was disappointed with bairstow for the way he swiped across the line and got bowled. he did it earlier in his innings and was lucky to not be out then also. i thought he had eradicated that type of rash shot selection but worrying if he hasn't as it suggests his purple patch was just that and nothing lasting. very poor from England but credit due to pakistan who deserved their win.

[olaftab]

Great Test though and I think it's great that England have a proper team to play against. I think for the long term this will be good for England. You can only develop through playing strong opposition.

I agree. This was a proper competitive test match. Shame it didn't go full 5 days but England players will learn and improve much quicker post this match than they did after 3 walkovers v Sri Lanka.

[Chris Jameson]

worrying if he hasn't as it suggests his purple patch was just that and nothing lasting.

Err, have you seen his batting average for the last 12 months?

[tomd2103]

worrying if he hasn't as it suggests his purple patch was just that and nothing lasting.

Err, have you seen his batting average for the last 12 months?

He wouldn't be the first to struggle against a top quality spinner.  Top players tend to learn quickly though, so we'll see how he goes in the rest of the series. 

[aev]

I agree Paul E. I don't think there's a better English spinner than Moeen anyway, and I think he's done well enough with the ball recently. He's losing his head while batting far too often though.

I am still not sure how effective Moeen is at this level. He really struggles to keep an end tight, and as such the game always seems to be in danger of being taken away from England - it probably doesn't matter in a 5 man attack I guess. I think Rashid is the better bowler, and his batting is ok....we probably wouldn't lose too much anyway as Woakes is now presumably ahead of Finn and a decent batsman.

I am not convinced by Hales or Vince.

[Chris Jameson]

worrying if he hasn't as it suggests his purple patch was just that and nothing lasting.

Err, have you seen his batting average for the last 12 months?

He wouldn't be the first to struggle against a top quality spinner.  Top players tend to learn quickly though, so we'll see how he goes in the rest of the series. 

He did however top score in the second innings, facing 147 deliveries, far more than any other England batsman and curbed his natural attacking game. I've always said he's good enough and peter has always seemingly said he's not but singling him out yesterday was a bit ridiculous, all things considered. Moeen Ali played one of the most moronic shots I've seen in many years.

[AVH87]

No surprise to see the likes of Hales struggling as soon as we come up against a proper Test quality attack.

Our top 5 is so reliant on one of Cook or Root getting a century every innings it's scary.

[OzVilla]

Our top 5 is poor at the moment. Hales hasn't the technique for Test cricket, way too loose, good bowlers will work him out in no time. Same goes for Ballance.  Vince I've not seen much of over here.

Shame as the middle/lower order and bowling depth looks strong.  We're 2 good Test batsmen away from being a really good side.

 

[PGW]

Too be fair i'm not a massive fan of Hales, as a 1 day player both formats my choice every time, but his technique isn't the greatest and he is
currently just 'doing enough' to keep his place. I certainly don't think experimenting in this series against a very good team is the answer so
for me Hales keeps his place, if you were to leave him out there isn't exactly anyone out there pulling up trees.....Keaton Jennings from Durham.
He fits the profile of an England player being born in SA....not too sure how far into his 4 yr qualification period..he may have completed it.

[PGW]

Too be fair i'm not a massive fan of Hales, as a 1 day player both formats my choice every time, but his technique isn't the greatest and he is
currently just 'doing enough' to keep his place. I certainly don't think experimenting in this series against a very good team is the answer so
for me Hales keeps his place, if you were to leave him out there isn't exactly anyone out there pulling up trees.....Keaton Jennings from Durham.
He fits the profile of an England player being born in SA....not too sure how far into his 4 yr qualification period..he may have completed it.

Accidentally posted that!!
Vince i certainly would persevere with...technically he is a very good player. Ballance on the other hand not so sure about, his Test average is good and
selectors have given him a second chance, his technique has,maybe, improved he didn't appear to make that step back and across so much in this Test
match so for me he gets the rest of the series as long as we don't go 2-0 down in next one. Who do you replace him with....some will say Bell. Not for me
but am unsure...certainly one for future is our own Sam Hain or Liam Livingstone at Lancs but at least 2 more years.

Moeen Ali...i'm afraid time for a change...don't profess to know answer Adil Rashid probably. Pakistan use just a leg spinner.

So all in all not a massive advocate of change...
 

[AVH87]

Too be fair i'm not a massive fan of Hales, as a 1 day player both formats my choice every time, but his technique isn't the greatest and he is
currently just 'doing enough' to keep his place. I certainly don't think experimenting in this series against a very good team is the answer so
for me Hales keeps his place, if you were to leave him out there isn't exactly anyone out there pulling up trees.....Keaton Jennings from Durham.
He fits the profile of an England player being born in SA....not too sure how far into his 4 yr qualification period..he may have completed it.

Accidentally posted that!!
Vince i certainly would persevere with...technically he is a very good player. Ballance on the other hand not so sure about, his Test average is good and
selectors have given him a second chance, his technique has,maybe, improved he didn't appear to make that step back and across so much in this Test
match so for me he gets the rest of the series as long as we don't go 2-0 down in next one. Who do you replace him with....some will say Bell. Not for me
but am unsure...certainly one for future is our own Sam Hain or Liam Livingstone at Lancs but at least 2 more years.

Moeen Ali...i'm afraid time for a change...don't profess to know answer Adil Rashid probably. Pakistan use just a leg spinner.

So all in all not a massive advocate of change...

Borthwick will get another go at some point, another leggie whose batting is stronger than his bowling but could come in and bat at 6 or 7.

A future opener but probably a year or two away is the boy Bell-Drummond at Kent, only 22, scoring runs for fun and has represented England at youth levels up to U-19s.

[aev]

Selvey leaves The Guardian.

[spangley1812]

Rashid, Anderson and Stokes recalled, Roland-Jones the only one omitted from squad named for the 1st Test

Ball, Finn, Ali out and Rashid, Anderson and Stokes in for me

[Whiney MacWhineface]

Despite batting like a wombat I think Mo needs to play. On a turning wicket, with all their right handed batsmen and their left arm bowlers, assuming we bat first, we need an off-spinner I think.

[tomd2103]

Our top 5 is poor at the moment. Hales hasn't the technique for Test cricket, way too loose, good bowlers will work him out in no time. Same goes for Ballance.  Vince I've not seen much of over here.

Shame as the middle/lower order and bowling depth looks strong.  We're 2 good Test batsmen away from being a really good side.

It's in transition at the moment.  We haven't yet replaced Strauss at the top of the order and we have also recently lost the pretty solid base of Trott at three and Bell at five and haven't really replaced them either.